The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-12
RINGLINGS SCORE A HIT
TWO IMMENSE CROWDS VISIT THE
CITY OF TENTS.
"JerusaIem and the Crusades" Es-
pecially EnjOyed-Every Feature
Beyond Expectations.

In the spring everybody's fancy turns
to thoughts of the circus and when the
Ringing Brothers show comes along and
pitches its great white tents on the his
toric old grounds on West Washington
street, look out for two big crowds of
pieasure-seekers in quest of a rafting
good time. The Ringing Brothers are al
way welcome visitors to Indianapolis. for
the circus offered by this great organiza-
ton is always sure to be one of the best
on the road. The very name of Ringing
seems to have the same power to attract
nowadays that the name of Barnum
has always had. The Ringing show gave
its performances yesterday afternoon and
last night before enormous audiences. The
attendance in the afternoon was over 5000
and a crowd of much greater proportions
witnessed the entertainment in the even
ing. Circuses may come and circuses may
go, but of late years none of the big tent
shows are more enticing to Indianapolis
people than the circus associated with the
name of Ringing
The present Ringing show contains most
of the old-time features and many more
besides. The opening attraction of the
performance yesterday afternoon and last
night was the grandest spectacle ever seen
in this city in connection with tent show.
John Rettig's magnificent production of
Jerusalem and the Crusades" took the
place of the customary grand entry as
an introduction to the circus performance
proper. Several long stretches of scenery
were backed against one side of the
arena, opposite the reserved seat section,
showing vistas of ancient France and the
Holy City, which changed with the work
ing out of the simple plot of the pantomime.
Handsome long curtains were used to hide
regular order The spectacle was supposed
to open in France, where the knights were
marshaled preparatory to their departure
for the crusades. There were jousts, sword
combats and the blessing of the multitude,
followed by a beautiful garland ride on
horseback by twenty-four knights in hand
some costumes. The second scene was
pitched in Jerusalem, where nearly a hun
dred well-drilled ballet girls danced before
the Emir, who, seated cross-legged on his
throne, scrutinized the maidens as such
days. Mohammedans, Turks and Saracens
stood by in picturesque groups to watch
the festivities, which ended In the capture
of the Holy City by the crusaders. The
spectacle was produced under the personal
direction of Albert Ringing. the eldest
of the Ringing brothers, to whom all the
faultless perfection of the many panto-
mimistS, dancers, supernumeraries and
horses. The best part Of the spectacle was
the richness Of the costuming, which has
surely never been surpassed before In an
entertainment of this kind The only
criticism that could be offered was that
Mr.. Ringing himself looked very much out
of place in his plain Notwithstanding
clothes. as he giided in and out among the
knights, ballet girls and Orientals of the
olden time. He should invest in costume
for himself that would keep his presence
which. of course, is necessary-from get
ting on the nerves" of the careful observer
and striking false note in the otherwise
perfect ensemble.
THE CIRCUS PROPER.
The circus proper began with the per-
Torrance of a herd of fifteen elephants,
working five to a ring, and duplicating
trick for trick with marvellous exactness
and splendid effect. Christian Zeitz, Pearl
Saunders and George Kealey were the mas
tiers of the herds, and their pupils dis
played wonderful intelligence. even for ele-
plants, which are generally conceded by
animal trainers to be the brainiest Of all
dumb brutes. With this excellent act as a
starter the regular ring and platform ex-
hibitions began, and kept the huge audi
ences amused. interested and thrilled by
turns for over two hours The Three Alvos
proved TO be the premier performers on the
high horizontal bars; the Ty Bell sisters
gave a fine high-air act. while the Kelly
Amondo in another showed what they
| could do in the way of "freakish frolics''
on ladders that revolved around bars thirty
| feet above the sawdust-covered ground. To
describe a modern circus performance in
| detail is almost impossibility, so many
| performers are engaged In the presenting
of big tent show and so innumerable are
| the acrobatic, gymnastic and eQuilibristic
| acts and feats of skillful horsemanship.
Among the star features deserving Of special
| mention were the always amazing Nelson
| family of eleven acrobats, a troup that was
seen during the winter in vaudeville in Indi-
annapolis; the Hobsons. in their vaulting
equestrian exhibition; the two companies
| of trained seals owned by Captain Webb
| and put through their performances by
| Trainers Frank Barnes and H. j. Reichert;
| the two troupes of pretty Shetland ponies
exhibited by John Carroll and George
! rider, who actually turned somersaults as
| well as did her male rivals; Michael Rooney
| and John Rooney, who gave their eques-
trian acts in other rings at the same time;
| the several japanese acrobats, wire-walk-
| ers and jugglers; the Dollard troupe of
gymnasts: the Rio brothers, in their feats
| of strength; Albert Crandall. In his comic
act with his mule, "Thunderbolt," and the
| Six Potters. in their splendid aerial work.
There were any number of clowns, who
succeeded in CONFUSING the crowds with
antics and pantomimic tricks. some of
| which were quite new and amusing. At the
| conclusion of the regular ring performance
| the hippodrome races were overland good
ones they were, too-and the audiences
| were kept in a state of excitement watch
| ing the fast-iying horses, the noisy Ro-
| man chariots, the hustlng little ponies and
everything else that went to make up the
| contest of speed and endurance.
One Of the finest features of the show
| was the excellent music furnished by the
| brass band under the direction of George
| Ganweiler The Ringlings have become
| noted in Indianapolis for the good bands
| that are invariably to be heard at their
| performances. but their aggregation of mu-
| sicians this year is by far the best that
| has ever been with a circus. The musical
programme was indeed a superior one from