Finding aid of the Ralph Rodgers and Percy Turner Circus collection
0388
Finding aid prepared by Jacqueline Morin
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2012
Title: Ralph Rodgers and Percy Turner Circus collection
Collection number: 0388
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
76.0 Linear feet
71 boxes, 2 metal trunks
Date: 1930s-1980s
Abstract: The Ralph Rodgers and Percy Turner Circus Collection documents the collective interests of a circus model builder/ miniature
circus owner and a real circus owner who became friends and whose circus memorabilia ended up with a mutual friend who donated
them to USC. The collection contains ephemera, correspondence, photographs, books, records, costumes, and a large amount of
circus model plans and drawings kept by Ralph Rodgers. A portion of the collection represents the history of the Percy Turner
Circus, one of the first circuses owned by an African-American based in the southern California area.
creator:
Rodgers, Ralph
creator:
Turner, Percy, 1907-1984
Biographical Note: Percy Turner
The Turner Brothers Circus (aka Turner Brothers Dog and Pony show) was created by Percy Turner in 1958. (There are Articles
of Incorporation for the Turner Bros. Dog and Pony Show showing a date of June 5, 1959.)
Percy Turner was, by trade, a sign painter in the area of San Diego, California. He and his family had always wanted to have
their own circus, so in 1959 they formed their own. They found a local "angel" who was willing to bankroll them. They leased
the animals through some contact Turner had in the Paul Eagles Circus Luncheon Club up in Los Angeles. They had a lion, a
tiger, two ocelots, an elephant, and several camels. There were clowns, acrobats, a high-wire artist, a dog act and horses,
but the Turner family were the only Black members of the troupe. Percy and his wife Joy said that they had never had any Black
applicants for jobs in their circus.
The Turners left their successful sign-painting business in Pacific Beach to tour the California coast and were widely successful
with audiences. Unfortunately, they had no circus experience and the show was forced to close after they discovered their
advance agent was skimming the profits. (Source:
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 24 Feb 1998.) Percy Turner went back to sign painting and later lettered some trucks for Circus Vargas when they were in
Southern California. Percy Turner kept hoping to find someone else who could provide the financial means to allow him to take
out another circus, but his failing health and increased costs prevented him from ever touring again. And though the Turner
Bros. Circus officially closed for good on July 4, 1959, Percy and Joy Turner continued to entertain their friends "circus-style"--erecting
the cookhouse tent in the backyard for all their local fans, surrounded by the remnants of the dog and pony show that were
in various states of repair around the sign shop. Percy Turner died in 1984.
Scope and Content
The collection is comprised chiefly of Ralph Rodgers' circus memorabilia and materials related to circus model building. In
addition to articles, newsletters, instructions, and photos on model building, Rodgers' own drawings, notes, and photographs
are included in the papers. His correspondence with well-known circus performers such as Diamond Jim Parker and John Strong
document his close ties to the circus world where he formed many long-lasting friendships. A small portion of the collection
relates to Percy Turner, a friend of Ralph Rodgers who had his own circus for a brief time in the 1950s. Rodgers and Turner
presumably met through John Strong, a well-known circus performer who had his own circus and is well-represented in this collection's
ephemera.
As described in the biographical note on Ralph Rodgers, the large circus artifacts--the actual circuses-- were dismantled
and divided up among Rodgers' sons and their families after his death. Fortunately, there are many photographs in this collection
which document Rodgers' own miniature circuses as well as the circuses he worked with during the months that he "ran away
to join the circus" in his fifties.
Biographical Note: Ralph Rodgers
Ralph Rodgers, whose "day job" was as a gas service man for San Diego Gas & Electric, was an avid circus model builder and
lifelong circus devotee. He spent his lifetime learning about the circus, following all the circuses--figuratively and later
literally-- and becoming friends with many of the well-known circus performers and clowns of the day, many of whom were also
model-builders.
Ralph Rodgers' wife, Mary Ann, was supportive of her husband's hobby and also worked with him and attended conventions with
him. They had four sons: Patrick, Kevin, Michael, and John-- all of whom had model circuses named after them. The circuses
were created in the Rodgers' backyard in El Cajon and reflected Ralph's desire to preserve the form and spirit of the circus
during its heyday of the 1920s and 30s.
When Ralph Rodgers passed on in 2006, his sons tried for about a year to place the main Rodgers Bros. circus in a museum.
They contacted all of the circus museums in the United States in addition to a couple of circus model museums, but could not
generate any interest in their father's circuses. They speculate that one of the reasons may be the sheer number of circus
model builders that existed at one time, although the numbers have dwindled like most hobby crafts have.
Michael Rodgers also mentioned that when he and his brothers were growing up, they visited many circus model builders conventions
and saw many of the model circuses of their father's friends such as Jim Parker. Many of the models and circuses they saw
were "picture perfect" and looked more factory manufactured than the circuses that Ralph Rodgers built out of chiefly "found"
materials. Since he was a serviceman for the San Diego Gas and Electric Company, his job afforded him many opportunities to
enter vacated homes to check the gas lines and also salvage materials that could be used to build his circuses. For example,
the majority of the older circus wagons were constructed from wooden Venetian blinds. Rodgers built all his wagons and train
cars from found wood; he also carved all his own circus people and most of the animals. He fashioned the wagon hardware and
other parts from tin coffee cans. He would paint toothpaste tube caps, put wire handles on them, and--voila--water buckets.
Every year for two weeks in the spring (rain or shine), Rodgers and his sons would set up the circus in the backyard for all
the neighborhood kids, dogs, cats, etc. to enjoy and so, over time, the circus took on the look of a working circus. Though
some model builders looked down on Rodgers' creations, the model builders who were also "real" circus people admired and appreciated
how realistic the Rodgers circuses were.
When the Rodgers sons failed to find an appropriate museum or host for their father's circus, they chose to honor their father's
wish-- which was to take it to the desert and burn it if no one wanted it as one complete circus. The circus filled a 10'
x 24' storage unit and, while the family did not actually take it out to the desert and burn it, they met at the home of Michael
Rodgers along with their nieces and nephews and divided up what they wanted to keep. Then they burned the rest of the stuff
while toasting their father through the night, thus folding up the Big Top for the last time.
Images of Rodgers' circus can be viewed online at: http://dreamingincircus.com/media/rr-circus/rr-circus.htm
Acquisition
Donated to USC by Duncan Smith in 2010. Duncan Smith was a friend of both Ralph Rodgers and Percy Turner.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Ralph Rodgers and Percy Turner Circus collection, Collection no. 0388, Regional History Collection,
Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Separated Materials
Six boxes of books were included in the donation of this collection. They have been separated from the archival materials
to be catalogued individually, but kept together as a donor-based collection. They include both adult and children's books
on circuses and circus-related topics.
Processing Note
This collection was processed with the assistance of Tiffany Chu.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Big Apple Circus. -- Archives
Circus Model Builders International. -- Archives
Circus World Museum (Baraboo, Wis.). -- Archives
Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus. -- Archives
Cole Bros. Circus. -- Archives
Evans, Merle -- Correspondence
Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus. -- Archives
Hayden, Robert, Dr. -- Archives
Jacobs , Lou, 1903-1992 -- Correspondence
Kreischer, Lou -- Correspondence
MacDougall, Robert -- Correspondence
Parker, Jim, 1938-2003 -- Archives
Posey, Jake, b. 1863 -- Correspondence
Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows. -- Archives
Rodgers, Ralph -- Archives
Sells-Floto Circus. -- Archives
Strong, John, d. 1992 -- Correspondence
Turner, Percy, 1907-1984 -- Archives
Wallenda, Karl -- Archives
Wenatchee Youth Circus. -- Archives
African American business enterprises--California--San Diego--Archival resources
Amusements--California--History--Archival resources
Audiotapes
Circus wagons--Archival resources
Circus--California--La Jolla--20th century--Archival resources
Circus--California--Lakeside--20th century--Archival resources
Circus--California--Los Angeles--20th century--Archival resources
Circus--Florida--Sarasota--20th century--Archival resources
Clippings
Clowns--Archival resources
Correspondence
Costumes (character dress)
Drawings
Ephemera
La Jolla (San Diego, Calif.)--History--Archival resources
Magazines (periodicals)
Phonograph records
Photographs
Popular culture--California, Southern--History--20th century--Archival resources
Postcards
Posters
Slides (photographs)
Videotapes
Circus Model Building
Scope and Content
This series is the heart of the Ralph Rodgers and Percy Turner Circus collection as it consists of the illustrations, notes,
diagrams, etc. of Ralph Rodgers himself in the making of his miniature circuses.
Box 1, 2, 3, 57
Notes, Plans, and Drawings
Scope and Content
This subseries consists of Ralph Rodgers' own notes and drawings for his model circuses. Many of the diagrams have mathematical
calculations related to size and scale of the wagons, tents, people, etc in the miniature circuses.
Box 3
Publicity
Scope and Content
This small subseries contains flyers and other ephemera advertising the Rodgers Bros. Circus.
Box 4
Plans & Instructions
Scope and Content
This subseries consists of printed circus model plans and instructions-- some commercial and some drawn by other individuals
and photocopied. They consist of construction plans for circus wagons, cages, audience seating, and complete circuses.
Box 4, 58
Ephemera
Scope and Content
This subseries consists of ephemera related to Ralph Rodgers' hobby as a circus model builder--particularly stencils, signs,
and logos he used for the models, as well as receipts he kept from purchases he made at hobby stores and other places.
Correspondence
Scope and Content
This series is comprised of correspondence between Ralph Rodgers and his friends and family, as well as a small amount of
buisness and professional items. At least half of the letters to Ralph Rodgers are from Jim Parker who was a clown with Ringling
Brothers, circus model builder, and close friend of Rodgers. A small amount of the total correspondence consists of letters
to other people other than Ralph Rodgers.
Letters to Ralph Rodgers
Scope and Content
This subseries consists of two boxes of correspondence to Ralph Rodgers and a few items addressed to both Ralph and Mary Ann
(his wife). Some of it is business-related such as form letters from the Circus Hall of Fame and the Chamber of Commerce in
Peru, Indiana. One folder contains thank-you notes from school groups and other organizations who "toured" Ralph Rodgers'
miniature circus in his back yard in El Cajon, California. The bulk of the series, however, consists of personal correspondence
from friends--mainly other circus enthusiasts--including "Diamond Jim" Parker, a fellow model-builder-- but also a famous
clown and circus historian who kept in frequent contact with Rodgers.
Box 5, Folder 1
Al G Barnes Ring
Scope and Content
Circus Model Builders
Box 5, Folder 4
Borders, Gordon
1958-1964
Box 5, Folder 5
Caldwell, Jim
1932-1991
Scope and Content
"Load Lists"
Box 5, Folder 7
Carson and Barnes
1959-1997
Box 5, Folder 10
Circus Hall of Fame
1998-2002
Scope and Content
Peru, Indiana
Box 5, Folder 12-B
Clown College
23 July 1976
Box 5, Folder 12-C
Cook, Russell E.
