Comments on: Ringling Circus Museum – Sarasota, Florida

By: Kim Heskett

Kim Heskett — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:37:45 +0000

I’ve GOT to get there someday!! I am fascinated with circus history esp. after visiting the Circus World Museum in my beloved childhood summer destination of Baraboo, WI.
And, now, that the book, “Water for Elephants”, is out, and I have read it and seen the movie, I’m even more hooked.
Having had a fascination and love of calliopes, hand-carved carousels and such, it just all falls into place. Many photos in the book were from the museum there in Sarasota but I never KNEW. Destination for a someday vacation.
Oh, and thank you to Ed for the comment above as it just fits along with the history research that the author of “Water for Elephants” did. VERY well written as best I can tell.
My dream: to ride and elephant as a circus performer does…right up behind the ears…none of that sissy sitting on a “seat” on the back stuff!! I’d read EVERY bit of circus history written if I could get my hands on it AND had more free time. Good stuff!!

By: Edward Merrilees

Edward Merrilees — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 20:36:16 +0000

I was a laborer with the Ringling Circus in 1947, traveling from Erie, PA to Indiana during the summer, which I left for college. I lived in a rail car, stacked its length with bunks 3 high, paid a porter a dollar(?) weekly for soap and water, in a train that was the first in and first out of 4 trains to each location. I worked for Al Welsh, the best boss I ever had, with a group of boys and men in the cook house, setting up and tearing down and waiting table for the laborers who ate there. No performers; they were separated by a canvas wall in the middle, with their gingham table cloths and flower vases, if I remember right. But we all got the same good food, ours served on long oil cloth that we wiped off and rolled up each night. My friends there were very poor and uneducated, and I remember several from Allentown, PA who were amazed that I was leaving a home that they visited with me when I packed that had “carpet” on the floor! Who can I “talk circus” with or record my history? Ed Merrilees

By: scott p hall

scott p hall — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:03:49 +0000

we were the first to marry at the rose garden 1973 or 4