Haag Family Circus History with Dates
1866 - Ernest Haag born
1894 - Ernest's first owned circus
1895 - Ernest in circus management
1900 - Harry Eugene Haag born
(named after Harry "Shorty" Rhodes)
4-17-1905 - Arthur Silverlake born in Corbin Kentucky
1908 - Helen Haag born
1909 - Starts Mighty Haag Railroad Shows
Charles Fisher opens vet office in Danville KY
Ruby Fisher born (12-14-1911)
Josephine Fisher born (1913)
WWI - (1914-1918)
1914 - Ends Mighty Haag Railroad Shows, back to wagons
Harry Haag James born (3-15-1916)
late 1910's - Arthur Silverlake's family moves to California
Peru Indiana becomes known as "Circus City" (1920's)
The Fisher Family Show (...1924...)
Rose Kilian Circus in Florida, Charles Fisher the Advance Agent (1-24-1925)
Mighty Haag Shows at Marianna Florida (1-24-1925)
Rose Kilian Shows in South Georgia on tour all winter (1-31-1925)
Rose teaches Ruby aerial acts (swinging
ladder) and clown helped
Charles and Ruth Fisher do slackwire
Kids do tightwire
Charles Fisher spent Christmas with
family in Danville, KY (1-1925)
Fisher Family Show will work in the Rose Kilian Show
The Rose Kilian Circus (1907-1930) (1905-1928)
(Ruby and Josephine Fisher 1925,1926...)
(Charles Fisher Advance Agent 1-25)
Orange Bros and Moon Bros Circus (1926)
Owned by William "Honest Bill"Newton Jr.
and Cly Newton
Wild West Show (motorized)
(lion and 2 elephants)
(1926 Ruby Fisher dove act - side
show)
1926 - (Billboard Mag. 3-20-1926, 5-20-1926)
Nickel Plate Shows (...1927...) (W E Morgan's Nickel Plate?)
small mud show
The Mighty Haag Shows (1894-1938) (1891-1938?)
Ruby Fisher Haag (1928- 1935...)
Harry Haag Sr. (1900-1935...)
Ruby, Josephine, Sarah, Arthur Fisher join the show with Brownie(1928)
Arthur Fisher was a clown
Ruby does the double trap with Archie Timberlake
Josephine (15 yrs old) marries Brownie Timberlake (1928)
(they met when Josephine joined Mighty Haag)
Brownie was a clown and aerialist (family had aerialist act - Flying
Silverlakes?)
Brownie's father, Archie, was an aerialist and did the double traps with
Ruby Haag
Archie Silverlake had a twin brother, His twin was Arthur Lake's father
Brownie's cousin was Arthur Lake (Dagwood and Blondie)
Ruby Fisher (16 yrs old) marries Harry Haag Sr. (Royal Center
Indiana at home) (1928)
Roy Haag and wife at wedding
Stock Market Crash 1929
Charles Haag born (Royal Center Indiana at home) (11-19-1929)
Harry Haag Jr. born (Royal Center
Indiana at home) (5-19-1931)
Ethel Jennier calls him Rip (sleeps a lot)
United Amusement Co.
(...1934...)
"We can furnish anything in show business
from a one man vaudeville to a three ring circus"
Royal Center Indiana
Dr. Fisher and Family
Harry and Ruby Haag
Brownie and Josephine Silverlake
Walter L Main Circus
(1885-1937)
Walter Main and William "Honest Bill" Newton Jr. owners (1930, 1935-1937)
Ruby and Harry Haag (...6-1-1935...)
Tom Mix Circus
(1934?, 1935-1938)
Tom Mix buys 1/2 of Sam B Dill Circus (1934)
Tom changes name to Sam B Dill Circus and Tom Mix Wild West Combined
Tom changes name to Tom Mix Circus (1934)
Naomi Haag born (Royal Center Indiana at
home) (11-11-1934)
Ruby Haag and Ethyl Jennier had planned to go on the Tom Mix Show
Ernest Haag dies in Marianna Fl
(2-1-1935) at age 69
heart failure
Funeral at Presbyterian church in Marianna
(Albert Korst was a close friend)
buried in Plymouth In
Harry Haag Jr. goes to school in
Marianna (preschool? kindergarten?)
driven by Shorty Rhodes in an Austin car (used as a clown car)
1935 - William Buckles Woodcock born in Missouri
Bud Hawkins Circus (March 1936 - Aug 1936)
Al Sigsbee (general agent)
(Ruby, Josephine, Arthur - Fisher Troupe of Acrobats)
(Harry Haag Jr. - Equestrian Director)
(Ruby Haag - Trained Dogs)
Ruth Fisher
6-19-1936 in Libertyville IL
(31 trucks and house cars)
Mighty Haag Show closed - 1938
(elephants placed in Charles Fisher's name)
Fisher's Performing Elephants
Olympia Circus (1931-1943)
Chicago Stadium, Chicago Illinois
Ruby Haag - dogs (...1938...)
Chicago Stadium with a big circus
(...?...)
Alice the elephant drops Ruby Haag in Chicago Stadium where Sonya Henne ice
skated (?)
back hits tub, fractured ribs on xray
1938-1950 -
Arthur Lake (Silverlake) plays Dagwood Bumstead
in Blondie (Penny
Singleton) (28 films)
WWII - (1939-1945)
Hitler invades Poland (1939)
Polack Bros (1931-1976)(1932-1976?)
Irving Polack and Sam Stern - owners
Ruby Haag - single traps, dogs, iron jaw
(...2-24-1940...)
