Vigo County Historical Society

Circus brings back happy memories

"The circus is coming to town" are magic words to hear. As you visit the Vigo County Historical Museum and its circus display, let your mind return to yesteryear. I was always intrigued more by the celebrities than the animals. Not long after high school, I was privileged to see the Great Wallendas perform.

This was an act in which four men stood on a wire 35 feet in the air, two pairs yoked together by shoulder bars. On top of them on the second level stood two more men, again yoked together with a shoulder bar. At the pinnacle of this pyramid was a young woman sitting and then standing on a chair..

This trick was successfully performed from 1948 through 1962 by the Wallendas. There was a fatal fall in 1962 and the act was stopped, but by visiting the museum, I see a certain chair and I think of that act and its famous leader Karl Wallenda.

Another memory is of when the circus was encamped at 25th Street and Wabash Avenue. My very young brother had a job hauling water for the elephants for the day. Hours later in the evening he was paid 50 cents for his work. It was so late in the evening, he was afraid to walk home, so he called a taxi, with the fare being 50 cents.

In later years, I was happy to take my children to see the famous animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams. How many of you remember seeing him come striding into the arena with his favorite leopard Kenny draped across his shoulders or saw him perform with a large elephant? In 1999 he served as grand marshal of the 40th annual circus city Festival Circus Parade in Peru, Ind. Several people from this area visited Peru this past month.

During the winter months while living in Sarasota, Fla., I was happy to visit the John Ringling Circus Museum with Gen. Tom Thumb and his bride Lavinia Warren’s wedding clothes on display. Such lovely formal attire, but so very small. It was reported that the two of them stood on a piano welcoming more than 2,000 guests after the ceremony.

The clothes are completely different from the rumpled tramp clothes of the famous clown Emmett Kelly in the next booth. While dining, my husband and I were seated next to a woman and her 9-year-old daughter Yetti Wallenda, who was related to the famous Flying Wallendas. Even at this young age, Yetti ate no sugar or candy, but was conscious of every bite that went into her mouth as she was always in training for the future trapeze life.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Previous articles may be found on the society’s Web site at web.indstate.edu/community/vchs.