King Bros Circus Calliope
Posted By thecircusblog on February 25, 2010
These steam Calliopes could be heard for miles and you can bet they would draw people from afar.
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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
12 Responses to “King Bros Circus Calliope”
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I just wanted to say that you for the picture and words. I am Floyd King’s grandaughter. My grandfather was one of the original founders of King Brothers Circus. I have just now become intrested in what he did and always enjoy finding new or different pictures.
friends of mine own a farm in Richwood ohio were the King Brothers Circus laid over for the winter Still a few men talk about it when they were kids
I am responding to Christy King Nixon’s comment. I am the grandson of Murray King Weakley
first cousin to Floyd and Howard King. My mother recalls riding on the elephant during the circus parade when she was a girl in the 1920s. One of the King brothers has a large stone monument in his hometown cemetery in Dyersburg, Tenn. In big letters is reads “KING of the Circus”. I have fond memories of going to the King Bros. circus with my grandfather and family in the 1940s and early 50s. We were treated like royalty.
Now I collect King Brothers (& Cole & others they ran) Cirus posters, and occasionally sell one, as I am an antique map and print dealer in Halls , near Dyersburg, Tennessee.
Hello,
I am responding to Christy’s post as well; Howard King Taulbee was my grandfather, named after his uncle, Howard King, brother of Floyd. After my grandpa passed away, my grandmother, who more recently passed only 2 years ago, knew how interested I was in our family history in the circus. She told me personal accounts of how her and my grandfather spent a bit of time as guests on the road with the circus; how Howard King’s wife, which from my math would be my great aunt Gladys, adored my grandfather! The time spent traveling with the circus was one of my grandfather’s favorite times. Now my information is largely about Howard…my grandmother spent more time with him and Gladys then with Floyd. My grandmother said that he was the “advance man” and they didn’t spend a great deal of time with him.
Anyway, if there is anyone else out there with blood relation to the King Brothers, I would certainly love to hear from you! I still have a handful of old photographs of Howard and his wife, as well as many photographs of Gladys by herself, looking glam like the circus baroness she was! I can always be contacted through my website, http://www.peepshowphotography.com
Thank you
I am looking for anyone with any information on King’s Circus. In particular, anyone with info on the circus’ trip thru Alabama around Sept. 1968. I am interested in anyone who was working for them at the time or any of the owner(s) that would not mind talking to me. I am searching for my biological father and was told that he was working for this circus. Thank You for any help offered.
I apologize….I erred on the date….August or September of 1967
When was the King Bros Circus founded and did they perform in Ontario, Canada?
My great grandfather was an acrobat.
Hi folks, I was thinking about the king bros. circus today, 43 years later, I worked for the circus starting in nova scotia, canada in 1968 of july, left home with them and traveled across canada, I was 15, that was the best year of my life, never forgot it, they instiled in me how to work hard and that is what I did all these years and still do, one person I came close with was Billy from georgia would love to know what became of him, forgot his last name, very fond memorys of that circus, never forgot it…….scott macneil.
I worked for King Brothers circus in the summer of 77. Met up with them in Wildwood NJ. Was a prop guy. Did a stand in for the knife thrower on a bet, he cut a cigarette out of my mouth. They also filmed a Bit-O-Honey tv commercial in the big tent, took all day. We stayed in Widwood for 3 days, then on to Ocean City. 40 bucks a week, 3 hots and a cot. Good memories, great bunch of people!
Just like to say the founder of the King Bros circus was Floyd King, he later let his brother Howard join to help him, I know this because my wife is Sharon King, the daughter of Vicki and Floyd King.
My grandfather was E. Deacon Albright and he played calliope for King Brothers Circus in 1946. Unfortunately my grandfather past away the year I was born (1949) so I never got to know him or hear him play.
I’m looking to connect with RANDY KING an his Sisters / Brothers . Lived 2 doors down from them in Macon . I remember his Mom would put Cotton Candy Machine at end of driveway during trick or Treat , lots of Fun . honeybrown1951@yahoo.com
Thanks