Hall Founded to Honor Circus Folks

The circus has been a part of Sarasota’s history since the late 1920s, when the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus established its winter headquarters here.

By the mid-1950s, a group of men decided that a museum was needed t pay tribute to the men and women who performed, worked and managed the circus. With this goal in mind, the Circus Hall of Fame came into being.

In an interview with the Sarasota Herald Tribune in 1963, Managing Director, Colonel W.W. Maramore Jr., of the attraction at the time, recalled that the primary motive for its establishment was to provide a home for the “Two Hemispheres” band chariot; the largest and most colorful circus wagon ever built. The wagon was built in 1896 at a cost of $40,000. Drawn by a hitch of 40 matched horses, it was used for years in the parades of the old Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Acquired by the late Dr. B.J. Palmer of St. Armands Key and Davenport, Iowa, during World War II, the historic wagon was rejected by three museums. Palmer offered it to John L. Sullivan and Dr. H. Chester Hoyt , curators at that time of the Museum of the Circus, a division of the Ringling Museum.

Sullivan and Hoyt, who had large collections of circus memorabilia of their own, decided to pool their collections with Dr. Palmer’s gift and establish the Circus Hall of Fame. It would be, they felt, a popular tourist attraction for Sarasota, considering that it was the winter headquarters of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

The Circus Hall of Fame was established with five objectives: to publicly honor circus stars, to collect and display mementos of the stars, to maintain a circus historical library, to develop and train stars of the future and to create an understanding of the educational and recreational value of the circus. Read more...

(photo credit: Sarasota County History Center)

Yesterday's Sarasota Calendar

Every day of the year we highlight what took place in Sarasota's history, thanks to Whit Rylee and Tom Payne's extensive research and sense of humor. Frequently check our website's homepage to find out what occured today.

Also, be sure and check out Whit's website at: www.ChickenHillNC.com.

Today in 1937, National Airlines began the first regularly scheduled air service to Sarasota. Among the passengers were two baby alligators sent to President Roosevelt. Because the dirt runways flooded, service was eventually discontinued.

(editor's note: This photo was taken in 1953; a suitable one for 1937 could not be located)

(photo credit: Sarasota County History Center)

Purple Polka Dot People Eater-Seater a.k.a. 'The Purple Cow'

by Lou Ann Palmer

Why is the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall a purple shell? Because, architect Frank Lloyd Wright's wife demanded it. Look at the small glass cabinet on the left wall as you ambulate the stairs from the main entrance into the hall's atrium. You'll see a couple of items Mrs. Wright brought back from abroad and told her husband that these should be the basic design and color of the building. A purple shell rising out of Sarasota Bay would be perfect. Wright followed his wife's "orders" and that's why this city building is so unique in every way.

However, nothing happens in Sarasota that is not controversial. Many citizens rose up in arms screaming that this color was pure idiocy, nauseous, and that we would be the laughing stock of the world. ......For once (and rarely), they were ignored. Fourteen years later on April 1, 1984, when I was mayor, Channel 40 (now ABC 7) reported a very interesting story that showed the new color of the Van Wezel----LIME GREEN.

On the stairs of the old building at Sarasota High School, I explained that the city commission had had a secret emergency meeting. We were provided a contract from a local paint contractor with an astonishingly cheap price to resurface the building in 24 hours, but it had to be approved/signed/sealed that day. Four commissioners voted to support the offer. I declined because I thought the hall should be repainted orange and black honoring SHS colors.

The TV interview included singer Tony Bennett and Executive Director Curt Haug praising the new edifice redo explaining how gorgeous it was and how much they loved the new look. My phone started ringing off the hook within two minutes of the report with citizens calling me every name in the book (and some not in the book). "How dare you do something so @#^*%$ stupid?"  "I'm starting a recall petition tomorrow."  "You are an absolute %#$@*+# idiot!"

Channel 40 ended their 30 minute news program with the statement - "Happy April Fools' Day!"  

I personally suggest that the City Commission never "fool" with the 'Purple Cow'.

