Kay Bros Circus
Posted By thecircusblog on May 23, 2011
Al Kayda owner of Kay Bros Circus. Photo taken in the mid 1960’s.
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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
9 Responses to “Kay Bros Circus”
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I was looking for info on Kay Brothers Circus. I belong to the Kay Brothers Circus tent of the Circus Fans of American here in Petersburg,VA. I saw the picture of Al Kayda. Do you have any info of any of his family or living relatives? Would be worth a million dollars to us. thanks!
Al Kayda is my Grandfather
Al Kayda is my Grandfathers Brother. My Grandparents were Stephen and Mary Kayda. They had seven children. Stephen, Ernie, Margaret, Alice, Doris, Joyce and Mary. You can contact me at cindyking11011@yahoo.com and I would be glad to put you in contact with my family.
Hey Joseph!
I guess we are something like second cousins, Huh?
Would you happen to live in Cali?
Al kayda is my great grandfather, im named after him but wasnt born till years after he passed
my email is alexkayda @ gmail . Com
Hello Al Kayda was my uncle and his wife was my aunt Jay (Julia). Which she was my Grandmothers sister. My mother told me stories of the circus how David Nelson flew in the circus. We had dog acts and clowns Betty Spaghetti. Even my Uncle dressed up like a clown. My cousin Lori always had balloons with sticks at the circus. It was pretty cool hearing about the stories and going as a child. I was only 5. Well thank you for bringing back all the memories. My very favorite Uncle. Love the photo
Looking for information on My Grandfather who was with this circus. His name was Clifford Barney whiteeagle and my father said he ran with The Kay brothers and also the Mill brothers circus. Just looking for info on him. I never got to meet him because he passed away in 64 and my dad never got to meet him as well if you can find any thing on him could you please send it to the email address I gave. Im really wanting to know more about him.
My first husband, who died in 2002, was adopted and his mothers name was Frances Ketrow. I traced Wm Ketrow and Frank Ketrow to Kay Circus. Were they managers? Any info would be appreciated. Frances’s father was Albert (Bert) Ketrow. I cannot find what happened to his real mother.
Hello, William Ketrow was my great grandfather who owned Ketrow Bros. Circus that immigrated from Germany I think in the early 1900s or late 1800s. Mary Ellen, William Frank, and William Robert were his children that I am aware of. Mary Ellen was my grandmother. Fritz Huber was my grandfather who with my grandmother, Otto and his wife, performed a “Three High” high wire act. My grandmother also performed as an elephant trainer act. I don’t know when the family name became Peters and can only assume it was when my great grandfather immigrated. To Americanize the family name as was the trend. My grandmother told me how she was harassed in grade school late 1920s for her family name “Peters”. For that I believe the family name was changed when they immigrated although they still used the Ketrow name on the circus and when they announced my great grandfather “Ring Master” during the opening intros. My grandmother told me that the winters in Indiana were too harsh on the animals and they moved to Miami where they established Florida Tent Rental. I don’t know the back ground on when they became Kay Bros. only to see both names at different times. Kay Bros. Circus appears around 1940ish and Ketrow Bros. Circus appears prior. Only to think it was to Americanize the name as they related to show business and movie actors. I have been told of Bert Lancaster, Carl Wallenda and others working on the circus before they became movie stars or famous. Most were members and used to attend the Miami Showman’s Association. Ringling Bros., Barnum and Bailey formed and bought out the circus acts.
My contact,
williamattias@gmail.com