Bandwagon, September 1956

Bandwagon, Vol. 6, September, 1956. Note: Only some articles are included in this online edition. Illustrations are not included. The Circus Historical Society does not guarantee the accuracy of information contained in the information in these online articles. Information should always be checked with additional sources.

The Circus - Milwaukee

Milwaukee has always been a good town for circuses. Of course it has always been known as a "Ringling Town," as the Greatest Show on Earth has outdrawn other shows.

However, in the fifty years before Ringling first visited Milwaukee, many circus caravans pulled in over the muddy roads to visit Wisconsin's largest city. Remember that when Wisconsin become a state we had only 250,000 people in the state and promising cities like Beloit with 750 people and Janesville with 350 were considered good circus towns.

Doubtless some small shows visited Milwaukee during the early years, but not until July 10 and 11, 1849 did a big show come in. They carried "comin in July" ads in the newspapers during April, May, and June so that no one would attend any other form of entertainment. This show was the Crane and Co. Great Oriental Circus and had many famous circus names such as Nixon, Kemp, Gardner, Lee, Lipman and others. Their band wagon was pulled by a ten horse camel team and the entrance to the city was something wonderful to see. The people stayed at the City Hotel on East Water Street and the Menominee on West Water. Large audiences attended both days.

The next year Raymond & Co. brought in their extensive menageries starring that great German animal trainer, Herr Driesbach. They played on the lot on Spring Street in the old Fourth ward on July 3 and 4, 1850 and gave three performances on the holiday. Remember this was a menagerie and not a circus.

On September 3 and 4, 185 1, R. Sands & Co. Hippoferaen Arena come in. Sands was an old circus man who always had a good show. The next year a Wisconsin show Older and Co. Great United States Circus with a star studded cast came on July 10, 1852. They had Volante, Mlle. Marietta the equestrienne, Chambers from Welche's circus, W. Cole, the acrobat and contortionist, and H. Buckley who was well known in Delavan. Only the month before on June 17 and 18, Raymond and Van Amburgh United came in with their double menagerie. They featured Van Amburgh and Mons. Crawford, the animal trainers, who were well known thruout America and England. With this show were those great elephants, Hannibal and Kaoloo-Alia. They carried a variety of animals and advertised a tented arena 300 x 100 ft. Again business was wonderful with a morning, afternoon and an evening show on Saturday.

In 1853 P. T. Barnums Grand Colossal Museum and Menagerie come in on July 30. Remember Barnum was not with this show. The promoters "rented" the name of his New York Museum for these tours. They featured Tom Thumb and had a great menagerie with many species of animals. The route of this show is interesting as this route (or reverse) is the one traveled by all these shows. Leaving Chicago July 25, they were in Wheeling 26, Waukegan 27, Kenosha 28, Racine 29, Milwaukee 30, Waukesha August 1, East Troy 2, Whitewater 3, Janesville 4, Union 5 and Madison August 6th. Can you imagine a team of elephants pulling a tank wagon with a hippopotamus thru the bottomless roads of that era!

On July 8, 1854, Franconis Hippodrome came to Milwaukee. They had been in Madison on July 4th with the largest audience ever seen at a circus up to that time.

On May 21 and 22, 1855, the Grand Olympic Arena and North American Circus played in Milwaukee. Here again we see familiar names, Mlle. Marietta, H. Buckley, Sol Lipman, Antonic Family, with Ned Kendall's Band. Oscar W. Hyatt was the agent for this show.

One hundred years ago this summer, Milwaukee had grown up. We had Christy's Minstrels playing at the theatre and an Uncle Tom's Cabin troupe attracting crowds each night. But on July 10 and 11 Herr-Driesbach and Co. Great Colossal Consolidated Circus and Menagerie, with the only living giraffe in America showed in Milwaukee.

