McGregor's Own Ringling Brothers
by Raymond R. Anderson
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Geological Survey Bureu
The Ringlings in the McGregor Area
The town of McGregor was the home of harness maker Augustus Ringling and his family from 1859 to 1972. Four of his famous sons, the Ringling brothers of Ringling Brothers Circus fame (including the youngest and most successful John) were born at the family home at Walton Hollow near Pikes Peak. Jim Franklin, McGregor writer, is currently completing a book on the Ringlings, “The Ringling Brothers: From McGregor to Baraboo,” to be published soon by Popcorn Press of McGregor. Mr. Franklin’s research indicates that the Ringling boys were first exposed to the circus life when Dan Rice’s Steamboat Circus came to McGregor. The boys soon developed tumbling and juggling skills, one even learned to balance a plow on his chin. Their early performances were in the back yards of McGregor where they honed their skills. In 1872 the Ringling family moved to Prairie du Chien, then in 1874 to Baraboo where the brothers organized their first commercial circus in the late 1870s.
As the 19th century was coming to a close, the Ringling brothers of Baraboo, Wisconsin, were building a reputation. Beginning their tented circus in 1884, Alf T. Ringling, Al Ringling, Charles Ringling, John Ringling, and Otto Ringling soon became known as Kings Of The Circus World. A sixth brother, Henry Ringling, joined the show in 1886.
By 1887, the Ringling brothers' show was growing. The official title was Ringling Bros. United Monster Shows, Great Double Circus, Royal European Menagerie, Museum, Caravan, and Congress of Trained Animals.
In 1889 the seventh Ringling brother, A.G. "Gus" Ringling, joined the show, which now had a seating capacity of about 4,000 as it played cities and towns in Wisconsin and Illinois. Admission was 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children. The year also marked a first for the Ringlings, as they took to the rails, becoming the 12th such circus to do so.
As time went on, the Ringling’s show grew bigger, and a series of business deals enabled them to absorb some of their competition. In 1905, James A. Bailey sold the Ringlings 50 percent interest in his Forepaugh-Sells Bros. Circus; Bailey died in the spring of 1906, and the Ringlings subsequently purchased the other 50 percent from his widow for $100,000.
In 1907, the Ringlings finally purchased their largest competitor -- Barnum & Bailey Circus -- after more than a year of discussion and negotiation. Interestingly, the Ringlings were split in their opinions as to whether the purchase ought to have happened: Otto and John wanted the deal to happen, while Al, Charles, and Alf T. needed to be convinced. On July 8, 1907, the deal went through and THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH® became the property of the Ringlings for a price of $400,000.
The Ringlings shared the public's respect for the Barnum & Bailey name, and toured the two shows separately until 1919. That year, due to wartime conditions that included labor shortages and rail travel problems, the Ringlings merged the two great entities. The result, consisting of 100 double-length railroad cars and 1,200 employees, was arguably the largest traveling amusement enterprise up to that time: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Combined Shows, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH®.
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH® was becoming truly legendary, but none of John Ringling's six brothers lived to see what was perhaps his greatest business triumph. In 1929, reacting to the fact that his competitor, the American Circus Corporation, had signed a contract to perform in New York's Madison Square Garden, Ringling purchased American Circus for $1.7-million. In one fell swoop, Ringling had absorbed five major shows: Sells-Floto, Al G. Barnes, Sparks, Hagenbeck-Wallace, and John Robinson.
By the time John Ringling died in 1936, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Circus had become deeply ingrained into the American tradition and consciousness. John Ringling North, an executor of his uncle's estate, became president of the show in 1937, a position he held until 1943 when his cousin, Robert, became president. John took the position once again in 1947.
Times, and the public's taste, were changing, and the circus had problems keeping pace. On July 16, 1956, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the financially troubled Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® gave its last performance under the big top. John Ringling North commented that "the tented circus as it exists today is, in my opinion, a thing of the past." Life magazine wrote that "a magical era had passed forever."
Before long, though, the magic would return.
Later that year, Irvin Feld would save Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® from oblivion by masterminding its transition from tents to arenas, his vision and creativity ushering in a new era of entertainment. Feld not only restored Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® to its former glory, but set the stage for THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH® to reach new heights of excellence!
Ringling Brothers Mud Show Wagon
Small circuses that were not big enough to
travel by railroad moved from town to town using horse-drawn wagons, making
short jumps of perhaps 5 to 15 miles.
When it was raining, the dirt roads became very muddy. Thus these small
wagon shows were known in the circus business as "mud shows." One of the most esteemed wagons in the
Circus World Museum's collection is this vehicle from the Ringling Brother's
mud show days. The Ringling Brothers
started their circus in Baraboo in 1884.
For the first six years, this circus traveled from town to town by horse
power. This venerable wagon spent many
a season in this period hauling concession equipment for the Parsons, who
operated this department. The Parson
family of Darlington, Wisconsin had this wagon in storage along with a great
collection of miscellaneous circus gear, all of which they presented to the
Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin, where it can be viewed today.
Figure 1. The
Ringling’s first circus wagon can be seen
at the
Circus World Museum in Baraboo
Ringling Brothers Bell Wagon
Having graduated from a horse-drawn wagon
show to a full-blown railroad show in 1890, the Ringling Brothers felt they had
to have some special parade wagons to prove they were a big show. So, for the
1892 season, they ordered the famous and magnificent Bell Wagon (Figure
2). The Moeller Bros. Wagon Works of
Baraboo received the order. Centennial Bell Foundry in Milwaukee produced the
nine bronze bells that weighed 4300 pounds and the Milwaukee Ornamental
Woodcarving Co. produced the decorative woodcarvings. This street parade
vehicle is considered one of the most beautiful of all time. Traditionally, music was an important part
of any circus street parade. The operator of the bell wagon sits on the rear
seat in front of nine spring-primed levers, each connected to one of the
clappers. The glorious and melodious tones that emanated from the bells could
be heard many blocks away, adding to the excitement of the parade
Figure 2. The
Ringling Bell wagon, the star of many circus parades, is now on display
at the
Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin
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from
Anderson, R.R. (ed.), 2000, The Natural History of Pikes Peak State Park, Clayton County, Iowa: Geological Society of Iowa Guidebook 70, p. 71-73.