Right at this time 70 years ago, Ringling-Barnum, minus
its big top, was playing Soldier Field in Chicago as part of its
attempt to salvage what remained of the 1944 season following the disastrous
Hartford Fire.
The politically-controlled Chicago Park
Board, which in turn controlled Soldier Field, made Ringling concessions work
outside the field and Circus ushers were not allowed to work the seats. In addition, a 55-cent charge (which went to
the Park Board) was put on all reserved seat passes. (“You gotta problem with that?!”)
The Park Board also produced its own 16-page
souvenir program, which was sold in place of the Circus’ “official” 1944
program. Since it was only sold during
this 14-day engagement, copies of this special Chicago souvenir program are not
as common as those of the Circus’ 1944 program, but do occasionally turn up on
eBay, which is where I found mine.
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Monday, August 25, 2014
1944 Chicago Program #1 (From Eric Beheim)
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1 comments:
Soldier Field was so drastically renovated as to practically unrecognizable; it's neither fish nor fowl. Almost nobody liked the new design, but everybody wanted to keep the Bears in Chicago so it happened.
One of the things the old Soldier Field was remembered for was the famous "Long Count" fight between Dempsey and Tunney in 1927 and the end of Dempsey's fighting career. To this day Dempsey ranks as one of America's best-loved sports figures.
My dad learned to swim on July 4, 1919, when Dempsey won the title from Jess Willard. My grandfather won $50 on the match and his excitement tossed my father into the lake where they were picnicking. It was sink or swim and a story entered family folklore that is still being told ninety-five years later.
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