Milford chronicle., 1931-12-04
STORY OF CIRCUS
LIFEAS MUSICIAN
TOLDBY MIR. HALL
Now Leader OF The Boys
Band. Started His Ca
reer In 1903.

Mr.. Willis Hall started his musi
cal career in 1908. Since then he
has played the saXOphOne, baritone
also, bass, trombone. banjo, and the
we'll known mouth organ. Having
mastered the baritone horn without
the help of a teacher, he thought he
was capable, musically, of joining a
circus band. His dream came true
after answering an ad for baritone
player in 1.-The Billboard" Ga musi-
cal magaZine). He received ticket
for train transportation to Frank
lin, Indiana, where he began his ca
reer with the Sun Bros. Circus. June
3, 1906, and remained with them I'M
til fall. During this period he trav-
eled ten thousand miles between
Florida and Canada.
The circus train consisted of
twenty cars of equipment which in
cluded a fifteen piece band. Mr.
Hall played the baritone horn, 9lt
was soon Obliged to change to the
bass, because of the former bass
player leaving. Some of the best
musicians are found in the circus,
although they do not always remain
for any length of time, but come
and go at short intervals. One man,
a trombone player, who Joined the
circus band was a former leader of
q well known orchestra in New
York City. While under the intiu-
ence of liquor this man spent fool
ishly seventy-ffve thousand dollars
($75,0OO) in a few days. This story
and his ability as a musician was
doubted and to prove the latter, he
wrote the "Sun Bros. Circus March"
which was used for all of the street
parades.
Another incident, was that of Il
tramp, who went to the director OF
the band and asked for permission
to play a trombone solo during the
show, he was granted this privilege,
and allowed to stand in the reserv-
ed seat section opposite the band,
where he played "The Vacant
Chair" The solo was so enjoyed by
the audience and the applause so
great that he played an encore. The
manager who was at the entrance
of the big White Top" was so
pleased that he instructed the di-
rector to buy the soloist new suit
of clothes, and give him a perma-
nent position with the band.
While in Michigan, Mr.. Hall vis-
tied the largest copper mines in the
world, and saw the largest locks OF
the Great Lakes, he also encounter
ed a terrific storm while crossing
Lake Ontario. At Bedding, Michi-
gan, the inhabitants consisted of
about five thousand women and girls
and less than a dozen men and boys.
In Kentucky the government was
having trouble with the "Moonshin-
ers," who, when they came to the
circus would bring their saddles in
side the tent as they contained
TASKS of moonshine. During one
performance three men were shot.
The sound of the shots terrified the
elephants and they rushed through
the sides of the tent,
In Mississippi they encountered
a flood. which prevented them from
their train, which made it
to rent large building
for sleeping quarters, as the circus
could not be shown, the band play
ed for dances while there. The wo-
men and girls of the south were not
allowed to speak to an actor or to
any member of a circus, but the
all liked music. They
never got tired of hearing "Dixie,"
in fact it was the only tune they
While in Toledo, Ohio, which was
The home of the elder of the Sun
Brothers, a special performance was |
given for the newsboys. Mr.. Hall |
enjoyed his circus life
and often feels in the springtime |
hat he would like to go back for a |
lime to the big White Top" In
1907 he took charge of the "Milford
Tornet Band" They practiced
nightly ever Mr.. Humes' store, and
we're owners Of a band wagon, built
IN circus lines under the direction
if Mr.. Hall.
At the present time 1.-THE Milford
Boys Band" under Mr.. Halls lead