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The '''Sells & Downs Shows''' was a 22-car traveling circus operated by [[Martin Downs]] which ended its [[1905]] run in [[Sylacauga]] on [[October 22]] and wintered in [[Birmingham]].
The '''Sells & Downs Shows''' / '''Great Cole Brothers United Shoes''' was a traveling circus which wintered at [[Smith's Park]], just outside [[Birmingham]], in [[1905]] and [[1906]].  


The production had survived a train wreck in Choctaw, Oklahoma in September [[1902]], and from theft of ticket receipts in its last run. Downs, motivated by an eagerness to enter into the wholesale liquor business in Toronto, Ontario, canceled all outstanding contracts and offered the entire show for sale at auction at [[Smith's Park]] on [[January 16]]-[[January 17|17]], [[1906]].  
==Sells & Downs Circus==
The '''Sells & Downs Shows''' was a 22-car touring production owned by Martin J. Downs of Toronto, Ontario and John "Blue Jay" Durham, which ended its [[1905]] run in [[Sylacauga]] on [[October 22]], and wintered in [[Birmingham]], during which time it was ostensibly sold at auction, came back under Downs' control, and merged into his '''Great Cole Brothers' United Shows'''.


The assets included tents, cookhouses, railroad cars, wagons, cages, a steam calliope and a costume wardrobe along with an animal menagerie consisting of 40 draft horses, 40 ring horses, 2 somersault horses, 2 finish horses, 2 four-horse acts, 2 thoroughbred manage horses, 2 mules for hurdle acts, 2 four-horse chariot teams, and 16 hippodrome horses along with 2 performing female elephants, 6 camels, 2 male African lions, 3 lionesses, 2 lion cubs, 1 jaguar, 3 hyenas, 3 bears, 1 nygaul<!--nilgai?-->, 1 llama, 1 axis deer, 4 American deer, 20 monkeys, 12 Australian macaws, 1 elk, and 5 snakes.
The production had survived a major train wreck in Choctaw, Oklahoma in September [[1902]]. Downs' former partner, Willie Sells, a bareback rider who had been adopted by the Sells circus family of Columbus, Ohio, sold his share of the business to Downs and Durham in the spring of [[1905]]. At the end of the tour, Downs canceled all outstanding contracts and offered the entire show for sale at auction at [[Smith's Park]] on [[January 16]]-[[January 17|17]], [[1906]].  


The winning bid of $35,000 was entered by a man named Thompson, with a general sense that the auction was a disappointment, and further that Downs had arranged with another bidder, Durham, to back Thompson's bid. In February it was reported that Punch Wheeler of Denver, Colorado was working on preliminary marketing for the 1906 Sells-Downs Shows. Downs apparently postponed his move into wholesale liquor as he debuted the next season as manager of the [[Cole Brothers United Shows]], which opened at Smith's Park in April 1906.
The assets advertised included tents, cookhouses, railroad cars, wagons, cages, a steam calliope and a costume wardrobe along with an animal menagerie consisting of 40 draft horses, 40 ring horses, 2 somersault horses, 2 finish horses, 2 four-horse acts, 2 thoroughbred manage horses, 2 mules for hurdle acts, 2 four-horse chariot teams, and 16 hippodrome horses along with 2 performing female elephants, 6 camels, 2 male African lions, 3 lionesses, 2 lion cubs, 1 jaguar, 3 hyenas, 3 bears, 1 nygaul<!--nilgai?-->, 1 llama, 1 axis deer, 4 American deer, 20 monkeys, 12 Australian macaws, 1 elk, and 5 snakes.
 
The winning bid of $35,000 was entered by [[Charles H. Thompson]], a friend of Downs', who sold the business back to him without any encumbrances from Sells' former interest.
 
==Great Cole Brothers' United Shows==
For a while, the circus continued operating under its old name. Thompson hired circus mechanic Shanty Smith of Kansas City to supervise repairs and maintenance. In February it was reported that Punch Wheeler of Denver, Colorado was working on preliminary marketing for the 1906 Sells-Downs Shows. In March the [[Birmingham Board of Aldermen]] approved a permit for Sells & Downs to give performances in April to benefit the [[Birmingham Lodge No. 79|Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks]]' charity fund.
 
Meanwhile, Downs and his had also purchased the W. W. Cole Circus and moved it from its winter quarters in St Louis, Missouri to Birmingham to merge with his existing show. By [[March 11]] the company was known as the "Great Cole Brothers' United Shows" with Downs as manager. {{BAH}} reported that "a small army of painters and carpenters" were repairing and decorating as many as 50 wagons while camels grazed alongside horses, and the elephants, "Queen" and "Babe" were trained by Robert Keys.
 