Harry Haag - elephant act (...2-24-1940...)
10-12-1940 - Tom Mix died in car accident
1941 - Melvin Timberlake (Silverlake) born
_____?___
Ruby Haag - aerial ballet (5-3-1941)
_____?___
Ruby Haag - aerial swing ballet (5-2-1942)
Pearl Harbor Bombed (12-7-1941)
King Bros
Circus (1942. 1946-1956)
Allen King - owner
Harry Haag - assistant director (4-18-1942, 5-23-1942)
Grotto Circus (1942?) in Cleveland Ohio
(Ruby Haag fell with the web and broke her pelvis, hip and back, Harry
Sr. was there)
(Harry Haag Jr. was in Brownstown Indiana with Grandma)
Her Dr. is the coroner (Cuyahoga county) for Sam Sheppard's Wife (1954)
Olympia Circus (1931-1943)
Chicago Stadium
Ruby Haag - animals (...5-2-1942...)
Ruby Haag - (5-8-1943)
Chicago Daily News
5-8-1943
Chicago Stadium
Doc Haag and elephants, Alice and Judy
(Alice's daughter Judy was 8 years old)
Snow the Spitz
Ruby Haag carried in Alice the elephant's mouth
1943 - The Great Peters died
performing hanging act at Sells Floto Circus
Ruby Haag was there
Barnes Bros
(1930,1944-1948)
Barnes Bros - Olympia Combined Circus (1944)
Chicago Stadium Corp - owner (1944-1948)
James Norris and Arthur M. Wirtz - officers (1944-1948)
Ruby Haag - aerial ballet (1944)
Ruby Haag - aerial ballet (5-6-1944)
Fairs (various)
Orrin Davenport from Chicago - booking agent for Shrine Shows
1937 stops riding act
(late 1940's - a leader in the indoor shows)
(He used Ringling acts, Independent acts to Grand Rapids, Detroit, other cities
as annual Shrine Circus)
(1950's grew in stature)
Ruby and Harry Haag on Shrine Shows (...1944-1957...)
Harry Haag Sr. (1940-1957)
performer and transportation superintendent
D-Day (6-6-1944)
Ringling Bros and BB Big Top burned in Hartford Connecticut (7-6-1944)
Raymond Duke marries Emma Scott Briggs
(12-14-1944)
(from 1944-1975 works on Famous Barnes Trained Wild Animal Show, Russell Bros,
Bailey Bros, Clyde Beatty,
Stevens Bros, Adams & Sells, Sells Bros, Birnam Bros, Clyde Beatty-Cole
Bros, Ring Bros,
Clark & Walters, Fisher Bros)
Cole Bros train wreck en route to Minnesota (6-27-1945)
King Tusk the elephant brought to the United States
Hitler died (1945)
Shrine Circuses Harry Haag Sr. and Ruby
Haag:
(confirmed by Circus World Museum)
1944 - Zuhrah Shrine Circus
Minneapolis, MN
1944, 1947 -
Al Sirat Grotto Shrine Circus
Cleveland, Ohio
1945 - Frank Wirth's Circus
1945 - Damascus Shrine Circus
Rochester New York
1945 - Bud E Anderson
1946 - Midian Shrine Circus
Wichita, Kansas
1947, 1949 - Osman Shrine Circus St Paul MN
1948 - Ward Bros Circus
1949, 1950, 1951 - Moslem Shrine Circus
Detroit Michigan
1951 - Aladdin Shrine Circus
Columbus Ohio
1952 - Ararat Shrine Circus
Kansas City Missouri
1952 -
Al Sirat Grotto Shrine Circus
Cleveland, Ohio
1952 - Damascus Shrine Circus
Rochester New York
1954, 1956 - Osman Shrine Circus St Paul MN
1954, 1955 - Aladdin Shrine Circus
Columbus Ohio
1955 - Moslem Shrine Circus
Detroit Michigan
1956 - Midian Shrine Circus
Wichita, Kansas
1956 - Ararat Shrine Circus
Kansas City Missouri
1957 - Anr... Shrine Circus
Zuhrah Shrine Circus
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis Auditorium
(March 13-18, 1944) 26th annual
Zuhrah Temple's Famous Band - Al Rudd
Acrobatic Clowns, Russell Jeirre, Chick Yale
Clown Comedy Ladders, Jimmy Gerber, The Lang Tots
Aerial Ballet, Ruby Haag, Jane Merideth - Swinging Neck Swival
Cyse O'Dell, One Armed Phalanges, Bob Atterbury, Louise Atterbury
Dick Clemens - Performing Lions direct from Hollywood
Buddy and his mule "Democrat" and clowns
Clara Hoaglan and Company "a Chick and Fancy display of Dressage Horses"
Selden - the Stratosphere Man
Maximo - the Cuban Wonder on the Slack Wire
The Saxons - Feats of Dexterity and Balance
Don Phillipe - The Brazilian Wonder on the Tight Wire
Miss Watkins - The Watkins Military Ponies
Clowns - Frolic of Nonsense
Nick Cravat and Co. - Feats of Skill on the Bars
Walter Gruice and Co. - The Trampoline Wonders
The Three Irvings - Feats of Skill on the Bars
Dolly Jacobs Elephants - Performing Pachyderms
Clowns - The Phalanx of Phools
Canine Capers - Wright Dogs, Sylvia and her pets, Haag's Dogs
The Great Gregoresko, the Argentine Thriller - the only man that hangs himself
and lives
Bud and Jean - the Rollerettes, the Whirlettes - Feats of Skill on Skates
Jinks Hoaglan and Company - Battling Pepin and other High Jumping Horses
The Great Tarzan Moving Picture Chimpanzee
Tarzan the only Motorcycle Riding Chimpanzee
The Watkins Baby Chimpanzees, Adam and Eve
Clowns - Joyous Jesters
Rousse - Master Illusionist presenting "Sans Gene"
