Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Ringling Barnum HAVANA (1949)

From Chris Berry

61 years ago this week - this poster was hanging in a window in Havana Cuba - promoting "El Mas Grande Espectaculo Sobre La Tierra" (roughly translated as "The Greatest Show on Earth"). While this particular poster certainly isn't the most artistic, it is perhaps one of the scarcest Ringling-Barnum posters from the post World War II era as very few for that one month engagement are known to have survived.

The 1950 Route Book makes note of the engagement with this short article.

The Big Show Goes to Cuba
By Roland Butler
On Thursday night, December 8, 1949, the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus exhibited in Cuba for the first time when it opened a 32-day indoor engagement at the government-owned Sports Palace in Havana. Playing through the holidays to capacity crowds and turning thousands away during the final week, the circus closed in a blaze of glory Sunday night, January 8, 1950, and chalked up a smashing success. The Ringling management gave Cuba a show that made its eyes pop. All of the circus' foremost acts and features that could be crammed and jammed into the one-ring arena of the Palace were taken to Havana. The show's personnel was flown to the island, while a train loaded with animals and equipment was transported by boat.

Havana went wild over the performances and gave The Greatest Show on Earth the warmest reception it ever accorded a visiting amusement organization. And, as Havana took to its first major circus, so did the Ringling troupers take to the gay "Paris of the Caribbean." Touring the metropolis between shows, and after, they particularly enjoyed the colorful city's freedom from restraint and its exciting diversions for all types and tastes. Still circus hungry at the close of the run, the Cuban capital's press and public implored the Big Show to hurry back and make the Havana engagement an annual event. This winter the Ringling Circus will again thrill its admirers across the keys. The run at the Sports Palace will begin December 8, the same opening date as in '49.

Posted by Buckles at 12/29/2010 06:21:00 AM

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The spanish language interpretation of hte GSOE slogan/trademark has generated some debate over the years.

El Espectaculo Mas Grande Sobre La Tierra versus Mas Grande Del Mundo have different meaning depending on ones interpretation of earth or dirt.

When the show visited Mexico in 1996 thru 2005 the slogan was Mas Grande Del Mundo.

After consulting with local representatives the decision was made based on the opinion that Sobre La Tierra was too literal and had a connotation of "hovering over the earth"

29 December, 2010 09:09
JACKIE said...

A most wonderful memory for me to this day in my life. I was blessed with being able to go, not only in 49, but in 50 when they returned again. Everything said written in the blog is correct. The Cubans welcomed us like Hollywod stars. The first year, 49, Cuba had President Prio, the next year 50, it had dictator Baptista. That did not seem to make any change in the way they treated the show. I do remember that in 50 they had soldiers who stopped entrace of a famous steet named I belive Trocadaro. It was lined with women who sold their wares and freezing out people coming down that street was kinda bad for the business. I know at that time the Cuban law stated that a woman had right to sell her favors.
They taxies were all lined up after the show at night specially waiting for their select artists clients and the same taxies were there every nite. Most performers stayed at a the Ocean Hotel on the Melacon (spelling?)which is the boulevard along the water in front of Moro Castle. Every night was party night as we sat out on the terrace with food and livation.
I can not help but be saddened just remembering all those who have passed that were there. Some are still here, La Norma for one I remember, Phillip Kries of the Wallendas and his wife Madelyn, no longer with us.
We paid for a lovely room with two full size beds, $21 a week. When you left the room no matter what floor you were one, you were copletly outside in an open court. I will always remember the poor hired labores mixing the sawdust with the dye to color the rings. I know one year we had Schrieber with his elephants. It is in the Palacio de Las Deportes, quite a bit on the outskirts of Havana, in the Vedado section I belive. Cuban food and Drinks were spectactular and we all fell in love with Flan De Leche and Cascos de Guave con Quesdo Crema and of cource Cafe de Leche.
I could write a little book about both engagements there, but think I better quit while I'm remembering. Jackie LeClaire

29 December, 2010 10:51
Ole Whitey said...

I think there was a circus (possibly a Tom Packs or Polack Bros unit?) playing Havana when Castro took over and it was touch and go for a few days getting everybody out and back home.

Some blogger out there must remember the details of this.

29 December, 2010 11:08
Buckles said...

Barbara says the and Rex played the date three times for Tom Packs, twice with the Pete & Norma elephants and the final time with the Howard Suesz animals.
When all Hell broke loose she, Rex, Ben and their dog "Robert" hurriedly made a make shift home in the hay pile behind the elephants.
She said the trials were held right there in the building and after a fair hearing you could hear the gun fire in the distance.

29 December, 2010 13:01
Bob Cline said...

The Al G. Kelly-Miller show went to Cuba one winter and had trouble getting the elephants home. Anyone remember what yesr that was?
Bob

29 December, 2010 16:29
Roger Smith said...

From both Pat Anthony and Bill Johnston, I heard harrowing tales of Castro's overpowering entrance into Havana to overthrow the dictatorship of Fulgencia Batista. Bill got the animals' cages turned so that the screens were facing inward, and the solid walls were outward, forming what he hoped would be a shield against the flying bullets. Bill said for what seemed like endless hours, live rounds were zinging indiscriminately, and ricocheting off the cages themselves. Relying on an old trick of his for transporting animals by sea, he had made friends with two first mates at the docks. With a certain amount of ready cash, he was able to load Anthony's act and sail the the 90 miles to Florida's Keys. He said no bullet had a name on it, but everyone got out when all the performers thought they would be shot down in the streets.

29 December, 2010 19:24
Ole Whitey said...

Roger: I heard similar stories from whoever had the riding act but I forget who- maybe the Dorchesters? That's why I brought this up in the first place, hearing of the difficulty of protecting and getting the horses out.

30 December, 2010 10:51

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