The Mighty Haag Shows Timeline
Haag and Garner (1894) (short time)
Ernest Haag's Grand European Pavillion Show (1894,1895,1896)
Haag's Circus? (1896, 1898)
The Haag Show?
Ernest Haag's Circus? (1897,1899,1901)
Haag's Mighty Shows (1898,1899)
The Mighty Haag Shows  (...1902...1916,1917...1933...)
Mighty Haag Railroad Shows (1909-1914)
Mighty Haag Circus

Ernest Haag owned a circus (1894 -1938)
 

6-17-1866 - Ernest Haag born in Kewanna (Plymouth Indiana)

Joseph Haag owns a grocery store on West Jefferson St.

1876 - Roscoe A. Chase (teacher of Ernest Haag)
9 years old (8th grade)
Plymouth School

** grade school went from 9th grade to 1st grade **
** high school was 2 years **

Ernest leads a local orchestra

1878 - Ernest Haag (age 12) rides box car to Philadelphia, later New York
with a violin?
with 2 other boys (Ernest Borin of Plymouth Ind and ?) the 2 boys go back home
they were all playing hooky from school

1878? - 1882 - Ernest Haag (age 12 - 16) shine shoes, sells newspapers

1882? - Played alto with T. Cooney at Robinson Two-car Show for Windy Smith
Windy Smith's St. Louis Circus
(show lasted 1 - 2 years)

1882? - 1887? - Sold Juice (spend a nickel, get a prize)
-  at fairs, picnics, old soldiers' reunions
which brings him to Shreveport

1887? - tent on fairgrounds for side show

- Buys small tent for $20 from old side show man, Squire Bowman
side show on fairgrounds

1887? - Minstrel Show, failed

- Box car traveling

1889? - Ernest Haag starts Show Business

buys flatboat for $20 on Red river at Shreveport

"The Big Show" - a flatboat show at Shreveport with a pair of performers
hires Jim Alberta (blackface)
hires Ed Conklin (juggler)
hires a buck and a wing dancer
second hand bass drum
stops at sandbars and puts on a "circus"
floats down Red river to the bay, loads boat on 2 wheeled cane cart pulled by 3 mules

Ed Conklin from New Orleans performs juggling, magic, and sword walking
(Dryden)

2 wheel cane cart tour of Louisiana

1892? - Mighty Haag Shows
winter quarters in Lecompte

Winter quarters in Lecompte LA. for many winters (1892? - 1902)
while a wagon show
many friends in Alexandria

1892 - Blackie Duncan sees Haag Show

1893 or 1894 - Charles Dryden meets Ernest Haag (First show?)
Haag had "Spot the spot" game, Haag was planning show

1893 or 1894 - Jack Farley sells or gives Ernest a pickout pony, tent,  wagon and team
(may be his first show?)
(Dryden)

Jack Farley gives Haag a Pickout Pony, Flying Jenny?, Juice joint on raft
Ernest put it on wagons

? - buys first team of horses and 1 old farm wagon
1 wagon show to Kansas

1893 - "Big Walking Show"
pickout pony Topsie, couple of musicians, sells juice
only driver rode, camp outside city

1893 - Sells juice or sideshow at fall fairs

1894 - First Owned Circus, Haag route and roster given

1894 - Haag and Garner (partnered for short time) Louie Garner
performer Harry Hickman - Wirewalker and Juggler
(Dryden)

1894 - Grand European Pavilion Show
(5-4-1894 Clipper)

1895 - Ernest and Shorty Rhodes
1 trained horse (Doll the pony), 1 hack?, concession stand (lemonade, candy, Jewelry)
the pony was a free show to attract people, this was the start of Ernest's circus
(Willie Clark)

1895 - European Pavilion

1895 - Ernest Haag in Circus Management
Harry "Shorty" Rhodes joins,
cornet player, bagpipe, bandmaster of the big show band on wagon and rails (1895-1914...)

1895 - Haag's European Pavillion Show
(a wagon show)
10-11  -  Nowata Indian Territory
10-16  -  Sapulapa Indian Territory
10-19  -  Okmulgee Indian Territory

1896? -  Mighty Haag Circus (wagon shows)

1896 - Haag's show, street parade, route and roster of employees given

7-27-1896  -  Bartlesville Indian Territory
7-28-1896  -  Nowata Indian Territory

7-1896 - Haag's European Pavilion

8-1896 - Haag's European Pavilion

10-1896  -  Mighty Haag Circus in Perkins Oklahoma

-  Ernest falls in love with Alice Hubbard from Perkins

1897 - Mighty Haag Show had steam calliope with four pony hitch

6-1897 - Ernest Haag and Alice Hubbard marry, Alice is almost 18 years old

1897 - Ernest quits working fall fairs

1897 - 9 total vehicles (6 were wagons)

1898?- Helped by Shreveport banker Peter Youree (1895?)

1898 - Charles Dryden joins show, Haag's Mighty Shows

1898 - Big Top 40 ft with 20 ft middle, sideshow 20 x 10

1898 - Show looked lousy, worn wheel boxes made wheels wobble

1898 - first bandwagon built for Haag by Frederick

1898 - 7 wagon show

12-9-1898  -  Emmett Kelly born

1899 - Haag's Mighty Shows
winter in Lecompte

10-1899  -  Ernest Haag Jr. born

1899 - Big Top 60 ft with two 20 ft middles, sideshow 40x30

1900 - Harry Eugene Haag born in Oklahoma Territory
(named after Harry "Shorty" Rhodes)

Mighty Haag Shows (1900)
7-1900  -  Oklahoma Territory
10-1900  -  Texas

1901 - Frank Mcguyre joins Haag Show

Calamity Jane tours with Buffalo Bill Wild West Show until 1901
(fired for drinking and starting fights)

late 1890s or early 1900s? Photo of Calamity Jane with her famous mare Bess
(signed, to my friend Haag)

photo 1901?
carved circus wagon, rectangular with 2 faces facing each other

3-1901 - Al Armer clowning at street parade in Cheneville Louisianna with Haag's Show
(Clipper vol 49, pg79 3-23-1901)

1901 - Ernest buys property in Shreveport (Youree assisted)
winters in Lecompte

1902  -  opens in Lecompte LA

1902 - Ernest established permanent winter quarters in Shreveport
between Fairfield and Line Ave, along what is now called Columbia
(moved his quarters to Shreveport and started expanding)
Capt. Peter Youree

8-1902  -  Haag Show was in Texas

8-5-1902  - Ernest Haag Jr. died in Perkins OK
(staying with grandma, Parezade Hubbard)

3-3-1902  -  William A. Hubbard (Alice's Father died)

photo 1902 or 1903?
circus carriage wagon, 2 lions in a cage, under a circus tent

1903 - Ernest buys 3 elephants from NY dealer
(Tip, Uno, Trilby)

Mighty Haag photo 1903-1904

1904 - Joseph Haag died (Ernest's Father)
(64 years old)

1904-1910?  -  Augustus Hanners? - clown

1904  -  Ernest Haag and ML Clark go to World's Fair in St. Louis
jointly buy 12 camels from Carl Hagenbeck

Hagenbeck's Zoological and Trained Animal Circus (Opened by May 20)
10¢ adult admission (arena 50¢/25¢, monkey, elephant, reptile, hybrid, bear shows or rides 10¢,
'track' riding 10¢, $1.00 for other shows)

1904 - in fall, buys Alice the Elephant from NY dealer

photo 1904?
2 elephants, Alice and Tips (spelled as written on back)
circus wagon with carved bird, Haag's Mighty...
Bill Williams - elephant man

3-5-1905  -  Harry Haag's photo taken in front of home
also, Shorty Rhodes, Charlie Cooper, Harley Hubbard
Shreveport Louisiana

the street car line on Thornhill bisected the quarters and passengers
could see camels, elephants, horses and wagons
Shreveport

Early 1900's Third Son born and dies a few months later in Shreveport
Ernest and Alice visit Plymouth for first time together
 

1905  -  Haag's band wagon on the Mardi Gras parade in Shreveport

1905 - Mighty Haag Circus had 100 horses and mules
30 wagons, 2 rings and 2 elephants
Kilian Family on show

1905 - Rose Kilian leaves show, takes all children
Otto, Ruth, Mabel and George (adopted)

1905 - Rose and family leave Mighty Haag Shows over argument in Monticello, Kentucky
except John Kilian?

1905 At least Rosa and Mabel Kilian on John Robinson's Ten Big Shows

1905? - Rose starts Kilian Family Musical Comedy Show in Monticello, Kentucky

8-30-1905 -  Haag's Mighty Circus is coming to town.
World champion leapers, tumblers, vaulters, and a school of
fear-defying athletes. A monster caravan of wild and rare animals.
Admission 25 and 35 cents
Herald Citizen (Cookeville Tennessee)

1906  -  Everette Robert James joins as leader of the show's #2 band

3-15-1906  Show opens in Shreveport
(parade at 1pm and admission reduced to 25 cents and 35 cents)
3 bands, calliope
ponies, clowns, aerialists, Professor Johnson tight wire
Times carrier boys were guests in reserves
They all thought Haag was a pretty good guy

5-1906  -  Mighty Haag Show
2 ring show, 9 cages of animals

5-1906 - (NY clipper  5-26-1906)
 

1906 Mighty Haag Shows
Ernest Haag - manager and owner
Alice Haag - front door and tickets
Doc Stout - general advance manager
Frank Mcguyre - press agent and adjuster
Uncle Jack Farley - 24 hour man
Fred DeIvey - side show opener and lecturer
Harry R. Rhodes  -  bandmaster of the big top band, 20 pieces
Everette James - bandleader of 8 pieces
Curly Womick - calliope player
Spider Mardello - horse director
Albert Armor - riding master
6 DeIvey troupe of acrobats
The Armors - impalement act
Irene James - wire and single traps
Fay Woods -  monkey perch
Charles Johnston - bounding rope
DeIveys - breakaway ladder
Roy Fortune - comedy wire and rings
Mardello - contortion
Mlle Blanc - wire
Alvedo Bros - aerial bars return act
Anna Woods - contortionist
Fred DeIvey - high stilts
Gail Boyd - principal clown
clowns:
Al Armor, Curly Womick, Billy Burton, Roy Fortune, Bill Sykes, Alvedo Bros and Little Soup
Shetland ponies
Performing dogs
Riding dogs - Dewey, Duke, and Major
High School performing monkey - Jim
performing elephants - Tip and Alice
9 cages of animals
lions, tigers, kangaroos, hyenas, black leopards, jaguars, monkeys, baboons,
birds, sacred cattle, elephants, and camels
Wallace the black maned lion fights with Capt Dunken
28 head of ponies
180 head of work stock

5-26-1906
Mighty Haag Shows
Ernest Haag - manager and owner
Mrs. Alice Haag - tickets
Doc Stoute - general manager
Frank Mcguyer - press agent and adjuster
Uncle Jack Farley - 24 hour man
Harry Garner - Manager of Dining Tents
Chas. Long - Supt of Stands
Fred DeIvey - side show opener lecturer
King Bolt - Boss Canvasman
Mr. Gentry - Assistant
"Bill" Taylor - Boss Hostler, 12 Horse Driver
"Bill" Grab - Pony Boss
John Devene - Boss Property Man
Harry R. Rhodes  -  bandmaster of the big show
Everette James - Leader of #2 Band
Curly Womick - calliope player
Kid Kellog - manager Bandwagon
Spider Mardello - Equestrian director
Albert Armor - riding master
DeIvey troupe of acrobats
The Armors - impalement act
Irene James - wire and single traps
Fay Woods -  monk perch
Chas Johnston - bounding rope
R.Y. Frotur - Comedy Wire, Roman Rings
Mardello - contortion
Mlle LaBlanc - wire
Alvedo Bros - aerial bars and Traps
Anna Woods - contortionist
Fred DeIvey - high stilts
Gail Boyd - principal clown
clowns:
Curly Womick, Billy Burton, Alvedo Bros
Ray Farum
Al Armor - Singing Clown
Large Number of Animals
Jim the performing Monkey
Riding dogs - Dewey, Duke, and Major
performing elephants - Tip and Alice
Capt'n Dunken - Annex Management
Fred DeIvey - Openings
"Crankey" Carroll, "Bud" Sells, "Ducket" Whitey - Ticket Sellers
Jack Farley - Ticket Taker
9 cages of animals
Wallace the lion fights with Capt Dunken
2 Ring Show
Main Tent is 90 foot round top with two 40 foot middle pieces
The Menagerie Tent is 60 foot with two 30 foot middle pieces
(Billboard 5-26-1906, pg24)

1906 - Elizabeth Haag died (Ernest's Mother)

1906  -  45 week season, La, Ark, Tenn,  Ga,  Ala, Miss,

Ernest Haag nicknamed, The Governor

1906?, 1907? - bought Alice the elephant at age 12

early 1900s?
photo of elephants Alice, Tip, and Babe
also Charles "Blackie" Duncan

1907 -  DeIvey and Embard - "Haag's Hustlers"

1-1907  Frank McGuire - Business Manager
"will be the greatest 2 ring show in America"

1907 - Mighty Haag Show in Albany GA

2-1907  Ernest Haag worth $100,000
winter quarters in Shreveport

2-1907  elephants, camels, sacred cows, ostrich, lion, bangle tiger, leopard, hyena, etc

1907  Show in La, Ark, Ala, Tenn, Ky,

1-10-1907  -  Lecompte LA

3-7-1907 Haag Show opens in Shreveport
(parade 1pm, shows 2pm, 8pm)
(5 Killians, mother and 4 daughters, aerial and acrobats)
3 Feasleys, cannonball jugglers, aerialists and clowns
3 Irwins aerialist
Mardellow, contortionist and comedy
Gail Boyd, principal clown
Theo Letta - comedy juggler and clown
Henry Engard  - concert wizard
Professor TJ Oatman's educated horses and mules
Tip, Babe, Alice
Haag's Shetland ponies and dogs
2 Brays - wire act imported from Europe
Mollie the educated pig is dead
Oatman's horses:
Topsy - educated marvel
Snowball - white dancing stallion
Jersey Boy - January mule, $5 if you can ride him

6-1907  C S Carroll - Agent
"52 wagons, 214 horses, parade"

6-1907 Mighty Haag in Tenn.
Clowns are Gail Boyd, Bob Peasley, Mardello, Roy Fortune, "Whitey" Ashcroft,
Ruth Killian and "Little Soup"

1907  -  Mighty Haag Circus
Ruth Kilian - clown
John Kilian ?

7-20-1907
Mighty Haag Shows - Touring Kentucky
Ernest Haag - General Manager and Proprietor
Frank Mcguyer - Assistant Manager and Treasurer
H. Emgard - Manager of Tickets
T. J. Oatman - Equestrian Director
King Bolt - Boss Canvasman of Annex
William Taylor - Charge of Stock
Harry R. Rhodes  -  bandmaster
(Billboard 7-20-1907, pg23,24)

8-5-1907
Haag's Mighty Trained Animal Shows (from Ad)
Coming in all its magnificent splendor to
Monticello
Haag's Monster Parade daily at 1:30pm
A Herd of Perfoming Elephants
A drove of Camels, Dromadary
Zebus, Yaks, Emus and Sacred Cattle
3 Bands of Music
2 Performances Daily at 2 and 8pm

10-5-1907  -  Frank De Ivey returns after rest as Chief Orator, Lecturer, Annex ticket seller
Grinders:  Bill Taylor, Charles Long, George Almont, Henry Emgard

11-16-1907  -  Oklahoma becomes a state

12-1907  -  Show in Ala, Miss,

12-1907  winter quarters at Shreveport LA

1-1-1908 Haag's Mighty Shows to close it's 12th season at Vicksburg
after a 10 month tour (Billboard 12/28/1907)

1908 - Ernest Haag buys lot block 24 Fairfield Heights

1908  -  over 50 wagons in the show

1908 - Hoakum Family on Mighty Haag Show
(from photo)
 

12-26-1908 bought items from the Pawnee Bill Wild West including
camels, wagons, cars, and the Columbus - John Smith Bandwagon (built in 1904)
(20 ft by 10 ft) (in  1903 it cost $4,000 to make)
also the India or Jardiner Tableau wagon
steam calliope (built by Sullivan and Eagle about 1900 for Pawnee Bill Wild West show)
railroad equipment

1-1909  winter quarters at Shreveport LA

1909 -1914  -  Mighty Haag Railroad Shows
(general agent - George Moyer)
went as far west as Montana

4-9-1909 at Ada Oklahoma (afternoon and evening show)
street parade rain or shine
"remember - a show that pleases your sister, mother, brother and father and even your mother in law"
(Evening News 7-7-1909)
 

1909 - Wintered in Montgomery Al

1910
Nellie King - Organist
Pineville KY
(from Post Card Photo)

3-22-1910
The Mighty Haag Shows (from Ad)
Benefit Anti-Tuberculosis League
"The Pride of Dixie"
Opens the season at Montgomery, Tuesday March 22nd
When visiting this show you not only find plenty to amuse you but will be helping a good cause
Tickets for sale at all Drug Stores
2 Performances Rain or Shine
Grand Free Street Parade at 10am on Day of Exhibition
Don't Miss Seeing the all new, golden, glittering free street parade of massive open dens and cages of rare wild and costly animals, two herds of performing elephants and camels, costly band, chariots and beautifully carved Tableaux three big brass bands and the everlasting steam calliope, a cavalry of beautiful costumed lady and gentlemen performers from all parts the world all to be seen free on the main streets on day of exhibition
The Japanese Slide for Life, a thrilling open air exhibition free to all. Immediately after parade returns to Show Grounds near car barn

 

MAY 28, (1910) - THE MIGHTY HAAG SHOWS. COMING ON ITS OWN SPECIAL TRAINS, HERKIMER, Erie, PA

baby Siberian camel on Mighty Haag Railroad Shows
born at winter quarters in Shreveport Louisiana
named General Lee
(Gettysburg Times 5-2-1910)

The Haag Shows has one of the finest Calliopes.
Signor Lamont - Calliope Player
(Gettysburg Times 5-3-1910)

The Mighty Haag Railroad Shows have the only orchestraina in America today. The orchestrania was originally brought to this country by the German government to place in the German exhibit at the Jamestown Exposition.
It returns to Wurtemberg Germany after the close of this season.
(Gettysburg Times 5-4-1910)

Bears, ponies, and blue faced monkeys
Professor Chas Duncan - animal trainer
(Gettysburg Compiler 5-4-1910)

