When I was a child, my sisters and I would get up early in the morning and walk to the train station in Plainville, Connecticut, to watch the Barnum and Bailey and Ringling Brothers Circus trains unload. The ornate, colorful, red-and-gold wagons would parade through town. We saw elephants, giraffes, a hippopotamus, splendid horses, and other animals as they made their way along the streets to Tinty’s Ranch in Plainville. We’d follow our favorite wagon and then sit on a hill and watch the big top go up with the help of 10-ton elephants. At the Circus Museum in Sarasota, it was pleasant to learn what was involved in making all that happen. It was beneficial to have Ann, a volunteer, guide us through the museum and explain everything. She directed us to a layout of the winter quarters in Sarasota, and explained how the city, under tents, would be set up during the off season. My mother lived next to the winter quarters when they were in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and told us the same stories.
There was a display showing the big, baggy, dirty, patched suit worn by the greatest circus clown ever, Emmet Kelly, including his famous red nose and how he made up his clown face. Ann told us he was a good friend of Red Skelton, who adopted many of Kelly’s techniques in his act when portraying Freddie Freeloader. Two tiny cars, about big enough for a four-year-old child, were used by a 6' 2" clown who would get in one to the delight and amazement of a cheering audience. It was an enormous feat and exceptionally hard to accomplish.
Other clowns were remembered with funny head displays and clothes. Extravagant costumes, worn by trapeze artists, again reminded me of how much I wanted to wear one and swing from a flying trapeze when I was a child.
Circus music, most familiar to circus crowds, came from a steam organ, called a calliope, that was on display with all of its trimmings. Ann explained some of the elaborate red-and-gold wagons that were everywhere, pointing out the five graces painted on the side of one famous, extravagant wagon.
A very instructive model of a complete three ring circus was constantly in motion, showing dancing horses in the first ring, a lion tamer in a cage in the middle ring, and the trapeze artists performing in the third ring. Other acts were going on between each ring. Seventy people were required for a full performance. It certainly was the "Greatest Show on Earth."