Here's another 2-Hems photo to go with the many excellent ones recently on the blog. This one is from the Nov-Dec 1955 White Tops and pictures the wagon being unloaded at RBBB's Sarasota winter quarters. It had just arrived on the system flat car from Col B. J. Palmer, the chiropractic king of Davenport, Iowa.
Palmer had donated it to the new Circus Hall of Fame. Located on the Tamiami Trail just north of the Robert Ringling mansion, it was first opened to the public in January 1956. As I recall, it was privately owned by John L. "Sully" Sullivan and Dr. H. Chester "Doc" Hoyt.
They had both been with what was then called the Museum of the American Circus, now the Ringling Museum of the Circus. They decided to set up their own competing place, and thus we got the Hall of Fame. During my visits to the Ringling (nee American) circus museum in 1953, 1954, and 1955, I got to know both Sully and Doc. On a visit to the museum on March 15, 1954, I learned from either Sully or Doc that Bob Good was in town and would visit the museum the next day. I was eager to meet Good since I had bought a lot of fine circus photos from him. So, I went back the on the 16th for the express purpose of meeting him. It so happened that Col. Palmer was there as well, and I met him too.
From Bob Good: Richard, I remember your letters coming to my Dad some many years back. As you probably know he and a few others were instrumental in getting Palmer to salvage the Two Hemispheres. There was a plaque to honor those that helped in front of the wagon. I need to find my copy of it. Palmer was a character according to my Dad and probably piled it on when the brochure was put together. Hey, bottom line was, and still is, that it was a great old wagon. |
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