This ends the era of 100 years ago, but one show came in in 1857 that deserves special mention. Spalding and Rogers Three Circuses Combined were in Waukesha on July 13, Milwaukee July 14 and 15, Racine 16, and Kenosha on the 17th, on their way to Chicago. This was a combination of their North American Circus, their Floating Palace Circus from the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and their New Railroad Circus. This is the first show that had traveled by railroad. They also had a forty horse team before the famous Jake Posey was born. The usual circus lot at Spring and Third Street was used, and the featured player was Madam Lake who later married Wild Bill Hickok and was widowed for the second time.

During the next few years the shows came in once or twice a year and we have a procession of great circus names from the period 1860 to 1870. Satterlee, Bell, John Davenport, Dr. James Thayer, the Melvilles, Buckley, Mabie, Weeks and countless others.

Then a new era began, In 1871 P. T. Barnum's Museum, Menagerie, and Circus took to the road, and was put on the rails the next year by that great showman, W. C. Coup, who received his early circus training at Delavan, Wisconsin. Naturally he brought the show to the midwest and they come to Milwaukee on October 3 and 4, 1872 and returned every two or three years. Other shows came on during this latter period of the century and the names of Forepaugh, Sells Bros., Main, Wallace, Buffalo Bill and others were well known.

The little wagon show owned by the Ringling Bros. of Baraboo, Wisconsin, started in 1884 and grew so rapidly that it became a railroad show in 1890. On May 22 & 23, 1891, they came to Milwaukee for the first time using their new title of Ringling Brothers World's Greatest Shows. This was now a twenty-two car show with a tent the size of our modern football gridiron. They carried one hundred thirty horses and ponies and a full menagerie, with a brilliant circus performance. The growth of this great show is too well known to need repeating. When the Ringling and Barnum shows united in 1919, they came back to Milwaukee in their first year and on August 21, we saw the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows. The Greatest Show on Earth. . . .

Top

Menageries and Circuses That Showed Lebanon, Ohio, 1820-1955

I was born in Lebanon, Warren Co. Ohio in the year 1909. This material was gathered from the microfilmed copies of the "Western Star" which can be found in the Warren County Museum, Lebanon, Ohio. The Western Star is the oldest weekly west of the Alleghanies.

1. Exhibition of "Columbus" a male Elephant. 1820. Leb. April 4 to 7. Franklin 8 & 10. 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. 37 1/2c & 1/2 price.

2. Exhibition of Living Animals. Lion, Leopard, & etc. Share's Tavern. Leb. Sept. 13 & 15, 1823. 9 to 5. 25c & 1/2 price.

3. Grand Natural Curiosity, A Large & Learned Female Elephant. Share's Tavern, Leb. Feb. 16 to 23. Waynesville 24 & 25, 1824. Exhibition 9 to 4. Good Music. 25c & 1/2 price.

4. Gregory Washburn & Co's. Menagerie and Aviary. Leb. July 30, 1835. 45 men, 27 carriages & wagons. 78 gray horses. 2 elephants. 1 camel. Waynesville 28, Wilmington 29. Hours 1 to 4. 25c & 1/2 price.

5. The Associations Celebrated Menagerie & Aviary from their Zoological Institute, Philadelphia. Leb. Aug. 10, 1835. Hours 1 to 4. Price 25c.

6. Mammoth Exhibition under the Management of Noel & Waring from the Zoological Institute of New York. Leb. July 28, 1836. 1 to 4. 25c & 1/2.

7. Fogg & Stickney's formerly Brown & Co's. Circus. Leb. April 24, 1838. Note: This is the first circus to come to Lebanon.

8. Philadelphia Circus. Raymond Waring & Co., Prop. Aug. 3, 1840. Leb. No females allowed as performers on this circus.

9. Circus & Caravan. June, Titus, Angevine & Co. Proprietors of the Bowery Amphi-Theater, N.Y. Leb. May 30, 1842. 50c & 25c.

10. National Circus Co. under management of Messrs. Robinson & Foster. Lebanon, May 23, 1842. Centerville 24. Eque. Mgr., S. P. Stickney.

11. Waring & Raymond's Extensive Menagerie & Circus Combined. 2 P.M. Leb. July 20, 1842. Middletown 19. Waynesville 21. Note: In accordance with times prices reduced to 25c.

