Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Ringling Museum #20


Ringling%20Museum-14, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

“Music Room from Ballroom”

Posted by Buckles at 12/14/2010 05:54:00 AM

5 comments:

Little John said...

I love this room, back in the day before 1980, Circus World gave us a Ringling ID card and that gave us free admission, and the run of the place. However, it was best to follow the tour guide (a senior lady with a crooked neck) she had a wealth of information about the family. I’m curious if anyone out there remembers her. P.S. I have only been to a few Circuses and most of them I was let in free because once I was somebody. I’d be honored to return the complement to any Circus Folks for that big amusement park up the road from Haines City that has employed me all these years. I can pass 3 folks in, however certain Holidays are blacked out – like now until New Years. Pk2Circus@aol.com

14 December, 2010 16:47
Little John said...

Oops I meant to post on “Residence Game Room"

14 December, 2010 18:18
Dick Flint said...

Might have been Jane Johnson (though I don't recall a crooked neck at all!) who was secretary to the North brothers and Robert Ringling on the road from the late 1930s to the mid 1940s. Her sister was a show girl and her brother Alva started as an usher but after returning from WWII was in the ticket office. Jane saw to the publication and distribution of the Ringling route books during the war years, by the way, and you’ll see her name and address on the title pages of those editions. Alva did the 1951 Beatty route book when he was there as show treasurer and that’s why it is the same size and format of the RBBB books. I think their mother was secretary to manager Carl Hathaway at winterquarters or some such connection. Alva, as a teen in the early 1930s, was parking lot attendant for John Ringling on days when he first had his art museum open before his death. Alva was later president of Showfolks. Jane would best be described as delightfully elegant and probably was perceived as a connoisseur of high art when leading tours in the art museum. She would never say anything about her circus connection until the very conclusion of her tours and delighted in her surprise revelation! I recall that her favorite tours to lead were in Ca d’Zan, a place she loved, just as she did the circus from her years on the road.
Dick Flint
Baltimore

14 December, 2010 23:24
Little John said...

You must be right. Another charming soul that has crossed my path. I regret the crooked neck remark, her tilted head as she glided through the mansion is what I remembered most when I posted, now her charm is coming back to me -- thank you.

15 December, 2010 18:12
Little John said...

You must be right. Another charming soul that has crossed my path. I regret the crooked neck remark, her tilted head as she glided through the mansion is what I remembered most when I posted, now her charm is coming back to me -- thank you.

15 December, 2010 18:13

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