Ringlingville USA the stupendous story of seven siblings and their stunning circus success - Apps, Jerold W. (Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2012)
Originally publsihed in 2005
Includes bibliographical references and index
Foreword / Fred Dahlinger jr -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Idea for a circus: 1848-1881 -- Hall shows and an overland circus: 1882-1884 -- Establishing a reputation: 1885-1889 -- Taking to the rails and growing: 1890-1894 -- Giant emerges: 1895-1899 -- Facing a new century: 1900-1901 -- Making money and pleasing people: 1902-1903 -- Keeping the lead: 1904-1905 -- Becoming even larger: 1906-1907 -- Managing two big shows: 1908-1909 -- Doing the impossible: 1910-1911 -- Tax woes: 1912-1914 -- Effects of war: 1915-1918 -- Epilogue: After Ringlingville -- 1903 Ringling Brothers' official program -- Ringling Family -- Ringling homes in Baraboo and Vicinity -- Notes -- Index
Ringlingville USA chronicles the brothers' journey from immigrant poverty to enduring glory as the kings of the circus world. The Ringlings and their circus were last studied in depth over four decades ago. Now, for the first time, the brothers' detailed financial records and personal correspondence are available to researchers. Jerry Apps weaves together that information with newspaper accounts, oral histories, colorful anecdotes, and stunning circus ephemera and photos, many never before been published, to illuminate the importance of the Ringlings' accomplishments. He describes how the Ringling Brothers confronted the challenges of taxation, war, economic pressure, changing technology, and personal sorrows to find their place in history. The brothers emerge as complex characters whose ambition, imagination, and pure hucksterism fueled the phenomenon that was the Ringling Brothers' Circus