We all seem to have lots of questions and no answers. Here is my contribution today: There were lots of ways a person was in show business in the 1800s and early 1900s. I have an ancestor that was a contortionist and he traveled with a Thespian group and did the half time entertaining while scenes were being changed. I also have an ancestor that had a Stock company and traveled around doing plays. I have his wonderful old album with lots of information. He not only had his own play group, but also was in a lot of other stock companies at times. His name was Frank McCord and he had a brother, Fred McCord, who also was an actor and was in many groups. I have a bunch of playbills that show the McCord brothers had been with many groups and they even provided half time entertainment for other stock companies. When we are looking for our talented ancestors, we should look everywhere because it sure looks to me like they didn't stay with one group long. They may be with a circus for awhile and then they may be a half time show with some thespians. They also may have worked on their own or joined the carnival. I would like to know if the theater crowd should also be included with Circus Folk. Also, where could we list all the companies that had some form of entertainment? by accident I found a discussion on Sells Floto Show which is a Circus of sorts. I even have a picture of some of their animals when they were in Thomas Co., Kansas. Here is the address: http://genforum.genealogy.com/tn/messages/360.html If anyone is interested in the theater groups, just let me know and I will type up the list that I know about. I like the way people keep telling what little they know. If we have names of some of the groups, it gives us someplace to search and it looks like some of us really could use the help. Dawn

Unfortunately, my adoptive father, LeRoy B Arringdale, passed away in Alug 1999. I wish he were around to connect with all of you. He was with the circus in the late 30's. Born in Independence Mo, 1911, but raised in Omaha, Ne. My mother's family was appalled in 1940, that she would marry a "circus roustabout". However, they married in 1940, and celebrated just shy of 59 years. He mentioned Sells-Floto, and Al G. Barnes, and probably some othrs, I would have to look up some info. Left the "sawdust" to marry my mom, but it was in his blood. Needless to say, I had a very exciting and wonderful childhood, hearing and learning all about the circus life. Anyone with any more info, I would be happy to exchange and share. Jean Bernth, ----- Original Message ----- From: "George Wheat" <geodawn@soli.inav.net> To: <CIRCUS-FOLK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2001 9:30 PM Subject: [CIRCUS-FOLK] "Show Biz" and Circus Folk > We all seem to have lots of questions and no answers. Here is my > contribution today: There were lots of ways a person was in show business > in the 1800s and early 1900s. I have an ancestor that was a contortionist > and he traveled with a Thespian group and did the half time entertaining > while scenes were being changed. I also have an ancestor that had a Stock > company and traveled around doing plays. I have his wonderful old album > with lots of information. He not only had his own play group, but also was > in a lot of other stock companies at times. His name was Frank McCord and > he had a brother, Fred McCord, who also was an actor and was in many groups. > I have a bunch of playbills that show the McCord brothers had been with many > groups and they even provided half time entertainment for other stock > companies. When we are looking for our talented ancestors, we should look > everywhere because it sure looks to me like they didn't stay with one group > long. They may be with a circus for awhile and then they may be a half > time show with some thespians. They also may have worked on their own or > joined the carnival. I would like to know if the theater crowd should also > be included with Circus Folk. Also, where could we list all the companies > that had some form of entertainment? by accident I found a discussion on > Sells Floto Show which is a Circus of sorts. I even have a picture of some > of their animals when they were in Thomas Co., Kansas. Here is the address: > http://genforum.genealogy.com/tn/messages/360.html > If anyone is interested in the theater groups, just let me know and I will > type up the list that I know about. I like the way people keep telling what > little they know. If we have names of some of the groups, it gives us > someplace to search and it looks like some of us really could use the help. > Dawn > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB > >

Hi Dauwn, I'm new to this list and quite frankly didn't think there was any hope of ever finding information on my grandfather while he was in the circus. He wasn't a performer as far as I know but a Harness Maker. I know he traveled alot with his wife and later with some of his children till it became too difficult to do same. Do you know where I might inquire about his employment with the circus? His name was William J. Hanebury/Henneberry born in Newfoundland and lived in MA, NY, CT so far that I found. Gail L. Smith Researching: Forsythe-Sharkey-Smith-Shirley-Orr-Sprague-Guzzwell-Hanebury-Stoneman-Latham -Salisbury http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/s/m/i/Gail-L-Smith/index.html P.O.Box 84 Boylston, MA 01505 -----Original Message----- From: George Wheat [mailto:geodawn@soli.inav.net] Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2001 10:30 PM To: CIRCUS-FOLK-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [CIRCUS-FOLK] "Show Biz" and Circus Folk We all seem to have lots of questions and no answers. Here is my contribution today: There were lots of ways a person was in show business in the 1800s and early 1900s. I have an ancestor that was a contortionist and he traveled with a Thespian group and did the half time entertaining while scenes were being changed. I also have an ancestor that had a Stock company and traveled around doing plays. I have his wonderful old album with lots of information. He not only had his own play group, but also was in a lot of other stock companies at times. His name was Frank McCord and he had a brother, Fred McCord, who also was an actor and was in many groups. I have a bunch of playbills that show the McCord brothers had been with many groups and they even provided half time entertainment for other stock companies. When we are looking for our talented ancestors, we should look everywhere because it sure looks to me like they didn't stay with one group long. They may be with a circus for awhile and then they may be a half time show with some thespians. They also may have worked on their own or joined the carnival. I would like to know if the theater crowd should also be included with Circus Folk. Also, where could we list all the companies that had some form of entertainment? by accident I found a discussion on Sells Floto Show which is a Circus of sorts. I even have a picture of some of their animals when they were in Thomas Co., Kansas. Here is the address: http://genforum.genealogy.com/tn/messages/360.html If anyone is interested in the theater groups, just let me know and I will type up the list that I know about. I like the way people keep telling what little they know. If we have names of some of the groups, it gives us someplace to search and it looks like some of us really could use the help. Dawn ============================== Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 Source for Family History Online. Go to: http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB