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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Circuses
1848
06 20 RAYMOND & Co’s. MAMMOTH MENAGERIE
First [or one of the first] circus
comes to early Watertown.
1861
SANDS’ CIRCUS coming to Watertown
1865
04 20 GEORGE W. DeHAVEN & Co
CIRCUS! CIRCUS! George W.
DeHaven & Co.’s great circus is coming and will exhibit here on Tuesday,
April 25th, 1865, and it is expected that farmers and everyone, men, women and
children, from far and near, will be here to see the great and wonderful feats
of this circus and it does contain one of the best troupe of star performers in
America, unequalled by any company travelling in the states. This company will perform some of the
most wonderful and thrilling feats ever performed in this country, and in order
to believe it you must come and see them done yourselves; so we expect to see
Watertown fuller of people to see this great show than it was ever before to
see any show. Monsieur Signor Bliss, the wonder of the world, will walk a ceiling,
feet up and head down. This great and
wonderful and most thrilling scene must be seen to be believed and is well
worth the fifty cents admission alone, for it is the most astonishing feat ever
known in this country. WD
1866 FRANK J. HOWES Champion Circus / Bill
stand posted on Cole Hall, Second and Main
The circus has made greater use of
illustrated posters for advertising purposes than any other type of amusement
or business enterprise, and this fact has prompted the frequent use of the
descriptive phrase "billed like a circus" in referring to the
extensive use of poster advertising.
During the golden days of the circus from 1880 to about 1910 a number of
printing firms thrived in filling the insatiable needs of the big outdoor
amusement enterprises. In 1866 the Frank
J. Howes Champion Circus posted this bill stand for the Watertown, Wisconsin
stand. http://www.circushistory.org/Bandwagon/bw-1973Nov.htm
07 12 Castello's (Dan) Great Show 1866
1870 W. W. COLE’S Great Show Coming
06 11 W. W. Cole’s Great New York and New
Orleans Menagerie, Circus and Congress of Living Wonders. The Largest and Best. Seats for 10,000 people. A World of Wonders. Famous Faces.
Beauty and Skill. Novelties
without End. A place abound with
pleasure.
The
above institution comes on June 18th preceded by most favorable mention from
the press of other places. It is credited with magnificence, novelty, elegance,
enormous size, animals without number, apt artists and wonderful performances. Its bills enumerate animals of all
descriptions; its parade is spoken of as a pageant of royal grandeur.
The greatest
novelty presented, however, will be the tallest man and woman in the world,
whom statistics show to be veritable giants --- man and wife Capt. and Mrs. M.
V. Bates; each 7 feet 11 1/2 inches high; he 32, she 29 years of age; combined
weight one half ton. Now for the first
time on exhibition in this country . . .
WR
1882 W. W. COLE
08 05 
1890 ROBINSON CIRCUS
1891
04 14 P. T.
BARNUM, tie to Watertown
The
death of the great showman, Phineas T. Barnum, occurred at his home at
Bridgeport, Connecticut, on the 7th. He
leaves an estate worth $5,000,000, which is divided among relatives and
charitable institutions. Five hundred
thousand dollars is left to the cause of education in connection with the
Universalist church.
Mr.
Barnum was a cousin of our resident Mrs. Harriet Montgomery. He was here on several occasions with his
show. WR
1889
City Directory
06 26 T. K. BURK'S CONSOLIDATED SHOWS
The
first and only big show that visits Watertown this season is T. K. Burk's
consolidated shows. Gorgeous spectacular
production of Cinderella, or the crystal slipper, mammoth museum, royal Roman
hippodrome, and school of perfectly educated Arabian-Mexican horses in their
wonderfully military drills, court scenes, etc.
This immense aggregation will pitch their tents here for one day only,
Saturday, July 4. Two performances will
be given. Doors open at 1 and 7
p.m. Grand entree one hour later. Grand and gorgeous free street parade at 12
o'clock, noon. Ladies and children are
especially recommended to attend the matinee performance, thereby avoiding the
vast crowds at night. Everything new and
brilliant. Seats for 5000. Popular
prices of admissions. WG
07 31 WALLACE & GO'S GREAT WORLD'S MENAGERIE AND THREE RING INTERNATIONAL
CIRCUS
The amusement-loving
portion of our community know a good thing when they see it and cannot be
satisfied with promise and frustration.
