Mills Bros Circus
Posted By thecircusblog on December 4, 2009
The Mills Bros was another great American circus.
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thecircusblog
My name is Ivan M. Henry and I am the 4th generation of a circus/show business dynasty. I hope you enjoy the blog.Comments
24 Responses to “Mills Bros Circus”
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I work at an international airport here in Chicago , These photos came down one of our piers sometime ago. No names attached,,apparently an older woman(maybe the traveler?) in the pics use to be a high wire performer as a youth. I see written ‘1952 Mills bros circus’ on some of the black and whites. Id like to get the photos back to the family ,whoever they are. Any suggestions?
Hi,
Mt name is Jon. My mother Arlene Mills, was Jack and Rose Mills only daughter. My mother and I are both avid collectors of any and all Memorabilia from the circus. I am constantly buying posters and having them framed for hanging. I collect all of the old literature and fundraising opportunity guides. I have a little bit of everything, I think.. Take care Jon
Hello Jon,
I lived in NE Ohio growing up and I met a girl at a studio wehre we both took dance lessons. Her name was Gigi Mills & she’d be about 51 now. She had an older sister who joined the Mills Circus as a teen. ( I cannot remember her name). Their parents were owners of the Mills Circus. Do you have any idea where Gigi is now? She was a beautiful child with long blonde hair.
THX
No sorry…….. Maybe others that frequent the circus blog can help you.
Hello Laurel,
Gigi Mills, still a beautiful blond, now is an artis, lives in Santa Fe, NM.
Google her name, you can get more info about her by galleries presenting her work.
Harry Mills from the mills brothers circus is my great grandfather. Sadly he passed away a few years ago at age 94. His wife and my step great grandmother June mills is still living. She currently lives in sarasota Florida. Harry mills daughter janice shively is my grandma. She passed away November 11, 2011. If u search “janice mills shively” on google u can see her obituary. Her step sisters Gigi and Pegi are still living. Gigi is an artist now and she lives in New Mexico. Arlene mills is janice mills cousin. Arlene is still living.
My grandfather, going by the name of Bert Wallace, was with the Mills Bros. Circus for many years. He was married to someone by the name of Jeanette, I think. Would like information about him. I only saw him one time.
My father ed loveman was with the circus in the 40’s as an advance man. He and my mom were also good friends with the mills bros in cleveland. Fun memories.
I took care of a polio patient at indiana U. in 3-1955 I was a student nurse. I have a picture of him taken probably a few years later. It was taken by a Herald Tribune Photographer. The Lions Club had performers of the MIlls Brother’s Circus come and give a private performance for Eric Griffin in Sarasota, Fl. His mothers name Thea. There was a Richard in the picture also. She may have remarried. I was interested to see if I could find out if any members of his family still live there.
He was my favorite patient. His mother gave me a beautiful neckless that I still have.
My family was involved with the Mills Bros Circus when they were in Mentor, Ohio. I’m trying to located Peggy Mills who went to the high school there and also performed in the show. We are trying to get a reunion going of all the Mentor Circus people. If anyone know how to contact Peggy, please give her my e-mail. Thank you. slandis1997@yahoo.com
I had the pleasure of seeing the Mills show when I was young. I was 12 when the show was sold and changed to James Bros. I am a Circus Model Builder and am building the Mills show in 1/4″ scale. As far as I know, I am the only CMB member that has built some of the spec floats. I first built them in 1/2″ scale for my Dix Bros Circus that is on display at Entertrainment Junction located at West Chester, Oh. I am now attempting to build them in 1/4″. The Hansel and Gretel float is almost completed. My models can be seen at schillhahnmodelcircus.
I am the step great nephew of Jake, Harry and Jack. They had another brother, Paul. Paul was married to my grandmother and adopted her daughter, my mother, Marlene, when she was a little girl she has since passed away. I don’t know why Paul was not associated with the circus. I met Jake and Harry when I was a young boy. For some reason we were at Jake’s apartment in Cleveland for a short visit and Harry was visiting my grandmother in Los Angeles when I met him. They were both very nice to me. I was telling my son about some of this family history. I really don’t know too much but when I got home and googled The Mills Brothers Circus I was surprised to find out how much information there is on them. My aunt, Pauls blood daughter and Jake, Harry and Jack’s niece is still alive, in a care facility in Los Angeles.
I was born in 52. My father was “Fats” Felix Brazauskas, my mom is Bluey. Seems like an eternity ago.
Is Fats brother Walley still around? I shared a stateroom with him on the show in 1962.
I was at a garage sale today and bought a Mills Bros. Circus poster. It is from their 21st Annual Tour , playing in Burlington, July 9, 1960. Sponsored by Burlington Police Associates, and the posters were donated by Dale Pharmacy. This is a neat poster. Wondering if it’s worth anything to a circus collector ??
Susan Brazasukas. I am Alicemae Kirkland and went to school with you when you wintered in Jefferson. So glad to find you. Please contact me at bvcisco@gmail.com.
This is so interesting tp me.
I am Norton Kaufman, the son of Rose Milinsky Kaufman . Jake, Jack( we knew him as Morris) & Harry were my uncles. Their mother, Anna, lived with us. One of the most exciting things for me was when the circus came to town and we got to go. I remember when on occasion, Uncle Morris would let me ride on one of the elephants in the grand parade before the show started. I still love circuses.
I was related to the mills brothers thru marriage . I think two of my father’s step sisters were married to two of the mills brothers not sure exactly since he wasn’t one to talk about his family. I know my father Sanford (Sam) Burnstein met my mother Ann (Donna) DuBoise on the circus and married. I was very young when we left the circus but I’ve always had fond memories of that time including feeding Burma chewing gum and watching that big mouth chumping away and walking with a clown after a rain as he took squirt can with oil squirting the oil into puddles creating rainbows.
Susan Brazauskas Hinson,
I was your classmate also along with Alice Mae Kirkland Marunowski, who lives in texas, I t still live in Ohio. My married name is Seith. I am doing a talk about local circuses soon. I
would love to hear from you. Lynette Ann KIng Seith ( 1951)
Susan Brasasukas Hinson,
Your classmates have looked for you. You spent
So many nights with me! How is your yellow teddy?
I still have mine. He is in his 60s, as your should
Be. How is Mary? When your dad died and you
Left I felt badly. I tried to contact the Zerbini
Family, but no response! My dad, former postmaster
Said you moved to Liverpool. I have tried for
Years to find you. Our class reunion is in 2 yrs.
Consider it!
I married and divorced and now live near Cleveland.
My time with you and your family remain precious
Memories.
Contact me at SueMe1MoX@aol.com
I was on the Mills Bros. Circus in 1947- 1950 with my parents, I was 6 yrs. old. My dad was in charge of the elephant department. My mother, Virginia, did the head carry with Burma the elephant. My best friend on the show was John Pue. His dad had an all girl acrobatic review from England.
Sue Brasasukas,
Please contact me. I have been looking for you
For years. You spent nights with your bear at my
Home. I have missed you since you left Jefferson.
We all wonder about you!
Sue Fischer. SueMe1MoX@aol.com
I went to elementary school in Jefferson OH. I remember the circus wintering on the fairgrounds and I made a friend I remember being named Una Jean. I think her dad trained elephants? Maybe 1960 or so?
My father Vince pulcinella was part of the mills bros circus, he was the band leader and a trumpet player he traveled with the circus from town to town, it might have been 1946, unfortunately I found all this literature, schedules, circus booklet, Along with pictures of my dad, posing with fellow musicians,and interesting stories from dancers down to the circus animals, after he passed in 2009, at the age of 84, I wish I’d found this flyer, while he was living, To show him, I don’t think he even new he had saved this book, I’ll keep this forever, every once in a while I’ll open it up and glance at the pics, He used to call himself jimmy Vincent orchestra. Oh well, Thank god for memories!