12. Spaulding's North American Circus. Leb. Aug. 2, 1847. 2 & 7:30 P. M. Xenia-29. Dayton-30. Miamisburg 31. 25c. Note: First night show.

13. Welch & Delavan's Great National Circus. Leb. Aug. 14, 1847. 2 1/2 & 7 1/2 P.M. Eques. director J. J. Nathans. 25c. This ad under the above.

14. Rockwell & Co. N. Y. Monster Circus. Leb. April 27, 1848. 2 1/2 P.M. show only. 25c (no half price).

15. Welch, Delevan & Nathan's National Circus. Leb. July 7, 1848. 2 1/2 & 7 ½ P.M. Gorgeous chariot made by Stephenson & Co. 27th St. N. Y. Drawn by 30 horses. Cin. 1, 3, 4, 5. Ham. 6. Zenia 8. Day. 10. 25c no 1/2 price.

16. Van Amburgh & Co's Menagerie. Leb. July 31, 1848. 2 to 4. 25c & ½. Zenia 28. Waynesville 29. 100 dapple grey horses.

17. Spaulding's North American Circus. Leb. Nov. 1, 1848. 2 & 7. 25c. Miamisburg. Oct. 31. Wilmington Nov. 2.

18. Spaulding & Rogers' North American Circus. Leb. May 22, 1849. 2 & 7. 25c.

19. Welch, Delevan & Nathans Circus. Lebanon. Oct. 11, 1849. Wilmington 10. Sharonville 12. 2 1/2 & 7 1/2 P.M. 25c. No half price.

20. R. Sands & Co's. Hippoferean Arena. Lebanon. Oct. 23, 1850. 2 & 7. 25c.

21. Raymond & Co. and VanAmburgh & Co's. Menageries. Leb. April 18, 1851. 1 P.M. Show. 25c & l5c. 70 men. 120 horses. Morrow. April 17.

22. J. M. June & Co's. American & European Amphitheater. Leb. Sept. 1, 1851.

23. Franconi's Colossal Hippodrome from the city of N.Y. Leb. Oct. 29, 1853. 2 & 7 P.M. 25c. No half price. Programs sold. 24. Rivers & Derious Grecian Arena Circus. Leb. July 13, 1854. Xenia 11. Wilmington 12. 2 & 7 P.M. 25c.

25. Robinson & Eldred. Circus, Menagerie & Hippodrome Combined. Leb. Oct. 25, 1854. 1 1/2 P.M. show only. 50 & 25c.Wilmington 30.

26. Spalding & Rogers' Two Circuses! Consolidating their celebrated Floating Palace Circus & North American Circus! Leb. June 17, 1855. 40 horses driven by one man. Wil. 15. Morrow. 16. Ham. 18.

27. Menagerie & Circus. S. B. Howes, Prop. Two Companies! 2 & 7. 25c & 1/2. Myers & Madigan's Equestrian Troupe. Leb. Sept. 14, 1855. Living Giraffe.

28. Sand's Nathans & Co's. American Circus & Combined Exhibitions. Leb. Aug. 16, 1856. Boxes-50c. Pit-25c. No 1/2 price. 2 1/2 & 7 1/2 P.M.

29. G. F. Bailey & Co. successor to June & Turner Circus & Menagerie Combined. Leb. Oct. 29, 1856. 1 1/2 & 7 P.M. One price, 25c.

30. Nixon & Kemp's Great Eastern Circus. Lea. Aug. 17, 1857. The Great Musical Steam Calliope drawn by 40 horses. Clown songbook with 30 woodcuts for sale. 10c. Zenia, 26. Wil. 27. Washington C. H., 28.

31. Mabies Menagerie & Circus. Leb. Sept. 8, 1857. Box, 50c, Pit, 25c & ½. Musical Chariot drawn by 4 elephants. Morrow, Sept. 9.

32. Circus & Menagerie. Mr. Eldred. Home Festival. OPENING DATE. Leb. May 8, 1858. Menagerie open afternoon of 7th. 3 & 8 P.M. 25c only.

