Nearly forgotten but glorious art, envisionings and historical oddments from the back corners of the internet
Wanting to run away to the circus but not getting far if it is in your grandfather’s backyard. Imagery from the Oklahoma Historical Society of the Campbell Brothers Circus which was headquartered at the Campbell family farm near Enid.
Campbell Brothers Circus side show: Campbell Brothers Circus troupe and side show banners. A band and other performers, DeBarcsy family, Little Nick. Count Nicu DeBarscy, who traveled with his mother, Madam DeBarcsy, the bearded lady, and his stepfather, the Indian Medicine Man. Near Enid, Oklahoma USA. Image ca. 1913-1920. American. Photographer not given. The Gateway to Oklahoma History Collection, Oklahoma Historical Society. via https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc963351/?q=Campbell%20%20BrothersCampbell Brothers Circus: Campbell Bros. Circus- side show banners, band, performers, DeBarcsy family, Little Nick. Near Enid, Oklahoma USA. Image ca. 1913-1920. American. Photographer not given. The Gateway to Oklahoma History Collection, Oklahoma Historical Society. via https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc963230/?q=Campbell%20%20BrothersF. E. Campbell with chimps – Campbell Brothers Circus. Near Enid, Oklahoma USA. Image ca. 1913-1920. American. Photographer not given. The Gateway to Oklahoma History Collection, Oklahoma Historical Society. via https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc963337/?q=Campbell%20%20BrothersCampbell Brothers Circus Band, H. W. Wingert, Conducter. Successful and extensive tour of the United States in 1910. Equipped with Buescher grand trombones, Epoch true-tone cornets, monster basses, clarinets, drums, etc. Made by Buescher Band Instrument Company, Elkhart, Indiana. 1910 image. American. Photographer not given. The Gateway to Oklahoma History Collection, Oklahoma Historical Society. via https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc963355/?q=Campbell%20%20Brothers
According to the website circusandsideshows.com:
“The original Campbell Brothers Circus was owned by brothers Virgil, Al, Charlie and Ed Campbell and began in Galesburg, Il. The Circus started with 30 horse drawn wagons and more than 100 personnel. The Circus grew to a 40 car railroad show and was advertised as the second largest circus in America. The circus began wintering in Fairbury Nebraska in 1885. The 1912 season was a disastrous one for the show; bad weather, fires and a train wreck plagued the circus. The following year banks foreclosed on outstanding loans and the show was forced into bankruptcy.
The brothers grandfather, Elisha Campbell and his four sons Bill, Fred, Bert and Ed., bought bankrupt circus and moved it’s headquarters to the family farm near Enid, Oklahoma. The circus continued for seven more seasons.”
On a voyage to see how much mileage I can get from the creative ability and eye for images that my family thought was useless. On line art curator, fiction writer and now blogger. Historian's daughter. Follow me . . .even I have no idea where I'm going next.
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