Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus

The Circus Hagenbeck - Wallace was an American circus at the beginning of the 20th century. At the height of his career, he was the second largest American Circus by Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus. The home of the Circus was the city of Peru, Indiana.

History

History and foundation

The Hamburg Carl Hagenbeck (1844-1913) was among the first tamers that their animals through rewards - rather than as hitherto usual by Punish - trained. He founded the " Carl Hagenbeck Circus".

Benjamin Wallace bought in 1884 along with his business partner James Anderson a circus and founded "The Great Wallace Show" and toured with the show America. 1890 Wallace separated from his partner and acquired its shares and founded the circus under the name "BE Wallace Circus " new.

1907 succeeded Wallace the " Carl Hagenbeck Circus" to purchase. He merged it with his own circus, under the new name " Hagenbeck - Wallace Circus". Hagenbeck complained against the use of his name by Wallace, but lost the case.

Misfortune series

1913 lost the Circus during the floods on Wabash River much of its livestock. Overall, the Circus lost six elephants, 21 lions and tigers and 8 dressage horses. That same year, Wallace sold his shares to Ed Ballard of French Link.

1918 was one of the worst disasters in American circus history. After the engine driver of an empty train was asleep, this went on June 22, 1918 at 4:00 clock near Hammond unrestrained on the end of the Hagenbeck - Wallace Circus train. By leaking kerosene in the lamps of the sleeping car fire broke out, which spread rapidly through the wooden structures of the car. As a result of the collision 86 people died and another 127 were injured. Most of the victims were buried in Forrest Park in Cook County. The section of the cemetery is now known as " Showmen 's Rest ."

Rebuilding

According to the motto " the show must go on" Circus helped many competing companies in the reconstruction by lending Hagenbeck - Wallace equipment and artists. Through the generous help of the Circus could quickly go on tour again. Overall, only two guest appearances had to be canceled ( in Hammond and Monroe). After the tragedy, the entrepreneur Jeremiah Mugivan and Bert Bowers began with the acquisition of the Hagenbeck - Wallace Circus, and added it to their various other circus companies. A year later Mugivan, Bowers and Ballard finally got together and founded the American Circus Company.

Decline

The predecessor companies, including Hagenbeck - Wallace, were sold for $ 2 million to the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus and which thus virtually held a monopoly in the traveling circuses. The Great Depression and the financial situation of the circus however, led to the fall of the monopoly company. In 1935, the Circus by Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus split off and renamed as " Hagenbeck - Wallace and Forepaugh -Sells Bros. Circus". 1938, the Circus was finally dissolved.

Throughout the company's history, many different artists, performers and animal trainers Your occurred in the Hagenbeck - Wallace Circus. Some are known:

• Joe Skelton, the father of Red Skelton, took a long time as a clown with the Hagenbeck - Wallace. His son, Red spent part of his youth also in the Circus and also appeared several times on itself.
• Emmett Kelly began his career as " Weary Willy ", during the Great Depression in Hagenbeck - Wallace, before moving to other circuses.
• Hoot Gibson was a cowboy, rodeo rider and film actor. He joined in 1937 at the Hagenbeck - Wallace.

• Circus companies