Notes from last Friday’s meeting:

After ringing the Rotary bell to open the meeting, Danielle Thompson had us follow along with a recorded rendition of the National Anthem without our singing.  Rob Cripe provided our opening prayer.  Zoom monitor Jamie Stickel highlighted the efforts to provide an in-person meeting with Zoom participation.

John Fidler introduced guests and visiting Rotarians.  Doug Risser was our only visiting Rotarian.

Robin Yoder announced that the Giving Committee determined to fund some of our unused lunch money to the VFW for its efforts to help with the sound system during our meetings at Pringle Park at the Fidler Pavilion.  Angie McKee graciously accepted the funds on behalf of the VFW.

Sharon Risser recognized Geof Landis and Liz Gunden for their contributions to the Rotary Foundation and accomplishment of the Paul Harris +2 status. 

Danielle Thompson reminded us to watch for electronic registration and sign-up for coming meetings for lunch.  You should be receiving an email with a link to the sign-up. 

 Our program was provided by Iowa farm boy, Rich Hull. Rich is an Iowa State graduate and past Rotary member.  For 38 years, he was a radio personality for the agricultural community of farmers and ranchers in the Iowa and Illinois areas.  He was born in Peoria, IL where his dad worked for Caterpillar but from the 4^th grade on was raised on a farm in southwest Iowa.  The farm raised cattle, hogs, and crops and functioned with a milking operation for dairy.  Rich was on-hand to provide his expertise as a historian with Ringling Brothers Circus.

Rich noted he was never a member of the circus, although he did help as a third-grader to set up two events in the Peoria, IL area.  From 1919 to 1956, the Ringling Brothers Circus conducted shows across the country and went from area to area on its own trains.  Those were identified as “tent trains” in those days.  There were two units operating as the red and blue units across the country.  These mile-long trains operated on almost a daily basis in the United States until the final show on July 16, 1956.  The canvas train was also known as the “Big Top Show” or the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

The Ringling Brothers Circus and its trains set a number of firsts.  It was the first train to use 72-foot-long flat cars.  It was the first to have all steel and aluminum train cars.  It was the first to use generators, and the first to air condition the big top with the use of fans and ice.  The Ringling Brothers train was divided into three or four sections which traveled around portions of the country providing the circus entertainment.  Each would travel 10,000 to 15,000 miles a year and perform approximately 200 shows.  The Ringling Brothers Circus had its winter quarters in Sarasota, Florida. 

With respect to its shows, the Ringling Brothers Circus had 1,200 to 1,300 employees and 1,000 animals.  Forty-seven tents were used, and it required 16 acres of land.  The big top canvas itself was 19 tons.  The show would travel, set up, perform, and dismantle and travel to another spot every 24 hours.  The dining department was a traveling restaurant with dishwashers, ovens, and ranges and could serve up to 1,500 to 1,600 meals a day.  The loading and unloading was a model of efficiency with specific requirements for everything.  The big top canvas was 200 feet by 400 feet and could seat 10,000 people underneath it.  A new canvas was used every year.  Everything could be put in place in approximately an hour with a matinee show each day of 2 to 2 ½ hours long. 

The Ringling Brothers Circus suffered a tragic fire in the early 1930s which almost caused it to close.  It survived that tragedy but ended up closing in 1956.  The trains continued to travel and provide circus entertainment for another 60 years but not with the big top canvas show.  It was then performing in major stadiums and arenas throughout the country.  In its final years, a Union Pacific steam engine pulled the longest train ever connected in the world.  We saw the last train video after which all of the cars were sold into private collection.  The Ringling Brothers Circus train was the largest privately owned railroad in the world. 

Peru, Indiana itself has a connection with the Ringling Brothers Circus.  For many years, several circus groups had their home sites in Peru, Indiana.  The Ringling Brothers purchased those circuses and used the Peru area for some of its equipment for 3 to 4 years.  Later they determined it was necessary to keep everything together and winter in the Sarasota, Florida area. 

Thank you to Rich Hull for the interesting and historic look at the famous Ringling Brothers Circus.

Quote for the week: “I’m shocked to be saying this, but as a child, I never went to a circus. It cost too much.” – Jerry Lewis

 

                                                                                    Until next time.