Little Known Fact...

Comedian Red Skelton was born in Vincennes, Indiana. His father was a clown in the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus and died in 1911, leaving his family impoverished.

Mary Conner and Susie Sullivan pose
in this 1911 promotional circus picture.
They were on the fateful train that
collided with a troop train
in Ivanhoe, Indiana.
It is not known if they survived.

Close quarters on the sleeper car provided
little privacy to members of the circus. This photo was taken inside the Hagenbeck-Wallace train car before the memorable accident that took the lives of more than 80 circus employees.

Click Here to See Circus Posters

Click Here to See the Circus Parade

Click Here to See Circus Wreck