The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-07-25
CIRCUS WAGON ART.
COSTLY DECORATIONS A NECESSITY
FOR PARADE EFFECT.

Spectacular Pictorial Effects Is an
Artist OF Ability Who Keeps His
Name Hidden.
Nobody who isn't In the circus busi-
ness can appreciate the value, In an
advertising way, Of spectacular pic
torlal effects. ANY circus which at
tempted to make the main round Of
cities nowadays with the parade out
fits of some years ago would last about
two weeks ut the outside before going
broke. People would judge 1t by it's
parade and, seeing that the animal
wagons and band chariots weren't up
to the mark, would infer that the en-
tire show was inferior, in which infer
ence they would probably be perfectly
correct. So keen Is competition now
and to such point of practical dis
cernment has the public been educated
that the big shows spend an amount
OF money on ornamentation alone that
would make the ordinary business man
gasp aud denouncc them as prodigally
wasteful. There Is one Chariot" now
on the road that actually cost close
to $4,000 when 1t was new, and it in
wolves a large outlay every year to
keep it frightened up with gold leaf
and repairs Of weather wear
On the inside these vehicles are
strictly and rigidly economical. Not
foot Of space Is wasted. Most Of the
wagons are full Of parnphernalIa, mar
velously packed by experts In that
line. Nothing can he learned from the
exterior Of the vehicle regarding its
interior. The magnificent blue and
gold chariot, worthy OF the royalest Of
Bengal tigers, carries the layout Of
the ticket seller, while the wagon
which limns forth on its gay sides the
likeness Of the ferocious rhinoceros is
probably the habitat Of the wardrobe
woman and her outfit. Other magnifi-
cent equipages Of the wheeled process
sion carry apparatus, clothing, trap
pings and fodder for the animals.
Most Of the animals themselves are
left behind when the show goes out Oh
parade, except those that march, such
as the elephants and camels and few
or the big felines, taken along to roar
enticingly. There have been cases
where haste and confusion Oh the part
Of the showmen In preparing the pn-
rade have resulted in the unmistakable
roar Of the king Of beasts being heard
from wagon on whose panels coiled
the mighty but comparatively voiceless
boa constructor, to the vast amazement
Of the gathered public.
Painting circus wagon panels is
distinct branch Of art. Probably the
academies would not SO regard 1t. but
nevertheless there Is certain breadth
of treatment and dash required that
are quite beyond the abilities of the
ordinary practitioner of art, and the
pictured sides of the circus vans repre-
sent some very good if rather hasty
work.
The most successful painter of this
line Of work in the country is an artist
OF high abilities and reputation in
large western city. His reputation has
been made as portrait painter, and it
would doubtless be distinct detriment
20 ais career were 1t known that he
paints circus wagons. but paint them
he does, and, what Is more, he delights
in the work. This artist has always
had fancy that his real forte lay In
landscape work with q sprInkling Of
animals. That the public and the crit
les have always insisted on Offering
with him has been grief to him.
However, as he could earn q consider
able income by his portraits he felt
able to spend his spare time in painting
animal and woodland scenes which no.
body would buy. Then he got into the
circus painting business, and not only
was his ambition satisfied, but his in
come was largely augmented.
low it came about that this artist
was induced to go into this line Of
work probably nobody but he and the
Snowman who got him into It knows.
Every winter now when that show
goes into winter quarters the artist is
summoned to the place and for weeks
works away for dear life, designing
and painting new wagon scenes. Among
the show people he does not 60 under
bis own name, anu he does not reyenl
at his home the business that takes him
away every winter. In this line OF
work he has made all climes his own
and will as readily paint an arctic ice
scape for the Siberian fox as an AZ
rican oasis for the giraffe or O Rocky
mountain fastness for the grizzly bear.
For the envy Of those orthodox paint
ers who cOnfine themselves within the
CONSTRUCTED lines Of regulation art It
may be said that he averages about $40
day while working for the circus. To
do this he has to paint wagon day.
or course it Is impossible for him to do
oil the work Of painting ut this rate, so
he merely blocks out the pictures, ex-
planning to his assistants as he works
just how he wants the colors and the
gold leaf laid on.
Gold leaf is an essential Of circus art.
1t catches the sun aud attracts the pub-
lie eye. The amount Of money laid out
IN this article alone by n big circus Is
astonishing. When the painting of the
wagons Is NIL done, the artist goes over
the whole lot in final survey. Any
that there may be he touches
I'D or smooths down until all is fit. and
he wagons. glittering and gorgeous.
ire loaded on the train to meet the
critical eye Of the metropolitan public
when the show starts its tOur.--New |