Cole Bros Circus #7
Posted By thecircusblog on August 23, 2012
Cole Bros steam calliope. I understand from the information that I have the name of this calliope is “The Two Jesters”. This photo was shot on the show lot in 1936. I do not want to disclaim the information that I have, but I don’t see two jesters on the wagon. The custom caved art work is usually what the tableaus and wagons are named after because of there individual appearance. There is also a carved Indian head in the center.
Stephen Flints comment has the information I was looking for on this calliope………Thanks.
Harry Kingston as well has made a comment.
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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
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THe two Jester’s calliope was on Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus.
Dear Ivan- This is NOT the 2 Jesters steam cally. It IS the steamer originally built by Sullivan & Eagle (Peru, IN) in 1903 for the Louella Forepaugh Fish Wild West Show. In 1911 it was purchased by the Gollmar outfit and used from 1904 thru 1916 by them. James Patterson acquired the wagon in 1917 and used it thru the 1922 season on his various endeavors. Christy purchased this in 1923 and used it thru the 1930 season. Itwas then stored at his WQ’s until purchased by Adkins & Terrell in 1934 for the Cole Bros. Circus. The wagon itself was used thru the 1938 season (on Robbins Bros.) and was then “retired”. Some carvings were stripped off and applied to the new cally wagon built in WQ’s for 1939. The rest of the wagon remained (in sad shape) in Rochester until 1946 when it was purchased by Alex Clarke of Princeton, NJ.
This information can be found in a Richard Conover article published in the Nov/Dec 1969 issue of Bandwagon magazine
Do we know what happened to its calliope after 1934 Adkins & Terrell acquired? Who was it sold to there after Adkins & Terrell? Or is that when the trail goes blank?