33. L. B. Lent's Mammoth National Circus. Leb. May 12, 1858. Note: Eldreds & Lent's ad side by side. Bainbridge, 6. Hillsboro, 7. Greenfield, 8. Washington C.H., 10. Wilmington, 11. Milford, 14.

34. VanAmburgh's Zoological & Equestrian Co. Reorganized. Entirely new. Leb. July 23, 1860. 1 & 7 P. M. 50c, 25c, & half price.

35. Robinson & Lakes Great Southern Menagerie & Circus. Leb. Aug. 28, 1860. Waynesville, 29. 1 & 7 P.M. 50c & 25c.

36. Antonio Bros. Great World Circus & Gymnasium. Star show of 1861. Leb. May 30, 1861. Xenia, June 3. Wil. 4. W.C.H. 5. 2 & 7 P.M. 50c & 25c.

37. Robinson & Lakes Great Combined Menagerie & Circus. Leb. April 25, 1862. Pavillion constructed by Mr. Vandivere of Cin. 1 & 7. All for 25c.

38. Mabie's Great Show. Leb. June 6, 1862. 1 & 7. 50c & 25c. Note: No papers from May 29, 1862 to January 4, 1866.

39. J. M. French & Co's Grand Oriental Circus & Egyptian Caravan. Lebanon. May 2, 1868. 2 & 7 1/2 P.M. 50c & 25c.

40. Adam Forepaugh's Grand Zoological & Equestrian Aggregation. Lebanon. Oct. 17, 1868. 1 & 7 P.M. 50c & 25c.

41. Yankee Robinson's Grand Consolidated Shows. Lebanon. April 24, 1869. Only female trapeze performer. 1 & 7 P.M. 50c & half price.

42. Hemmings & Cooper's Menagerie & Circus. Leb. May 11, 1871. Wil. 10. Ham. 12. 1 & 7. 50c and half price.

43. Adam Forepaugh's Famous Onithological Museum & Zoological & Equestrian Institute. Leb. Aug. 8, 1871. Fifth tour of the U. S.

44. Sells Bros. Mommonth, Quadruple Alliance. Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, & Circus. Leb. May 7, 1872. Morrow, 8. 1 & 7 P.M. 50c & 1/2 price.

45. Rosston, Springer & Henderson's Great Mastodum! Five great exhibitions combined in one. Leb. June 25, 1872.

46. Olders Museum, Circus & Menagerie, Take notice, it says. Not a Railroad show. Leb. Sept. 19, 1872. 1 & 7 P.M. 50c & 1/2 price.

47. The Great Forepaugh Shows. Road show. Thousand men & horses. 50 cages. Leb. Sept. 9, 1873. 1 & 7 P.M. 50c & 1/2 price.

48. Great European Zoological Association. British Museum, Royal Collossium, Worlds Congress of Wonders & Gigantic Circus. Leb. April 28, 1874.

49. Geo. F. Bailey & Co's. Menagerie & Museum. Lea. June 16, 1874. Signor & Sebastian's Italian Circus. 50c & 1/2 price.

50. Great Eastern & Southern Menageries. Leb. Nov. 7, 1874.

51. Forepaugh's Great Centennial Show. Leb. Sept. 16, 1876. Band drawn by 20 Arabian horses. 1 & 7 P.M. 50c & 1/2 price.

52. John Robinson's Great World's Exposition. Leb. April 21, 1877. Aquarium, Animal Conservatory, & Strictly Moral Circus. 55th tour.

53. Robbin's Great American & Royal German Allied Shows. Leb. Aug. 2, 1877. The Combined Double Circus. $10,000 challenge, best lady riders.

54. VanAmburg & Co's. New Great Golden Menagerie. Leb. Sept. 17, 1877. Frost's Roman Circus & Royal Colossium. 55th tour. Blanchester, 15th. Largest Elephant - Mommoth Boliver. 1 & 7. 50c & 1/2 price.