The season began with a full dress rehearsal covering two rings and a stage under their newly-purchased tents on the evening of [[April 11]], and a parade through downtown Birmingham on [[April 12]]. The event was slightly marred when the 8 black horses pulling the calliope wagon broke free on [[21st Street North|21st Street]], but driver Conrad Whiting managed to force them to a stop next to the [[Jefferson County Courthouse]], and no injuries were reported.
 
The show itself was preceded by an open air bicycle jump by "Mlle D'Zizi". The sideshow included a snake show conducted by Ada Zingara, along with the customary array of extraordinary people. After viewing the sideshow and animal menagerie and finding seats inside, the crowd was treated to a band concert directed by Charles W. Tinnel, and then a tournament introducing all the performers in a procession around the tent. The main event began with a grand show of riding in the rings, and then a sequence of aerial acts, animal stunts, and clowning. Notable performers included bareback riders Lynda Jeal, William Rolland and Mike Rooney; the Pecheco family of acrobats, the Sharr family of bicycle riders, the Russells on the tight rope, a contortionist named Bison, Eva Clark on a swinging ladder, and the Lavions on the flying trapeze. The Shaws and Laffels also performed in the upper part of the tent. The production closed with a grand hippodrome, and the audience filed out to a post-show band concert.
 
{{BN}} reported that Downs had put options on two parcels on which to construct a more permanent winter quarters. However the company did not return. It spent the winter of 1906 and 1907 in Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, where Downs also experimented with establishing an elk farm.
 
Birmingham's [[John Hill]] and [[Will Robinson]] joined the circus as clowns during its residence, and rose within the ranks to barrel-jumping and bareback riding. By [[1908]] they were performing as "Signor Spaghetti and Signor Macaroni" and were billed as having recently returned from "a record-breaking tour of Europe".
 
Willie Sells died in [[1908]], and Martin Downs died in [[1909]]. The Cole Brothers circus continused under his son, James Downs, who sold it to Floyd King. King toured the Western states until the [[Great Depression]], and sold the business to Jesse Adkins and Zack Terrell in [[1934]]. They built the company back up and enjoyed renewed success, partly boosted by the influx of talented performers from Europe. Animal trainer Clyde Beatty had his name added to the bill in [[1935]]. The Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus continued to prosper into the 1980s.


<!--James A. Bailey of Barnum & Bailey's Circus entered a winning bid of $150,000 for the entire show, canceling the public auction.-->
==References==
==References==
* "Showmen Die in Collision" (September 26, 1902) ''The Hermon News'' (Hermon, New York), p. 4
* "Showmen Die in Collision" (September 26, 1902) ''The Hermon News'' (Hermon, New York), p. 4
* "Will Winter in Birmingham" (December 1905) ''The Billboard''
* "Will Winter in Birmingham" (December 1905) ''The Billboard''
* "The Great Sells And Downs Show For Sale" advertisement (January 18, 1906) ''The Billboard'', Vol. 18, No. 2 p. 19
* "The Great Sells And Downs Show For Sale" advertisement (January 18, 1906) ''The Billboard'', Vol. 18, No. 2 p. 19
* "Thompson's Circus" (January 22, 1906) {{BAH}}, p. 5
* "The Sells-Downs Sale" (January 27, 1906) ''The Billboard'', Vol. 18, No. 4, p. 16  
* "The Sells-Downs Sale" (January 27, 1906) ''The Billboard'', Vol. 18, No. 4, p. 16  
* "Circus Gossip" (January 27, 1906) ''The Billboard'', Vol. 18, No. 4, p. 17  
* "Circus Gossip" (January 27, 1906) ''The Billboard'', Vol. 18, No. 4, p. 17  
* "Gossipy Notes" (February 10, 1906) ''The Billboard'', Vol. 18, No. 6, p. 11  
* "Gossipy Notes" (February 10, 1906) ''The Billboard'', Vol. 18, No. 6, p. 11  
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-preparing-circus/150629088/ Preparing Circus For Road Season]" (March 11, 1906) {{BAH}}, p. 2
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-birmingham-will-s/150643871/ Birmingham Will See The Circus April 12]." (March 25, 1906) {{BAH}}, p. 6
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-shows-open-season-in/150642304/ Shows Open Season In Birmingham]." (April 12, 1906) {{BN}}, p. 11
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/56983266/ Big Shows Give Fine Performance]." (April 14, 1906) {{BN}}, p. 12
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/56983266/ Big Shows Give Fine Performance]." (April 14, 1906) {{BN}}, p. 12
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-the-champeens/150645056/ The Champeens]." (November 17, 1908) {{BN}}, p. 4


[[Category: Circuses]]
[[Category: Circuses]]
[[Category: 1905 events]]
[[Category: 1905 events]]
[[Category: 1906 disestablishments]]
[[Category: 1906 events]]

Latest revision as of 15:23, 4 July 2024

The Sells & Downs Shows / Great Cole Brothers United Shoes was a traveling circus which wintered at Smith's Park, just outside Birmingham, in 1905 and 1906.