featuring Princess Helane who will disappeare while suspended 95 feet in mid-air
Count Ernesto and his Dizzy Lizzie
Acrobats - The Cardovas, The Six Langs
The Greer World's Champion Stallions, Liberty Horse Act - William Bushbuam
Clowns Convention
Harold Voise Company - Flying Return Act
Al Sirat Grotto Shrine Circus
Cleveland, Ohio
Ruby Haag - animals (1944)
Ruby Haag - dog (1947)
Harry Haag - (1952)
Frank Wirth's Circus
Ruby Haag - dogs (5-5-1945)
Harry Haag - elephants (5-5-1945)
Damascus Shrine Circus
Rochester New York
Ruby Haag - dogs (1945, 1952)
Bud E Anderson
Ruby Haag - aerial (1945)
Ruby Haag - (5-26-1945)
1-1946 Buck Lucas asks Harry Haag Sr. to
join Banard Bros Circus, but he doesn't join
Harry has 2 acts - elephant
Harry mentions Brownie and Josephine
Midian Shrine Circus
Wichita, Kansas
Ruby Haag - dogs (1946, 1956)
Harry Haag - (1956)
Osman Shrine Circus
St Paul MN
Ruby and Harry Haag - dogs (1947, 1949)
Harry Haag - dogs (1950, 1951)
Ruby Haag - dogs, ponies (1954, 1956)
Ward Bros Circus (1948-1950)
Archie Gayer - manager
Harry Haag - dogs (1948)
Moslem Shrine Circus
Detroit Michigan
Ruby Haag - dogs (1949, 1950, 1951, 1955)
Aladdin Shrine Circus
Columbus Ohio
Harry Haag - (1951, 1952, 1954, 1955)
Ararat Shrine Circus
Kansas City Missouri
Harry Haag - (1952, 1956)
(Anr?) Ansar Temple Shrine Circus
Springfield Illinois
Harry Haag - (1957)
Shrine Circuses Ruby
Haag Remembers Performing
for not listed above:
(circus names verified by Ruby Haag)
St. Louis Police Circus
Tangier Shrine, Omaha NE
Osiris Shrine, Wheeling W. Vir
Hadi Shrine, Evansville, IN
Al Shamal Shrine Circus Edmonton
Canada
Arabia Shrine, Houston Texas
Super Circus, Chicago
Antioch Shine, Dayton OH
Cole Bros Circus (1906-9, 1912-13, 1916-17, 1918-24,
1929-30, 1935-36, 1937-48, 1949)
Eugene "Arky" Scott was in charge of the Elephant bulls (1942-1949)
Bill Woodcock Sr - elephants (...1944...)
1948
Cristiani Family (Lucio) - bareback riders
Otto Greibling, Freddie Freeman, Horace Laird - clowns
Eugene Scott - Superintendent of Menagerie and Trainer of the Elephant herd
Patricia Scott, Marion Knowlton , Bobbie Donovan
Blanch the elephant
Mite - smallest man in the world (36 inches tall)
1949
(Charles "Doc" Haag worked for Arky Scott) (...1949...)
Doc and elephant Big Babe
sold to Arthur Wirtz (1949,1950)
Arthur owned for several years, then leased out to King Bros in 1954
equipment later left at Peru Indiana
Lawrence County Tennessee Fair (1949)
(9-26-1949 - 10-1-1949)
Poodles Hanneford Troupe
Helen Haag's Chimpanzees (...1950-1966...)
shrine shows (...1950-1966...)
Indoor Shows and Ed Sullivan (...?...)
7-1962 - Olympic Park
Shrine Circus shows (...1950-1966...)
1950 - Yaarab Shrine Circus (Atlanta Georgia)
1950, 1951 - Hamid Morton Circus
1951, 1952 - Tripoli Shrine Circus (Milwaukee Wisconsin)
1952 - Ararat Shrine Circus (Kansas City Missouri)
1952 - Kar? Karnak Shrine Circus (Quebec Canada)
1952 - Hamid Morton Circus
1953 - Aladdin Shrine Circus (Columbus Ohio)
1953 - Khartum Shrine Circus (Winnipeg Manitoba Canada)
1953 - Midian Shrine Circus (Wichita Kansas)
6-5-1954 - Tom Packs Circus
1954 - Osman Shrine Circus (St. Paul Minnesota)
1954, 1955 - Aladdin Shrine Circus (Columbus Ohio)
1955 - Moslem Shrine Circus (Detroit Michigan)
1956 - Antioch Shrine Circus (Dayton Ohio)
1956 - Ziyara Shrine Circus (Utica New York)
1956 - Midian Shrine Circus (Wichita Kansas)
1956 - Ararat Shrine Circus (Kansas City Missouri)
1956, 1957 - Al Sirat Shrine Circus (Cleveland, Ohio)
1957 - Osman Shrine Circus (St. Paul Minnesota)
1957 - Arabia Shrine Circus (Houston Texas)
1957 - Khartum Shrine Circus (Winnipeg Manitoba Canada)
1957 - Edmonton Shrine Circus Club (Edmonton Canada)
1957 - Elf Khurafeh Shrine Circus (Saginaw Michigan)
1958 - Antioch Shrine Circus (Dayton Ohio)
1958 - Al Shamal Shrine Circus (Edmonton Canada)
1958 - Rudy Bros
1958 - Damascus Shrine Circus (Webster New York)
1960 - Ararat Shrine Circus (Kansas City Missouri)
1961 - Moslem Shrine Circus (Detroit Michigan)
1961 - Al Shamal Shrine Circus (Edmonton Canada)
1961 - Osman Shrine Circus (St. Paul Minnesota)
1961 - Antioch Shrine Circus (Dayton Ohio)
1961 - Kora Shrine Circus - (Lewiston Maine)
1963 - Al Shamal Shrine Circus (Edmonton Canada)
1966 - Tripoli Shrine Circus (Milwaukee Wisconsin)
Alice Haag dies (12-4-1951)
1951 - Buckles Woodcock (age 16) works with Arky Scott with elephants on Ringling show
Harry Haag Jr. Army (11-1951 -
8-1953)
Korea, Japan
1953 - Buckles Woodcock works with his father and elephants
Polack Bros (1931-1976)(1932-1976?)
Irving Polack and Sam Stern - owners
Harry Haag Jr. (prop man) (1956?...1957...)
Harry Haag Jr. Toledo Ohio (10-26-1957)
Polack switched from carnivals to
winter shows
for American Legion, Chambers of Commerce, Service Clubs or Lodges
(late 1940's - a leader in the indoor shows)
(1950's grew in stature)
1950's - Jack Joyce on Polack Bros with Camels
Rudy Bros Circus
(1950-1976, 1988-1993)
owned by Rudy Jacobi
Harry Haag (?) California, Nevada (outdoor ballparks)
Helen Haag - chimps (1958)
Tom Packs
(1937-1958...)
Thomas N. Packs - owner
(late 1940's - a leader in the indoor shows)
Opens a second unit
(1950's grew in stature)
Naomi wrecked truck going to Tom Packs
Harry Haag (summer circus, ballparks, St Louis) (?)
(Bellview Ill, winter quarters)
Ruby Haag - dogs and ponies (6-17-1957)
Ruby and Harry
(5-26-58)
dogs and ponies
Tom Packs (12-1957
- 1-1958)
Cuba dates
Harry Haag - Cuba?
Hamid Morton Shrine Circus (1935-1956) (1961-1969...)
formed by Morton and George Hamid
Harry Haag (indoor circus, NJ fairgrounds) (?)
(late 1940's - a leader in the indoor shows)
(1950's grew in stature)
Jack Joyce - for
various Shriner's Circus
(1951-1960)
Jack Joyce trained stock for Clyde
Beatty, Ringling Bros,
later worked on Cole Bros and for the Circus Hall of Fame
Shrine Circuses Harry
Haag Jr. Remembers Performing for:
(circus names verified, dates from Jack Joyce's schedule)
1951,54 - Al Sirat Grotto, Cleveland OH
1951 - Kosair Shrine, Louisville KY
1951-54 - Polack Bros
1952 - Medinah Shrine, Chicago
1953 - Mohammed Shrine, Peoria IL
1954 - Tom Packs Circus
1954, 55 - Aladdin Shrine, Columbus OH
1954 - St. Louis Police Circus
1954 - Tangier Shrine, Omaha NE
1954 - Osiris Shrine, Wheeling W. Vir
1954 - Hadi Shrine, Evansville, IN
1954 - Ararat Shrine, Kansas City Missouri
1955 - Moslem Shrine, Detroit
1955 - Edmonton Shrine
1955 - Houston Shrine
1955 - Ft. Worth Shrine
1955 - Super Circus, Chicago
1956 - Minneapolis Shrine Circus
Zuhrah Shrine Show
1956 - Camels, llamas, zebra, pony
Tom Packs Circus, St. Louis Police Circus
1957 - Tripoli Shrine Circus, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Karnak Shrine, Montreal Albert Vidbel
Topeka Shrine Circus
Kansas City Shrine Circus
1958 - Tripoli Shrine Circus, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1959 - Antioch Shine, Dayton OH
1959 - Zuhrah Shrine, Minneapolis
1960 - Ararat Shrine, Kansas City Missouri
1960 - St. Louis Police Circus
1960 - Moslem Shrine, Detroit
1960 - Damascus Shrine, Rochester NY
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Harry Haag
Ringling Bros. Circus
Ruby Haag, Harry Haag Jr., Naomi
Little Jennie the Elephant was on Cole
Bros 1940-1954?
Leased to King Bros in 1955
Sold with Cole Bros herd to Paul Kelly in Peru Indiana
Paul and Dorothy Kelly did Shrine Circuses and Carnivals for years
1972 - Little Jennie died at Summitt Place Mall in Pontiac Michigan, buried
under mall parking lot?
(was called Pontiac Mall)
The Greatest Show on Earth (Movie)
(Charles "Doc" Haag worked for Arky in with the elephants 1952)
Ringling Bros. Circus
Arky Scott was on the show (1950-1954)
(Charles "Doc" Haag worked for Arky Scott) (?)
Royal Dunbar Circus (?1950's,1952,1955)
(flew to Caracas Venezuela, Ruby)
(animals by boat)
Ruby Haag, Harry Haag Sr., Charles Haag (Doc), Naomi, Stanley Childers
(neighbor)
Judy Elephant, Ponies, Dogs
(stayed 1 year) (Judy sold to Dunbar Circus, gotten mean)
Columbia South America
Owner from Columbia
Wallenda's troupe (1955)
earthquake in Nicaragua
Harry Haag went to see Arthur Lake with Franklin Timberlake in California
Jack Joyce's Dancing Camels
(8-29-1954 - Toast of the Town-Ed Sullivan, guest host Eddie Fisher)
Scheduled:
--Eddie Fisher (guest host)
--The American Legion's Jackson Zouaves drill team
--Joyce's Camel
--singing contest winners
JungleLand (1956-1968)
in Thousand Oaks California
Goebel's Lion Farm (bought 1926, opened to public 1929)
1946 - sold to James Ruman and Sid Rogel, World Jungle Compound
1956 - sold to 20th Century Fox, Jungleland
1961 - back to Goebel, Jungleland
Heinz and Ruhe operate Jungleland
Mr Ed the talking horse and the MGM lion lived there
Bimbo the elephant, Bobo the chimpanzee, Sultan the tiger, Nuba the lion
giraffes, lions, elephants, zebras, water buffalo
Mabel Stark - world's only lady tiger trainer (worked there early 1930's - 1968)
Films there: Birth of a Nation, Tarzan, the Adventures of Robin Hood
Harry Haag trained the big cats (worked with
Mable Stark) - 1950's
(11-1966 - lion mauls Jayne Mansfield's 6 year old son, Zoltan)
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle
(1955-56) TV series
Harry Haag trains lions and tigers
Several Tarzan like movies - starring Victor Mature
(1956 - Safari)
Harry Haag trains lions and tigers ($17.50 per hour)
Doc marries Ernestina from Ecuador
(1955?)
Ernestina had a baboon act
Ringling Bros and BB last Big Top, Irvin Feld changes it to arenas (1956)
Cheryl Pullium Haag born 1957
Harry Haag Sr. died (11-12-1957)
Columbus Ind. at Hospital
Funeral at
Brownstown Indiana
(expected to be with Davenport Shrine dates)
(family home in Medora)
(Ruby and Naomi of Medora Ind. to carry on dog and pony act)
Survivors include: widow Ruby Haag, daughter Naomi Haag, two sons, Charles and
Harry Jr.
sister Helen Haag Hayes, uncle Harley Hubbard
1957 - Arthur Lake (Silverlake) played Dagwood on Blondie TV series (short lived)
Tom Packs (12-20-1957
- 1-12-1958)
Havana Cuba
Harry Haag
7-1958 - Naomi, Ruby Haag -
St. Louis
(Naomi - tire blow-out on the truck)
Merry Andrew
(Movie)
(Harry Haag a Double in Lion Cage 1958)
Doc in Army Korea (...?...)
Doc in Navy Japan (...1957-1958...)
Doc in Viet Nam
Doc retires from service
Sarah Mann Fisher dies (12-30-59)
Palomino Liberty Horse Act in California (late
50's or early 60's)
Originally owned by Roy Rogers
Gene Randal worked the horses
(Harry Haag Jr. - worked the horses)
Ringling Bros. Circus (2-15-1961 -
5-28-1961)
Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus International
(animals and workers by boat to Rio, Ruby)
(most people flew to Rio)
marti gras celebration at that time
Ruby Haag, Naomi - Ponies, Dogs
Ringling had 3 elephants, Eloise Berchtold had 1 elephant
Diano had 6 elephants and the Oscar Cristiani had 5 elephants
Oscar's lead elephant, Christy, died and was buried at sea
Eloise Berchtold with Lions on Boat, later killed by elephant on Ringlings
Oscar
Cristiani - Elephant buried at sea
Paul Eagles - agent and general manager
Lloyd Morgan - superintendent
Raymond Escorsia - bandmaster
Justino Loyal - equestrian director
Audrey Smith - aerial display
(most of the acts, 120 people hired in the US)
(spec girls and workmen, 100 people hired in South America)
1-30-1960 - Freighter left Jacksonville Fl (animals,
equipment, and 16 men)
2-12-1960 - Freighter arrived at Rio de Janeiro
2-11-1960 - Chartered Constellation from Tampa to Rio (most of the
people)
2-15-1961 - show opened in Rio
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 2-15-1961 - 3-12-1961
the arena held 18,500 people
shows at 2:30 and 9pm on weekdays
10am 2:30pm and 9pm on weekends
rained out the last show
14 elephants
plus 1 elephant for Eloise Berchtold from the Paul Kelley Farm
Sao Paulo, Brazil - 3-14-1961 - 4-8-1961
railroad to Santos, Brazil
boat to Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires - 4-14-1961 - 5-28-1961
(building seated 12,830)
shows at 2pm and 10pm on weekdays
10am 2pm and 10pm on weekends
Eloise Berchtold - worked the Paul Kelly lions
Clowns: Kinko, Jackie LeClaire, Billy McCabe, Kenneth Dobb, Lou Mirando
Manuel Baragon - Cloud Swing
Belmontes - Trampoline
Ibarra Brothers - aerial bars
Antoinette, Corky and Gilda Cristiani - Riding Act
Frank Regan, Oscar Cristiani, Al Kyle - Elephants
Deliah Cristiani, Lianne Stanek, 20 other girls - Aerial Ballet
The Rudas - Australian Acrobatic Troupe
Ruby Haag's Dogs and Ponies
Konyot's Chimpanzees
Zoppe's Riding Dogs
Leigh - Aerial Loop
Unus
Fairland Fantasy (Spec)
Ibarra Flying Act
Clowns - Kinko and his minature automobile
Draguett and his magic hat
Remo Loyal, Antoinette Cristiani, Lolita Perez - tight wire
Ferry Forst - illusionist
Dieter Tasso - slack wire
9 Cristiani family - riding act
Freddia and Ortans - rola rola
Lentini Canistrelli Sisters - ladders
Manuel Baragon - tables
Bill Burschbom's 9 liberty horses
Cristiani's teeterboard
Stanek's teeterboard
Daviso - high school horses
Finale - Americana
Hugh Zacchini - missile cannon
5-31-1961 - the performers boarded a chartered
Boeing 707 for Tampa Fl
Kim Pullium Haag born 1961
Wallendas fall at State Fair Coliseum in
Detroit (1-30-1962)
Moslem Temple Shrine Circus
7 man pyramid
Harry Haag was there
JFK elected (1961-1963)
Command Performance for the
Kennedy's (1962)
Jacqueline, Caroline, John ...