6 November 1960
Box 5, Folder 16
Hayden, Robert "Doc"
1982-2002
Box 5, Folder 16-B
Heist, Walter G.
13 February 1958
Box 5, Folder 18
MacDougall, Bob & Pauline
1982-2006
Box 5, Folder 21
Miscellaneous Thank-you Notes
Box 5, Folder 23
Parker, Jim (1960s)
1960s
Box 5, Folder 24
Parker, Jim (1970s part 1)
1970s
Box 5, Folder 25
Parker, Jim (1970s part 2)
1970s
Box 6, Folder 1
Parker, Jim (1980s)
1980s
Box 6, Folder 2
Parker, Jim (1990s)
1990s
Box 6, Folder 3--3-B
Parker, Jim (2000s)
2000s
Box 6, Folder 4
Parker, Jim (dates unknown)
Box 6, Folder 7
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1967-1982
Box 6, Folder 9
Ralph Rodgers to Family
1978-1979
Box 6, Folder 9-B
Ralph Rodgers to Jim Parker
2002
Box 6, Folder 10-C
Russell, Ed
6 December 1968
Box 6, Folder 11
Smith, Duncan & Irene
18 October 1977
Box 6, Folder 13
Turner Bros. Circus
1977
Scope and Content
Irene & Duncan Smith Joy & Percy Turner
Other Letters
Scope and Content
This subseries consists of letters to other recipients from many different people, including Ralph Rodgers himself. Many of
the letters from Ralph Rodgers are those to his wife and son in the late 1970s when he "took off to join the circus." In them,
he describes the daily activities of the circuses with which he associated as well as his homesickness and love for his wife,
"Baby Doll." Most of the other letters are to clown Lou Kreischer from several different people including renown clowns Mark
Anthony and Lou Jacobs.
Box 7, Folder 1
To Buck from Russel Tully
1958
Scope and Content
Circus Model Builders
Box 7, Folder 2
To Dave Fulwiler from U.S. Naval Hospital, San Diego
1967
Scope and Content
Lou Kreischer Clowns
Box 7, Folder 3
To Lou Kreischer from Tim
1980
Box 7, Folder 4
To Lou Kreischer from Mark Anthony
1974
Box 7, Folder 5
To Lou Kreischer from Merle Evans
1966
Box 7, Folder 6
To Lou Kreischer from Lou Jacobs
1969-1972
Box 7, Folder 7
To Lou Kreischer from Elsie Jung
18 May 1965
Scope and Content
Note from aerialist and equestrian Elsie Jung thanking Kreischer for his condolences regarding the death of her husband, noted
clown Paul Jung. (Jung was found murdered in his hotel room during a Ringling Brothers engagement at Madison Square Garden
in April 1965).
Box 7, Folder 8
To Lou Kreischer from Jake Posey
1953
Box 7, Folder 9
To Lou Kreischer from Richard Rouse (Mother Goose Parade Assoc.)
1973
Box 7, Folder 10
To Lou Kreischer from M.L. Snyder
1967
Box 7, Folder 11
To Lou Kreischer- Misc.
1970
Box 7, Folder 12
To Lou Kreischer and Andy Kennedy from Edgemoor Employee's Club
1967
Box 7, Folder 13
To Zula Ralph from Various
1940s
Scope and Content
This folder contains documents and ephemera pertaining to Zula Ralph, all dated in the 1940s. There is a letter from the Brotherhood
of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America asking "Mr. and Mrs. Ralph" for the address of their son, James G. Ralph.
Also included in this folder are several letters and applications from the San Diego County Department of Public Welfare,
a letter from the American Red Cross, and several greeting cards.
Box 7, Folder 14
To Percy Turner from Ralph Rodgers
1976
Scope and Content
Short note to Percy Turner from Ralph Rodges with Turner's check being returned to him with "thanks"-- but they didn't really
need the money for the dinner that they had.
Box 7, Folder 15
To Mr. Shields from Robert Good
1955
Publications
Scope and Content
This series consists of magazines, souvenir programs, coloring books, newsletters, etc. arranged alphabetically, mostly by
name of circus. Newspapers are included in the series "Clippings."
Box 8
Aahmes Shrine Circus
1951
Box 8
Al G. Barnes and Sells-Floto
1938
Box 8
Al G. Barnes Big 4 Ring Wild Animal Circus
Box 8
Al Kader Shrine Circus
1953, 1956, 1957
Box 8
Al Kelly & Miller Bros. Circus
1963, 88
Box 8
American Circus Calendar
1990-2006
Box 14
American Circus Posters
1978
Box 8
American International 3-Ring Circus
Box 8
Amusement Business
1963-71
Box 8
Animal Kingdom
Oct/Nov 1974
Box 8
Atlas of World History
1997
Box 8
The Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth - Libretto
Box 8
Beckmann & Geretty Shows
1940s
Box 8
Bentley Bros. Circus
1989
Box 8
Big Apple Circus
2002-2003
Box 8
Book of Spiels and Stunt Promoter
Box 8
Buffalo Bill's Wild West
1971
Box 8
Canadian International 3-Ring Circus
Box 21
Canadian Tire Presents Gong Gong
Box 8
Circo Atayde Hnos.
1964, 1966
Box 8
Circus Model Builders
1960, 1968
Box 8
The Circus Modeler
Sept - Oct 1945
Box 9
The Circus Monthly Illustrated
Sept 1, 1961
Box 9
Circus Review
1953, 1956, 1957
Box 9
Circus Trains Trucks & Models
Box 9-11
Circus World Museum
1963-93
Box 14
Circus World Museum- calendar
Box 10
Classic Toy Trains
Nov 2004
Box 10
Clyde Beatty Circus
1961-
Box 10
Clyde Beatty - Cole Bros. Circus
1936-2003
Box 10
Cole Bros. Circus
1939-2004
Box 10
Edgewater Beach Hotel
1960
Box 10
Egypt Temple Shrine Circus
1994
Box 35
Emmett Kelly, Jr. Calendar
1990, 1993, 1995
Scope and Content
Three color calendars featuring famous clown, Emmett Kelly, Jr.
Box 10
Eugene Shrine Club Polack Bros. Circus
1955, 1958
Box 21
Franzen Bros. Circus Coloring Book
1984
Box 10
Gibsonton Circus
1989, 91
Box 10
Great American Circus
1989
Box 10
The Great Moscow Circus
1994-1995
Box 10
International 3-Ring Circus
1976-80
Box 10
King Bros Circus
1947, 1950
Box 10
The King O Pole
1957, 1960
Box 15, 16
Life
1941-1980
Scope and Content
8 April 1946: "Life Visits the Circus in Florida"
9 February 1962: "High Tension, High Wire, Great Wallendas: Will They Make It?" (part by Karl Wallenda)
30 March 1962: "Tiny World of Big Top: A Model Circus That Has Everything" (2 issues)
20 February 1970: "The Funniest College on Earth" by William Zinsser
March 1980: "The Mighty Mickey: A Great Old Pro Burlesques It Up On Broadway" by Jim Watters and Gregory Heisler (photographer)
Box 10
The Life of Tom Mix
1936, 1937
Box 11, 24, 25
Little Circus Wagon
1957-2006
Box 16
Look
1953-1954
Scope and Content
28 July 1953: "Circus Story"
26 January 1954: "Safari" by Ernest Hemingway
29 June 1954: "Circus Girl"
Box 11
LuluTemple Shrine Circus
1942
Box 11
Martin Bros Trained Animal Circus
Box 11
Mechanix Illustrated
Aug. 1938
Box 11
Midian Temple's Shrine Circus
1946
Box 11
Mike's Model Shop Calendar
1984
Box 12
Model Railroader
July 1946
Box 12
Mountain Gorillas in the Zoological Garden (San Diego Zoo)
1931-1940
Box 12
National Geographic School Bulletin
April 1967
Box 12
National Geographic World
Sept. 1982
Box 12
Notre Dame vs. Great Lakes
Nov. 3, 1943
Box 12
The Old West
May 21, 1990
Box 12
Oregon Electric Railway
Oct. 23, 1955
Box 12
The Outdoor Showsman
1969
Box 12, 16
Polack Bros. Circus
1946-1973
Box 12
Polack Bros. Shrine Circus
1943
Box 12
Popular Science
1933, 1937, 1940
Box 16
Picture Post
Jan 11, 1947
Box 16
Post
26 October 1963
Scope and Content
"Soviet Circus Wows the U.S.A." by Bill Ballantine
Box 12
Railroad Model Craftsman
Sept 1970
Box 12
Readers Digest
March 1976
Box 12
Ready Made Signs for Safety
Box 16
The Reithoffer Dynasty
circa 1978
Scope and Content
2 copies of "A New Ride Reference Book."
Box 57
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus- Braille
Scope and Content
16- page booklet in Braille. Title and description on the front cover: "Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents
the 100th Edition of THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH, Produced by Irvin Feld and Kenneth Feld, RED UNIT, Embossed by National Brailled
Press, Boston Massachusetts."
Box 12, 17-21
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1936-2005
Box 12
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows
Box 12
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows (Calendar)
1987
Box 12
Robbins Bros. Circus with Hoot Gibson
1938
Box 19
Roberts Bros. Circus
1991-1994
Box 12
Russell Bros Big 3-Ring Circus
1942
Box 12
Saga: The Magazine for Men
May 1962
Box 12
Sarasota International Circus Festival & Parade
1992-97
Box 12
Show Business Illustrated
Oct. 1961
Box 13
Showfolks of Sarasota
1978-95
Box 13
Shrine Club Polack Bros. Circus
1953
Box 13
Star Circus Supplies Catalogue
Box 13
Statet Farm Calendar
1973
Box 13
Texaco Calendar
1967, 1972
Box 13
The Train Yard
July/August 1992
Box 13
True: the Man's Magazine
August 1955
Box 13
Wenatchee Youth Circus
1968-77
Box 13
The White Tops
1933-95, 2001-2002
Box 13
Wisconsin Dells Territory
1981
Box 13
Yankee Patterson Benefit Circus
April, 1941
Box 13
0-Gauge Rail-Roading
June, 1992
Box 13
101 Ranch Wild West Circus
Box 13
The 1994 Indoor Circus Spectacular
Subject Files
Scope and Content
The files in this series are organized into two chief subseries: by name of circus and by topic. Within each subseries, the
files are arranged alphabetically. The circus files contain articles, clippings, ephemera, etc. pertaining to specific circuses
such as Clyde Beatty or Ringling Brothers. The subject files consist mainly of articles and ephemera on topics such as circus
animals, clowns, etc. There is some overlap with the series called "Clippings" so both series should be consulted if researching
a particular circus or topic.
