W. W. Cole wasn't the first American circus proprietor named Cole, nor did he have any brothers that joined him in the business to create a Cole Bros. title. Martin Downs did that, without brothers, in 1906.
"Chilly Billy," the nickname popularized by Earl Chapin May's faulted circus history wasn't bestowed upon him until 1907. It followed his management of Barnum & Bailey towards the end of the McCaddon regime, when they tried to bully every non-Ringling-owned circus into submission.
Cole was extremely successful, and a thoproughly knowledgable circus man who indeed made millions. Learning the ropes on Orton, he operated his own circus 1871-1886, became a partner in Barnum & London 1885-1887, and thereafter supported Bailey in various traveling show investments.
His life and career are thoroughly covered in Bill Slout's 2002 volume, "Chilly Billy, The Evolution of a Circus Millionaire."
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W. W. Cole wasn't the first American circus proprietor named Cole, nor did he have any brothers that joined him in the business to create a Cole Bros. title. Martin Downs did that, without brothers, in 1906.
"Chilly Billy," the nickname popularized by Earl Chapin May's faulted circus history wasn't bestowed upon him until 1907. It followed his management of Barnum & Bailey towards the end of the McCaddon regime, when they tried to bully every non-Ringling-owned circus into submission.
Cole was extremely successful, and a thoproughly knowledgable circus man who indeed made millions. Learning the ropes on Orton, he operated his own circus 1871-1886, became a partner in Barnum & London 1885-1887, and thereafter supported Bailey in various traveling show investments.
His life and career are thoroughly covered in Bill Slout's 2002 volume, "Chilly Billy, The Evolution of a Circus Millionaire."
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