From Bob Cline

"I ran across this photo buried in a bunch of others today. I thought John Harriott would really like it. It is dated 1927 at Carl Hagenbeck's in Stellingen, Germany."

Barnett Bros. Circus early 1930's #8 (Group 2)

This is the conclusion of the Eric Beheim, 1930's Barnett Bros. transpariencies.

Barnett Bros. Circus eqrly 1930's #9

Barnett Bros. Circus early 1930's #10

Barnett Bros. Circus early 1930's #11

Barnett Bros. Circus early 1930's #12

Barnett Bros. Circus early 1930's #13

Happy Halloween #1

The lovely Princess anxiously awaits her escort for an evening of Trick or Treat Adventure.

Happy Halloween #2

Her Hero arrives with a recepticle for the treats and a vehicle to whisk her away. (Please indulge an old man and his folly)

From the Baraboo Newspaper

This item from Bob Cline: Tony Smaha said his brother told him he wanted to go to Africa "one last time," even though family members had warned him not to because of his failing health. "He just loved to take pictures and see the elephants," Tony Smaha said. "He loved Africa and he loved safaris. This was his fourth trip." Jenda Smaha was only in Baraboo for a few years, spending the rest of his life touring around the world, meeting famous people such as Johnny Carson, Jack Nicklaus and Joe DiMaggio along the way. He spent 12 years working in Las Vegas before moving to Sarasota, Fla. "He got four entertainer of the year awards when he was out in (Las) Vegas," Tony Smaha said. Tony Smaha said his brother was a pioneer with elephant acts, and was instrumental in starting up the practice of having animals at Circus World Museum. "He helped start the live entertainment there," Tony Smaha said. "Jenda had 'Bertha' the elephant. Everybody around town knew my brother."

Human Projectiles #1 (From the Jim Cole collection)

Brian Miser in flight #1 in 2004.

Human Projectiles #2

Brian Miser in flight #2 in 2001. (I believe this picture was taken in Jimmy's back yard, much to the alarm of his neighbors).

Human Projectiles #3

Dave Smith 1985.

Human Projectiles #4

Jim Cole and Hugo Zacchini II in 1988.

Human Projectiles #5

Hugo Zacchini Cannon in 1953.

Human Projectiles #6

Hugo Zacchini cannon in 2003.

Copy and Paste

Shannon has made me an official Computer Nerd by showing me how to "copy and paste". I'll begin by showing this interesting eMail from Toby Styles that informed parties might comment on. In this instance, I'm not of any help to Mr. Styles at all, generally speaking the 24 Hour man would have the lot cleared and prepared before the show's arrival and a "22 Car Show" doesn't sound right, the Railroad rates were determined by incruments of five so a 22 car show would have to pay for 25. Circus tents can be surprisingly flexible, out in California, showing Shopping Center parking lots with Sid Kellner, his boss canvasman Nick Bangor would put up the old Mills Bros. 120' top and on more than one occasion he would have a light post sticking up thru the lace line half way up the tent and once we had a row of parking meters in front of the grandstand. Dear Mr Woodcock I thought you might be interested in this story and hopefully you can fill in some of the blanks. Shortly before retiring from the Toronto Zoo, I was part of a team invited to Cochrane, Ontario a small town 425 miles north of Toronto. A town deep in the boreal forest. They were planning a tourism driven project and wanted to include Polar Bears, the town is not in Polar Bear country but is the terminus of a popular tour train named the Polar Bear Express. The zoo realized that there was a need for a place to help in the rescue of orphaned polar bears, and so we were happy to help. Last year they opened a wonderful facility that is good for bears and people. While there I was shown around town to look at various potential sites. One was near the local school,while driving by the school my guide explained that the original site for the school had been cleared by elephants from a visiting circus. Needless to say this story intrigued me; I have just come upon an exert from a book , Northland Post,The Story of The Town of Cochrane by Alice Marwick. In the book the author refers to a circus (no name ) evidently 3 rings traveling by a train of 22 cars, which when it arrived in town found the proposed show grounds covered with tree stumps she describes how the circus used three elephants named "Big Jumbo", "Tim" and"Tony" to clear the site. I wondered if you might have any information on the above incident? Thanks for your help. I really enjoy your Blog keep up the good work. Sincerely Toby Styles

Ringling-Barnum Circus 1941 #13 (Eric Beheim slides)

Ringling-Barnum Circus 1941 #14

Ringling-Barnum Circus 1941 #15