Box 26, Folder 2
Big John A. Strong Circus
Box 26, Folder 3
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
Box 26, Folder 7
Clyde Beatty & Cole Bros. Circus
Box 26, Folder 9
Cristiani-Wallace Bros. Circus
Box 26, Folder 10
Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
Box 26, Folder 16
Kelly & Miller Bros. Circus
Box 26, Folder 25
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (1 of 3)
Box 26, Folder 26
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (2 of 3)
Box 26, Folder 27
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (3 of 3)
Box 26, Folder 47
The American Circus Corporation
Box 27, Folder 4
Circus Historical Society
Box 27, Folder 7
Circus Model Builders (1 of 3)
Box 27, Folder 8
Circus Model Builders (2 of 3)
Box 27, Folder 9
Circus Model Builders (3 of 3)
Box 27, Folder 10
Circus Organizations and Societies (Misc.)
Box 27, Folder 11
Circus World Museum (1 of 2)
Box 27, Folder 12
Circus World Museum (2 of 2)
Box 27, Folder 16
Miniature Carousel Builders (1 of 2)
Scope and Content
White binder, newsletter titled "Horse Tales"
Box 27, Folder 17
Miniature Carousel Builders (2 of 2)
Scope and Content
White binder, newsletter titled "Horse Tales"
Box 27, Folder 30
Tickets- Misc. (Single Tickets)
Clippings
Scope and Content
This series is comprised of articles, ads, etc. clipped from magazines and newspapers as well as a few entire newspapers such
as
The Daily Californian (1978, 1986). Like the subject files, the clippings files are organized both by circus and by topic, in additiion to some
complete newspapers and several scrapbooks.
Box 28
The Daily Californian
14 January 1986
Scope and Content
This newspaper is a complete edition, with the front section (and front page) featuring an article on Ralph Rodgers and his
miniature circus replicas, part of one which is depicted in a photograph. The second page features a photograph of Ralph Rodgers
himself and includes the story of how he, after he retired from San Diego Gas & Electric, actually ran away to the circus
for a few months. 3 copies.
Map-case 6, Drawer 2
The Morning Oregonian
3 Nov 1905
Box 57, Folder 1
The Asahigraph
25 Nov 1925
Language of Material: Japanese
Scope and Content
24- page pictorial newspaper in Japanese with a few English captions.
Clippings Organized by Circus
Box 29
Al G. Barnes & Sells-Floto Combined Circus
18 & 19 November 1938
Box 29
Al G. Kelly & Miller Bros.
Box 29
The American Crown Circus
1998
Box 29
Barnum's Kaleidoscope
2000
Scope and Content
UTC La Jolla Jan 19-Feb 11, 2000 "On the 19th of January Kevin and I searched all over La Jolla Show and never found--think
they cancelled the date"
Box 29
Big Apple Circus
2000
Scope and Content
Stage Show May 30-June 4, 2000
Box 29
Big John Strong
1968-1995
Box 30
Cheval Theatre
4 October 2001
Scope and Content
Equestrian Extravaganza! Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
Box 28, 30
Carson & Barnes Circus
1966-1995
Box 30
Circus Chimera
2000
Scope and Content
Lemon Grove, CO November 1 & 2, 2000
Alpine, CA February 24-26
Box 31
Cirque Du Soleil
1987-2004
Box 31
Cirque Eloize
2002
Scope and Content
Escondido Performing Arts Center October 24-27, 2002
Box 31
Cirque Ingenicux
1998
Scope and Content
San Diego, CA November 25-29, 1998
Box 28, 31
Cristiani Bros. Circus
Scope and Content
San Diego, CA September 4-6, 1958
Box 31
Clyde Beatty Railroad Circus
1956
Box 31
Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus
1966-1995
Box 31
Cole Bros. Circus
Scope and Content
El Mira, NY June 10-?, probably early 1940s
Box 31
Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
Box 31
Fern Street Circus
Scope and Content
Balboa Park, San Diego, CA May 27-June 4
Box 31
Gainesville Community Circus
Box 31
The Great Moscow Circus
1994
Scope and Content
San Diego, CA Wednesday October 12-Sunday October 16, 1994 "A very remarkable show"
Box 31
Jordan International Circus
1993-1995
Scope and Content
Lakeside, CO November 3-5, 1995 Al Bahr Shrine
Box 31
Kelly-Miller Bros. Circus
Box 31
Polack Bros. Circus-Rudy Bros. Circus
Box 31
Rice Bros.-Allen King Circus
Box 29, 33, 34
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1939-2005
Box 34
Robbins Circus
7 October 1938
Scope and Content
Tampa, FL
Box 34
Royal Lipizzan Stallion Show
1970
Scope and Content
Sports Arena July 7-9, 1970
Box 34
United Nations Circus
20 April 1963
Scope and Content
Manchester, GA
Box 34
Buffalo Bill's 101 Ranch Wild West Show
Clippings Organized by Topic
Box 30
Models and Model Builders
Box 30
Wild Animal Shows and Parks
Box 35, Binder 1
A: Al G. Barnes; Al G. Barnes-Sells Floto
Scope and Content
Wagons, Trucks
Wagon Lists, Loading Lists
History
Tent Info
R.R. Cars
General Info
Box 35, Binder 2
B: Barnum; Barnum & Bailey
Scope and Content
Wagons, Trucks
Wagon Lists, Loading Lists
Parade Lists
History
Tent Info
R.R. Cars
General Info
Box 35, Binder 3
D: Dailey Bros.; Downie Bros.
Scope and Content
Dailey Bros:
Wagons, Trucks
Wagon Lists, Loading Lists
History
Tent Info
R.R. Cars
General Info
Downie Bros:
Wagons, Trucks
Wagon Lists, Loading Lists
History
Tent Info
R.R. Cars
General Info
Banner Lines
Box 35, Binder 4
R: Robbins Bros.
Scope and Content
Wagons, Trucks
Wagon Lists, Loading Lists
History
Tent Info
R.R. Cars
General Info
Box 35
Newspaper Photographs 1 & 2
Scope and Content
Photograph album-style scrapbooks with black pages. Newspaper photos of circus performers and circus scenes from the 1930s.
Box 35
Newspaper Photographs 3
1950s-1960s
Scope and Content
Soft-cover (paper) scrapbook of mainly loose clippings of magazine and newspaper articles and photos. Clippings were kept
within the pages of the scrapbook rather than dispersed to clipping files by circus or topic in order to preserve the context
and time period in which they were collected.
Box 35
Newspaper Photographs 4
1950s-1960s
Scope and Content
Soft-cover (paper) scrapbook (missing back cover) containing newspaper photos, ads, and short articles pertaining to the circus.
Circuses represented include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Clyde Beatty, Big John Strong, James Bros., King Bros., Cristiani
Bros., and Bell Bros.
Box 39
Newspaper Photographs 5
1930s
Scope and Content
Fragile scrapbook with very brittle & crumbling pages. Most of the pages consist of newspaper photographs of circus animals,
performers, and circus scenes from the 1930s. Some of the pages have pencil and crayon drawings of circus wagons and other
structures, presumably drawn by Ralph Rodgers. There are many loose clippings near the back of the scrapbook (not glued to
the pages).
Photographs
Scope and Content
This large series consists of 7 boxes of photographs and negatives, and 22 photo albums. Most of the photo albums are not
labeled and are given artificial numbers for the purpose of matching the location of the photo album with its descriptive
information. The photographs which are in files rather than in albums are organized by topic or circus, with "sets" of photographs
kept together as they were in their original envelopes whenever possible. The files are arranged alphabetically.
Box 36
Photo Album "1"
1970s (Most)
Scope and Content
Most of the photos are in plastic photo pages in a green 3-ring binder. Pages at the back are green scrapbook pages with photos
glued directly onto the paper. Most of the photos are candid color photos of circus events and animals (1970s?); the business
card of Lou Kreischer is in one of the photo pockets. There are some black and white 8 x 10 photos in the album also including
many of clowns. One of them is autographed to "Lou" by Diamond Jim Parker. Most of the 8 x 10 photos as well as those pasted
on green paper are of clowns.
Box 36
Photo Album "2"
1908-1946
Scope and Content
This album is a white 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos pasted onto black paper inside the photo pages. The
first twenty-six photos appear to be of a Ringling Brothers circus parade in 1909. People are riding horses, elephants, and
camels in the parade. There are nine small black and white photos of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus in 1920.
Next, there are 12 parade photos of the Ringling Bros. Circus in 1908 taken in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The following 20
photos depict the ruins after a fire of a RB & BB circus in Hartford, Connecticut in 1944. The last 13 photos in the album
are RB & BB circus wagons in Greenville, South Carolina in 1946.
Box 36
Photo Album "3"
1900-1942
Scope and Content
This album is a 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos affixed to black paper. The first group of 12 photos is
labeled "Christy Wagon Set." The next 14 photos are labeled "World Jungle Compound Set: Thousand Oaks, CA." The following
4 photos are of Al G. Barnes circus wagons in 1934. The remainder of the album consists of photos from the Forepaugh & Sells
Bros. Circus (circa 1900), Cole Bros. Circus (1942), and the Sells-Floto Circus (undated, but starring Tom Mix).
Box 36
Photo Album "4"
1930-1973
Scope and Content
This album consists of two green 3-ring binders with plastic photo pages. The photos are pasted onto black paper. The photos
are of different types of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus wagons. There are several sheets of folded paper tucked
into the front pocket of the first green binder (Album 4 part 1). Most of the photos in the album are labeled--the papers
contain a key for this labeling system and give a description and a date for each photo.
Box 36
Photo Album "5"
1916-1943
Scope and Content
This album is a white 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos pasted onto black paper inside the photo pages. The
first eighteen photos are of Al G. Barnes circus wagons, animals, and signs, taken in 1939. The next twenty-four photos, taken
in 1934, depict Al G. Barnes wagons, signs, and elephants. Two of the photos in the set show a tent being set up. Then there
are thirty-nine photos from 1935 of Cole Bros. as well as Cole Bros. with Clyde Beatty Circus wagons and signs. The set also
includes several photos of animals. The following nine photos depict a 1939 Cole Bros. circus and parade. Then there are eleven
photos of LaTena Circus horses and wagons in Ithaca, New York on May 19, 1916. There are three photos of Howe’s Great London
Circus, all from 1920, in different states: Carlisle, PA; Sikeston, MO; East Port, ME. Then there are ten photos of horses
dragging Sparks circus wagons and people at Sparks Circus in Ithaca, NY in 1916. The next photo page contains a letter handwritten
on lined notebook paper. The letter is dated 1943 and is two pages long; the second page has writing on both sides. It was
written by F.M. Farrell to J.A. Shields in Ithaca, NY and appears to be a response to a request for photos of LaTena and Sells-Floto
circuses. The writer also describes a 1923 Al G. Barnes and a 1943 Cole Bros. show he saw. After the letter, there are forty-four
photos from 1917 in different New York and Massachusetts cities. They show R.T. Richards circus performers, animals, and wagons.