Elephant doing complete somersaults
named Major
(Gettysburg Times 5-5-1910)

street padget 1/2 mile long
plenty of music, pretty ladies, fine horses,
funny clowns and massive open cages of animals
(Gettysburg Times 5-9-1910)

5-11-1910 at Helena Arkansas

Free pony rides for the children attending the afternoon performance
(Gettysburg Compiler 5-11-1910)

5-14-1910  -  at Gettysburg Pennsylvania
a night performance will be given
the Haag Shows sell only their seating capacity
(The Star and Sentinel 5-11-1910)

The Mighty Haag Railroad Shows have the youngest living baby camel in captivity today, having been born in winter quarters at Shreveport, prior to the shows leaving there. The baby without doubt is the finest specimen of Siberian camel that can be found in America today. The camel has been named General Lee and bids fair to have as tender spot in the hearts of the amusement going people as did it's namesake in the hearts of the American public. When visiting the Mighty Haag Railroad Shows which exhibit at Gettysburg, Saturday May 14, don't miss seeing the baby camel.
(The Gettysburg Times, Penn 5-13-1910)

...In addition to the usual features six camels and three elephants attracted no little attention.  The steam calliope had it's customary admirers....
...The Royal Japanese Acrobatic Troupe, the airship and some of Barnum and Bailey's school of horsemen are among the show's greatest drawing cards.
(The Gettysburg Times, Penn 5-14-1910)

In the evening a large portion of Union League Members of Philadelphia went to the Haag circus and
made things lively. Two dignified gentlemen ran a race around the entire tent for a wager of a dollar each.
Another dignified man took part in the after show with a song and dance.
(Gettysburg Times 5-16-1910)

5-17-1910
at Middletown Penn
Ernest Haag - Proprietor and Manager
Mrs. E. Haag - Treasurer
Haag Imperial Elephants
Roy Haag - Tickets
(Billboard 5-28-1910, pg18)

Albert Kendig has a pair of Bay mules stolen while he was at the Haag Circus.
He was attending the evening show in Hanover.
(The Gettysburg Times 5-17-1910)
 

Araki's Troupe - Mighty Haag
Holzer & Goss - Mighty Haag
Oram & King - Mighty Haag
Powell & Daverne - Mighty Haag
From: "Performers and Acts with Circuses", Billboard, July 16, 1910
 

11-22-1910  -  at Shreveport LA

Ernest Haag - Proprietor and Manager
Mrs. E. Haag - Treasurer
Opens at Shreveport Louisiana 3-20-1911
(Billboard 3-18-1911, pg76)

3-20-1911  -  at Shreveport LA

Mons Di' Pauhlam - aero-pianist
Hippotragus Equinius
Show at Gettysburg May 10, 1911
(Gettysburg Compiler 5-10-1911)

photo 1911?
Pawnee Bill Columbus circus wagon
pulled by 8 or more horses

photo 1911?
huge calliope wagon with pipes and horns, rectangular

1911 - Alexandria, Virginia (names from the back of a photo)
(info in black from an article below)
Top row
Toko Uhurata
Abe Kikuchis
Si Kitchio (Si Kitchie?) (Japanese Troupe)
Fred and Nora
Ed Nichol
Jalbert Heury
Charles Johnson (Bounding Rope Act)
John A. Goss
Bill Winslow
George Valentine
Herbert Grow
Middle row
Frank D Miller, Frank B Miller (Equestrian)
Joe Madan
Miss Jim Holser
Miss Ad Esca
A. DeEspa (Agnes DeEspa - Trapeze)
Fred D Enova
Miss Wood (Woods Trio - Tight Wire)
Miss Clara Curtin
Miss Clara Miller (Equestrienne)
Miss Si Kitchic (Si Kitchie?)
Miss Bill Winslow
Ernest Valentino
Bob Valentino
Miss George Valentino
Miss Frank Miller
Bottom Row
Jim Holser
Master Lenard Dnova
Gail Boyd (Clown)
Spider Niardello (Mardello) (Clown, Contortion)
Miss Thelma? Wood
L. Morlen or Worlen?
Miss Ella Dnova
Dell Fuego (Del Feugo) (Leader of Clown Band)
Roy Fortune (Comedy Slack Wire)

5-10-1911 (Gettysburg Compiler)
Mighty Haag Shows 5-16-1911

Aerial Lamonts
(Middletown Daily, NY 6-15-1911)

That Big Holiday You Have Been Waiting for with the Mighty Haag Shows
Middletown, NY 6-17-1911
Positively the Only Large Show Playing Middletown This Year.
Remember this is not a tame Indian Show. Don't be deceived by overdrawn posters of other exhibitions, but wait for a show of reputation. Don't fail to see the Indians, the cigar smoking camel, the aeroplane, the only somersault elephant in the world, the dancing camels, the street parade, $100,000 invested in parade features.
All the wonderful performances on earth and in the air,  Special exclusive features. Five reasons why the Mighty Haag Shows are the best:
1. They are not in the circus trust
2. They never misrepresent to the public
3. Gambling is prohibited and the show is conducted by honest people
4. They give a street parade one mile in length
5. They carry more fine horses, trained animals, pretty ladies and bands of music than any show exhibiting in this city this year.
Make your arrangements for that Bid Holiday. Special excursion rates on all lines of travel.
(6-15-1911)

 

6-26-1911  -  Mighty Haag Railroad Shows at Bellow Falls, Vermont

1911? -  (information from program clipping on ebay)
the acts are Holzer & Rezloh (comedy acrobats)
Miss Ethel Moore (singer)
Hubert the Great
Miss Marie Elmore (singing & dancing comedian)
Miss Russel & those Empire Girls
(story, O'Dowd, York, Buckingham

photo 1911-1912?
Nellie Oram King, Queen of the Calliope, Mighty Haag Circus

11-16-1911
Charlie Duble closes with the John Robinson 10 Big Shows
Dick Masters, bandmaster asks Charlie to join Mighty Haag

11-18-1911
Charlie Duble joins Mighty Haag in Columbia Alabama

opens with Caesar's Triumphal March
Frank Miller - Equestrian Director, Bareback Rider
Clara Miller - Equestrienne
I'm a Leader of a German Band
Charles "Bounding" Johnson - Bounding Rope Act
Agnes DeEspa, Bill Johnson - Double Trapeze, Arial Acts
Birdie Martino - Rolling Globe, Club Juggler
John Smith - Trained Ponies and Dogs
Miller and Smith - Horse Rider with Lady Performers
Woods Trio - Tight Wire Act
Helen Leach - Iron Jaw Aerial Butterfly Act
Shorty Sylvester - Dwarf Clown
Roy Fortune - Comedy Slack Wire with a Peg Leg, Trombone in Clown Band
Clowns:  Mardello, Henry, Gail Boyd, McCammon
Mardello - Contortions
Del Fuego - Leader of Clown Band
Rudy Gonzalla - 3 Trained Elephants
3 Millers - Flying Return Act
Si Kitchie Troupe of Japs - Foot Juggling, Balancing
Jimmie O'Neil - Hand Balancer, Equilibrist
Camel Race with Riders
Doc Coates - Texan with Western Hat, Announcer for Big Show
(rode on Pawnee Bill Bandwagon (#1) pulled by 10 sleek dapple grays)
(he would call out, Hold your Hoss-es the elephants are coming)
Carved Tableau Wagons, open Gilded Dens,
Gaily Costumed Mounted People on Spotted Horses, Steam Calliope
Big Top - 110 foot round, with three 40 foot middles, 4 center poles
2 rings and a center stage
3 elephants, 9 camels, 6-8 carved cages
Nellie King - Steam Calliope in parade and evenings
George Oram - Side Show Manager, Punch and Magic
Del Fuego - the Human Salamander and Fire Eater
3 Eskimo Midgets - Chief Debro and Wife (from Kendallville, Indiana)
Eva McGuyer - Oriental Dancer
Frank McGuyer - Official
Fritz "Dutch" Myers - Boss Canvasman
Jim Finnigan - Train Master
"Shorty" Rhodes - Superintendent of Stock (been with since 1890's)
William Kellogg - Legal Adjuster
Mrs Kellogg - Trapeze Performer
Eddie Van Camp - Boss of Lights (Gas Mantels)
(Bandwagon Nov/Dec 1948, pg 3-4)
 

1912  -  Everette James joins the Molly Bailey Circus as solo cornetist

3-21-1912  -  Opens in Shreveport LA

 

1912

E. Haag, sole owner and manager;
Frank McGuyre, legal adjuster;
Harley Hubbard, treasurer;
Mr. Campbell, front door;
W. Williams, supt. inside tickets;
Ed. VanCamp, supt. lights;
Dick Masters, band leader;
Doc Coates, big show announcer;
Shorty Rhodes, supt. ring stock;
Prof. Nelson, in charge of side-show band and minstrels
Fred DeIvy, and Fritz Myers, the latter boss canvas-man
George Oram was side-show manager
George Moyer was general agent and one of the best in the business
A new big top was put in use for the first time that year at Washington C. H., Ohio,
120-foot round top with 2 fifties and 1 forty-foot middle piece, 4 center poles

Performance given in 2 rings and on 1 stage
A first class menagerie was carried, 3 elephants, 9 camels, 8 cages of animals
The Wallett family of noted riders;
Frank Miller, gents' principal, he also worked a wonderful trained horse, a beautiful sorrel, with a long mane and tail almost white. Clara Miller, lady principal;
Si Kitchi, troupe of Japs, and their performance wonderful.
Agnes DeEspa, aerialist;
Charlie Diamond and Jimmie O'Neil, hand balancers;
DeBolien troupe of acrobats;
Woods troupe, wire act;
Holzer and Rezloh;
Johnson, aerialist;
Rudy Gonzallas, performing elephants;
Irene Marshall, Mabel James, iron-jaw artists and traps;
John Woods, menage horses;
Mardello, contortion and clown
Other clowns were Roy Fortune who also did a comedy slack wire act,
Gail Boyd, Henry, Roy Barrett, and a few others I do not recall.
Colorado Cotton, and his wild west company were featured in the concert.

