Just a couple of more notes and a handful of photos related to the "tack spitters" and banner men who Ole Whitey and Harry Kingston wrote about earlier.
In the summer of 1946 the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey advance team rolled into Madison Wisconsin - ready to take on the smaller Cole Bros show which was scheduled to arrive 11 days prior to Ringling-Barnum. In a scene reminiscent of earlier billing wars, this spectacular stand was created by the billposters and saved IN COLOR for future generations through the photography of Sverre Braathen. This image is now one of the copyrighted photos that is part of the circus collection at Illinois State University's Milner Library. The muslin banners, tacked high on the side of the building, urges the public to WAIT until the arrival of The Greatest Show on Earth. Both circuses played the new Truax Field circus grounds - and both are reported to have done good business. |
3 comments:
Quite a bit of stuff this morning since it is all loosely related.
Up pretty late last night finishing "Killing Lincoln" (another premature birthday gift).
I am allowed this priviledge since at my age I don't plan anything more than two weeks ahead.
My only remaining present is the fur lined Whoopi cushion.
Chris,
WOW, what a great Kodacrome picture and what a way to start off my day.
Wait for the big one.
Thanks so much and the way it used to be.
Harry in Texas
Ralph Gifford would have loved this series. Especially the guys working from the hanging ladders!
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