Next, there is one photo of what appears to be an advertisement for a Howe’s Great London show in Haverhill, Massachusetts,
taken in 1920. There are nine Sells-Floto photos from Ithaca, NY in 1919. The last set of photos in the album are of Hagenbeck-Wallace
wagons in 1934.
Box 36
Photo Album "6"
1927-1938
Scope and Content
This album is a white 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos pasted onto black paper inside the photo pages. First,
there are seven photos of Campbell Bros. performers, animals, and advertisements. Then there are twenty-four photos, including
some of Cole Bros. trains, horses, and performers. The next fifteen photos depict Arthur Bros. trains, train cars, and tents.
Next, there are thirty-five photos of Al G. Kelly and Miller Bros. trucks, animals, and performers. There is a set of thirty-five
photos of Robbins Bros. wagons containing animals or on trains. The next set, from 1927, also depicts the Robbins Bros. Circus
in what seems like a parade. The set also includes a few photos of animals and of wagons being unloaded from trains. Then
there are six photos of Sells-Floto wagons in Long Beach, CA. There are thirteen photos of Hagenback-Wallace wagons in Long
Beach in 1938. The last eight photos in the album show a Robbins Bros. parade.
Box 36
Photo Album "7"
1922-1946
Scope and Content
This album is a white 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos pasted onto black paper inside the photo pages. The
first photo page contains a two-sided handwritten 1946 letter from Charles Philip Fox to J.A. Shields regarding a photo trade
agreement. There seem to have been several photos of various circuses (including Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Hagenbeck-Wallace,
Al G. Barnes and Sells-Floto) enclosed with the letter. The first eleven photos are of spectators, animals, and wagons at
a Cole Bros. Circus in 1937. Then there are twenty-five photos of Hagenbeck-Wallace wagons, horses, and a parade. Next are
sixteen photos of a 1923 circus parade. There are eight photos of John Robinson Circus workers in 1922. The following eight
photos depict Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus horses in 1936. These photos are labeled “from CP Fox” and are presumably some of the
photos mentioned in the letter at the front of the album. After that, there are twenty-two photos from 1922 of a Sparks Circus
parade and wagons, camels, zebras, and elephants. Then there are eighteen photos from 1925 of Sells-Floto clowns, performers,
and spectators. The last fourteen photos are of a Sparks Circus parade.
Box 36
Photo Album "8"
1939-1969
Scope and Content
This album is a white 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos pasted onto black paper inside the photo pages. All
of the photos depict Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey train cars and tractors. There are a few sheets of paper tucked into
the back of the binder. These papers use the letter-number labels handwritten on the photos to match each photo with a description
and a date.
Box 37
Photo Album "9"
1929-1937
Scope and Content
This album is a white 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos pasted onto black paper inside the photo pages. The
first thirty-six photos are of Al G. Barnes circus animals, mostly elephants, horses, zebras, and camels. Then there are fifteen
photos from 1937 of Al G. Barnes and Sells-Floto wagons that contain animals. The next sixty photos are of the Al G. Barnes
and Sell-Floto Combined Circus, taken in approximately 1929. Most of the photos in this set are of wagons.
Box 37
Photo Album "10"
1903-1946
Scope and Content
This album is a white 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos pasted onto black paper inside the photo pages. The
first set of photos is from 1938. They depict Robbins Bros. wagons on trains, people watching the trains getting unloaded,
and a circus parade. The next twenty-one photos, from 1946, are of Clyde Beatty train cars and elephants. Then there is a
set of twenty-six photos, some of a Clyde Beatty and Russell Bros. performance, others of circus trucks and animals. The following
set of photos is of the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1914. Most of these photos depict performers on horseback and horses pulling
wagons. There is also what seems to be a holiday card from 1951 with a photo of the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1903 on it.
Then there are five photos of a 1913 Gentry Bros. Dog and Pony Show; a photo of Ringling Bros. horses pulling a wagon in Cincinnati,
OH in 1917; a photo of an 1897 parade with lots of elephants, labeled “Adam H. Paul”; and a photo from 1922 of Howe’s Great
London horses and a wagon.
Box 37
Photo Album "11"
1917-1948
Scope and Content
This album is a white 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos pasted onto black paper inside the photo pages. The
first seventy-one photos are from 1945. They consist of Dailey Bros. advertisements, trains, circusgoers, performers, and
elephants. The next twelve photos were taken at Fair for Britain in 1948 and the Terrell Jacobs Circus in 1942. These photos
are mainly of elephants, performers, and the circus tents. Next, there are two photos of Robbins Bros. wagons and a Clyde
Beatty train, taken in 1938. Then there is one 1922 photo of a Gollman Bros. circus. There are two photos from 1935 of the
Rice Bros. Circus, then three photos of a Downie Bros. parade and trucks. There is one 1941 photo of what appears to be a
Cole Bros. float. The following three photos were taken in 1924 and are of Sells-Floto animals and wagons. The next two are
photos from 1926, of a wall of Christy Bros. advertisements. There is a blank page, then three photos of a Barnum & Bailey
parade and train at Birmingham, Alabama in 1917. Next are two 1938 photos of Al G. Barnes and Sells-Floto train cars in Tennessee.
Then there are six photos of Budweiser horses in San Diego in 1947. Lastly, there are six photos from a fair in 1946 that
are not associated with any particular circus.
Box 37
Photo Album "12"
1915-1938
Separated Materials note
This album is a 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos affixed to black paper. The first nine photos are of the
John Robinson Circus in 1925. Then there are forty-nine photos of Sells-Floto wagons, tents, workers, horses, and other animals
in 1926. Next are seventeen photos of a 1915 Sells-Floto ticket office and workers, performers, and wagons. The following
twenty photos depict horses and Hagenbeck-Wallace wagons. After that are seventeen photos of Cole Bros. animals and wagons
in 1936. The next twenty-two photos are of Cole Bros. horses, elephants, wagons, and spectators in 1935. Then there are eight
1915 photos of Sells-Floto performers, elephants, and other animals. The next set of nine photos is also of the Sells-Floto
circus, but in 1917. The set includes photos of a parade and spectators. Next are eleven photos of a 1938 Robbins Bros. parade
and performances in a tent. Then there are fourteen photos of Howe’s Great London wagons, spectators, and clowns in 1921.
The last twelve photos in the album show Christy Bros. wagons and caged animals.
Box 37
Photo Album "13"
1910-1942
Scope and Content
This album is a 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos affixed to black paper. The first sixty-two photos are of
the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus from 1933 to 1938. Most are of wagons, and a few are of animals, mostly teams of horses. The
next forty-two photos depict Robbins Bros. trains, wagons, and animals in 1938. Then there are fifteen photos of a 1939 Cole
Bros. Circus parade. After that are three photos of what seems to be a Col. Palmers parade. Next are twelve photos of Buffalo
Bill and Pawnee Bill’s Great Far East Show. There are ten photos of a 1910 Yankee Robinson parade and some clowns. The last
twenty photos are of the Terrell Jacobs Wild Animal Circus, taken in Ontario, Canada in 1942. They show elephants, campers,
wagons, and the entrance to the circus.
Box 37
Photo Album "14"
1937-1941
Scope and Content
This album is a 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos affixed to black paper. The first thirty photos are mostly
of Cole Bros. train cars in 1941. The next twenty-eight photos are mostly of 1937 Cole Bros. wagons. One of them depicts a
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey wagon. The following twenty-five photos depict 101 Ranch Wild West advertisements, trains,
animals, and wagons. Then there are eleven photos of Al G. Barnes and Sells-Floto trains, wagons, and elephants, taken in
1937. Lastly, there are fifty photos of Al G.. Barnes trains, wagons, and horses.
Box 37
Photo Album "15"
1936-1952
Scope and Content
This album is a 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos affixed to black paper. At the beginning of the album are
two typed sheets of paper that appear to be a Cole Bros. inventory list of wagons and animals from 1944 and 1939. The first
five photos are of Clyde Beatty performers. Then there are twelve photos, mostly of Cole Bros. workers and train cars. Next
are eight photos of a hippo named “Puddles” taken in 1943 in San Diego, CA. Then there are nine photos of Cole Bros. elephants,
camels, and horses in Wausau, Wisconsin in 1939. The following set of fifteen photos depicts a James M. Cole Circus parade
in the same city, also in 1939. Then there are fifteen more photos of the Cole Bros. Circus in 1947, mostly showing trucks.
There are twenty photos of Wirth Circus performers in Allentown, PA in 1947. Next are fourteen photos, mostly of Sparks Circus
trucks and performers in 1947. After that, there twelve photos of the Holland Dutch Classic Circus in Allentown, PA in 1942,
then nine photos of the Prof. Geo Keller Wild Animal Act in 1944, also in Allentown, PA. There are two typed pages of what
appear to be lists of photographs, dated 1939 and 1936. After that are sixteen photos of the Cole Bros. Circus in Marshfield,
WI in 1939. There are twelve photos, mostly of lions and tigers performing in a large cage from the Terrell Jacobs Wild Animal
Act in Atlantic City, 1941. The following seven photos are of the Jack Hoxie Circus in 1937. There are twenty photos depicting
the Col. Tim McCoy Real Wild West show. Then there is a typed list of what appear to be descriptions of photographs. Next,
there are twenty-six 1952 photos of King Bros.-Cristiani trucks and a parade. Then there are eight photos of the Wallace Bros.
circus and performers in 1944. Then there are photos of animals and spectators from the Parker-Watts Circus in 1939, the Hagenbeck-Wallace
Circus in 1937, the Dailey Bros. Circus in 1947, and finally the Clyde Beatty Circus in 1945.
Box 37
Photo Album "16"
1899-1937
Scope and Content
This album is a 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos affixed to black paper. There are several lists of descriptions
of photos available for sale tucked into the front pocket of the album. The first six photos in the album are of women on
horses, from the Cole Bros. Circus in 1935. Next are fifteen photos of a Sparks Circus parade in 1927. Then there are fifteen
photos of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus in Decater, IL. There are two photos from the Terrell Jacobs Circus in 1912. Next are
fourteen photos of 1938 Hagenbeck-Wallace elephants, tents, and trains. The following twenty photos are smaller, mostly of
Al G. Barnes animals. Then there are six 1912 photos of Howe’s Great London show in Ontario. There are eight photos of the
Buffalo Bill show in 1911, then five of Forepaugh and Sells Bros. tents in 1910, three of the Ringling Bros. Circus in 1913,
and three of the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1912. There is one photo each of a 1934 Hagenbeck-Wallace animal wagon; a 1929
Sparks Circus in Milwaukee, WI; Walter Main Circus flats being unloaded in 1918; Gollmar Bros. elephants in 1910; 101 Ranch
Wild West Side Show spectators in 1911; and a 1910 Howe’s Great London tent. Then there are three photos of the John Robinson
Circus in 1899 and 1901, one photo of 1914 Sells-Floto spectators in California, and finally three photos taken in Birmingham,
AL of a Barnum & Bailey wagon and spectators in 1913 and 1901.