The features of the side-show were: Miss Nellie King, musical artist,
who gave a remarkably clever entertainment, performing on several instruments.
She also played the steam calliope in parade.
Del Fuego, the human salamander;
Chief DeBro, and wife, esquimo midgets.
(No, they were not from Alaska. Their home was at Kendallville, Ind.)
A Mr. Carroll, who was a fine scenic painter with the show and a much liked gentleman had the misfortune,
at that time, to have an arm clawed by a lion and he died from blood poisoning.
Big show band: Dick Masters, leader and cornet.
Everette James, W. Cubbison, cornets;
Carl Sparks, Joe Day, Edward Fowler, Dad Whitsell, clarinets;
Charles Redrick (now leader Al. G. Barnes show), A. W. Hughes, Charles Smith, altos;
C. E. Duble, Andrew Peterson, trombones;
Al. Marshall, baritone;
Emil Peterson, tuba,
Bob Blassingame, trap drummer
The big band wagon that was used with the Mighty Haag Show in 1912 was still in us as a band wagon with another show the past summer.
By C. E. Duble. Circus Scrap Book, No. 14 (Apr), 1932, pp. 21-23

4-2-1912  -  Clarksville Tenn
3 elephants

1912 - Mighty Haag Shows - the 18th Transcontinental Tour
Ernest Haag - owner and manager
George Moyer - general agent
Frank McGuyre - assistant manager (right hand man)
Harley Hubbard - treasurer (with the show for many years)
Jim Campbell - front door and advertising banners
Harry R. "Shorty" Rhodes - ring stock
Victor Stout - advertising car 1
Arthur Hopper - advance department
William R. Kellogg - legal adjuster
Jim Finegan - trainmaster
Henry Emgard and Blassinggame - concessions
Napoleon Reed - head chef
George Oram - manager of annex dept. (sideshows)
Fritz (Dutch) Meyers - boss canvasman
Eddie Van Camp - superintendent of lights


1912
15 cars: 1 advance car, 4 sleepers, 3 stock, 7 flats
2 rings and 1 stage
3 elephants (2 were still with the show in 1932)
zebra
9 camels
7 cages (carved and gold leaf)
african wild boar also called "vark vark"
Pawnee Bill's Columbus-John Smith Wagon

1912
Chief DeBro and wife - Eskimo midgets (from Kendallville Ind.)
Nellie King - musical act, steam calliope in parade
DelFeugo - the human salamander and fire eater
Doc Coates of Hempstead Texas - Texan in tail coat and western hat, sideshow openings and
announcements in big show
Frank Miller - equestrian director and principal rider, jockey act, and
performed well trained menage horses
4 DeBolien's troupe of acrobats and tumblers
5 Wallett Family - rinding displays of horses
musical feature was Prof. Nelson's rag time band and New Orleans Minstrels
Clown song - Alexander's rag time band, leaps over horses and elephants
Si Kitchie Troupe of Japs - foot juggling and balancing
Agnes DeEspa, Bill Johnson, Irene Marshall, Mabel James, Neta Peasley - aerialist
Jimmy O'neal - hand balancer
Clara Miller - principal equestrian
Birdie Martino - rolling globes, club juggler, slack wire
Holaer and Rexloh (Holzer and Rezloh?)- iron jaw and wire act
Mardello - contortionist and clown
Roy Barrett, Gail Boyd, McCammon, Roy Fortune, Mardello, Henry - clowns
Henry and Irene Marshall and Mabel James - trapeze, rings and aerial butterfly displays
Birdie Woods - slack wire
John Woods - trained ponies and horses
Dick Masters - bandmaster of big show band
15 musicians, writer was trombonist
Victor Stout - advertising car 1
John Smith - performing horses and ponies
Bob Peasley - Juggler
Rudy Gonzallas - performed the 3 elephants
The old time leaps
Frank Smith "Colorado Cotton" and wife and son - trick riding and rope spinning
 

Old Style after show concert:
comedians
jugglers
black face
dancing
Colorado Cotton, wife, and boy in "Sports and pastimes of the western plains"

6-1-1912  -  Niagara Falls, NY

1912 -  66 stops in Canada: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island (6 towns played) including Charlottetown


6-2-1912  -  entered Canada, Port Colborne, Ont

6-3-1912  -  St Canharines,  Ont.
explosion on top of elephant car, thought to have been set by rival show
Rudy Gonzalla in charge of elephants

Toronto and Northern Ontario Railway at South Porcupine

admission to circus - $1

6-13-1912  Tip the elephant kills handler Frank Johnson

7-4-1912  -  Qubec, Valleyfield

New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

Prince Edward Island, Canada

7-18-1912  -  Circus train left at Point Du Chene, N.S.
show transported by steamer across Northumberland Strait

Summerside, P.E.I.

Charlottetown

Souris

New Brunswick and Quebec

Farnham, Qubec

(date?) - Eastern Canada, opposition with Jerry Mugivan shows
Mugivan hires away some of Haag's advance people

9-2-1912  -  Jamestown New York

Ottaw Ont, John Carroll of New York, an employee of Haag's circus, is dead at Moneton, New Brunswick.
He had his arm mangled by a lioness and blood poisoning followed.
(Sheboygan Evening Post 9-30-1912)

1912  -  Malone New York

photo 1912
Pawnee Bill Columbus carved circus wagon
Malone New York in parade

12-2-1912  -  Vivian Louisiana

12-1912  -  winter quarters in Shreveport Louisiana

Ernest Haag - Proprietor and Manager
Mrs. E. Haag - Treasurer
Roy Hague - Trainmaster
Harley D. Hubbard - Boss Hostler
(Billboard 3-22-1913, pg75)

3-27-1913 (from program)
Auspices BPOE No. 122
The Mighty Haag's Stud of Trained Elephants

3-27-1913  -  at Shreveport LA

Ernest Haag - Owner
Mrs. E. Haag - Treasurer
Roy Haag - Tickets
(Billboard 4-5-1913, pg10)

1913 - Claude Purcell shot and killed Fred Curtis, trainmaster for the Haag circus
while the show was loading

1913  -  Everette James returns to the show as band director

1913  -  Harry Clark and wife on show with trained horses
(daughter of John McNally)

8-16-1913  -  Spencer Iowa

photo 1913?
huge calliope wagon with pipes and horns, rectangular

photo 1913?
3 elephants, 3 camels

1913  -  Wilmington Ohio

11-1913  -  winter quarters at Shreveport LA

1913-1914 pre-war Depression Times struck blow to circus economy

Ernest Haag - Proprietor and General Manager
Mrs. E. Haag - Treasurer
Harley D. Hubbard - Supervisor Reserved Seats
Opens at Shreveport Louisiana 3-26-1914
(Billboard 3-28-1914, pg48)

4-8-1914  -  Advance Agent Foster of the Mighty Haag Circus was in Crockett County TN
arranging for a show

5-1914  Rochester IN

5-1914  Plymouth IN
heavy rains, large crowd attended at night

(began losing money)

11-1914  -  winter quarters at Shreveport LA

Ernest thought his show was too big, longed for the old wagon days

11-1914 - Sold Train Equipment to Wortham? Worthem & Allen, Carnival firm
(Clarence Wortham and John Allen)

William "Billy" Hirsch was State Fair secretary
close friend of Ernest

1914 - Banker Peter Youree dies

Ernest buys mules from a lumber mill at Cotton Valley to return to a wagon show

11-5-1914 - Plain Dealing LA, Small Show in Louisiana

12-3-1914  -  Turkey Creek Louisiana
(3 elephants, camels...)
Frank McGuire - Manager
Fred DeIvy - Lot Superintendent
Harley Hubbard - Secretary Treasurer
Roy Haag - Sideshow Manager
Bill Williams - Reserve Seats
Everett James - Bandmaster with 9 musicians
Harry "Shorty" Rhodes - Stock

1914 show:
Grand entry, Buy a Bale of Cotton - Mabel James and Chorus
Hollis troupe of riders - Pinkey Hollis (later with Sparks Circus)
Irene Marshall and Mabel James - trapeze, rings, iron jaw, swinging perch in sailor outfit
Take me out to the Ballgame - Mabel James
The Great Mardella - Contortionist, boneless wonder (since wagon days)
Rudy Gonzalles - 3 elephants (Tip, Alice, ...)
Ray Fortune, McGammon, Mardello - Clowns
Bumble bee act and Jargo the giraffe

1915  early route included Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas,

