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Ringling Brothers band members
Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 11:16 pm
by GC
Does anyone know of a listing of Ringling Brothers circus band members from the '60's and '70's? I've had no luck whatsoever on search engines. The only thing I've found is the lists from 1948-50 in "Mr. Tuba", Harvey Phillips' autobiography.
Re: Ringling Brothers band members
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:07 am
by PaulTkachenko
Someone on this page will know where to look. I'd send a few emails out.
http://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org ... actUs.aspx
Re: Ringling Brothers band members
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 1:48 pm
by Dan Schultz
I have a tough time thinking that this sort of information is so difficult to come by. I can't imagine some sort of records not being kept.
Uncle Markie?? what resources are out there?
LB?? tell us what you know.
Hugh Rankin (Jacksonville, FL) will know a few.
I'll be in Bradenton in January for the annual meeting of 'Windjammers'. There are a few of those guys who were active in circus bands. Charles Schlarbaum usually attend the 'WindjammersI do some asking around.
Charles Schlarbaum usually attends the 'Windjammers' meets. Armed with some pictures, I can probably get him to identify a few folks.
Peter Rosa is in Bradenton and has one heck of a Facebook page that includes two albums of images of circus bands.
Re: Ringling Brothers band members
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 1:49 pm
by Ben
I have a friend who is a circus band buff. I've directed him to this thread, although I don't know if he will know the answer to your query, or have the time to get an account here. If he knows something, I may post his response as a proxy...
Re: Ringling Brothers band members
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 3:04 pm
by bisontuba
Hi-
Circus World Museum and Circus Museum might have some info--good luck!
Mark
Re: Ringling Brothers band members
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 4:11 pm
by ppalan
I don't know if this will help but....
http://www.circushistory.org/Query.htm
Good luck,
Pete
Re: Ringling Brothers band members
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 10:45 pm
by GC
Thanks for all the responses. I expect to be not too far from Circus World in early October. It'd make a nice side trip. I'm also a day away from the RB museum in Florida, so maybe it's time for a trip there, too.
Re: Ringling Brothers band members
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 11:32 pm
by Dan Schultz
GC wrote:... I'm also a day away from the RB museum in Florida, so maybe it's time for a trip there, too.
Come on down to Bradenton January 21st 2014 for the winter meet of 'Windjammers'.
http://www.circusmusic.org
We'll be in Lincoln, Nebraska in July 1014.
Re: Ringling Brothers band members
Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 1:06 pm
by Ben
From a friend:
Charlie wrote:The Ringling Museum in Sarasota circus collection and archives will have route books from those years, and the permanent traveling members will be listed. I started playing the Indianapolis shows of Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey in 1972, and by that time they were only bringing along about 4 musicians and picking up the rest of the band locally. I played until they stopped using local players and went to lots of pre-recorded music about 1986. During those years we had 4 or 5 woodwinds (sax players who doubled), 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, bass and drums, and sometimes an organist played. The leaders always played trumpet, some a lot (Keith Greene) and others just occasionally (Bill Pruyn). The other place that would have the information is the Circus World Museum library and archives in Baraboo, Wi.
Re: Ringling Brothers band members
Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 2:54 pm
by GC
Many thanks to you all. Great suggestions.