Box 38
Photo Album "17"
Scope and Content
This album is a white 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages. On the bottom half of each page in the album is one photo of
a circus wagon. The top half of each page contains a detailed description of the wagon typed on yellow paper. There are many
types of wagons from various circuses represented in this album.
Box 38
Photo Album "18"
Scope and Content
This album is a 3-ring binder with a tan pebbled-sand print on the front, edge, and back and the word TECHITE in red on the
front and edge. It contains plastic photo pages and color photos affixed to black paper. The first twelve photos are of performers
in the Wenatchee Youth Circus in Wenatchee, WA. Then there are sixteen photos of The Pickle Family Circus performances. The
rest of the photos are all of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the San Diego Sports Arena. Most are of performances,
and there are some photos of clowns and some of the parking lot.
Box 38
Photo Album "19"
1926-1937
Scope and Content
This album is a white 3-ring binder with plastic photo pages and photos affixed to black paper. The first seven pages are
of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey train cars and correspond to some of the lists of descriptions that are tucked into
the front pocket of the album. However, several of the lists of photo descriptions do not appear to match any of the photos
in the album. After the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey photos, there are thirty-nine photos of Al G. Barnes & Sells-Floto
advertisements, trains, and wagons. Then there are another twenty-one photos of Al G. Barnes & Sells-Floto turcks, trains,
and wagons in 1937. The following set of photos depicts Clyde Beatty-Russell Bros. Circus trucks and animals. Next, there
are forty-six photos of a 101 Ranch Wild West parade. The last set of thirty photos shows Sparks Circus animals and wagons
in 1926.
Box 38
Photo Album "20"
1960s (Most)
Scope and Content
This album is a white 3-ring binder. Photos are glued onto black paper. Subjects of photos include circus aerialists, clowns,
acrobats, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus wagons, Circo Bell's Hnos. wagons, A.G. Barnes circus wagons, Diamond
Jim Parker, Westgate Park in San Diego. Many of the 8 x 10 black and white photographs of clowns are autographed to Everett
M. Smith. Most of the photographs appear to be from the early 1960s.
Box 38
Photo Album "21"
Scope and Content
This red three-ring binder consists of 27 double-sided black photo pages of 4 x 5 color photos, most of them appearing to
be from one particular circus show., most likely Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. The photos depict clown acts, aerialists,
acrobats, animal tricks, people riding elephants, etc. Some of the last few pages consist of photos which have been "tagged"
with names: Lou Jacobs, Jim Parker, etc.
Box 39
Photo Album "22"
Scope and Content
Scrapbook-style photo album with black pages and adhesive "corners"; many photos loose. All black and white photos, most unidentified.
Several of Cole Bros. and Clyde Beatty's circuses-- mainly photos of wagons, tents, and animals.
Box 40, Folder 1
Aerialists and Trapeze Artists
Box 40, Folder 2-3
Al G. Barnes Circus
193[?]
Box 40, Folder 4-8
Al G. Barnes and Sells-Floto Circus
1934, 1938
Box 40, Folder 9-10
Al G. Kelly & Miller Bros. Circus
March 1961, December 1971, October 1979
Box 40, Folder 15-17
American Showtime Circus
January 2, 1989
Box 40, Folder 19
Atayde & Circo Union [MEXICAN]
Box 40, Folder 22
Barnum's Kaleidoscope
May 1999
Box 40, Folder 29
Beverly Park, Los Angeles, CA
1950
Box 40, Folder 30-31
Big John Strong
November 1962, 1981
Box 40, Folder 32
Bob Hunting's Circus
1894
Box 40, Folder 34
Bud E. Anderson's American Victory Circus
1945
Box 40, Folder 35
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
1893
Box 40, Folder 38-41
Carnivals
February 10, 2001
Box 40, Folder 43-46
Carson and Barnes Circus
December 1967, 1993, 1997
Box 40, Folder 47
Christy Bros. Circus
October 1967
Box 40, Folder 53
Circus Eos [CANADIAN]
2002
Box 40, Folder 54-56
Circus Hall of Fame
1947-1956, 1971, 1981
Box 40, Folder 57-58
Circus Hall of Fame Wagons
1971
Box 40, Folder 60
Circus Model Builders Convention
1972
Box 40, Folder 83-85
Circus World Museum
July 1966, January 1969, 1990
Box 40, Folder 96
Clowns - Ernie "Blinko" Burch
Box 40, Folder 101
Clowns - Zapateen and Nikoleen
Box 40, Folder 102-104
Clyde Beatty Circus
1945-1956
Box 40, 41
Clyde Beatty & Cole Bros. Circus
1965-2002
Box 41, Folder 17-23
Cole Bros. Circus
July 1, 1945
Box 41, Folder 24
Cristiani Bros. Circus
October 1968
Box 41, Folder 26
Frank Crumrine Circus Crafts
Box 41, Folder 27-29
Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
March 1988, April 4 1996
Box 41, Folder 30
Dailey Bros. Circus
1945, 1948
Box 41, Folder 34
East County Fair
early 1960's
Box 41, Folder 35
Foley & Burke Shows/Carnival
1949
Box 41, Folder 41
Gentry Bros. Circus
190[9?], 1921
Box 41, Folder 42
Gollmar Bros. Circus
1947
Box 41, Folder 44-58
Great American Circus
March 4 1987, October 8 1988, 1991
Box 41, Folder 60-63
Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus
1962, 1967, 1968, 1969
Box 41, Folder 73
Hoxie and Great American Circus
Box 41, Folder 75-76
James E. Strates Carnival
2000-2001
Box 41, Folder 77-78
James E. Strates Shows
1971
Box 41, Folder 81
Jordan International
1990, 1993
Box 41, Folder 82
Jungleland, Thousand Oaks, CA
1964
Box 41, Folder 83
Kay's Circus
November 1967
Box 41, Folder 84
Kelly-Miller Bros. Circus
July 1961
Box 41, Folder 85-86
Kings Bros. Circus [MEXICAN]
Box 41, Folder 87
King Bros. & Cristiani Circus
May 23, 1953
Box 41-42
Model Builders and Models
1980-1998
Box 42, Folder 25
Pacific Ocean Park, Santa Monica, CA
Box 42, Folder 26-29
Parker Bros. - Jim Parker
Box 42, Folder 30
Paul Eagles' Circus Luncheon
Box 44
Photo Sets
1970s-1980s
Scope and Content
There are seven envelopes of color snapshots in this box-- kept together with the rolls of negatives that originally accompanied
them in ziplock bags. The subjects consist mainly of circus wagons from one or more circuses or parades. The first two envelopes
contain photos from a circus at Navy Pier in Chicago in what appears to be the 1970s.
Box 42, 43
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1945-1995
Box 43, Folder 33
Robbins Bros. Circus
1930s, 1960s
Box 43, Folder 34-41
Roberts Bros. Circus
1981-1996
Box 43, Folder 45-46
Rodgers Bros. Circus
1946-1954
Box 43, Folder 47-50
Royal American Shows
1986, April 2 1994, 1998
Box 43, Folder 51
Rudy Bros. Circus
March 1962,1977
Box 43, Folder 52
Sarasota, Fla. Circus Parade
1989
Box 43, Folder 52a
Sarasota Showfolks Circus
1988
Box 43, Folder 53
Sarasota Street Parade
1989
Box 43, Folder 54
Seil-Sterling Circus
1937-1938
Box 43, Folder 55-56
Sells & Gray Circus
1964, April 1972
Box 43, Folder 57-60
Sells-Floto Circus
1915, 1920-1929, 1928, July 1964
Box 43, Folder 62
Siebrand Circus & Carnival, AZ (McDonald Elephant Act)
1951
Box 43, Folder 67
Turner Bros. Circus
1957-1958
Box 43, Folder 69-73
Walker Bros. Circus
October 21 1995, 1998
Box 43, Folder 74
Wallace Bros. Circus
1922, 1940
Box 43, Folder 75
Wallace & Clark Circus
1960
Box 43, Folder 79-82
Williams-Althoff Circus
1970
Slides
Scope and Content
Most of the slides in this series came from boxes which had some identification -- usually the name of a circus. Those that
did not have identification were grouped in loose topics such as "circus wagons" or were put in folders as "Unidentified."
Box 45, Folder 1
Chicago- Views and Circus Parade
Box 45, Folder 2
Circus Hall of Fame
Scope and Content
Sarasota, Florida
Box 45, Folder 3
Circus Museum
1966 July 6
Scope and Content
Baraboo, Wisconsin
Box 45, Folder 5
Circus Parade #1
1966 July 4
Scope and Content
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Box 45, Folder 6
Circus Parade #2
1966 July 3
Scope and Content
Lake Front, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Box 45, Folder 8
Circus Wagons
1966 July 3-8
Scope and Content
Milwaukee Lake Front, Wisconsin
Box 45, Folder 12
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1970
Box 45, Folder 13
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1979
Scope and Content
San Diego, California
Box 45, Folder 14
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1979
Box 45, Folder 15
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1979
Box 45, Folder 16
Ringling Bros, Clyde Beatty, Cole Bros.
Scope and Content
Portland, Oregon
Box 45, Folder 17
Ringling Bros., Graham Bros., James Bros.
Scope and Content
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Los Angeles, California
James Bros: San Diego, California
Audio-Visual Materials
Scope and Content
Audio-visual materials in this collection range from old-fashioned reels of film and filmstrips to computer disks. Descriptions
for the audiocassette tapes, reel-to-reel audiotapes, and some of the videotapes were taken from notes written on the boxes
or the tapes themselves. Information for the film reels, filmstrips, phonograph records, computer disks, and the commercial
videotapes was copied from the commercial box or album cover. All of the items are circus-related, with much of the audio
materials consisting of circus and parade music.
Box 46
100 Birthday Performance of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Box 46
Barnum's Kaleidoscape
1999
Scope and Content
Feld's Under Canvas Show
Box 46
Calliope Music
Scope and Content
A: Calliope Music, Circus Music
B: Old Calliope Music at the Fair, Singing Ringmaster Harold Ronk
Box 46
Circus Family
Scope and Content
Del Molinas
Box 46
Circus Music
1977
Scope and Content
1: Ringling Bros.
