The "Women And The Circus" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Over 100 years ago in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the circus had come to town.  It more than likely took up residence at the old Fair Grounds along the Harrisburg Pike near Longs Park.  Everyone in town was excited since for many it was the only form of entertainment they might have until the circus arrives again next year.  There was no television and heavens...no Twitter.  Everyone in town was ready to head to the circus to see the exotic animals, the clowns, the acrobats and of course the Circus girls.  It was at the turn of the century that the circus spotlight began to shine on women, highlighting their athletic talents as well as their beauty. Back in the early 1900s woman's roles were still considered to be homemakers and child bearers.  And the few women that traveled and performed with the circus were a rarity.  Seems the circus offered a home for some female outsiders and castaways and provided the independence that was abnormal for most woman.  The women of the American Circus worked tirelessly to try and perfect their acts, attempting to steal the limelight and perform stunts not thought possible for their male counterparts.  

Lillian Leitzel

One such women was Lillian Leitzel who was a famous aerialist whose story was one told in the Saturday Evening Post in 1920.  She once said, "They seem to assume that circus people have not got beyond the primitive stage of the cave man and are an aggregation of unlettered louts wholly devoid of the commonest sense of social amenities."  What made Lillian different than most women of the day was...she was wealthy!   In 1917 she was making up to $200 a week with Ringling Brothers.  Today that $200 would be about $4,000.  Actually, many female circus stars raked in more than their male counterparts.  

Advertisement poster showing Lillian

Lillian had her own train car that contained a piano, and at each stop would dress in her own private tent.  By the 1920s she was making close to $500 per week and was a brassy prima donna.  She was the daughter of Czech circus performers and began in the gymnasium at the age of 3.  She was best known for climbing up a rope and placing her hand in a loop while she threw her body around and around; dislocating her shoulder over and over again as she performed her "one-arm planges".  Phalanges are the bones that make up the fingers and toes.  She was a daredevil who suffered many injuries during her acrobatic career.  She was also known for giving parties for all of the circus children and giving them expensive gifts.  She encouraged women to exercise to stay healthy and suggested swimming daily.  Lillian married the Mexican trapeze artist Alfedo Codona, but the marriage was filled with jealousy and resentment.  In Copenhagen, Leitzel was performing when the brass ring she was holding snapped and she fell 20 feet onto her head.  She died the next morning from a concussion.  

Mabel Stark

Another famous woman performer was Mabel Stark who was working as a nurse when she made a visit to the circus in Venice, California.  She became obsessed with the Bengal tigers and eventually joined the Al G. Barnes Circus in 1911.  She was the first American woman to take up the dangerous profession of big cat trainer.  In 1920 she joined the Ringling Brothers after they told her how much they loved her wrestling matches with the big cats.  She often said that the tone of her voice had much to do with her success.  

A poster showing Miss Mabel Stark

She was mauled one time in the ring and required 378 stitches and another bout with one of her cats gave her a limp arm.  She retired from the circus in the 1930s and began work at an amusement park called Jungleland.  She committed suicide in her late 70s after one of her tigers escaped and was shot.  

Miss May Wirth leaping from one horse to the other.

One final woman who requires mention is May Wirth who was known as "The World's Greatest Rider."  At the age of 17 she made her first appearance in the Ringling Brothers' show at Madison Square Garden.  During her performance the five-year-old  leapt from horse to horse while doing flips and twists, all with a giant hair bow.  Will Rogers witnessed the young Australian and predicted "the day would come when there would be but two types of bareback riders in the world, May Wirth and all the others."  Mr. Ringley was skeptical that she could perform her legendary somersault and wanted to see it.  

Poster showing May Wirth

She missed it the first time, but aced it the second time.  That earned her a contract with the Ringley Brothers' Circus.  In 1913, an unfortunate slip caused her to be dragged around the track by her feet.  Nine years later she rode a 3 year old, 2,400 pound bull while standing on her hands upon his back.  She was inducted into the Ringling Museum and Circus Hall of Fame in 1964.  These three women are alleged to have been the three most dominant females in the field of circus performers.  I would have loved seeing them perform, but never had the chance.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Sideshow World" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Talking to a friend about matting and framing a poster for him that dates back to the early 1930s.   The poster in question was from the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey combined Circus known as "The Greatest Show On Earth."  

Poster features a drawing, in black and white, of a tribe of genuine Ubangi Savages with mouths and lips as large as those of full-grown crocodiles.  These savages are new to civilization having come from Africa's darkest depths.  Show was to take place on Monday, June 23, 1930.  My guess is that the majority of those reading this story weren't alive when these savages traveled with the circus in 1930.  The savages were part of what at the time was known as the sideshow at the circus.  