Consequently, when Wallace & Go's Great World's Menagerie and Three
Ring International Circus spreads its broad canvas in our town on Tuesday,
August 11th, there will be a tremendous rush to visit it and to witness the
many really excellent acts of specialties which it will present, and which have
received immense commendations wherever the show has exhibited.
08 07 WALLACE & GO'S
At an
early hour yesterday morning people came flocking in from all parts of the
country, so as to be on hand to witness the street parade. At the hour the procession started the
sidewalks were crowded with an eager throng.
The parade was certainly all it advertised to be. The horses were
exceptionally fine and there were many cages of rare animals. Among them, the trained stallions attracted
much attention, and which are worth many thousands of dollars. The canvasses, both afternoon and evening,
were crowded to their fullest capacity and the entertainments were received on
each occasion with vociferous and continuous outbursts of well deserved
applause. The circus performances are thoroughly good and there is not in any
number of the extensive programme an uninteresting
feature nor an incompetent performer. In
the menagerie are many cages of birds, more unusual of beasts and birds that
are usually shown on road entertainments.
1894
COOK & WHITBY
05 04 ROGLITZ
CIRCUS
A. Roglitz,
of Milford, who has recently given up farming, has started on a tour of the
country as proprietor of a circus. He
has been to a good deal of expense in getting an outfit, hiring men, etc., and
we wish him success. He gave his first
show last Saturday night here. About
four hundred people attended. WR
1902
06 13 FAMED RINGLING BROS. CIRCUS PERFORMED
IN WATERTOWN
click to enlarge
1906
06 28 Watertown is faring well this season in
the way of amusements. Already we have
had the Gollmar and Habenbeck circuses.
But that is not all. There is
more to come.
Geo.
W. Madden, general agent for the National Amusement Company, is in the city
paving the way for the appearance of his company which will be on a street
carnival here the first week in August under the auspices of the Eagles.
The
National Amusement Company is one of the strongest on the road and will arrive
here eighteen cars strong. The company
is receiving flattering press notices from all sections of the country and
Watertown is assured something first class.
WDT
07 29 GOLLMAR BROTHERS CIRCUS
It is understood
that the Gollmar Brothers Greatest of American Shows this year have undergone a
general renovation in each and every one of the many departments, and from the
monster exhibition tents to the cook tent, everything is new, clean and
up-to-date, the only thing that has been retained being the trade mark and name
"Gollmar Brothers" which means everything first-class. Long trains of cars transport these immense
shows on tour this season, and the biggest combination of circus and menagerie
attractions are presented, to say nothing of the numerous auxiliary novelties
offered in conjunction with this immense circus.
The
Gollmar Brothers Circus will be seen in this city, Friday, August 5. WG
Big Lotus with Gollmar’s Circus, Largest in Captivity
One of
the most annoying things to the animal keeper with a big menagerie is the
surprising ignorance and indifference of many people toward the rare and costly
beasts and birds of the forest. There
are not half a dozen real zoological gardens in this entire country, and hence
about the only opportunity a majority of the people of this country have to
study natural history from real life is upon the occasional visit of some of
the big circuses.
Although
wild beasts are vanishing before the advance of civilization, and the increase
of the earth's population, and though it is certain that all wild beasts will
become extinct in time, yet a larger portion of the public fails to inspect the
menageries that are brought to their doors.
The
Gollmar Brothers paid $6,500 for a giant hippopotamus. It is a magnificent specimen of the river
horse of the River Nile, and a most interesting source of study for the student
of nature. Very few people can tell
whether a hippopotamus is web footed or whether it has teeth. The average person does not know that it is
an animal allied to the elephant; that it has a thick and heavy body, short
legs, terminated by four toes; a short tail, skin without hair, except at the
extremity of its tail, and that it feeds on herbage exclusively.
"Big
Lotus," the "hip" with the Gollmar Shows, knows his value, and
he also knows that the public is not as well acquainted with him as it pretends
to be. When he first joined the circus
he seemed annoyed because the cheap, sickly, treacherous little monkey received
more attention than he did; but he is over that now. Although he is not paid the homage and
attention that is his due, this giant beast does not show his disappointment,
but lies contentedly in the mammoth tank of water in the bottom of his cage,
and in parade he will occasionally make goo-goo eyes at the crowds or open his
great mouth . . .
Wisconsin
became a major player in the circus world.
Not only did the world-famous Ringling Brothers get their start in
Baraboo in 1875, they helped their cousins, the Gollmar Brothers, create their
own circus there in 1891.