Harry Haag (Jack Joyce, Liberty Act)
Al G. Kelly
Miller Bros Circus (1937-1968)(1984-1986)
Harry Haag Jr., Jack Joyce, Dory "D.R." Miller
(winter 1962-1963)
Caribbean, Jamaica Tour
Kingston Jamaica (1-1963)
The Circus Hall of Fame
(Sarasota Florida)
(Cournel Bill Naramore)
Harry Haag, Horse Ballet-prancing horses-8 horse Liberty Act;
Naomi - Rolling Globe; Ruby Haag - Canine Review 1963
Pat Eagon works as Puppeteer and on refreshments
(1962,1963...)
Naomi and Pat friends
Pat wept when Harry complained about the
rubber hot dog
It was the beginning of love
Pat visits Harry on Shrine Circus
Coogie the Camel wouldn't allow Pat near Harry
JFK shot (11-22-1963)
Jack Joyce's Liberty Horse Act
(...Harry 1963 Ringling Bros. in Madison Square Gardens NY....)
Harry Haag Jr. drives a truck for Ringling - 1963
Gooding Carnivals - Columbus Ohio(?)
Fred Brown
Harry Haag Jr. marries Patricia Eagon (4-16-1964)
Fred Brown marries Ruby Haag in Indiana (10-1964)
(Cheryl and Kim Haag were there, Kim asked after the wedding, Where's the
Party?)
Animaland USA - Sarasota Florida -
Eddie Billetti (1959-1961...1964?)
Eddie Billetti
(Eddie Hebeler) in Sarasota Florida managed circus show at different malls
(Animal Land USA)
(Harry Haag Jr., Pat, Ruby, and Naomi)
(Harry Haag Jr. and Pat Haag 1964...)
Harry Haag Jr. work Eva the elephant
Pat and Harry on tour with 8 horse Liberty Act
Pat pregnant, quit show (1964)
Harry Haag driving truck Peru Indiana
Ruby Haag born 1-1965
Charles Fisher died (2-23-1965)
Jack Joyce marries Ethel Jennier (1965)
Bought house in Akron Ohio (...1965)
(1231 Wiser Ave)
Louise Lee lives at 1256 Benton Ave, Barberton
Ruby Haag is ex-aerialist with a dog and
pony act
with Clark and Walters (1969)
Ruby Ann Haag to start training as an aerialist
Harry Haag still pays dues to the
American Guild of Variety Artists
Haag's Marionettes and Capt.
Penny-Pincher
(1235 Weiser Ave, Akron Ohio)
(1966?...7-1968...5-5-1969...)
Cheryl (11yrs old)
Fido - black and white dog
Harry Haag works at Portage Tool Co. and Clowns
Family goes to Nursing Homes, Hospitals and orphanages to do shows
Alice Haag born 9-27-1969
Fred and Ruby Haag Brown in West
Virginia
Fred and Ruby Haag Brown at a Fair in Russellville KY
West Coast Shows - Carnival (Colorado) (1968)
Bobby Cohn (Cowin?) - Owner
Fred Brown - Mechanic
Ruby Haag Brown - Fun House
Josephine asks Fred and Ruby Haag Brown to work on Clark and Walters (1969?)
Blue Grass Shows Carnival (1970's)
Owned by Ernie Ferrell
Naomi came from Texas to join
Helen Haag - concession games
Clark and
Walters Circus (1964-1972)
Herb and Helen Walters - owners (1964-1966)
Mel Silverlake - owner (1966-1967)
Brownie and Josephine Silverlake buy from Herb Walters, Vevay Indiana -
6-26-1967
Opens in Falmouth Kentucky with Myrna, Otis (elephant man), Carl Albright
(banner man)...
opens in Brownstown Indiana (4-9-1969)
10 trucks and trailers
Ted LaVelda - advance agent
Raymond Duke - billposter
Melvin Silverlake - Manager
James Silverlake - Assistant Manager
Kathy Duke Silverlake - Big Show tickets
Franklin Silverlake - Pony ride
Melvin - Side show
Marlin and Jim Bib - snake
Myrna and Ron Ratcliff - Rodent show
Ted and Alice Wilson - Jewelry
Fred and Ruby Brown - Concessions, Cook, Pie Car, Candy Wagon
Ralph and Naomi Carpenter - Snow and cool drinks
Joe Silverlake and Mike Gasca - Novelties
Ralph Carpenter - Mechanic
Billy Gunga - Electrician
Bob Greene - Announcer and Musical Director
Myrna and Marlin - Web and Ladders
Billy Gunga and Ivy - Glass and Chair Balancing
Mike Gasca - Plate spinning and Rola Bola
Brownie and Franklin - Clown Alley
Joe - Single traps and military goats
Brownie - Performing Llama and Monkey
Myrna - Acrobatic Contortion and Dogs
Kathy - Menage
Mel - Pony drill and Elephants
Josephine - front door, designed circus coloring book
(1970- )
Josephine Silverlake
Ruby Haag - Cook
Harry Haag Jr. (out of Texas) worked an elephant (for 1 week?)