Poster advertising the "Headless Girl"

People who came to see the circus acts also had a chance to walk around the circus grounds and visit various "side shows" that were advertised by a barker who would yell to the crowd not to miss seeing the "Headless Woman" or "Headless Girl" as well as "Spidora" the woman with the body of a spider.  Most all sideshows were realistic looking illusions that perhaps scared the crap out of those who witnessed them.  

The "Headless Woman" looks surprisingly real.

I'm sure children viewing a woman without a head or a man with a lip the size of a dinner plate couldn't sleep for quite a few nights after visiting the circus.  "Spidora" was one of the most popular sideshows.  She allegedly was born with the head and face of a beautiful girl and the body of an ugly spider who survives in total misery.  

One of the "Spidora" sideshow acts.

Most traveling circuses would feature their version of "Spidora" with some more believable that others.  At worst you saw a woman with her head protruding out of a box with a spider body crudely attached to her while the better shows offered an expertly crafted spider body web made of white twine and spider body and legs made of fake fur.  The legs would include tubing so the girl playing the role of "Spidora" could make the legs appear to move on their own.  "Spidora's" body would be concealed behind a wall in a box in which her spider web, spider body and head were macabrely displayed for curious onlookers to ponder before moving on to the next act in the sideshow.  

This one looks a bit more realistic!

As for the headless woman illusion, it was said to be terrifyingly realistic.  "Olga", as she was called at first, was a headless torso that appeared to be a torso with tubes running from her throat to a contraption that supposedly controlled her food intake.  The headless woman was optically baffling.  This sideshow act actually continued to appear around the world through the 1980's so some of you might have seen this particular act.  There were many other acts throughout history such as "General Tom Thumb" who was a dwarf, "Arachnida" the human spider and the guys with the hugh lips, but they weren't quite as famous as "Spidora" and the Headless Woman.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The "The End Of 'The Greatest Show On Earth'" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just got off the phone with my friend Jerry who I call every Sunday evening; unless I forget!  Tonight we talked about our week's activities and then Jerry asked, "Did you see the news about the circus?"  Wasn't sure what he was talking about so I asked.  Seems that the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will end "The Greatest Show on Earth" this coming May after a 146-year run.  Wow!  When Jerry was younger his dream in life was to work on the circus tour.  I'm sure it's no longer on his bucket list, but geez, if it is he only has a few months in which to get going so he can cross it off his list as having done that.  

Jerry's "Circus Train"

He already has made an entire HO train with about a dozen cars as well as an HO sized circus with a tent and the whole works.  I'll tell you, it's really neat and extremely realistic.  I've taken photos of the train and miniature circus more than once while visiting him and posted the photos in stories I've written.  

A closeup of one of the train cars holding circus wagons.

Back in 2010 Carol and I visited with Jerry and Sue at their home in State College and our main reason for that visit was to go to the Bryce Jordan Center to see the same circus that will be history soon.  We arrived early and were allowed to be on the arena floor and visit with the entertainers and performers.  

LDub as part of the entertainment at the circus.

Even had a performer put a bathroom plunger on my head and spin a plate on the handle.  It was back in the 1800s that showman Phineas Taylor Barnum partnered with ringmaster James A. Bailey to entertain the public with an animal exhibit and human oddities.  It was during this same time in history that the Ringling family from Wisconsin had their own touring variety act.  They eventually merged and the result was what we know as the "Circus".  They toured from city to city for decades by train, setting up their big-top tents in towns of all sizes.

Jerry's miniature circus complete with "Big-Top",
sideshows, sleeping quarters for entertainers, etc. 

 I can remember visiting the circus with my dad when they came to Lancaster in the 1950s.  So why is the circus pulling up their tents for good soon?  Seems the railroad is getting too costly as well as the many battles the circus faces with animal rights activists.  Circus goers want to see the elephants, lions, and so forth, but recently the circus has had to operate without them due to court battles charging the circus with animal cruelty.  

Jerry's detail is remarkable!

Their accusations must have been document- ed, since the animals seemed to have disappeared from the circus and who wants to see a circus without the animals.  Another reason for the demise of the circus is a multitude of movies, video games, television and internet that seems to have captured the youth of today, leaving the circus without the visual impact it needs to survive.  

A closer view of the "Big-Top" at the Herr Bros. Circus.

At one time in history the circus was so important to our society that President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave Ringling Bros. special permission to use the rails during World War II.  Its going to be a sad day soon when the huge colossal canvas city will no longer track across the country and entertain kids of all ages; myself and Jerry included.  But, I guess every good thing must come to an end.  Future generations will only have miniature representations set up in HO train yards to see what the circus was at one time in history.  Certainly the smells, sounds and excitement of the circus will live on only in our dreams.  So sad!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.