Posted By thecircusblog on March 30, 2010
Quite often the circuses would day and date each other ( two shows playing the same date in the same town). This sometimes could be a serious jackpot. To tell you the truth I don’t know how this turned out. On the back of this photo it was written Capell and Buck day and date. I do know that Doc Capell later bought most of the Edgar Buck circus.
Posted By thecircusblog on March 30, 2010
A back yard photo was very important, you find that out in later years. It seems that there was never enough time to take a picture of yourself with your animals. If it was not for the circus fan, a visitor or a reporter from the newspaper most great photos might never been shot. As for my act, we only had professional shots taken thrre or four times. It comes to my mind that Bill Biggerstaff took quite a few pictures of the chimp act for Polack Bros and to this day he is still shooting circus photos. This is Edgar Buck with Trixie. Later she became a Capell Bros Circus attraction.
Posted By thecircusblog on March 25, 2010
It was quite common for circuses to put their show paper over another show’s paper even if it was in date. Shown here are the Edger B. Burk circus papers over the Al G. Kelly & Miller Bros Circus. Photo 1954. I remember stories told to me by my Dad and uncles about how my grandfather would paper over the Ringling Bros circus paper. He would only paper over the name of the show and date. then he would paper his name and dates. That is called snipping. Everyone did it and it became almost like a contest. This photo came from the Bill Capell collection.
Posted By thecircusblog on March 25, 2010
This is what as known as the hot wagon. It’s really a diesel powered electrical generator used for the electrical needs of the Capell Bros Circus. This was their main plant and turned out 250 KW to 300 KW. Smaller electric plants were used for the back yard, usually 50 KW would supply all the trailers. A true hot wagon has transformers and cuts into city power.
Posted By thecircusblog on March 25, 2010
Often circus side shows would travel on their own and set up wherever they could or book on to a carnival or a fair on what is called the independent midway. It was thought then that it would lower the nut for a better gross. It is almost imposable to visit one of these shows today. All but gone. This photo is of the Doc Capell circus side show. Doc is the man in the ticket box pulling out a length of tickets from the roll for this photo. 1956.
Posted By thecircusblog on March 25, 2010
Here is a perfect example of just a side show on it’s own. This photo is Doc Capell’s circus side show. During the winter often when the show was in, Doc would set up the side show and the pony ride for extra money. It was not a lot, but would help pay for animal food and the winter quarters help. Photo 1955.
Posted By thecircusblog on March 25, 2010
The little girl here is Suszey,1955. Photo from the Bill Capell collection
Posted By thecircusblog on March 25, 2010
Other than eating, elephants love to play in the mud and water. Some fun is had at the Patterson show water wagon. Look closely on the side of the wagon for the Patterson name. Photo early 1920’s
Posted By thecircusblog on March 25, 2010
Capell Bros Circus 1954. Waiting for their call are Percy and Charley Clark.
Posted By thecircusblog on March 25, 2010
This elephant photo was in Bill Capell’s collection of photos. It looks like the photo was taken in a zoo barn, who knows where? I posted it just because.
