Circus Trains #1 (From Eric Beheim)

Circus Trains-1, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Back in 1978, I purchased a hard cover copy of THE CIRCUS MOVES BY RAIL by Tom Parkinson and Chappie Fox. (It cost me $30.00, which was a lot to pay for a book back then!) Of the many photos it contains, here are few of my favorites. This first photo is identified as a feed stop made by Sells-Floto in Horton, Kansas on September 4, 1918.

Circus Trains #2

Circus Trains-2, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hagenbeck-Wallace train in 1932.

Circus Trains #3

Circus Trains-3, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Barnum & Bailey train. (The pull-over team is connected to a wagon brace instead of the usual bull ring on the corner.)

Circus Trains #4

Circus Trains-4, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Elephant power being used to switch a Clyde Beatty Circus flat.

Circus Trains #5

Circus Trains-5, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Cole Bros. elephant car (identified by having vents rather than slats in the sides.)

Circus Trains #6

Circus Trains-6, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. RBBB lead stock after having been unloaded in Albany, New York circa the 1930s

Circus Trains #7

Circus Trains-7, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. The ramp being used to unload this Bactrian camel has hooks on both ends so it can be hung from either side of the car.)

Circus Trains #8

Circus Trains-8, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hagenbeck-Wallace baggage horse. (The door is being held out to keep the horse from getting too close to the edge of the ramp.)

Circus Trains #9

Circus Trains-9, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Circus Trains #10

Circus Trains-10, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Ringling train circa 1936

Circus Trains #11

Circus Trains-11, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. 1946 Ringling train at West Allis, Wisconsin.

Circus Trains #12

Circus Trains-12, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Unloading a Ringling cage wagon at Madison, Wisconsin in 1941.

Wallendas

5211286563_05f39036b4_o, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hi Mr. Woodcock - here is a scan of a group shot with Joe Geiger and Karl, Helen and Herman Wallenda (from one of Mrs. Geiger's albums). -- Michael Nagy

Gretonas #1 (From Buckles)

Scan00000010229, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. This would be the next generation.

Gretonas #2

Scan00000010222, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

F.J. Taylor's Circus #1 (From Buckles)

Scan00000010222, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. This is a brochure sent out to Fair Boards and Fraternal Orders in what appears to be the 1930's. No indication if this is any relation to Frank J. Taylor or maybe the title was well remembered out in the prairies.

F.J. Taylor's Circus #2

Scan00000010224, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

F.J. Taylor's Circus #3

Scan00000010225, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

F.J. Taylor's Circus #4

Scan00000010226, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

F.J. Taylor's Circus #5

Scan00000010227, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. This interesting drawing depicts a liberty act with a mule in a clown hat, threading the needle, in the opposite direction. I'll have to consult with Col. Herriott on this one.

F.J. Taylor's Circus #6

Scan00000010228, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

F. J. Taylor's Circus #7

Scan00000010223, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1925 Frank J. Taylor Circus #1

Scan00000010217, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. This is the show from which the Fair Unit above descended.

1925 Frank J. Taylor Circus #2

Scan00000010217, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1925 Frank J. Taylor Circus #3

Scan00000010215, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1925 Frank J. Taylor Circus #4

Scan00000010218, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1925 Frank J. Taylor Circus #5

Scan00000010219, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1925 Frank J. Taylor Circus #6

Scan00000010220, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1925 Frank J. Taylor Circus #7

Scan00000010221, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. This picture was included in the set but doesn't look right so I'll leave the comments to others in the know. Also contained in the envelope were about a half dozen shots of unidentified retired wagons lined up along a fence but I'll not belabor the subject.

1925 Frank J. Taylor Circus #8

Scan00000010230, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. The show carried one elephant that season, leased from LaMont Bros. as listed here in the Sacred Scroll.