1914 - 1918   World War 1

1915 - Back to Wagon Show

- uses a lot of mules from a sawmill and lumber company
uses draft horses from the rail show

1915 - 52 wagons, 130 horses, 3 elephants, 10 camels and 9 cages

Ernest Haag - Proprietor and General Manager
Harley D. Hubbard - Tickets
Roy Haag - Side Show Tickets
(Billboard 4-8-1915, pg56)

Slayer, Pleading Guilty, Escapes Term in Prison
Sullivan Indiana, Claude Purcell, a baseball player here, who shot and killed Fred Curtis, trainmaster for the
Haag circus, while the show was loading here two years ago, pleaded guilty today to a charge of manslaughter. A sentence of two to twenty one years in the State Reformatory was suspended. It was said the plea of guilty was accepted because circus men who were the state's witnesses, could not be found. Purcell had declared he shot in self-defense
(Indianapolis Star 5-16-1915)

1915 - Emmett Kelly sees Mighty Haag Show in Yukon
(first circus)
(elephant, camel, bear, tiger, little white faced clown, buckboard kicking mule
trained ponies and girl contortionist, no aerial acts)

1915 - quarters in Albany Ga

1-5-1916  -  arrives to winter in Albany  (at fairgrounds)

1916 - bought first truck

3-15-1916  -  Harry Haag James born in Albany GA where the Mighty Haag was pitched
Maybelle James (mother) performed on trapeze 1 month before birth
11 days later, Harry James was introduced to the circus audience

1916  -  admission 50 cents

1916 - quarters in Valdosta Ga

1916? - Mighty Haag Circus moves to Florida

photo 1916-1917?
Mr. Primrose, advance man
Spider mardello
Mighty Haag Shows truck

1-1917   -  wintered at Valdosta Georgia

2-26-1917  -  start season at Valdosta Georgia

2-26-1917
Starts at Valdosta, Georgia
Performing Elephants
Roy Haag - Side-show Tickets
Everett James - Band Director
Mabel James - Calliope Player
(Billboard 3-24-1917, pg58)

5-1917  -  show in Troutdale, Virginia
elephants, lions, and tigers

1917?
photos: (written on back, Toby Tyler)
 calliope wagon
canvas wagons
crossing a stream, Louisiana?, early spring?
Three horses called the three old maids, crossing a bridge in Alabama

 

1918 - began buying trucks

2-15-1918 or 1-27-1918 -  Ernest's sister, Bertha Haag Hubbard died giving birth
(baby, Bertha Helen Hubbard) born in Shreveport Louisiana
(Parezade raised her in Perkins for 5 years)

1918  -  J. Augustus Jones sold Cole Bros at auction in Shreveport
Ernest Haag bought several cages which were towed to his quarters on Fairfield Ave
buys several animals?

1918 - W. H. Whitlark had been on Honest Bill and Lucky Bill Show most of season
changed over to Mighty Haag

1-24-1918  postcard sent to Ernest Haag in Shreveport Louisiana

Ernest Haag - Proprietor and Manager
Mrs. E. Haag - Treasurer
Harley D. Hubbard - Secretary
Everett James - Musical Director
Opens at Shreveport, Louisiana
(Billboard 3-30-1918, pg64)

1918 - Left Shreveport LA to Marianna FL
set up new quarters

...1918-1920...
Many of the Mighty Haag workers stayed at
the Chipola Hotel, it was a two story hotel,
one of the top hotels in Northwest Florida
Typical of that time period, the
hotel offered comfortable rooms, wash basin, slop
jars and mosquito netting around the beds

1919 - 7 trucks

1919 - James family changes to the Christy Bros Circus (Christy Hippodrome Shows)
 Harry James performs a song on a set of trap drums (age 3)
The Christy Bros. Circus
wintered in Gavelston, Tex
opened as a two-car circus at Rosenberg, Tex on March 1st
closing date was Freeport, Texas, December 29th, 1919
Everett James was the Band Leader
son Harry, was then three years old.
Mrs. James did iron jaw, a sailor perch act and a black face act in the concert.
Fay James did a ring act, Contortionist, swinging ladder and single trapeze.
By Bette Leonard, Bandwagon, (Apr), 1945

1919? Mighty Haag Shows
photo of Calliope wagon with female player and a black driver
the wagon has a large carved lion under the driver

2-7-1920  -  Mighty Haag Shows start at Marianna Fl

1920?  -  Harry Haag James (age 4) performs on Mighty Haag Show
contortionist

1920? - Ezra Corine Hazell, Corina? - Elephant Worker
joins Mighty Haag?

Corina
real African Elephant boy, 6ft 7in
brought to USA with consignment of elephants for the original Barnum Show
(Hammond Times, Indiana 11-16-1942)
 

John Robinson's Circus
1921
Harry Haag - Inside Ticket Seller (from program)
 

2-1921  -  Animal dealer from Europe to arrive with more animals for the show

3-10-1921  -  opens in Marianna Fl

3-1921  -  (Billboard mag. 3-19-1921)

1921  -  Prince Edward Island, Canada

9-1921
116 head of horses, ponies and mules
1 camel
3 elephants
10 cages of wild animals
150 people
acrobats, wire walkers, gymnasts, jugglers, clowns,
equilibrists, and jesters
dancing horses, educated ponies, mules, monkeys and dogs
Miss Marion Drew - herd of performing elephants
Johnson's aerialists and foot jugglers
(Kingsport Tenn 9-27-1921)

mid 1920's photo?
Babe, Tip, Alice the elephants
Marion Drew riding and Charles Blackie Duncan

1922,23 - Winter Quarters from Shreveport to Marianna

photo of big top and wagons
winter 1922,1923?
Marianna Florida

1922  -  76 weeks of shows, 50 vehicles

Ernest Haag - Owner
Roy Haag - Assistant
Harry Haag - Assistant
Henry E. Haag - Traveling with for a short time
(M.L. Clark and Floyd King of M.L. Clark and Sanger Shows Combined visited)
(Harold Newman and wife of Gentry Show visited)
(Billboard 9-2-1922, pg62)

1922 - Ernest Haag (smoking a Robert Burns cigar) visits Sparks Circus at Seymour Indiana

Mable James on Christy Bros 1922

3-7-1923
opens at Marianna Florida
Ernest Haag - Proprietor
Mrs. E. Haag - Treasurer
Mrs. Susie Haag - Secretary
Harry Haag - Assistant Manager
Harley D. Hubbard - Supervisor Reserved Seats
(Billboard 3-17-1923, pg82)

6-3-1923  -  Panzada Hubbard died (Alice's Mother)
(Bertha Helen Haag then raised by Aunt and family)

1923 - 21 trucks and 45 wagons (Billboard mag. 3-17-1923)

1-1924  Tan Arakis playing Vaudeville Circuit at Orpheum
(1-24-1924, The Ubyssey, Vancouver BC)

1924 ? - Cigarette burned big top while down, paraffin

3-12-1924
Ernest Haag - Proprietor and Manager
Mrs. E. Haag - Treasurer
Mrs. H.E. Haag - Secretary
Harry Haag - Special Agent
Harley D. Hubbard - Supervisor Reserved Seats
(Billboard 3-22-1924, pg85)

1924 - (Billboard 6-21-1924)

1925 - 27 trucks and autos, 56 wagons

1-1925  -  Harry Bender - general superintendent
Dan White and crew - building buildings
Harry Rhodes - building cages
WH "Sam Hill" Snyder - musician
Doc Grant - principal clown
Haag Quarters 10 acres
Mrs. Haag has 600 acres of Satsuma orange and pecan groves near Marianna
Frank Ketrow - contracting agent
"Kid" Cooper
JB Morton - artist
Frank McGuyre - writer

1-1925  -  Mr. and Mrs Haag taking trip to Shreveport,
Hot Springs Ark to visit Mr. and Mrs. George Moyer,
Mrs. Haags home in Oklahoma

1-1925  -  Harry Haag and wife visiting in Oklahoma

1925 - Many Vehicles pulled by horses

2-1925  -  Ruth Kilian and Little Soup are clowns with the Mighty Haag Show
Gail Boyd - principal clown
Bob Peasly, Mardello, Roy Fortune, "Whitey" Ashcraft - clowns
Dell Button will be with show, returned to Fl

3-18-1925
Ernest Haag - Proprietor
Mrs. Alice Haag - Treasurer
Harry Haag - Assistant Manager and Legal Adjuster
Mrs. Susie Haag - Secretary
Fred Brown - Local Contr.
W.X. Fisher - Press Agent
Harley D. Hubbard - Supervisor Reserved Seats
(Billboard 3-21-1925, pg98)

3-1925  Mighty Haag to open at Marianna Fl
2 rings, 2 elephants, camels, zebras
61 wagons and trucks
2 baby elephants expected on show

1925 - sold Columbus and John Smith bandwagon to Miller Brothers, 101 Ranch Wild West Show

3-1926  -  Mighty Haag opens at Marianna Fl

Ernest Haag - Proprietor
Mrs. E. Haag - Treasurer
Harry Haag - Assistant Manager
Fred Brown - Local Contr.
Harley D. Hubbard - Supervisor Reserved Seats
(Billboard 3-20-1926, pg211)

6-1926  -  10 cages of animals
52 vehicles motor and horse drawn
80 head of stock, horses, mules, ponies
cockatoos, parrots, tiger, 2 leopards, lion, monkeys, bear, gnu,
wart hog, 2 elephants, camel