Elephants: Big Jess, Norma Jean, Baby Dixie
Norma Jean Elephant killed by Lightning at Oquawka
Illinois- 7-17-1972
Jimmy Silverlake was on the show
Carson & Barnes Circus
(1957-1963,1965- )
D.R. "Dorey" Miller from Hugo OK - Owner
D.R. Miller and Associates - owners (1971-1984)
Ruby Haag Brown - Jewelry (1971-72?)
Fred Brown - Mechanic
7-17-1972 - Blowdown in La Salle Illinois
Fisher Bros.
Circus (1923, 1934-1935,1971-1974, 1975,
1978, 1989)
Mel Silverlake - owner (1971-1974)
"within 8 days the show was able to stand on it's own" Melvin Silverlake
"put together from parts left in the barns after the Clark and Walters Circus
took to the road"
Josephine and BK Silverlake gave guidance
Opened 5-8-1971 at Holland Indiana
5-1971 - Indiana
6-8-1971 - Michigan
Fisher Bros. in Mackinaw City, Michigan - Lions Club
(7-9-1971)
in Cheboygan, Michigan (7-10-1971)
10-12-1971 - New Lebanon Ohio
Melvin Silverlake - Owner and Manager
Larry Pardon - Advance Man
Kathy Silverlake - Single Trapeze and High diving dog
Cheryl Haag - Spanish Web and Swinging Ladder
Harry Haag and Volunteers - Bareback Riding Academy
Ruby Haag - Miss Ruby's Dog Act
Mel -
Elephant Dixie
Dennis and Lynne Micheals - Clown Dentist Gag and Jugglers
Patricia Smith - Rope Spinning and Whip
Mike Gasca - Rolla Bolla, Plate Spinning, and Coffee pot balancing
Bobo and Mandy Micheals - Girl Acrobats (Miss Trixie and Miss Pixie)
Marie Loter - Organ
David Knoderer - Drums
Python - Side Show
10-1971 Schedule
5 - Winchester Ohio
6 - Greenfield
7 - Midland
8 - Leescreek
9 - Lynchburg
11 - Goshen
12 - New Lebanon
13 - West Mancherster
14 - Williamsburg, Indiana
15 - Moores Hill
16 - Rising Sun
10-17-1971 - Closes Season at Sunman Indiana
1-1972 - Arkansas
2-1972 - Texas
5-8-1972 - Cheryl Haag broke arm
used Ruby Haag's rigging
Piggot Ark.
7-11-1972 - blowdown at Cheboygan Michigan
7-13-1972 - Traverse City Michigan
Kim 11- high flying act, trapeze and loop walk, stand on bareback horse
Dixie the elephant (young) - sit, bow, walk plank
Diane - seal, 2 monkeys on trampoline
Patsie's Poodle - dance
Kathy - dog and goats
Garcia - juggle, clown with orange wig
drummer
peanuts - 25 cents
world's smallest horse
5 legged calf
(Traverse Bay News 7-13-1972)
7-1972 - Extensive Michigan tour then to Ohio
2-23-1974 - opens in winter quarter town of Alamo Texas
Melvin and BK Silverlake - owners
Brownie Silverlake - Snake Show
Raymond Duke and Billy Sheets - Contracting Agents
Billie Grubb - Billposter
Kathleen Stevens - Office
Clara Stevens - Concessions
Jim Davis - Show Superintendent
Bill Cloud - Canvasman
Wes Barton - Animals
Harold Cloud - Elephant
Marie Loter - Organ
Bob "Boom Boom" Stiles - Drum
Rat Show
Freak Animals
Elephant
Hippo
(3 generations of Silverlakes)
Brownie and Josephine Silverlake
sons: Melvin and Joe
Melvin's son Melvin Ray
Raymond and Emma Duke
daughter: BK Silverlake
B K's son Melvin Ray
3-21-1974 - Sugarland Texas
(date? 1974)
Gloria Null - Web, Trampoline
Peggy Null - Organist
Antonette "Toni" - Drummer
Toni married in cookhouse (1974?)
1975
Janice Ruth "JR" Ratcliff - Trapeze
Raymond Duke - Agent
Myrna Ratcliff
3-1975
Joe Silverlake and Gloria Null - jugglers
Mary Diane - swinging ladder, dogs
Brownie Silverlake - trained monkey
Joe Silverlake - swinging anchor
Gloria Null - spanish web
educated llama
elephant
hippo
cloud swing
clowns
closing words "Good luck, God bless and may the
Good Lord take a linking to you"
9-1975 - Donna Texas quarters
The circus world mourns the death of 2
circus stars
Janice Ratcliff died 9-7-1975 (15
years old)
Emma Duke died 9-7-1975 (66 years old)
(both shot - robbery at Donna Texas quarters by former cook, Dennis Wright)
Mel Silverlake and B.K. Silverlake - owners (1989)
Lewis Bros. Circus (1931-1942, 1945, 1973-1976)
Jimmy Silverlake - owner (1973)
Hoxie Tucker and John Lewis - owners (1974-1975)
1-1973
White Tops Article
Jim Silverlake and John Lewis - owners
Marilyn Silverlake - office manager
Myrna Ratciff and John Lewis - contacting agent
snake show - boa, pythons, anacondas
Jim and Sandi Windland - ape show
tickets $1 for child or adult in advance
$1.50, $1.75 at gate
monkeys, zebra, llamas, midget pony, baboons, african porcupine
exotic sheep
Haag Family - aerial loop walk, mechanic riding act,
risley and a high diving dog through ring of fire
Diane Wilson - 5 performing seals, 4 baboons, performing macaws
Babe the elephant (25 years old)
Barney the zebra
David Terrill - clown
Bobby Green - announcer, calliope
3-1973 - John Lewis back to Hoxie Bros where he was the administrative assistant
Jimmy Silverlake Owns Show
3-29-1973 Announcement of planned Show
To open in Freetown Indiana 4-27-1973
Jimmy Silverlake breaks partnership with John W. Lewis
Bobby Green - Air Calliope
Leo Gasca - Bounding wire and balancing (to join in May)
Jim and Sandi Windland's giant ape show
Snake show
Hoop Pitch
Midget Horse Show (maybe?)