2: Barnum & Bailey
Box 46
Circus Parade
1980 July 5
Scope and Content
Baraboo, Wisconsin
Box 46
Circus Sounds
1981 May 23
Scope and Content
1: Circus Sounds
2: Payoff for Ward Hall and Jay Marshall, 22 May 1981
Box 46
Circus Tapes
Scope and Content
A: Circus Tapes
B: Foreigner Circus
Box 46
Circus Vargas: West Covina, CA
1976 April 5
Box 46
Circus Vargas: Carlsbad, CA
1977 May 16
Scope and Content
Opening Night. Mr. Cliff Vargas announcing 1st half. Lights go out. Patron has heart attack in box seats. Side show in San
Diego.
Box 46
Circus Vargas: Carlsbad, CA
1977 June 16
Scope and Content
1: Circus Vargas
2: Side Show Blow Off and Performance
Box 46
Clyde Beatty
1978
Scope and Content
Roger Boyd- Rossi Band
Box 46
Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros: Miami, FL
1974 December
Box 46
Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros: Pensacola, FL
1993 October 2
Box 46
Cole Bros Circus: Akron, OH
1948
Scope and Content
Bandmaster: Henry Keys, Announcer: Harry Thomas
Box 46
Cole Bros Circus Band
Scope and Content
A: Charlie Scharlbaum- Cole Bros Circus Band. Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Band 1940 with Merle Evans as bandmaster.
B: Hope and Crosby sing their best.
Box 46
Cristiani Bros Circus Under Canvas
1959, 1955
Scope and Content
1: Cristiani Bros Circus Under Canvas 1959
3: Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus Under Canvas 1955. Miami, FL.
Box 46
Cristiani Bros Circus Under Canvas
Scope and Content
2: Cristiani Bros Circus Under Canvas 1959
Box 46
Fitch Bandwagon-NBC
1943 April 18
Scope and Content
Merle Evans- Ringling/Barnum Band
Box 46
Gatti-Charles Circus
1976 June 13
Scope and Content
Sunday Matinee. Civic Auditorium. San Francisco, CA.
Box 46
The Greatest Show on Earth
Scope and Content
Side 3 & 4
Box 46
Highlights of Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Scope and Content
With Ben Vereen
Box 46
King Bros Circus
16 March 1973
Scope and Content
Tallahassee, FL. 4 piece band. 4:00 PM matinee. Midway-sideshow-performance.
Box 46
King-Cristinani Circus Performance
1953
Box 46
Main Street Band Plays Circus
1993 December
Box 46
Movie GSOE [Greatest Show on Earth]
Box 46
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Blue Show
1976
Scope and Content
Opening spec
1. Polar bear got trained by Ursula Bottche
2. Elvan Bales motorcycle act
3. Bare Back Riders- Side two
4. Clowns
5. King Charles Troupe
6. Micki- smallest man
7. Teeter board
8. Berde Horses
9. Single Trapeze
Box 46
RBBB: Long Beach, CA
Scope and Content
#1 of 2
Box 46
RBBB: Long Beach, CA
Scope and Content
#2 of 2
Box 46
RB+BB: Long Beach, CA
Scope and Content
Kevin and Ralph.
Ursula Bottecher and polar bears act
Perch act
Elephants: Red, White, Blue Rampage
High wire
Flying trapeze
Closing spec.
Box 46
RB+BB Circus Under Canvas: Miami, FL
1955 November
Scope and Content
Sides 1 & 2
Box 47
RB+BB 1955 Performance: Miami, FL
1955, 1973
Scope and Content
Part 3 of RB+BB 1955 Miami, FL. Also includes Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros 1973 Springfield, OH.
Box 47
RB+BB 1955 Performance: Miami, FL
1955
Scope and Content
Merle Evans. Under canvas- big stars. Trevor Bale, Pinto Del Oror, Takeo Usia, the Nocks & Wendenys, Marion Shubert, Charlie
Miyoshi, Josephine Bersoni, Highwire & UNOS [?]
Box 47
Ringling: Long Beach, CA
1975
Scope and Content
Sides 3 & 4
Box 47
Ringling: Long Beach, CA
1975
Box 47
Ringling Bros- Blue
1984
Scope and Content
With Barbara Mandrell as host
Box 47
Screamers- Circus Music
Scope and Content
A tribute to Merle Evans
Box 47
Slitz Circus Parade
Scope and Content
40 Horse Hitch
Box 47
Sounds of the Circus
1999
Scope and Content
Circus Marches. South Shore Concert Band. Richad Whitmarsh.
Box 47
Sousa Marches
1985
Scope and Content
Boston Pops Orchestra. Arthur Fiedler, conductor.
Box 48, Reel 2
Circus Vargas
16 May 1977
Scope and Content
Opening Nite- Carlsbad, CA.
Cliff Vargas announcing 1st half- "Lights Go Out- Patron Has Heart Attack"
Side Show- Opening & Closing- San Diego, May 15
Box 48, Reel 3
Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros Circus
1 August 1973
Scope and Content
Charles Schlarbaum. Springfield, OH.
Box 48, Reel 4
Cole Bros
1948, 1962
Scope and Content
A lot of old circus music on this tape.
Side 1: Cole Bros 1948. Henry Kyes, Bandmaster. Harry Thomas, Director.
Side 2: Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey 1962 Program.
Last part Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey 1940 circus music
Box 48, Reel 5
Cristiani Bros Circus
1959
Scope and Content
Master Tape
Box 48, Reel 6
Cristiani Bros Circus
1959
Scope and Content
Daviso Duped on both sides
Box 48, Reel 7
GSOE [Greatest Show on Earth] Movie Soundtrack
1970-1973
Scope and Content
Side 1: GSOE Movie Soundtrack.
GSOE, L.A. Preview (July 1970)
GSOE, Preview (20 January 1971)
Side 2:
Geo Plimpton ABT TV Clyde Beatty Circus (2 February 1971)
GSOE Preview, Blue (27 February 1972)
GSOE Preview, Red (23 February 1973)
Box 48, Reel 8
King Brothers Circus
16 March 1973
Scope and Content
First part of tape bad, have patience.
4:00 PM Matinee. 4 piece band. Tallahassee, FL.
Midway-Sideshow-Performance.
Box 48, Reel 9
Leccion 2: A donde van?
Scope and Content
Ejercicios: Imitacion, Preguntas y Respuestas, Aplicacion, Reconstrucion, Naracion
Box 48, Reel 10
Maryland Ave School
Scope and Content
Both sides.
Side 1: Circus Music. Continuous (repetitive) circus band music for PTA carnival use, etc.
Box 48, Reel 11
Merle Evans
1946-1950
Scope and Content
Side 1: Merle Evans- Concert Lot of Oldies.
(Has music for Altoff tiger and horse act. Also, two songs played a lot on Dailey Bros Circus 1946-1950)
Side 2: Circus (old 78's)
Box 48
Mills Bros Circus
1948-1963
Scope and Content
Circus (RBBNB 1962, Cole 1948, Grott 1960, Mills 1963)
Side 1:
Mills Bros Circus (1963)
Elephants
Polack Bros Calliope (1963)
Polack Bros Circus (1959)
Henry Kyes, Director
Grotto Circus. Cleveland. (1960)
Carl Stern, PM Radio Show
Grotto Circus (1959)
Merle Evans, Director
Poem- Col. Harry Thomas
Side 2:
Cole Bros Circus (1948)
Henry Kyes, Director
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey (1962)
Merle Evans, Director
Box 48, Reel 13
Old Clyde Beatty Movie
Scope and Content
Side 1:
Shirley Temple
Ed Sullivan Salutes Irving Berlin
Side 2:
Finian's Rainbow
Old Clyde Beatty Movie- Track 2
RBBB- Artistic Gadfog
Box 48, Reel 15
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1955
Scope and Content
Time cut from original tape:
Nock
Moroski horses
Hawaii
Box 48, Reel 16
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1955
Scope and Content
Reel 1, 2 sides.
Box 48, Reel 17
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1955
Scope and Content
Reel 2, 1 side.
Good, starts with Charlie Moroski Liberty Act.
Box 48, Reel 18
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1951-1962
Scope and Content
Side 1:
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Evans (1962)
2nd half Ringling Bros 1951 Album
"Roll out the Sky" TV Show- Charles Van Dorn
The Cristiani Family on Cristiani Bros Circus
Polack Bros Circus. Henry Kyes, Cond/Dick Slayton. Cleveland (1951)
Announcer-Soundtrack-GSOE [Greatest Show on Earth] CB De Mille[?]
Box 48, Reel 19
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus Performance
1966
Scope and Content
Los Angeles, CA. Sports Arena.
Box 48, Reel 20
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus Performance
1966
Scope and Content
Master tape. Los Angeles, CA. Sports Arena.
Box 48, Reel 21
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey
27 July 1968
Scope and Content
Inglewood, CA. The Forum.
Running time: 2 hrs, 31 mins.
Box 48, Reel 22
Ringling Bros Circus Highlights 1968
22 March 1963
Scope and Content
Mike Douglas, MC.
Box 48, Reel 23
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey, Red Unit
1975
Scope and Content
Red Unit. Performance.
Long Beach, CA. 8:00 PM. 2 hrs, 45 mins.
(Wolfgang Holimair repeated side 2)
Box 48, Reel 24
Tribute to Merle Evans
17 March 1974, 1971
Scope and Content
Side 1:
Tribute to Merle Evans- 4 records
Side 2:
Tribute to Merle Evans- cont'd
Circus Clown Calliope (one side of record)
Watchee Youth Circus Band (1971)
Box 48, Reel 25
Unidentified
Scope and Content
3 reels of unidentified audiotape: 2 7-inch reels and 1 5-inch reel. Reels were left in their original boxes.
Box 49
119th Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1989 May 15
Scope and Content
Great Circuses of the World, 1989 July 2
Box 49
Big Apple Circus- New York
1988
Scope and Content
Box says "Big Apple Circus--New York, Christmas Show 1988. Actual tape says "Circus Kinoshita--Kyoto, Japan, Feb 26, 1987,
Great Circuses of the World."
Box 49
Bob's Train Layout
2003 February
Scope and Content
Before Feb. 2003 (54 mins)
After 2nd floor addition (7 mins)
Box 49
Buffalo Bill's Wild West
1994
Scope and Content
2-tape set
Box 49
Carson & Barnes Circus
1997
Scope and Content
1997 Carson & Barnes Circus (Run Away with C&B)
Wayne Franzen Memorial on CNN TV (1997 May 10)
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey special on "48 Hours" (1997 May 22)
Box 49
Circus Movies from Kent Ghirard
1982-1984
Scope and Content
Circus movies from Kent Ghirard put on video and copied by Jim Parker for Ralph Rodgers 1988 June 13-- Happy viewing Ralph.
