Posted By thecircusblog on August 27, 2012
Cole Bros cross cage wagon is set up on jacks in winter quarters. This wagon may be in for repair or the undercarriage is being used for another wagon. Animals can wear the inside of a wagon quickly…. especially cats.
Posted By thecircusblog on August 27, 2012
Cole Bros elephant preforming a head carry. On the left is Alonzo Devers and Johnny Sylvester. Here is the problem, I don’t know if Johnny is doing the head carry or if he is the person standing next to the elephants trunk is Johnny. I have very little information, but the date is 1936.
Posted By thecircusblog on August 27, 2012
Cole Bros ticket wagon open for business. The circus sideshow banner line seen in back ground. 1936.
Posted By thecircusblog on August 27, 2012
This was one of the posters used in 1937 by Cole Bros. It features “The Great Gretonas”.
Posted By thecircusblog on August 27, 2012
This was the Cole Bros horse bill board and at the bottom it read “Fearless & Daring”. On the right it features Jack Dempsey…………. The Closed Truck sign in front of the billboard may have been put there by the show to keep trucks from parking?
Posted By thecircusblog on August 27, 2012
In this photo is a Cole Bros elephant taking a cool drink of water. This water wagon was most likely mounted on a Mack truck flat bed. The water wagon was one of the most important items on any circus and never was allowed to be empty. Depending on the size of the tank it was necessary to make 2 to 3 runs a day for water, sometimes even more. The Mack truck was easier and faster than a team of horses. However in the old days there were horse drawn water wagons. They would fill the water wagon where ever they could, a stream, river or at a train water tower. If water was only available at a stream they had to use buckets to fill the water tank. If the show got lucky and a stream was close to the lot the animals were lead to the water. The performers even took advantage of it for washing and maybe just to enjoy…………1936
A very factual comment from Michael Lancaster.
Posted By thecircusblog on August 27, 2012
Cole Bros big top pole and cargo wagons. Photo taken on the lot 1936.
Posted By thecircusblog on August 27, 2012
Cole Bros cargo and baggage wagons. Photo was taken at their winter quarters 1936.