Myrna Ratcliff - General Agent at Norman Indiana
4-27-1973 - Freetown Indiana
Advance Ticket $1 for Adult or Child
Jimmy and Marlyn Silverlake
Elephant Babe
Jim and Sandy Windland - Windland's Pit Show
Bottle hoop pitch
Cheryl Haag - Loop Walk and Trapeze
Boozo Webber and David Terrell - Clowns
Diane Wilson - Seal
Joe Eddy - Drums and Sword Box
Bobby Greene - Calliope and Announcer
Senor Gasca
Leo Gasca - Balancing and Juggling
Marlyn Silverlake - Web and Swinging Ladder
Diane Wilson - Trained Monkeys
Pat Haag - Super Dog
Alice Haag - Horse Riding
Kim Haag - Standing on Horse Riding
Gordo
1973 - Ohio, Indiana, Illinois
Note: Cold weather killed most of the Windland's
snakes and lizards
Tornado near Dayton
6-17-1973 - Bloomington Indiana (Courier Tribune newspaper article)
David Terrell from Mitchell (19 yrs old)
Ruby Ann Haag (8 yrs old)
Duane Webber from Seymour Indiana, clown, electrician
Ruby Haag Brown - Cook
Fred Brown - Maintenance
"give the people the best entertainment they'll ever get for a dollar" Jimmy Silverlake
11-1973 - Onarga-Loogootee-Roachdale Circuit then winter in Medora Indiana
1973 - Indiana, Ohio, W. Virginia, Maryland, South to Medora Indiana
6-1974 - Lewis Bros at Circus Fans Convention
(Hoxie and Betty Tucker's Lewis Bros)
Barnes and Daily
Circus (1974)
(Photos by Hartland
Smith)
Jimmy Silverlake - owner (1974)
Former Fisher Bros Drummer
Clowns
Jugglers
Aerialists
Rolling Globe
Calliope and Ring Master
Jimmy Silverlake sells to Hoxie (winter quarters in Hialeah Florida)
9-2-1974 - Mackinaw City Michigan
Living in Ohio and called by agent to work the carnival
West Coast Shows - Carnival (Colorado)
Bobby Cohen - Owner?
Harry and Pat Haag and family was the circus
Little Harry steals the show wearing his pink tights
Pacific Coast Shows
6-1974 Arapahoe county fairgrounds, Littleton
Colorado
Sutton family - owners
Haag Family Mini-Circus
high diving dog - fella
Ruby 9 - dog act
wire walking dog - fluffy jasbo
Dancing dog - fifi
barrel rolling dog - fella, smokey
Harry Haag - ponies and llama
Cheryl 16 and Kim 13 Aerial Acts, web, ladder, trapeze
Cheryl - juggled hoops, clubs, fire
sticks
Kim - contortionist
7-4-1974 - Littleton Colorado Fair
Terrell Jacobs - Cole
Bros Peru Winter Quarters
Paul Kelly Farm
Paul & Dorthy Kelly's
Circus Quarters Animal Zoo & Funpark?
Peru Indiana - Lived on Terrell Jacobs
old winter quarters in a blue trailer
Terrell Jacobs owned the farm and built a cat barn (early 1940's...1942...)
Terrell Jacobs was a wild animal trainer in the 1930's and 1940's
Terrell Jacobs was called the Lion King and worked for Ringling
was also the Cole Bros winter quarters
(1945- land bought by Arthur Wirtz, buys Cole Bros in 1949,1950)
(1955 - land was bought by Paul Kelly whose Father was Pat Kelly)
(Paul Kelly married Dorothy "Dottie?")
(amusement park with kiddie rides, concessions, etc...) early 1960's? (not
running in 1964)
(had elephants, elephant barns, old kids Ferris wheel) 1970's
(the restaurant was closed)
*14 elephants buried on the property
*2004 - a few Cole Bros Circus wagons still in front of elephant barns
*2004 - Dorothy Kelly is 92 years old and spry as ever
Deer Park - Illinois
(petting zoo, rides...)
(there for several weeks)
Ruskin Christian School in Florida
(1975)
Edgewood School in Columbus (1975)
Luv Mugs (Christian Puppets)
Harry Haag directs
all the kids help
(1977-1979)
Harry works at JP Stevens
Pat works at Western Sizzlin
Helen Haag Hayes died 6-17-91 in
Brunswick GA
(83 years old)
Elmo and Daisy (Clowns)
Darren and Ruby
(1992- )
King Tusk dies (12-22-2002)
Josephine dies summer
2003
(buried in Medora Indiana)