Sells & Downs Circus

The Sells & Downs Shows was a 22-car touring production owned by Martin J. Downs of Toronto, Ontario and John "Blue Jay" Durham, which ended its 1905 run in Sylacauga on October 22, and wintered in Birmingham, during which time it was ostensibly sold at auction, came back under Downs' control, and merged into his Great Cole Brothers' United Shows.

The production had survived a major train wreck in Choctaw, Oklahoma in September 1902. Downs' former partner, Willie Sells, a bareback rider who had been adopted by the Sells circus family of Columbus, Ohio, sold his share of the business to Downs and Durham in the spring of 1905. At the end of the tour, Downs canceled all outstanding contracts and offered the entire show for sale at auction at Smith's Park on January 16-17, 1906.

The assets advertised included tents, cookhouses, railroad cars, wagons, cages, a steam calliope and a costume wardrobe along with an animal menagerie consisting of 40 draft horses, 40 ring horses, 2 somersault horses, 2 finish horses, 2 four-horse acts, 2 thoroughbred manage horses, 2 mules for hurdle acts, 2 four-horse chariot teams, and 16 hippodrome horses along with 2 performing female elephants, 6 camels, 2 male African lions, 3 lionesses, 2 lion cubs, 1 jaguar, 3 hyenas, 3 bears, 1 nygaul, 1 llama, 1 axis deer, 4 American deer, 20 monkeys, 12 Australian macaws, 1 elk, and 5 snakes.

The winning bid of $35,000 was entered by Charles H. Thompson, a friend of Downs', who sold the business back to him without any encumbrances from Sells' former interest.

Great Cole Brothers' United Shows

For a while, the circus continued operating under its old name. Thompson hired circus mechanic Shanty Smith of Kansas City to supervise repairs and maintenance. In February it was reported that Punch Wheeler of Denver, Colorado was working on preliminary marketing for the 1906 Sells-Downs Shows. In March the Birmingham Board of Aldermen approved a permit for Sells & Downs to give performances in April to benefit the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks' charity fund.

Meanwhile, Downs and his had also purchased the W. W. Cole Circus and moved it from its winter quarters in St Louis, Missouri to Birmingham to merge with his existing show. By March 11 the company was known as the "Great Cole Brothers' United Shows" with Downs as manager. The Birmingham Age-Herald reported that "a small army of painters and carpenters" were repairing and decorating as many as 50 wagons while camels grazed alongside horses, and the elephants, "Queen" and "Babe" were trained by Robert Keys.

The season began with a full dress rehearsal covering two rings and a stage under their newly-purchased tents on the evening of April 11, and a parade through downtown Birmingham on April 12. The event was slightly marred when the 8 black horses pulling the calliope wagon broke free on 21st Street, but driver Conrad Whiting managed to force them to a stop next to the Jefferson County Courthouse, and no injuries were reported.

The show itself was preceded by an open air bicycle jump by "Mlle D'Zizi". The sideshow included a snake show conducted by Ada Zingara, along with the customary array of extraordinary people. After viewing the sideshow and animal menagerie and finding seats inside, the crowd was treated to a band concert directed by Charles W. Tinnel, and then a tournament introducing all the performers in a procession around the tent. The main event began with a grand show of riding in the rings, and then a sequence of aerial acts, animal stunts, and clowning. Notable performers included bareback riders Lynda Jeal, William Rolland and Mike Rooney; the Pecheco family of acrobats, the Sharr family of bicycle riders, the Russells on the tight rope, a contortionist named Bison, Eva Clark on a swinging ladder, and the Lavions on the flying trapeze. The Shaws and Laffels also performed in the upper part of the tent. The production closed with a grand hippodrome, and the audience filed out to a post-show band concert.

The Birmingham News reported that Downs had put options on two parcels on which to construct a more permanent winter quarters. However the company did not return. It spent the winter of 1906 and 1907 in Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, where Downs also experimented with establishing an elk farm.

Birmingham's John Hill and Will Robinson joined the circus as clowns during its residence, and rose within the ranks to barrel-jumping and bareback riding. By 1908 they were performing as "Signor Spaghetti and Signor Macaroni" and were billed as having recently returned from "a record-breaking tour of Europe".

Willie Sells died in 1908, and Martin Downs died in 1909. The Cole Brothers circus continused under his son, James Downs, who sold it to Floyd King. King toured the Western states until the Great Depression, and sold the business to Jesse Adkins and Zack Terrell in 1934. They built the company back up and enjoyed renewed success, partly boosted by the influx of talented performers from Europe. Animal trainer Clyde Beatty had his name added to the bill in 1935. The Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus continued to prosper into the 1980s.

References

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