I forgot this one! (From Capt. Snug)

Karl_Walenda_Philadelphia, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

RBBB 1951 Spare Center Pole On Flat

RBBB 1951 Spare Center Pole On Flat, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hi Buckles, Harry do you mean the outside roof top? It would be sort of difficult to get a long center pole through a narrow door..LOL. Fred, here's a photo of Ringling Bros,- Barnum & Bailey in 1951 when then had a five pole Big Top. A spare center pole was carried on the floor of one of the flats. This is possibly the first section cut. Most likely not being carried on the pole wagon was due to the fact that all the center poles and long and short quarter poles were carried on the same wagon. Hope this helps. Dom

The Wallendas #1 (From Capt. Snug)

Wallenda_Program, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Buckles Received these from a fellow CMB member, and friend of Karl. Fred Marco Sr. of Rhode Island My wife and myself met Karl at Showfolks in Sarasota in 1977. We attended the CHS convention, and had a special dinner at Showfolks, with an award to Karl. Hilly Munson -----

The Wallendas #2

Herman,_Helen_and_Karl_Walenda, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Herman, Helen and Karl Wallenda

The Wallendas #3

Carla_Walenda, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Carla Wallenda

The Wallendas #4

Wallendas, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The Wallendas #5

Karl_Walenda, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Karl Wallenda

The Gretonas #1 (From Buckles)

Scan00000010210, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The Gretonas #2

Scan00000010211, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The Gretonas #3

Scan00000010212, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The Gretonas #4

Scan00000010213, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The Gretonas #5

Scan00000010214, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Information needed!

SAVE0255, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. I received the message below from Frederick Neill who has done extensive study on the Barnum & Bailey tour of Europe 1898-02. Any assistance would be appreciated. Buckles Buckles, Thankfully (!) I'm getting near the end of my Barnum & Bailey visit researches to UK. However, I've hit a slight puzzle - almost certainly due to the fact we have had no shows as large as B&B plus few ever using near "standard" US methods. Hence I've nothing to check against at UK end. What happened was in 1899 the show visited Torquay and because the rail sidings were limited the wagons had a 5 mile trip to the lot. No real problem, except the 'Torquay Times' noted that a menagerie pole snapped and the pole wagon had to do a 10 mile round trip to collect the spare - this did cause some delays. My logic queries why the spare was not being carried but seems to have been left on the rail flat. Or did US shows do this anyway? The only reason I can think of for not carrying the spare would be pole's weight - is that why? I would imagine that there would have been a fairly standard way of doing things in many of the large shows - so, after the flats had "unloaded" would there still have been a lot of items (at least spare poles) on board? Keep up the blog, many thanks in advance Fred Neill (neill.frederick@gmail.com)

Circus Pages #1 (From Josip Marcan)

DSC_0019, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hi Buckles, Went to see Circus Pages January 24 and 25 in Crestview and Marianna, FL. Jorge, Frieda and Colleen were very hospitable, and the show was most enjoyable. The trainers were not jumping around screaming and yelling into a microphone while working the animals. Quiet, low key voice was used at all times. Jorge and Colleen did an excellent job with the lions and tigers. Especially impressive was the reverse hind leg walk with the lion. The act currently consists of one white male lion, a female white lion, two standard color lions, and two white tigers. Jorge recently acquired from me a young male Tabby and a Snow white tiger, both of which will be added to the act later this year. It was nice to see so many animals performing. Everything in the backyard, equipment and trucks, were clean and organized. The animals were all clean and in good condition, and worked well. During the performance it was great to see such beautiful costumes (many made by Frieda herself), the music was at a comfortable decibel, and the performers were enthusiastic. The show moved at a good pace, with only a brief intermission. Overall, it was a terrific experience. The embroidered circus hats sold at the concessions are the nicest I've seen from any show, anywhere. I understand the two elephants, Bombi and Daisy came from Günter twenty years ago when Günter decided they were unworkable. They work well now, their skin is smooth and clean, and they are calm and quiet during the performance and elephant rides. Jorge does a good job with them. Included are several pictures of the show for your blog. Regards, Josip Marcan

Circus Pages #2

DSC_0010, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Circus Pages #3

DSC_0040, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Circus Pages #4

DSC_0044, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Circus Pages #5

DSC_0057, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Circus Pages #6

DSC_0104, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Circus Pages #7

DSC_0106, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.