The Sarasota upheaval would be torturous.  Believe me......... I know.

History Locator

This week we are honoring the Newtown Community Center/Robert L. Taylor Community Complex historical marker in Englewood, Florida. It reads:

The Robert L. Taylor Community Complex grew out of the “Colored Service Men’s Club” building that had served black soldiers during World War II. Newtown resident John Floyd supervised construction of the wood frame structure.

When Ken Thompson became Manager for the City of Sarasota in 1950, he added recreational activities to the traditional park program. He hired Robert L. Taylor to develop a recreation program at the Newtown Community Center, and operate it at the wartime “USO” as it was known by the residents. Robert “Bud” Thomas, former semi-pro baseball player, local barber and community leader, was a strong supporter of the program and mentor for Taylor.

In the beginning, Taylor planned programs, taught classes and was present from opening to closing. A part-time janitor was the only other paid staff for the center.

Without a gym, the basketball program began with an outdoor court. It was especially important for weekend “pickup” games. At day’s end, fans, “wannabees” and experienced players came together at the Rec, as they called it, for fun, honing skills and developing self confidence. Read reverse side...

(photo credit: Greg Best)

Where Am I?

The winner from our last quiz was Jeanette Louise. We would like to thank our generous sponsors for providing prizes. You too, can become a sponsor (see below).

Click here to review the photo, question and the correct answer of last week's challenge.

I sure am a pretty spot, wouldn't you say? And talk about location! I would be any Realtor's dream. This idillic place no longer looks like this, yet it has been transformed to into a place that still attracts many a person.

Your quest is to figure out:

(photo credit: Sarasota County History Center)

Your prize this week is a Sarasota High School tote bag, and is created and supplied by Sarasota History Alive!

If you would like to be a sponsor of our "Where Am I?" quiz, please call us at (941) 951-7727. It only cost $25 per week for us to set up your ad, and then you only have to provide a prize for the winner. What could be easier?

Letters-To-The-Editor

We are accepting letters-to-the-editor, so please Click here to submit your comments, experiences, ideas, and general information. Thanks for continuing to keep Sarasota’s history alive!

Dear Editor:

I left Sarasota for college and while I was away at the University of Florida my family moved which meant that I also left. I loved so much about my years there in Jr. High School and high school, but I especially want to shout out about the impact of the area's arts community on me.

Before Sarasota I lived in a rural community in New Jersey, which enjoyed the charm of covered bridges. But at 13 when I arrived in Sarasota in the 1960s, the creative stimulation of the community was what I needed.

I remember feeling awed by my summer art lessons, sketching in galleries at a Ringling Museum camp. I experienced the consummate talent of Polly Holliday and Paul Reubenfeld on stage at the Asolo Theater, before they were big names.

I was entranced to meet the Cherokee artist, Jimalee Burton, of Bird Key, through my mother, who wrote about her for the Pen Woman magazine. I met the great one, John D. MacDonald (okay that was at a student conference at the pink Don Cesar Hotel quite further up the coast). MacKinlay Kantor spoke to my Riverview H.S. graduating class.  My school pal had a ginormous trampoline in her backyard long before small ones were commonplace, because her very funny dad was a retired circus clown. Her mom was a popular enamel artist with a scary furnace in the side studio. The memory of influences continues and I hesitate to leave anyone out, but I'll squeeze in the Chase art family, the art of Ben Stahl, Ringling School of Art students and a parade of other art influences who all worked their magic on many young people.

I appreciate Sarasota History Alive! for bringing this back to me.

Jan Godown Annino

Dear Editor:

William Henry Whitaker was my Great Great Grandfather.  Flora Alberta Whitaker was born in 1908 in San Bernadino, California.

My father was Harold Beeman Chapman. Flora died on our Wright Ranch, May 27, 1995 in Carson City, Nevada. Her ashes were buried on our ranch under a rose bush that she loved.

I miss my mother very much. Her picture is above my computer. I don't know if you can use this information, but I thought I would send it. 

Barbara Wright