Cheerful Gardner

| January 31, 2010

Jack Badal sent me this photo of Cheerful.  The photo was taken in the back yard of the Hagenbeck & Wallace Circus in 1931. I took the photo into Office Depot to have it reduced smaller so I could scan it better for the circus blog. I handed it to a young lady and explained what I needed her […]

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Dorothy Herbert

| January 31, 2010

It is somewhat hard to see, but where the saddle horn is not where it should be.  Dorothy’s horse has a side saddle rig. This type of saddle was used by women in the old days. It was un-lady like for a woman to straddle a horse and ride like a man. It wasn’t till the early 1940’s that most women started […]

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Barnum & Bailey Poster

| January 31, 2010

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Barnum & Bailey Konyoi Poster

| January 31, 2010

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Doc Capell The Wrestler

| January 31, 2010

Doc Capell began his career in show business at the age of 14 with the  J.E. Henry Wagon Show and stayed with the circus 12 years. He worked with the animals and learned acrobatics. He then became a professional wrestler, stepping into the ring with Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Rudy Dusek, Joe Pesek and many others. He stayed with […]

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The Capell Acrobates

| January 31, 2010

This photo I believe was taken on the J.E. Henry Circus. When I discovered this photo, I noticed the name Rube Capell, a Capell brother I never knew of. I found this very intresting  so I did some research and spoke with Dorothy Capell today and she vaguely remembers Rube Capell and that he died at […]

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The Thrill Show

| January 31, 2010

The thrill shows of yester-years are all but gone. These rare photos were sent to me by Chris Burky. The other two photos that follow are part of the same show.  I remember seeing these  shows back in the 1940’s and 1950’s on  carnival midways, amusement parks and fairs. They were called Motordrome Thrill Shows. […]

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The Thrill Show

| January 31, 2010

The vehicles in this photo look to be from the 1920’s.  However,  this kind of car and motor bike were sometimes custom made and used for several years. This thrill show could have been at Atlantic City??………. Check out the lion in the sidr car.

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The Thrill Show

| January 31, 2010

No question about it….this is different. I don’t know if this is the same thrill show or not…..  The lion in the car is something I have never seen. In those days they came up with the crazy ideas. The photo is great. Please comment if you have any information on names or places. 

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Gilfoyle and Woska

| January 30, 2010

John “Chubby” Gilfoyle and Enest Woska, both great wild animal trainers. This photo was taken in 1926, just before Chubby sadly lost an arm in a lion attack.

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