Baraboo (1982)
Carson & Barnes (1982)
Circus World in Florida (1982)
Franzen Bros. Circus (1984)
Circus World Museum (1984)
Ringling Centennial Parade (1984) Baraboo
Parker Collection
Box 49
Circus Vagabonds
1996 January 14
Scope and Content
Various old time tent shows including Cole Bros. Circus train and lot scenes, copied 1996 January 14.
Box 49
Dory Miller's Funeral
1989-1999
Scope and Content
Dory Miller's Funeral (1999)
Assorted circuses (1989) Merriweather, Culpepper, Franzen Bros., Kelly-Miller, Hanneford, Great American Circus
Box 49
Duggan Bros.
Scope and Content
Arnold Maley CFA Tent No. 116. Atlanta, Georgia with Joe Bradbury-- video #5
Box 49
Emmett Kelly Jr's Circus
1981
Scope and Content
Starring Anthony Newley as the Ringmaster. Featuring Loretta Swit.
Box 50
George Hubler International Circus
1952
Scope and Content
George Hubler's Personal Tour, summer of 1952. Clyde Beatty Circus, World's Greatest Trained Wild Animal Show, Last Great
15 Car Railroad Show. Extra: 2nd Edition, contains stills of original Sparks Wagons and last draft horse team with Clyde Beatty.
Box 50
Great American Carnivals, Vol. 1
Box 50
Hagenbeck-Wallace, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Al G. Kelly-Miller Bros.
Box 50
John Wayne in Circus World
1964
Scope and Content
2-tape set
Box 50
Old Circus Scenes from 1920s
1920s
Scope and Content
Very old 1920s + Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Cole, Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus scenes. Copied 1988 July 13 by Jim Parker.
Box 50
Old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
1938-1940
Scope and Content
1938-1940s with Joe Bradbury. 1991.
Box 50
Old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Tape
1933
Box 50
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1940-1960
Scope and Content
1940s, 1950s, 1960s, Vol. 2.
Copied 1991 May from Jim Parker's collection.
Box 50
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1950s
Box 50
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey 133rd Edition Souvenir Video
2003
Box 51
Robbins Bros. Circus with Hoot Gibson
1938
Scope and Content
Season Highlights for 1938
Cole Bros. Circus and Clyde Beatty's Gigantic Trained Wild Animal Exhibition, Hagenbeck-Wallace, Col. Tim McCoy's Read Wild
West and Rough Riders of the World
Box 51
Sleepless in Sarasota
Scope and Content
George Hubler
Box 51
Son-of-Mud Shows, Vol. 2
Scope and Content
Wallace Bros, Dailey Bros, Austin Bros, Cyde Bros, Bud C. Anderson, Victory Circus, Cole Bros, Kelly-Miller 50's, Clyde Beatty
Railroad, King Bros, Arthur Bros, Austin Bros, Russell Bros, Stevens Bros, Famous Cole, Mills Bros, Grand Old Opry Circus,
and more, more, more...
Box 51
Toby Tyler Circus Documentary
1994
Scope and Content
American International Entertainment Corporation (Dick Garden) October 1994
Box 51
Tommy Hanneford Circus with Mark Karoly
1957
Scope and Content
Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Box 51
Weird Homes TV Show- Jim Parker's place
Box 47
Al G. Barnes
1937
Scope and Content
8 mm, 5 inches diameter. Non-commercial reel.
Box 47
Behind the Big Top
1943, 1967
Scope and Content
8 mm, 5 inches diameter. Copyright Warner Bros. Pictures, 1943; Adaptation @ copyright United Artists Corporation, 1967.
Box 47
Circus Jamboree
Scope and Content
8 mm film, 5 inches diameter. Castle Films.
Box 47
Circus Thrills: Great Acts of the Center Ring
Scope and Content
8 mm, 5 inches diameter. Castle Films.
Box 47
Downie-Barnett Circuses
1935
Scope and Content
8 mm film, 5 inches diameter. Plain box (non-commercial).
Box 47
Fun at the Circus
Scope and Content
8-mm film, 3 inches diameter. Castle Films, Produced by United World Films, Inc.
Box 47
The Greatest Show On Earth
1952
Scope and Content
8 mm film, 5 inches diameter. Film by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Charlton Heston, James Stewart, Betty Hutton. Volume 1 and
2 (2 reels).
Box 47
King of the Jungle
Scope and Content
8 mm, 5 inches diameter. Film with Buster Crabbe. Castle Films.
Box 47
Circus Family
Scope and Content
Five Families
SF 90
Produced by Scholastic Magazines, Inc.
Box 52
America - Steam Calliope Concert
Scope and Content
Side 1: "America - Steam Calliope Concert Side 2: "American - Steam Calliope Concert
Box 52
Brass Whistles Somers Steam Calliope
Scope and Content
Record only; no cover. Cuca Record. Sauk City, Wisconsin.
Box 52
Calliope Capers
Scope and Content
By Juanita Beck, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Box 52
Circus
Scope and Content
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Band Conducted by Merle Evans - Bandmaster 4 Record Set Set C-58 Columbia Records
Box 52
Circus Band
Scope and Content
Directed by Russell Darr. Clyde Beatty and Cole Bros. Under the Big Top.
Box 52
Circus Calliope
Scope and Content
Two record set. 1974
Box 52
Circus Calliope
Scope and Content
Recorded by Paul R. Eakins' Gay 90s Village, Inc. Artists: Gene Crump and Ted MArtin. 1972
Box 52
Circus Carnival Calliope
Scope and Content
Featuring the Circus Calliopes at Paul Eakins' Gay 90s Village. Sikeston, Missouri. 1961
Box 52
Circus Favorites
Scope and Content
The Sauk County Circus Band, directed by Frank L. Van Epps. "A Day in Old Milwaukee" circus parade.
Box 52
The Circus is in Town!
Scope and Content
Carl Stevens' Marching Band.
Box 52
Circus Music
Physical Description:
2 copies
Scope and Content
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's Band, conducted by Merle Evans.
Box 52
Circus Spectacular
Physical Description:
2 copies
Scope and Content
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, directed by Merle Evans.
Box 53
Circus Time
Physical Description:
3 copies
Scope and Content
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Band, conducted by Merle Evans.
Box 53
Clayton County Windjammers Holiday, Volume 1
Scope and Content
Jacket only; no record. Duggan Bros. Tent 116, Circus Fans Association of America presents Merle Evans.
Box 53
Clayton County Windjammers Holiday, Volume 2
Scope and Content
Duggan Bros. Tent 116, Circus Fans Association of America presents Merle Evans.
Box 53
The Clown and the Kids
Scope and Content
Words and Music by Tony Velona. Arranged by Artie Beck. Jazz Philharmonic of Sofia. The original sountrack from the motion
picture starring Emmett Kelly, co-starring Kathy Dunn and Burt Stratford.
Box 54
County Fair
Scope and Content
Ken Griffin at the Organ.
"Over the Waves."
"Whispering."
"Black Beauty March."
"Beer Barrel Polka,"
""In the Grand Old Summertime."
"I'm Confessin'."
Box 53
Crazy Calliope Music
Scope and Content
Featuring Margie Meinert at the Wurlitzer Steam Calliope. 1957
Box 53
A Day at the Circus with "Mr. Singing Ringmaster"
Scope and Content
Featuring Harold Ronk of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Arranged and conducted by Noel Regney. 1962
Box 54
De Wayne Bros Circus Presents Circus Melodies
Scope and Content
De Wayne Bros. Circus Circus Melodies Harry J. Jenkins - Circus Organist Side 1: 1. Calliope 2. Overture 3. The Trampolinists
4. Trapeze Artist 5. Military Ponies 6. The Clowns 7. The Aerial Ladders Side 2: 1. Overture 2. Trained Dogs 3. The Elephant
4. Trained Ape
Box 53
An Evening with Merle Evans, Part 1
Scope and Content
Record only; no cover. Mid-west Band and Orchestra Clinic and the "Old Pro's" Band. Recruited by Paul Yoder. 1968
Box 53
An Evening with Merle Evans, Part 2
Scope and Content
Record only; no cover. Mid-west Band and Orchestra Clinic and the "Old Pro's" Band. Recruited by Paul Yoder. 1968
Box 53
Jim Dale in the new musical Barnum
Scope and Content
Directed and staged by Joe Layton. Produced for records by Cy Coleman and Mike Berniker. 1980
Box 53
The Magic World of Circuses and Clowns
Scope and Content
Featuring Robert Q. Lewis as the narrator. Narration written by Richard Kleiner. Music by The Circus Band under the direction
of Hank Sylvern.
Box 53
March Along Polka Style
Scope and Content
Schell's Hobo Band
Box 53
Merle Evans in the Center Ring
Scope and Content
Record only; no cover. Presented by Duggan Bros. Tent #116
Box 53
Music from the Big Top
Scope and Content
With Merle Evans and his all-star band. Arranged by Merle Evans.
Box 53
The Ol' Calliope Man at the Fair
Physical Description:
2 copies
Scope and Content
The Sande & Greene Fun-Time Band. Created and produced by Bob Sande and Larry Greene.
Box 53
Old Time Circus Calliope
Scope and Content
Record only; no cover.
Box 53
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Band
Scope and Content
Conducted by Merle Evans.
Box 53
Samuel Bronston's Circus World
Scope and Content
Music composed and conducted by Dimitri Tiomkin
Box 53
Screamers Circus Marches
Scope and Content
Frederick Fennell conducting the Eastman Wind Ensemble.
Box 54
A Tribute to Merle Evans
Scope and Content
An Anthology of Circus Music New England Conservatory Series 5 Record Set
Box 53
Walt Disney's Story of Toby Tyler in the Circus
Scope and Content
Narrator: Henry Calvin.
Box 47
Greatest Show on Earth
2001
Scope and Content
CD-ROM disk of "The Greatest Show on Earth" by JumpStart Learning System.
Ephemera
Scope and Content
There are a few truly ephemeral items in this series such as circus decals and popcorn boxes, but the majority of the series
consists of colorful circus posters of many different circuses spanning at least five decades. Many of the older ones are
in poor condition due to their previous storage but were kept for their rarity or the short-livedness of the circus such as
the Dailey Bros. Circus in the 1940s.
Box 55
Decals
Scope and Content
Silver Springs, Florida; Circus World Museum (2)
Sarasota, Florida; flag, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (2 sheets, total of 4 stickers)
Box 56
Postcards
Scope and Content
This small box of postcards contains mainly circus-related cards, some addressed and some unaddressed. There are also 26 postcards,
grouped together in one envelope the way that Ralph Rodgers kept them, of European images such as locations in France, Austria,
Germany, etc. These cards were sent from clown Jake Posey to his wife between 1900 and 1908 when he was traveling with the
Barnum & Bailey circus and they were both in Europe.
Box 3
Popcorn Boxes
Scope and Content
Two cardboard popcorn boxes-- James Bros. Circus, and King Bros. Circus/ Sells and Gray
Box 3
Magazine posters and pictures
Scope and Content
Three large folded color posters; several small pictures torn from magazines and calendars. Most circus or animal-themed.
