Ringling Bros Circus Combined with Royal American Show

| January 14, 2010

This aerial photo is quiet interesting. Across from the Ringling Circus is the Royal American show….one of the largest carnivals in the US then and now.   Date of this picture Sept 15, 1952.  Joplin, Mo.

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Bill Capell’s show wagons

| January 14, 2010

Bill Capell bought these old Foley and Burk show wagons. They are being loaded on this flat bed for the trip to Arizona where they were placed in Bill’s backyard. The white wagon is the show’s office and the other is a cargo wagon.

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Bills Back Yard #2

| January 14, 2010

Bill had a special area built for these show wagons. A large cement slab and an open air sun roof housed the wagons…. this provided shade and protection for his memories.

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Bill Capell’s Back Yard

| January 14, 2010

When you came to visit Bill…. this is where all the stories and jackpots took place. Bill had painted a ring curb in the center of the area and placed around it props and chairs. He even had a ferris wheel seat on a rack and it allowed you to rock back and forth in it if you wished. […]

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The Capell Elephants

| January 14, 2010

Capell Bros used their big top most of the seasons. There were those times for one reason or another they showed out of doors, as in this photo with Norma Capell.  Some of the reasons why they would show outside were if they needed to repair the tent or they didn’t have time to set it up.

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A Capell’s Circus Clown

| January 14, 2010

       Capell Bros Circus clowm. One of three that were on the show. His name is unknown to me.                    

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Capell’s Generator

| January 14, 2010

Capell Bros. Circus carried two generators a 25 KW and a 50KW. The generator shown in this picture was the 50KW one.

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The Capell Promotion Bus

| January 14, 2010

Notice the print on the bus saying “Pre-War Prices”.  Doc is going into town to promo the show. Photo taken in the early 194o’s.

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Capell Circus Stage

| January 14, 2010

There were many occasions when the circus would play on the downtown streets. Some of the special events were for non-profit organizations that would sponsor the show as a fund raiser.

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Tom Mix..This says it all

| January 12, 2010

This is a rare photo. This is a billboard advertising the  circus. Bill boards were not too common in those days and much smaller, nothing like the ones of today. This photo was taken along a country road somewhere near the town in which the circus played.  Date of photo Sept 1931.

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