And it all started by chance

This is it.  This is the one.  The one accidental photo that started our madness.  The picture was taken at the 2009 Great Circus Parade in Milwaukee WI.  The silly looking girl with the straw hat and black tank dress in the right wagon mirror is me.  An accidental unscripted shot that captured our facination with this wagon.   (Thanks Cirsten for capturing the point in time.  She is on my left, hand in the air, with camera.)

Gollmar Brothers Band Tableau No. 21

2013 Big Top Parade (Baraboo, WI) - right mirror, arm with black jacket throwing the Peace sign

In 1903, when the Gollmars graduated from a horse-drawn show to a railroad show, they realized that impressive wagons would be needed for the street parade.  

2014 Big Top Parade (Baraboo, WI) - center mirror, black dress throwing the Peace sign

Wagon #21 was built at their winter quarters in Baraboo WI.  They purchased the wagon chassis from their cousins, the Moellers, and Ben Gollmar fabricated the body and carvings.  

                    2015 Big Top Parade (Baraboo, WI) - left mirror, random hand

The wagon was used as the lead bandwagon for the Gollmar Bros. Circus from 1903 - 1916.  The tableau carried 15 member band on top in the parade!

                        

July 2015 Circus World Museum (Baraboo, WI) - center left mirror, pulling Deb into the madness, thowing the Peace sign

The wagon's title was sold in 1917.  The wagon passed  through several smaller circuses and carnivals, and was finally acquired by George Christy in 1936.  

August 2015 Circus World Museum (Baraboo, WI) - center mirror, getting my Dad in on the action

The wagon was purchaseed by the Pabst Brewing Co. and donated to the Wisconsin Historical Society in 1957 as Circus World Museum was making prepartions for its 1959 opening.

2017 Big Top Parade (Baraboo, WI) - right mirror, straw hat, yellow dress, throwing the Peace sign

Overall:  Length 16' 8"    Width 8'      Height 11' 2"     Weight 6,020 lbs

        2018 Big Top Parade (Baraboo, WI) - right mirror, white t-shirt, random arm

May 2019 Circus World Museum (Baraboo, WI) - center mirror, now pulling Jen into the madness, holding camera

August 2019 Ladies Night Out at Circus World Museum (Baraboo, WI) - now Lisa joins the madness while using her camera

Date unknown Circus World Museum (Baraboo, WI) - center left mirror, back to where we started. Cirsten is on my left, with camera.  I am thowing the Peace sign.

Until next time...

Baraboo Tours' Focus on the Circus Library

Shelley Mordini from Baraboo Tours focuses her Youtube audience at the Robert L. Parkinson Library in this fun video!  

                                    

Come join Shelley, Pete Shrake (archivist) and myself as we shed a little light on what the library does and the types of treasures it holds.  

Circus World's Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center is the world's foremost research facility for circus history.  The holdings document the history of the American circus from its inception in 1793 to the present day.

The Library contains a HUGE collection containing rare photographs, posters, manuscripts, and artifacts.  Information on some 2,800 American circuses and a reference file of over 300,000 names of circus performers and employees.  The Library is a prime source of information for enthusiasts and scholars of the circus from all over the world.  

Enjoy.   

Dining Tent Rules

• No dogs allowed in the dining room during mealtime.
• Coats must be worn in the dining room during mealtime.
• When the HOTEL flag is up the meal is ready; when the blue flag is up, the meal is over.
• No food nor dishes can be taken from the dining room without permission.
• Drinking glasses are thoroughly washed and rinsed.  Do not waste water washing them at the drinking tank.
• People bringing friends into dining room to eat will purchase meal tickets at the commissary wagon.
• MEAL HOURS:  Breakfast will be over at 9:15 excepting on late arrival of show.  Lunch will be over at 12:45 noon.
• People will remain outside the guard rope until the flag is raised.

Continuing our Circus World Museum Foundation Interview

Previously I posted a little 'get to know me' interview I did with Bobbie Coons, the Director of Development with the Circus World Museum Foundation. 

Well, as we continue with our discussion of the acts, the sights, and the sounds of the International Circus Trip to Budapest, Paris and Monte Carlo we are ZOOM bombed by Scott O'Donnell, Executive Director of Circus World.

Let the high jinks begin...enjoy.  I know I did. 

Chat with Bobbie & Scott!

Budapest!

Paris!

Paris!

Monte Carlo!