55. Miles Orton's New Mastodon Shows & Royal German Menagerie. Leb. May 29, 1882. 1 & 7 P.M. 50c & 1/2 price.

56. VanAmburg, Frost, Stone & Co's. Great Golden Menagerie. Frost Royal Coliseum, Stones Monster Circus, Crone's Gymnasium, & Aquarium & Oh-Ke-Na-Wak's Commanche Indian Troupe. Leb. Nov. 2, 1882. 1 & 7. 50c-1/2

57. Stowe & Long's Circus, Menagerie, Wild West & Balloon Shows. Leb. May 10, 1889.

58. Albert M. Wetter's New Model Shows, Circus, Menagerie, & Roman Hippodrome. Leb. Aug. 18, 1893. 1 & 7 P.M. Price reduced to 25c.

59. John Robinson's 10 Big Shows Combined. Leb. Sept. 3, 1894. 70 years of success. 1 & 7 P. M. 60 cages. Prices not listed.

60. Prof. A. L. Tolbert & Co. Phantasmagoria Aerial Trapeze act, Combination & Equestrian Gymnasium. Leb. Fair, Sept. 18-21, 1894.

61. John Robinson & Franklin Bros. Leb. Aug, 7, 1897.

62. John Robinson's 10 Big Shows All United. Leb. July 16, 1901. Carl Hagenbeck's $40,000 herd of Elephants. 77th year. 40 horses driven by one man.

63. Lillian Hoffman with 1/2 doz. high bred & carefully trained horses, World greatest trick & fancy rider, Leb. fair Sept. 19-22, 1905.

64. J. H. Sullivan, "Broncho John." Leb. Fair Sept. 18-21, 1906.Famous Western Horseman & his Corps of Expert Horsemen.

65. Sun Bros. Greater Progressive Shows. Leb. May 21, 1909. Lights-Electro-Calcium Generators.

66. Heber Bros. Greater Show. Leb. May 20, 1911. 27th annual tour.

67. Sun Bros. World's Progressive Shows. Leb. Aug. 22, 1914.

68. Howe's Great London Shows. Leb. May 19, 1915.

69. The Circus Deluxe. Sparks World Famous Shows. Leb. Aug. 3 1, 1916. Had elephant Mary, said to be 3 inches taller than Jumbo and weighing over 5 tons. This is where I come in, the first circus I ever saw.

70. Sun Bros. World Progressive Shows Inc. Leb. Monday, May 7, 1917. "Tang Bill" $10,000 Champion High School Horse. Free outside exhibition 12:30 P.M. Show 2 & 8.

71. La Tenas 3 big ring circus. "The Show That's Different." Leb. Sat. July 28, 1917. Show 2 & 8, parade at 12. Big byline below says parade 12:30. (WONDERFUL AD).

72. Coop and Lents 3 Ring Circus. Leb. Thur. July 4, 1918. First truck circus to come to Leb. 96 high powered monster auto trucks. Show 2 & 8, parade 10:30. 50c & 25c plus tax.

73. Sparks 3 Ring Circus. Leb. Tue. Sept. 5, 1922. All new except the name and business methods. 2 & 8. 75c & 30c.

74. Golden Bros. 4 Ring Wild Animal Circus. Leb. Wed. Aug. 22, 1923. 1 mile street parade. Show 2 & 8.

75. M. L. Clark & Sons Shows. Leb. Sat. Sept. 6, 1930. Parade 2 & 8. Featuring Mena, largest elephant in captivity.

76. Robbins Circus The old Reliable. All new this year. Leb. Fri. July 10, 1931. 2 & 8. 25c.

77. Lewis Bros. Big 3 Ring Circus. Leb. May 11, 1940. 2 & 8. 40 & 25c.

78. Al G. Kelly & Miller Bros. Circus. (2nd Largest Wild Animal). Leb. Tue. June 27, 1950. 2 & 8. 75c & 42c.

79. Diano Bros. 3 Ring Circus; Trained Wild Animals. Leb. summer 53. No cook house this day, folded the next.

Top