Mrs. E. Haag - Treasurer and Front Door
Harry Haag - Assistant Manager
(Billboard 7-10-1926, pg56,59)

1926

Chipola Hotel in Marianna now a 5 story hotel
 

1927 - motorized and wagons (Billboard 3-19-1927)

3-3-1927  -  opens in Marianna Fl

Ernest Haag's Circus is known as "the last of the hay burners."
Motor Equipment has been added reluctantly by Haag to the old hay burner wagons.
Provisions are bought from farmers.
(Lima News, Ohio 3-18-1927)

The Great Haag circus, with the usual cortege of trained animals, acrobats and clowns entertained a
large audience on Saturday afternoon and evening.
(Wellsboro Gazette 6-23-1927)

8-20-1927
Monroe NY
Harley Hubbard - Inside Tickets
Harry Haag - Superintendent of Concessions
Col. Haag (Ernest Haag)
(Billboard 8-27-1927, pg68)

12-17-1927  -  closes in Marianna Fl

12-1927  -  winter quarters Marianna Fl

1928 - All vehicles trucks, 10 cages, 41 trucks

1928 - (Billboard mag. 3-24-1928)

3-29-1928  -  opens in Marianna Fl

1928 - Ruby, Josephine, Sarah, and Arthur Fisher join show of the Fisher Family
(Brownie Silverlake joins show, of the Silverlake Trio)
Brownie was a clown
Josephine rode bareback
panoramic photo taken at Attica Indiana (8-9-1928?) including: 
Tan and Carrie Arakis - foot balancing ladder
Frenchie Miller - clown
Alice and Tip the elephants
Harry Haag Sr.
 

9-2-1928 - Josephine Fisher marries Brownie Silverlake at Royal Center Indiana
(2 weeks after meeting)

1928? - Ruby Fisher marries Harry Haag

late 1920's - in Tennessee, Emmett Kelly joins Mighty Haag
aerialist family leaves show
Old man Haag pays in silver, strict on drinking and against smoking, went to church
good man to work for
Harry Haag James on show
truck show
white chalk used to mark way

12-21-1928  -  closes in Marianna Fl

2-9-1929
The Silverlakes
Four Fisher Sisters - Acrobats and Aerialists
(Billboard 2-16-1929, pg62)

3-8-1929  -  opens in Marianna Fl

3-23-1929
Ernest Haag - Proprietor and Manager
Mrs. E Haag - Treasurer and Secretary
Fred Brown - Local Contr.
Harry Haag - Equestrian Director
H.D. Hubbard - Superintendent Reserved Seat Tickets
(Billboard 3-23-1929, pg94)

1929 - (Billboard 4-6-1929)

A woman member of a trio of aerial performers, with the Haag circus, which filled an engagement
in Van Wert Thursday, suffered a cracked rib and bruises on one side of the body in an
accident during the afternoon performance. Dr. F. P. Kreider rendered medical attention.
The woman's injury resulted from a rope breaking, dropping her about twenty feet, while a whirling
act from neck suspension, was being presented. She was able to accompany the circus at the time of their departure from Van Wert.
(Van Wert Daily, Ohio 5-24-1929)

6-15-1929 - Mighty Haag Circus in White Cloud Michigan

11-19-1929  -  Charles "Doc" Haag born at Royal Center Indiana

1-1930  -  wintered at Hammond LA

2-19-1930  -  opens at Hammond LA

11-28-1930  -  closes at Marianna Fl, winter quarters

As the 1931 season opens, only five circuses are going out on rails. There used to be sixteen big ones touring by railroad. Before Barnum's became a railroad show, in 1872, there were 50 mud shows touring America. When the Ringling's went on rails in the early 90's, there were 30 well equipped circuses hauled across the country by teams. This season even the Mighty Haag Show - which stuck to mules for motive power through the long period of metamorphosis and whose two mighty elephants have walked highways in leather shoes from the Gulf Coast to Michigan and return each season - is depending exclusively on trucks and automobiles for the transportation without which no American circus is possible...  The era of the motorized circus has arrived.
(Charleston Daily Mail - 3-29-1931)

4-15-1931  -  opens at Marianna Fl

5-4-1931  -  Haag Shows Contract
$5 for each drunk on or around show grounds
$5 for each fight on show grounds
$1 for wearing soiled tights or wardrobe, pumps - for each performance used
signed by Lucille Rogers and Harry E Haag for $5 per week
signed at Marianna Florida

5-19-1931  -  Harry Haag Jr. born at Royal Center Indiana

1932 - Oakley and Hartsel Wells join the show, comedy acrobats
performed at Mount Olivet Kentucky

4-23-1932 - Ruby Haag and elephants, Lecompte Louisiana

Mighty Haag circus will show on the McKee lot next Tuesday
6 years ago the circus was here
3 ring circus with large display of animals
(Zanesville Signal 9-2-1932)

1932 - (Billboard Mag. 9-3-1932)

photo 1933?
Josephine Silverlake on Alice the elephant
with Ezera Correne Smith
(written on back)

5-17-1933
Mighty Haag Shows boasts only woman clown in country
(Dothan Eagle, Alabama)

5-18-1933  -  opens in Marianna Fl

8-1933  -  Archie and Billie Silverlake leave the show

4-2-1934  -  opens at Marianna Fl

1934 Route Card

11-5  Bowdon GA
11-6  Franklin GA
11-7  Grantville GA
11-8  Greenville GA
11-9  Chipley GA
11-10  Manchester GA
Sunday
11-12  Talbotton GA
11-13  Butler GA
11-14  Ellaville GA
11-15  Plains GA
11-16  Richland GA
11-17  Shellman GA

Permanent Address - Marianna Fl
Bennie Fowler - Band Master
 

11-11-1934  -  Naomi Haag born at Royal Center Indiana

12-26-1934  -  closes at Marianna Fl
management reports very good season

1935 - Fetaque Sanders joins show
wore turban on a camel, billed as Feta Sajii

2-1-1935 - Ernest dies in Marianna (funeral at Marianna Presbyterian Church)
(buried in Plymouth IN at Oakhill Cemetery)
He requested to be buried in Plymouth
(heart ailment)
Leaves behind Alice Hubbard Haag and Harry Eugene Haag, both with the Mighty Haag Shows
and Helen Durrett of Macon

2-1-1935
(interesting note)
Silent Sam Dill dies
American Circus Corporation manager and later partner of Tom Mix

4-4-1935  -  Mighty Haag Shows ticket says,
Haag Memorial Fund for the Unfortunate

opens at Marianna Fl
The big top was filled to overflowing.
Ernest Haag Memorial Foundation for crippled children
Opening spec was, a night in Spain
a floral tribute was presented to Mrs. Haag and Mrs. Durrett
speech given by US senator W. H. Milton

4-27-1935
Cincinnati
Spec - Old Mexico
Clowns - Shorty Sylvester
Ruby Haag - Dogs
Mike Zeldo
W.C. Clark - Foot Juggling
Tan Arakis
McClain - Monkeys Riding Ponies
James
Clown
Roman Rings - Eva Erwin, Ada Mae Owens, Tom Maultsby
Marg Mathews, Lucille Rogers, Harris Reynolds
Jerry Burrell - Cowboy
Lucille Rogers - Spanish Web
Mike Zeldo - Balancing Trapeze
Haag's Elephants - Ruby Haag
Clown Baseball - Shorty Sylvester and Albert Miller
Tan Arakis - Ladder Act
Concert Announcement - Burrell
Juggling - Charles Johnson
Contortion - Marg Mathews and L. Maultsby
Clown
Spanish Number
6 Girls working 2 ponies and camel
Anna Knight Troupe of Acrobats
Clown Wedding
Roman Ladders
Marg Mathews, Anna Belle McClain, Ada Mae Owens, Eva Erwin, Lucille Rogers, Lucie Maultsby
Clown
Concert Announcement
Menage - Charles Russell, Marg Mathews, Bertha Haag
Anna Knight and Harris Troupe - Wire Walkers
Charles Johnson - Bounding Wire
Mike Zeldo - Head Balancing
Swinging Ladders - Lucille Rogers, Anna Knight, Marg Mathews, Cora Mae Teandor
Comedy Mule Hurdle - Sam Maultsby
Clown Alley - Albert Miller, Gilford Sylvester, Tom Maultsby, Willie Clark, Bill Farmer,
Claude Duncan, Aubry West

Jerry Burrell's Wild West Follows:
Viola Burrell - Australian Whips
Nelson Cowette - Trick Rider and Roper
Jim Cowley - Roman Rider
Bo O'neal - Bronk and Steer Rider
Shorty Sylvester - Horse Roping and Clown
Alice Wiley - Trick Rider
7 Head of Horses and 1 Steer

Big Show Band plays 1 hour concert before each performance
Bandmaster - Bennie Fowler
Cornets - Herman Miller, Ed Falte, Gordon Burch
Clarinets - Joe Teandor, John Myers
Trombone - Arthur Irvin, Charles Mack
Baritone - Jack Erwin
Alto - Grover Montgomery
Sousaphone - Malvern McGowan
Snare Drum - Sam Barham
Bass Drum - Otto Grabs

Side Show....
(Billboard 5-4-1935)
 

1936 - Harry Haag's Circus (Billboard Magazine 4-11-1936)
(Schwarz Bros owners)