Box 55
Miscellaneous
Scope and Content
Membership cards for Ralph Rodgers and other small miscellaneous cards.
Box 57
Sign- Big John Strong Circus
Box 3
Stationery
Scope and Content
Unused writing paper and envelopes with various circus addresses and logos: Clyde Beatty--Cole Bros. Circus, Monte Carlo Festival
Cirque Spectacular, Culpepper-Merriweather Circus, Hamid Circus Royale, Royal Rajah Circus, Circus Model Builders and Owners
Association, The Great Hippodrome, The John Pawling Circus, The American Circus Corporation, California Circus Corporation,
Big John Strong, Karland's 3-Ring Magic Circus, Circus Vargas, Circus Historical Society, Bell Bros. Circus, Circus Fans Association
of America, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Jake Posey, Circus Genoa.
Box 3
Certificates
1957-1998
Scope and Content
Four membership certificates awarded to Ralph Rodgers:
1) Circus Historical Society, 1962
2) Circus Model Builders and Owners Association, 1957
3) World War II Memorial Society, 1997
4) Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, 1999 (with form letter from Thomas A. Pouliot, Commander-in-Chief)
Al G. Kelly & Miller Bros. Circus
The Circus
Scope and Content
Attatched to cover.
Sells-Floto Super Circus: 2nd Biggest Show on Earth, Sells-Floto Super Circus, The Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth,
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Forepaugh & Sells Brothers, Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, Ringling Bros: Big Bingo, Ringling
Bros
The Circus (laminated posters)
Scope and Content
Laminated.
Sells-Floto Super Circus: 2nd Biggest Show on Earth, Sells-Floto Super Circus, The Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth,
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Forepaugh & Sells Brothers, Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, Ringling Bros: Big Bingo, Ringling
Bros
Clyde Bros.-Cole Beatty Circus
Cristiani Wallace Bros. Circus
Egypt Temple Shrine Circus
International All-Star Circus
Miscellaneous Posters
Scope and Content
May all your days be circus days, Southwestern College (x2), West Coast Shows
Old Time Circus Posters
Scope and Content
Ringling Bros., Adam Forepaugh & Sells Bros., The Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth, Al G. Barnes Circus, The Great Adam
Forepaugh Shows
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Artifacts
Scope and Content
The materials in this series consist mainly of small items such as souvenir patches and exhibitor ribbons from model builder
conventions. There are a few plaques, frames, and metal circus signs, but most of the true circus model artifacts did not
come with the collection.
Box 55
American flags
Scope and Content
9 small American flags
Box 55
Ball-point pens
Scope and Content
13 ball-point pens with erasers: Big John Strong (5); Pat Rodgers and Rodgers Bros. (8)
Box 55
Button pins: Carson & Barnes
Scope and Content
2 circular yellow buttons for Carson & Barnes
Box 55
Cloth sign: Al G. Barnes
Scope and Content
Hand lettered and drawn sign for "The Al G. Barns Big 3-ring Wild Animal Circus. The show thats differnt." [sic]
Box 55
Patches
Scope and Content
6 patches: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey (3); Al G. Barnes Ring (3)
Box 59
Plaques & Frames
Scope and Content
Framed picture of a clown in a blue hat, yellow shirt, and red cape holding a white dog in one arm and pointing at it with
the other.
Plaques:
"Elephant Brass Band" (Ringling Bros., World's Greatest Shows)
"Twelve Different Kinds of Music" (depicts three teams of horses dragging three wagons)
Man standing on back of black horse. A crowd and a man on a stand holding a ring in background.
Newspaper print (International Allied Shows! Great London Circus. Electric Light!)
"Jumbo" (P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth & the Great London Circus combined with Sanger's Royal British Menagerie & Grand
International Allied Shows. Depicts a crowd of children on the back of an elepahnt. Large plaque.)
Patriotic circus wagon (large plaque, green/gray background, no words)
Box 55
Pocket buttons
Scope and Content
12 white metal pocket buttons with the words "We're going to the Shrine Circus" and pictures of a hippo, giraffe, tiger, and
man's head.
Box 58
Rodgers Bros. Circus: Sign
Scope and Content
Raised white wooden letters on orange cardboard background.
Box 60
Ceramic Clown Head
Scope and Content
Painted ceramic clown head. Three dimensional, but the back is flat and has a metal ring, presumably for hanging on a wall.
The face is flesh colored. Red nose, cheeks, and hair. Yellow and green hat and neck ruffle.
Box 60
License Plate: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Scope and Content
White metal license plate with red and blue stripes bordering the top and bottom. The numbers "1776" and "1976" run vertically
down the left and right edges. In the middle of the plate, there's a yellow blob with "Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Circus" in blue letters. Other words on the plate: "The greatest show on Earth," "Bicentennial Edition," and "The greatest
nation on Earth". There's a horse and rider outlined in blue near the left side and a small parade of elephants, people, and
horses in blue near the bottom.
Box 63
Metal Sign: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Box 55
Name badges and ribbons
Scope and Content
Most ribbons/badges indicate Circus Model Builders conventions with names of Ralph Rodgers or Mary Ann Rodgers. One ribbon
is for Louis W. Kreischer, Circus Historical Society National Convention, 1949.
Box 55
Playing cards: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Scope and Content
Deck of playing cards in plastic box. Has the words "Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey, Circus World" and a picture of two lions.
Box 57
Sign: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Box 58
Souvenir Pencil & Flag
Scope and Content
Long souvenir pencil with felt Ringling Circus Museum pennant attached.
Box 58
American Flag
Scope and Content
Small American flag on 18" stick.
Object 1
Trunk
Scope and Content
Metal red circus trunk with the lettering "Turner Bros. Dog and Pony Show."
Object 2
Trunk
Scope and Content
Large red metal trunk with lettering "Rodgers Bros. Circus."
Costumes and Textiles
Scope and Content
This series is comprised of a few articles of "circus clothing" and some large textiles that may have been used as banners
or blankets. It is not known who wore the clothing consisting chiefly of jackets, capes, and a pair of yellow pants. Also
included in this series are a few cloth (felt) pennants.
Box 61
Carson & Barnes Cap
Scope and Content
Trucker-style cap, yellow in front with red mesh and a red rim. Has the words "Carson & Barnes, America's largest wild animal,
Circus. Under the biggest big top on earth." There is a tiger depicted in the middle. A yellow braid runs along the bottom
of the front part of the cap, and the red rim has a thin yellow strip along the edge.
Box 71
Red Cape
Scope and Content
Red satin (?) short cape with gold trim and a metal clasp. Two slits at sides, presumably for arms. Large ruffle attatched
to top. The entire cape forms a semicircle when spread out.
Box 62
Red Cape
Scope and Content
Red satin short cape with gold trim and two metal clasps at collar. Slits in sides, presumably for arms. Large ruffle attatched
to top. The entire cape forms a semicircle when spread out.
Box 62
Red Jacket
Scope and Content
Red cotton jacket with yellow trim and metal buttons. Patches on the back and side.
Box 62
Red Jacket
Scope and Content
Red cotton jacket with yellow trim and metal buttons. Brownish stains near hem and on sleeves. Then number 19 is stamped in
black on the inside, near the collar.
Box 62
Red Jacket
Scope and Content
Red cotton jacket with yellow trim and metal buttons down right side. Trim extends up back in two lines along seams. Sections
of the trim on the bottom right and front left edges have been replaced in a paler yellow. Small patched hole on upper back.
Box 62
Red Military-style Jacket, metal buttons
Scope and Content
Red jacket with black military-stlye embellishments down the front and on sleeves. Black stripe around the waist, sleeve edge,
and collar. Plastic black buttons down left that would be hidden when jacket is buttoned. Two metal buttons on right side
and two on shoulders. Two black triangles on back. A broken yellow circle stitched on left chest area.
Box 62
Red Military-style Jacket
Scope and Content
Red jacket with black military-stlye embellishments down the front and on sleeves. Black stripe around the waist, sleeve edge,
and collar. Two black triangles on back. Plastic black buttons down left that would be hidden when jacket is buttoned. The
second button is broken. A full yellow circle stitched on left chest area. Tan lining on inside side panels and in sleeves.
Lining has a pocket on the right side with a black label: De Moulin Bros. & Co. Many moth holes.
Box 62
Red Military-style Jacket
Scope and Content
Red jacket with black military-stlye embellishments down the front and on sleeves. Black stripe around the waist, sleeve edge,
and collar. Two black triangles on back. Black plastic buttons down left that would be hidden when jacket is buttoned. The
second button is broken. Tan lining on inside side panels and in sleeves. Patches on sleeve edges. Metal clasp at collar.
Box 70
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Cap
Scope and Content
Red trucker-style cap with white mesh. Has a circular patch with the "Greatest Show on Earth" logo in the center, surrounded
by the words "Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus." The bottom side of the rim is green.
Box 70
Yellow Pants
Scope and Content
Dark yellow/gold velvety pants, with two lines of metal disks sewn in near the hems of the pant legs. Lining is a grayish-brown
color. The lining material extends above the velvety material and incorporates a drawstring and a metal clasp.
Box 62
Large RBB&B cloth
Scope and Content
Large piece of cotton (?) cloth printed with a repeating pattern of three clown heads surrounding the "Greatest Show on Earth"
logo and the words "Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus." The background is blue with white stars. The top edge of the
cloth is sewn down, the bottom edge is folded over and daped down with duct tape, and the side edges are unfinished.
Box 62
Small RBB&B cloth
Scope and Content
Rectangular strip of cotton (?) cloth. Same pattern as the large RBB&B cloth, but cut to frame two clown heads, the "Greatest
Show on Earth" logo, and the words "Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus." Less faded than the large RBB&B cloth.
Box 62
Taylor Ball/Peacock cloth
Scope and Content
Rectangle of cloth with unfinished edges. Across the top are the words "World's Greatest Show" and across the bottom are the
words "Taylor Ball Amazing Shows." The design also includes images of two peacocks, a clown, an ox (?), a dog/goat(?), and
two people on a bicycle. The background is brown.
Box 62
Miscellaneous Pennants
Scope and Content
Five felt pennants.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (small, red background, red and yellow words)
Famoso Circo Union: Mexico (small, red background, white border, white words)
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (large, blue border, lion)
Circus Vargas (large, white, blue words)
Jordan World Circus (large, light blue)
Box 67
Pennant: Culpepper & Merriweather
Scope and Content
White pennant with the words "Culpepper & Merriweather Great Combined Circus" and images of a clown, an elephant, and a man's
head in a top hat.
Box 69
2 large red and blue textiles
Scope and Content
2 large red and blue brocaded pieces of fabric-- possibly parts of tents or blankets for animals?
