Description:

Ringling Brothers



Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Memorabilia, Ca. 1912-1939

 

Small archive relating to Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, ca. 1912-1939. Includes a large color broadside showing projected show schedule; and checks signed by 3 of the 7 Ringling Brothers. The documents gave us sense of early twentieth-century circus operations!

 

Ringling Brothers, spearheaded by 5 of 7 brothers (Al, Gus, Otto, Alf, Charles, John, and Henry), formed a traveling circus company in Baraboo, Wisconsin in 1884. The brothers managed all aspects of the business, from programming, training, and animal husbandry, to finance, administration, and marketing. They dominated the Midwestern entertainment circuit. Ringling Brothers purchased their largest competitor, Barnum & Bailey, in 1907 but did not premiere combined shows until 1919.

 

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey offered inexpensive entertainment for the masses. Clowns, acrobats, contortionists, and jugglers vied with equestrian stunt performers, freak show acts, and roleplaying foreigners, such as "Prince Ishmael, Wonderful Hindoo Fakir," for the audience's enjoyment. Vaudeville acts, musical performances, and newfangled electrical displays rounded out the spectacular entertainment.

 

The lot includes:

 

1. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Official Tour schedule from the Season of 1939, showing the 120+ stops in 35+ contiguous states and Canada where the circus would perform during their April-October season. With a vividly colored printed figural masthead depicting slinking lions. Pen-inscribed "Love, Mary Endlitz, 1939" in the lower right corner. Pencil-inscribed verso, and with mounting traces. Expected paper folds, stains, repairs, and a few closed tears, else very good, 9" x 17".

 

All of the checks feature pictorial letterhead, two with the five Ringling Brothers in mustachioed profile, and one with a graphic of Fort Dearborn. Expected light paper folds, and an occasional staple or clerical spike hole, else near fine. Average size of checks 8.625" x 3.25".

 

2.  Check No. 1183, issued from the Bank of Baraboo, Wisconsin on April 20, 1912, and signed by youngest brother Henry Ringling (1869-1918) as "Henry Ringling" in the payee line, directed agents to pay Walter Gillaland $25.00. On "Ringling Bros. World's Greatest Shows" letterhead. Stamped at top and endorsed verso. The Ringling Brothers Route Book from 1901 lists a certain Walter Gillaland as one of thirty Ring Stock Men and Pony Boys; this could be our check recipient.

 

3. Check No. 1563, issued from the Bank of Baraboo, Wisconsin on February 3, 1913, and signed by oldest brother Albert "Al" Ringling (1852-1916) as "Al Ringling" in the payee line, directed agents to pay W.H. Thompson $8.00. On "Ringling Bros. World's Greatest Shows" letterhead. Stamped at center and endorsed verso.

 

4. Check No. 1497, issued from the Fort Dearborn National Bank of Chicago, Illinois on April 21, 1916, and signed by fifth youngest brother Carl "Charles" Ringling (1863-1926) as "ChasRingling" in the payee line, directed agents to pay M.W. Powell Co. $19.50. On "Ringling Bros. 'The World's Greatest Shows'" letterhead. Perforated, stamped, and endorsed.

 

Fun and festive memorabilia from the apogee of the circus era!

 


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