5-1936 - Mrs. Ernest Haag owner-manager adds 4 trucks

5-2-1936
Franklin Georgia
Spec - Night in Old Mexico
Tan Araki - Foot Juggling
Swinging Ladders:  Lucille Rogers, Loraine Knight, Ollie Lamb, Cora Teandor,
Marguerite Mathews, Lucy Mausby
Clowns
Tom Mathews and Marie Clark - Ponies and Monkeys
Cloud Swing: Paul Knight, Harris Reynolds
Banner Announcement
Roman Ladders (5 to each set):  Marguerite Mathews, Marie Clark, Cora Teandor, Marguerite Pettis, Ollie Lamb, Loraine Knight, Anna Knight, Rosalie Jackson, Lucy Mausby, Lucille Rogers
Clowns
Contortion - Misses Mathews and Mauaby
Wire - Knight Duo, Reynolds Duo
Iron Jaw - Misses Lamb and Jackson
Concert Announcement
Ménage - Misses Knight, Mathews, and Tom Mathews
Clowns
Web - Misses Rogers and Mathews
Elephant - Helen Haag
Clowns
Tan Arakis - Ladder Act
Concert Announcement
Clowns
Single Trapeze - Misses Rogers, Mathews, Teandor, Pettis
Clown
Rings - Ollie Lamb, Loraine Knight, Tommy Mausby, Marguerite Pettis, Cora Teandor, Rosalie Jackson, Harris Reynolds
Paul Knight - Acrobatic Act off and over a camel
assisted by Marie Clark, Cora Teandor, Marguerite Mathews, Lucy Mausby
Clowns
Trapeze, Upside-Down Loop Walking, Web - Carrie Showers
Mule Hurdle - Tommy Mausby
Clowns - Albert Miller, Shorty and Peggy Sylvester, Sig Bonhomme, George Jennier,Tommy Mausby, Bill Farmer, Leman Jackson
Sam Barham - 10 piece Band
Major A. Korst, who lives in winter quarters of show at Marianna, Florida attended the show at Franklin Georgia
(Billboard 5-9-1936, pg36,38)

12-12-1936
Helen Haag - Alice the Elephant - Body Carry in Mouth (photo)
Closes in Adel Georgia
(Billboard 1-9-1937, pg 37)

1937,38 - wife Alice and son Harry continue show

1-1937  -  Roy and Henry Haag (nephews) start Haag Bros Circus
(Roy was assistant manager of Mighty Haag in 1935)

Frank L Laughead, well known bandmaster, left today for Marianna Florida
to join the Mighty Haag circus, for the summer.
(Zanesville Signal 3-15-1937)

4-1937  - Alice Haag, Helen H. Dunett, Harry Haag Jr. visit Haag Bros in Albany
Lawsuit filed by Helen and later dismissed on 5-4-1938

5-1-1937 newspaper
Nashville Tenn, A legal battle over the use of Haag Bros' Circus title started before Federal judge john J. Gore here yesterday. In a preliminary hearing Judge Gore ruled against a temporary injunction order and a notice of appeal was filed. The case will proceed to a final hearing when the appeal is completed.

Mighty Haag Shows, Inc. a Florida corporation headed by Mrs. Alice Haag, widow of Ernest Haag, founder of Mighty Haag Shows, and her son, Harry, and daughter, Mrs. Helen Haag Durrett, are the complainants. They are seeking to stop the use of the Haag name in the title of the new show under unfair competition laws. The new show was organized last winter by Roy and Henry Haag, nephews of the founder of the Mighty Haag Shows. The original Haag show has been on the road for more than 40 years.

Bill of complaint alleges that the Haag Bros' title is confusing and misleading to the public, also that the new show is being palmed off to the public as the original Haag show. Defendants Roy and Henry Haag deny these allegations. Roy Haag in open court agreed to eliminate the objectionable advertising slogan pending the final hearing

Mighty Haag or Haag Bros?
Two members of the troupe of the Haag Circus which played a one-stand in Brunswick Thursday, came to the clerk of the court's office here early in the morning and secured a marriage license. They planned to be married by a Brunswick minister. The bride to be gave her name as Miss Myrtle McGuyer, 18, of Chapman, Ala. and said she had been divorced last Friday in Macon, Ga. She was listed as a performer. The groom was Richard Dick, 21, Minneapolis, Minn, who said he was a musician.
(The Frederick Post, Maryland 6-11-1937)

Mighty Haag or Haag Bros?
The members of the St. Marys Ministerial Association have been advised by Sheriff William Nieter and
Prosecutor Paul O. Boesel that the Haag circus will not show at Lake St. Marys Sunday. The association had filed
protest against the Sunday showing and the county officials notified them that the circus would be cancelled.
(The Lima News, Ohio 6-26-1937)

Indiana Pennsylvania, one day only, Monday
Houk Show Grounds, the Mighty Haag Circus
All new this year
The World's Largest Performing Elephants
Host of Funny Clowns
The Gorgeous Spectacle in Ole Mexico
250 people
Also, Wild West and Rodeo, Cowboys and Cowgirls
Frank Orner Jr. and His Wonder Horse - Monark
The Premier Hollywood Wild West Cowboy
Freaks and Curiosities
Two Big performances, at 2pm and 8pm, doors open one hour earlier
Popular Prices
Street Parade at 1pm
(The Indiana Progress 6-16-1937)

Gregory Troupe
Johnson Duo - Wire Walkers
Zeldo Troupe - Head Balancers
Fisher Family - Acrobats
Haag's Herd of Performing Elephants, largest and best trained
presented by Miss Helen Haag
(she places her head in the mouth of an elephant)
street Parade at 1pm
Free exhibitions on the show grounds
Performances at 2pm and 8pm
doors open one hour early to visit Haag's big new zoo and
to be entertained by Haag's Gold Concert Band
Admission at popular prices
The public is assured of a whole evening of splendid entertainment
(Indiana Progress, Indiana Pennsylvania  6-16-1937)

7-5-1937 - at Hecla Park in Pennsylvania
one day only, Monday July 5
The Mighty Haag Big 3 Ring Circus
All new this year
The World's Largest Performing Elephants
Host of Funny Clowns
The Gorgeous Spectacle in Ole Mexico
250 people
90-A Wild West, Cowboys, Cowgirls and Indians
Frank Orner Jr. and His Wonder Horse - Monark
Freaks and Curiosities
Popular Prices
Big Parade Around Park at 10am
Dancing, RollerSkating, Boating, Swimming, Rides, Concessions
Free Parking, Picnic Tables
(The Indiana Progress, Pennsylvania 6-16-1937)

 

7-1937  Tip the elephant died
Alice may have knocked Tip out of the truck
thrown from a truck near Ebensburg Pennsylvania

7-10-1937
Ebensburg, Pennsylvania - One of the elephants with the Mighty Haag Circus, Tip, broke its neck yesterday in a fall from a runaway show truck near here.  It is said that the bull's head struck a guard rail post, driving it four feet into the ground.  The other bull escaped with an injured Toenail.  Stated that truck went out of control on a hill and elephants were thrown to highway on a curve.
(Billboard 7-17-1937, pg 72)

7-14-1937  Judy the elephant
bought by Alice Haag for $1,000
from John T Benson, Frank Buck?
Judy broken by Charles Blackie Duncan
 

BENSON'S WILD ANIMAL FARM
HUDSON, NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1927-1987
Benson's Wild Animal Farm and Circus, which was founded in the 1920's by John T. Benson, an Englishman and dealer in exotic animals. On a Sunday, parents and eager children would travel on the Jungle Train from Boston to visit the farm. The train ride and admission to the farm were covered by a combination ticket. The train would be welcomed by a white robed figure sitting on a camel. Many historic photographs will bring back memories. The park, which later changed its name to the New England Playworld, closed in 1987

1937 - When Haag Bros Circus was at Plymouth Indiana, members of the show had a memorial service in Old oak Cemetery in memory of those members of the Haag family who are buried there. They are Joseph and Elizabeth Haag, grandparents of the Haag Bros.; Henry and Clara Haag, Parents of the Haag Bros.; Bertha Haag and Amelia Haag Shadel, aunts of the brothers, and Ernest Haag, an uncle, who was the founder of the Mighty Haag Shows. Hymns were played by the Haag Bros Band under the direction of S. W. Floyd, and there were personal tributes by Fred Crandall, equestrian director. Floral pieces were placed on graves. Among those present were Henry and Roy Haag, their wives and families. (Billboard 7-17-1937)

