Quite alone stands the Commander-in-Chief, Mr. Jerry Mugivan. Not only alone as the greatest out-door showman in America but alone in the unique position he holds in the hearts of the thousands who go to make up the "White-Top" world. |
Thursday, September 03, 2009
John Robinson 1923 #2
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Known as the "Turk," Mugivan was really an Irishman.
Leonard V. Farley, late curator of the lamented Hertzberg, gave me the lengthy manuscript of his unfinished biography on Mugivan.
I realize the caption with this photo of Mugivan is likely from the route book of the show and would of course paint Mugivan in a good light. If you have ever read the autobiographical book by George A. Hamid, CIRCUS, there is an interesting chapter in that work that paints an entirely different picture of Jerry Mugivan. Perhaps Mugivan's demeanor had changed by 1923 or perhaps Goerge Hamid sought to paint as bad a picture of him as he could. The chapter in the book is entitled "Terrible Turk and the Forty Thieves."
I suppose it depends on how well a person got along with him. Big John Strong, my mentor in the business, certainly had his detractors, but to use a favorit expression of his, "If a fella is good, honest and reliable 90% of the time, you gotta try to over look that other 10%" or words to that effect. I would not doubt the same probably applied to Jerry Mugivan.
Bill Schreiber
Roger that would be something to read. Hope to see it in the Bandwagon someday.
Mrs. Rudynoff fell from her bareback horse and broke her leg on the ring curb, eventually causing her leg to be amputated. Mrs. Mugivan brought her into the Mugivan mansion in Peru for her recuperation and the act remained with the show.
At the behest John Ringling, who had just bought the Corporation, Jess Adkins informed the Rudynoffs their services were no longer required negating any deals they might have made with Mugivan.
Today everyone is in awe of Jess Adkins and John Ringling with nothing good to say about the "Turk".
I don't think anyone or any partnership, other than John Ringling in late 1929 and then throughout 1930, ever owned and operated five or more large railroad circuses as did Mugivan and his partners during most of 1929. That surely says something about Mugivan's business skills.
The five Ringlings came close in late 1907, owning three shows and part of the Buffalo Bill's Wild West, but it wasn't a sustained effort.
His charitable acts were probably like many showmen's, done quietly and without announcement.
Post a Comment