The American Experience, a series produced by PBS
and aired nationally—popular programs include “The Amish,” “JFK”,“D-Day” and “Riding
the Rails” (and many more)—is developing a show featuring the American Circus.
Last week I spent an hour with the circus show’s
producer talking about the Ringling Brothers and their famous circus that had
its roots in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The
Ringling brothers, there were five of them who worked as partners, got their
idea for a circus when the family lived in McGregor, Iowa and the boys saw a
river boat circus come into town.
The family moved to Baraboo (they had lived there
previously), where their father operated a harness shop. The Ringling story is one of hard work, grit,
and perseverance. They opened their
first circus in Baraboo in 1884, and spent their winters in that town until
1918. By 1918, they had become the
largest circus in the world, traveling throughout the county thrilling young
and old alike. You can still see their
circus; it continues to tour the country—although it is quite different from
the one that entertained people in towns large and small under the “Big Top”
during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
Stop by Circus World Museum in Baraboo to see
firsthand where the Ringling circus spent its winters. And if you’d like to learn more about the
Ringlings and their circus, pick up a copy of my book Ringlingville USA, or its companion for young readers, Tents, Tigers, and the Ringling Brothers (Both
published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press). Go to my website, www.jerryapps.com for more information).
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Few things are more American
than the circus.
Workshop:
Writing From Your Life:
Offered at The Clearing, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on October 28. Call 920-854-4088 to learn more and to
register. A few openings remain.
Upcoming
Events:
October 6-7, Heartland Book Forum, Minneapolis.
October 15, 7:00 p.m. Wisconsin Writer’s Association, Riverwalk
Hotel, 123 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Neenah, WI Keynote speech.
October 28, 9-4. Writing
from your life—writing workshop at the Clearing in Door County (see above for
details)
November 3, 6:30. Rock
Springs Public Library, 6:30.
November 5, 11:00 a.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose,
Roshara Journal
November 10, 7:00 p.m. Menomonie Falls Public Library. One-Room
Schools
Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and
his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a
fundraiser for them):
The library now has available signed
copies of Jerry’s DVDs:
Emmy Winner, A Farm
Winter with Jerry Apps (based on The Quiet Season
book.)
Jerry Apps a Farm
Story (based on Rural Wit and
Wisdom and Old Farm books.)
The Land with Jerry Apps, (based on the book Whispers and Shadows.)
Also available are several of Jerry’s signed books including:
Jerry’s newest novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County.
and Wisconsin
Agriculture: A History.
Jerry’s newest books, Roshara Journal (with
photos by Steve Apps) and Telling Your Story—a guide book for those who
want to write their stories—are also available.
Contact
the library for prices and special package deals.
Patterson
Memorial Library
500 Division Street
No comments:
Post a Comment