Wisconsin Circus Lore

Wisconsin Circus Lore presents a collection of stories and historical accounts documenting Wisconsin's central role in American circus history during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Compiled by the Federal Writer's Program in the 1930s under Dorothy Moulding Brown's direction, this volume captures the era when Wisconsin towns like Delavan and Baraboo served as winter headquarters and launching points for major traveling circuses. The collection chronicles the operations of legendary shows including Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey, and numerous Wisconsin-based enterprises. Delavan emerged as an early circus capital where the Mabie Brothers established operations in 1847, followed by other prominent showmen who made the region their base for outfitting and organizing road shows. The book contains detailed accounts of circus elephants, from Romeo the "bad actor" who killed three men to gentle Annie at Madison's Vilas Park Zoo. Stories of tigers, lions, bears, and other menagerie animals illustrate both the dangers and humor of circus life. Performer profiles include Al and John Ringling, circus pioneer William C. Coup who invented the three-ring format and railroad circus transportation, renowned bareback rider Elise Dockrill, and "Popcorn George" Hall of Evansville. Beyond entertainment, these accounts document the practical aspects of circus operations: the complex logistics of moving shows by rail, the hierarchy of circus personnel from "razor-backs" to star performers, and the economic impact on small Wisconsin communities. The collection preserves firsthand memories of an industry that employed thousands and shaped popular entertainment across America. This Federal Writer's Program compilation represents both social history and folklore, capturing the voices of circus workers, townspeople, and performers who lived through the golden age of American circus. The stories range from tragic accidents to comic mishaps, revealing the human drama behind the spectacle that traveled from town to town across the continent.