1912
08 01 A GRAND CARNIVAL <> Imperial band of Watertown
The
Imperial band of Watertown have made arrangements with the Great Capital City
Amusement Co. to hold a week's carnival, beginning Monday, August 5th,
including Saturday night, August 10th.
The
band has not been given a benefit for some time and as Watertown is not going
to have a circus this season the boys have secured the above company under
their auspices.
The
company consists of 8 big moral shows, a Giant Ferris Wheel, a 20th Century
Carry-Us-All, 3 sensational free attractions and a circus band. The Imperial band will turn out every evening
and render concerts on the show grounds.
This
will be one of the biggest efforts ever attempted by the band and should have
the support of every citizen.
The
first performance will open Monday evening at 7:30 and every afternoon and
evening during the engagement.
Among
the special features in the free attractions will be the De'Claravilles,
one of the world's greatest aerial acts.
Free admission to the carnival grounds.
Illuminations will be one of the features.
1914
S. W. BRUNDAGE SHOWS
1915, August 19, Main Street, Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth
1920
07 19 WALTER L. MAIN CIRCUS
Circus Grounds location later became
that of Lincoln park
1920
tour included Watertown / Walter
L. Main Circus Season 1920
07 28 “CIRCUS DAY” IN WATERTOWN
c.1922
-- -- GOLLMAR
CIRCUS IN WATERTOWN
1927
07 13 000000000000000000000
One thumb, with HL to set WITHIN
G+ portfolio
1962
07 16 NEW CIRCUS LOT
Watertown has a new circus lot. It will be used on Saturday, July 21, when
the Al G. Kelly, Miller Bros. Circus
exhibits here for two performances — 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. The new lot is located on highway 26, two
blocks beyond the Milwaukee Road viaduct.
It lies west of highway 26 and south of Bernard Street.
For many years Watertown’s circus lot was located in
the old fifth ward near the site of the present Ira
L. Henry Co. factory. That became unavailable
many years ago and later circuses that came here used the old intercounty fair grounds which now is no longer
available.
1967
CIRCUS PARADE
Ervin
Coughlin, Milwaukee Circus Day parade
1970
08 29 oooooooooooooooooooooooo
08 29 1970
Clyde Beatty, Cole Brothers Circus comes to Watertown
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1983 “In love
with the Circus,” Gerald Schubert Title
of 02 15 1983 article in Wisconsin State
Journal
07 02 GREAT CIRCUS
TRAIN CANCELLATION
Every letter mailed Tuesday morning at
the Watertown branch of the U.S. Post Office will receive a special
cancellation on the Great Circus Train, according to Watertown Postmaster Art
Hamann. He will deliver the mail to the
train at 11:25 a.m. when it is scheduled to arrive in Watertown. The train will deliver the mail for
processing in Milwaukee later that day.
A limited number of the special 200th Anniversary of the Circus caches
will go on sale Tuesday at the Watertown Post Office. Six other Wisconsin cities, Lodi, Madison,
Columbus, Pewaukee, Wauwatosa and Milwaukee, along the route will also offer
special cancellations, each showing their city name.
08 27 GERALD
SCHUBERT LOVES A CIRCUS
Circus
buff Gerald Schubert loves to watch a circus set up the big
tent, but he also likes to watch it go down.
Scouting the grounds long after the circus has gone gives him the
opportunity to add to his tent stake collection. If he is lucky enough to find one, he will
add it to his collection in his “circus room” which is covered with circus
posters. He has loved circuses all his
life, ever since the first calliope called, and he has collected over 60
posters from all over the world. The
posters cover the walls of what he calls his “circus room” in his
basement. The tent stakes are stacked in
a corner. Models of circus train wagons
which he made are neatly displayed on shelves along one wall. His collection of circus-related books, all
52 of them, are housed in a bookcase on the main level of the house which he
shares with his wife, Jane.
2014
THE CULPEPPER & MERRIWEATHER CIRCUS
08 15 
< < scroll forward through set of
images
Cross
References:
Seibel
Brothers Dog & Pony Show
Parade
returning to Fairgrounds [1], uncertain year
![Parade returning to Fairgrounds [1]](../Images/WHS_006_700.jpg){kind=link}
Parade
returning to Fairgrounds [2], uncertain year
![Parade returning to Fairgrounds [2]](../Images/WHS_006_701.jpg){kind=link}
Little Jim, Pinto and Alice
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin