CIRCUS HISTORY

CIRCUS HISTORY. Newspaper accounts of "the circus coming to town" often mimic each other in the accounts of the twenty-plus car railroad trains bringing equipment, animals, and performers to town, the huge crowds eager to see the parade, and the marvelous acts. Equally worth remembering are the other facts that were not so often repeated over the years and therefore are prone to be forgotten. This will be the focus of this entry. (1)

The growth of the RINGLING BROTHERS' CIRCUS might never had occurred without the help of Dubuque's neighbors to the southeast in Cascade. In 1879 the Ringling circus was small owned by the five Ringling brothers and was financially broke in Onslow, Iowa. Making matters worse, a tornado had ripped the circus tent to shreds. Mustering all its resources, the crew moved fifteen miles in horse-drawn wagons to Monticello hoping for a good crowd. The fee required by the town was more than the show could afford. Going ahead alone, Al Ringling headed for Cascade, a town known for being 'a good show town.'(2)

Isaac Baldwin, the mayor and publisher of the newspapers, and R. J. McVay, a private banker, came to the rescue. Baldwin printed advertising handbills on credit and waived the show permit required. McVay loaned Ringling the money to move the show to Casacde--a project that took several days. (3)

With a patched tent, the Ringling circus played to packed houses making the show financially sound. Moving on and adding talent, the Ringling Circus was soon traveling the nation by rail car. Since Cascade, however, was only linked to the outside world by narrow-gauge track the circus was never able to return to the scene of its resurrection. (4)

Some time later, the Ringling Circus was booked into Monticello and three Cascade residents traveled to see it. Al Ringling, remembering the great help Cascade had given his crew, allowed the three to enter free-of-charge. During the performance, Ringling told the crowd of the history in Cascade and vowed that anyone able to prove they were from Cascade would be admitted free 'wherever we are.' (5)

The permit which caused so much problem for the Ringling circus came about through a state law passed in 1876. It stated:

        An Act to regulate circuses and other public shows.
          Section 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Iowa.
                     That before any person can exhibit any traveling show 
                     circus not prohibited by law, or show any natural or
                     artificial curiosity, or exhibition of horsemanship in a
                     circus or otherwise for any price, gain or reward, in any
                     county outside of the outside of the limits of any city or
                     incorporated town, he shall obtain a license therefore
                     from the county auditor, upon the payment to the county 
                     treasurer of such sum as may be fixed by the board of 
                     supervisors, not exceeding one hundred dollars for each and
                     every place in the county at which such show or circus may
                     exhibit.
          Section 2. If any person shall exhibit any show above contemplated
                     without having firs obtained such license, he shall be
                     deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and punished accordingly, 
                     and shall forfeit and pay double the amount fixed for such
                     license for the use and benefit of the school fund.
 

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Source:

1. "Recall Ringling's Free Invitation to Cascaders," The Telegraph-Herald, July 18, 1956, p. 1