Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-27
Marvellous Growth Of the Cir.
Gus Business in Twenty-Five
Years at Alma June 9th
HAVE OWN PATROL WAGON
They VIII Exhibit in Alma on Field
Directly East Of the Golf Links
Street Parade in A. M.

just five and twenty years ago King
ling Brothers hoisted their banner
and bid for appreciation.
Their show consisted of handful
of performers. one elephant and few
horses and wagons The convenience
of moving from place to place by rail-
road was unthought of at that time
by the five brothers. Theirs was a
wagon show and the route limited TO
a small territory. After having given
the night performance, the small en-
terprise moved overland by means of
horse power. Those were trying time,
but the indomitable spirit prevailed.
In spite of being new conner in
the field Ringing Brothers demon
strated their ability in an indelible
form which soon placed them on the
high road to prosperity. Each sea-
sons profits were re-invested. and
each succeeding year marked startling
improvements and growth. Farmers
soon began to talk Ringing and on
Ringing day the little tents fairly
bugled with ruralities and town folks
during the early days, the majority
of circus proprietors favored graft
They carried crooks to ''work" the
crowds that congregated Ringing
Brothers refused to follow the old
method of business. They engaged de-
tectives, instructing them TO arrest
any person who appeared to prey up
on their patrons This proved a mas
ter stroke. In the elapse of few sea-
sons their enterprise became n power
1t grew from pigmy to giant and bore
distinct signs of future possibilities
The Sunday School Show. as the
rival showmen had named it. began
to cut in on their business such an
annoying extent that they determined
to destroy the ambitious youngstcr
They Joined hands and pitied their
several circuses against the graft
fighters: - From coast to coast the
battle ragged but with no damaging
effect to the new conner. The Ring
lings had established reputation as
promoters of clean and superior circus
amusement. Every little detail for
the comfort of women and children
received attention. Profanity from
the lips of their employees was I'M
heard of. The advertising matter
truthfully proclaimed the coming of
every feature heralded, while the ex-
ecutive staff bore the air of gentility.
1t was as common in those days. as il
is now. to hear amusement lovers
praising the Ringing Brothers shows
1t seems like fairy tale when one
is informed that the elapse of twenty
five years has given America a tented
monarch whose little family of fifty
performers and workin;;men are now
replaced by 1880 members. The one
elephant. that proved geological
feature during the earlier. days. is now
represented by a herd of 40 peanut
eaters, while l0S cages and dens of
wild animals, ana hundreds of FLOATS,
gold washed charots and wagons are
drawn by $50 thoroughbred horses
The little show lot back of Bill
Browns house" where the Ringlings'
circus first exhibited, has taken a back
seat for the larger field of IA acres.
Today the numerous interests of the
Ringing Brothers necessitate the
employing of 1900 men, women and
children. Their holding from a dollar
and cent point of view run into mil
lions. The proper transporting of the
paraphernalia requires 255 double
length railroad cars. This firm own
three times as many animals rs are in
captivity in Europe and America.
They have great winter quaters at
Baraboo, Wis.,. Bridgeport. Conn. and
at Stoke-on Kent, England.
Saturday. June 8, is the day selected
for the exhibition of the great shows
in Alma, and on which occasion a
street parade Will be given which is
said to be over three miles in length
from the leader to steam piano