Saturday, September 17, 2005

Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth


Speaking of the Greatest Show on Earth, this picture was taken when it really was.
The Two Hemispheres Bandwagon dated 1903 their first year back from Europe. More awesome to me than the vehicle itself is the thought of having to assemble and hook up 40 horses on a new lot every day.

Posted by Buckles at 9/17/2005 07:21:00 AM

4 comments:

GaryHill said...

Buckles did they just parade with this float? I can't imagine them turning this in the tents on the hippodrome track ??? Thanks, Gary

17 September, 2005 07:52
Buckles said...

It was only used in parades. It still exists today and in fact was used in the Great Milwaukee Parade, 40 horses and all during the Circus World Museum's palmy days.

17 September, 2005 08:10
Anonymous said...

I have seen the 40 return to the Milwaukee Parade Grounds many times during all those great Parades that were staged from the lakefront grounds ...Each time they would hit the lot, then do a left 1/4 way down the seawall and then take a left up the Midway and stop in front of their own Horse Top.....I remember one year it rained on the parade and upon the return of the forty you could see the steam just rolling off the forty....What a scene...We had many horse tops in Milwaukee and at one time stabled up to 750 head of draft and saddle horses in the many horse tops...The forty had their own horse top....And the Sparrows had their own Cookhouse..What a fantastic operation...

17 September, 2005 11:58
Ned said...

we have worked the milwaukee parade for many years and it was always a thrill to see them put the 40 together and then do the paractice runs and if you were one of the lucky ones to get a ride the view from up there was a dream come true to see that sea of horses out in front and have to give credit to the Sparrows for the fine co operation and work they did to present this feat

17 September, 2005 18:57

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