4-8-1938  -  Mighty Haag opens in Marianna Fl

4-16-1938
Blakely Georgia
The Mighty Haag Circus opened at Marianna Florida, April 8.  Day was cold. Schools were dismissed for afternoon performance.  At night all seats were filled. The Program.
Spec - The Dice Box (all performers and side-show people)
In Order:
Clowns
Riding Monks
Riding Dogs
Baby Elephant Walk Around
Norman and 4 girls in Endurance and Strength
Man doing all holding one leg
Watkins' Dogs
Perch - Billy Daniels
Ladders  and Web - Misses Bee, Jones, Pettis
Web - Miss Mathews
Watkins' Bucking Mules
Iron Jaw - Misses Bee and Pettis
Clowns
Haag's Wire Walking Dogs
Watkins' High- Diving Dogs
Bicycle - Valentine Trio
Leaping Greyhounds
Clowns
Double Traps -  Pauline and Marguerite
Balancing Traps - Keister
Traps and Muscle Grind - Billy Daniels
Clowns
Pony Drills - Watkins and Russell
Foot Slide - Miss Bee
Rings - Keister, Dale
Rope Act - Valentine Trio
Rings - Mathews, Pettis
Menage - Misses Jones and Jackson
Charles Russell and King - doing the Rumba
Swinging Ladders - Misses Mathews, Jones, Pettis, Bee, Jackson, Dale, Lee, myna
Clowns
Cloud Swing - Daniels, Keister
Elephants - Helen Haag Hayes, Charles Duncan (trainer)
Mrs Ernest Haag - Manager
Charles Russell - Equestrian Director
Sam Maultsby - Boss of Props
Ed Hazle - Animals
Carl Hernd - Boss Canvasman
William Gaines - Lights
George Green - Mechanic
Napoleon Reed - Cookhouse
Fred Cummings - Banners
Guy Smuck - Side Show
King and Bertha Bert - Pit Show
Lester Hayes - Concession Department
Hooper Bennett - Outside Stand
E.B. Sterchi - Legal Department
S.W. Floyd - Band Leader
Band - Dave Rowland, Daniel Seibert - Cornets
S. Bossard - Bass
Charles Deatrick - Baritone
Davie Thomas - French Horn
O.O. Davis, George Myers - Trombones
G.B. Carroll, W. Simpson - Clarinets
Clown Alley - Albert Miller, Sig Bonhomme, Lew Gish, Bert Jackson, Bing Roberts, Dell Simmons, Watkins
(Billboard 4-23-1938, pg34)

1938 after July, (10-1938?)
2 elephants living in Owen Township
for several years considering Charles Fisher's 80 acre
Farm in Brownstown In as winter quarters
instead of Marianna Fl
Harry Haag in charge of construction work
show owned by Alice Haag
show now performing in Alabama under Helen Haag
Elephants to be at opening of Fountaine Ferry Park in Louisville later part of month
Alice the elephant is 42 years old, 7980 lbs
Judy the elephant is 4 years old, 1500 lbs
Charles Duncan is in charge of elephants
Charles was Alice's trainer since the Haags bought her 30 years ago
assisting is Ezra Corine Hazell, been with show 18 years

12-25-1938  -  Last Mighty Haag date at Climax Georgia

1938 - Mighty Haag Circus closes
(Alice and Judy, Elephants placed in Charles Fishers name)
Helen Haag and banker friend left show in Perry Florida
Harry Haag Sr. picked up equipment and took to Medora Indiana

7-29-1939 -  Ad for Blackie wanting girl to work elephants

9-7-1940  -  Haag Bros Circus Auction at Abingdon, VA
(including 2 Elephants, 2 Lions, 1 Tiger, 1 Leopard)

1941 - Bertha Helen Hubbard marries John Chaney

4-1944
Construction of the original church, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, began in April of 1944. Beneath a roof of red clay tiles and chandeliers which came from a Marianna Florida Hotel, (the Chipola Hotel?) that was used as winter quarters for circus performers (Mighty Haag?), the church was opened for a midnight mass on Christmas Eve in 1945

(date?)
Note:  The Mighty Haag Circus wintered in Marianna, Florida, and many of the nearly one hundred members of the cast would stay at the Chipola Hotel.

1947 - Shreveport old winter quarters bought by St. Mark's Cathedral

6-1949  Ernest Haag honored by John Pawling Circus at grave site

3-1955
Hollywood
Everette James, 71, father of bandleader Harry James, and bandmaster for many years with the Mighty Haag Circus, born in New Orleans, died Monday
(Marion Star, Ohio - 3-9-1955)

1-1998  Everette James added to Windjammers Hall of Fame
(bandmaster for years on the Mighty Haag Shows and Christy Bros Circus)
Windjammers Unlimited 26th annual convention in Sarasota Fl
(previous honorees include Merle Evans, Karl King and Fred Jewell)

Miscellaneous

Trilby the elephant dies from pneumonia
(buried somewhere near Columbia Park in Shreveport)

Tip the elephant killed in wreck in Pennsylvania, hit head on post (on Haag Show)

Judy the baby elephant bought in New Hampshire by Harry Haag Sr.
(Sold to Royal Dunbar Circus in South America)

Ernest Haag named director of the Commercial Bank in Shreveport
(name is on a plaque in lobby)

Helen Haag married Lester "Buster" Hayes

Helen Haag - First woman to attempt the leg carry from an elephant's mouth
trained Alice the elephant to do the act
Alice carried Ruby Haag in her mouth at fairs and for the big shows
Alice hit Ruby Haag at Virginia fair and black man says,
"I never saw a white woman so mad"

Alice dropped Ruby at Stadium in Chicago for a big circus
Ruby hit back on tub and fractured ribs (x-ray)

Ernest sometimes traded eggs, vegetables or oats for Circus tickets

 Wellborn Jack, a neighbor, remembers the Shreveport winter quarters
(3 elephants, 2-3 giraffes, 4 camels, lions, leopards, bears, monkeys, lions and ponies)

1910's  -  Harry Haag breaks out several pipes out of Calliope
He gave to friends who played them over town
You could hear Harry screaming a mile away
He couldn't sit for a week
(told by neighborhood friend Whitfield Jack)

Ernest hated cigarettes because one burned his big top while being parafined
He would give you a cigar if he saw you smoking one

Ernest Haag was a resident of Kewanna and Plymouth

ML Clark & Son (acquaintance of Ernest Haag) wintered in Alexandria Louisiana

Alexandria Louisiana was once the winter home of M. L. Clark’s famous circus, called The Mud Show. It had 175 horses, 65 wagons and 15 cages. Local legend says the circus troupe buried one of their elephants around Avenue C

Harry "Shorty" Rhodes was with the Mighty Haag circus over 40 years

Helen Haag Durrett lived in Macon Ga - (...1935...)

Ernest Haag became a millionaire

Mighty Haag Shows in Dublin Ga
10-15-1909 (railroad)
4-1-1916

John Herriott said that his father, Milt and Bert Dearo shared a pup tent with Mighty Haag in the 1920's.

Mighty Haag Shows in Medora In
7-10-1935

Mighty Haag Shows in Brownstown In
5-2-1929
7-9-1935
 

The Mighty Haag Shows Program (2 ring show) (no date)
Marianna Florida - season closing date
Special Garland Entry
Clowns
Dogs
Betta - High wire dog
Roman Rings
Loop Walking
Clowns
Haag's Performing Elephants
Miller and Sylvester (Managers)
Monkeys
Ponies juggling
Camels and Mules
Dogs and Pony
Acrobats
Farmers Hogs
Cannon Balls
Tiger Chase
Roman Ladders
Trampoline
Lucenda Hamilton - World's Limber Girl
Iron Jaw, Long Pants, Neck Loop
Pony Drill
Clowns
Johnson Somersault on the wire
Clowns
Pony Drill
Silverlakes - Double Trapeze
Sylvester and Jargo
Swinging Ladders
Mule Hurdle
Season Ends
 

Mighty Haag Program - 1 partial page (no date)
Trenton Tennessee
Clowns - funny clowns - The only living pair of twin midget clowns in the tanbark ring
Aerial Rings - Misses Maultsby, Jackson, teandor, Pettis
Mr Preston and Mr Maultsby
Iron Jaw - Miss Illington - Skill and Endurance - a test of strength of teeth and jaw
The Harem of Hindustan and a Camel ridden by Miss Teandor
assisted by a Harem of beautiful dancing girls
Miss Lucile Rodgers - America's foremost trapeze performer - daring and sensational feats on traps and webb
Finale - The Mighty Haag's - World's Largest Performing Elephants, Alice and Tip
presented by Miss Helen Haag, who has handled these two monster Pachyderms since early childhood

Mighty Haag Photo (no date)
Margaret McGuire, Alice Haag, Carrie Arakis, Angie Clark

Without a doubt one of the greatest calliope players of all time was Nellie King. Contemporary press notices indicate she was esteemed far above any others. Not only did Miss King render classical and popular numbers on the old Mighty Haag Shows "horse harp," but she doubled as cornet soloist with the big-show band, and put on a novel musical act in side-shows, playing musical glasses, bells, and what-not. Nellie was born to a small circus owner, Frank King. (Indiana Evening Gazette 12-22-1952)

Harry Haag Jr. remembers being driven to school by Guy Smuck in the clown car "Little Austin" in Marianna Florida.

photo date?
carved circus wagon rectangular with eagle in the center

Fay James was a contortionist and acrobat with Mighty Haag (from photo)
(Maybelle Stewart Clark's daughter)

Christy Hippodrome Shows, Season 1919
By Bette Leonard, CHS. Bandwagon, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Apr), 1945, pp. 1-2.

The Christy Bros. Circus - traveling under the above title wintered in Gavelston, Tes., and opened as a two-car circus. Opening was made at Rosenberg, Tex., on March 1st and the closing date was Freeport, Texas, December 29th, 1919. This constituted the longest circus season I ever had.

Everett James was the Band Leader and his son Harry, was then three years old. Mrs. James did iron jaw, a sailor perch act and a black face act in the concert. Fay James did a ring act, Contortionist, swinging ladder and single trapeze.

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