Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus 1943

Madeline loved the circus!  She took her grandchildren several times and since we always lived far from home because of being in the Army, she would send money each year to take the boys when the circus came to town.  One year when we lived in Kansas I purchased our tickets so early that we had almost front row seats.  The boys loved it and we received a special visit from the clowns.  Madeline loved the circus so much that I think it was fitting that she took her great grandchildren to see the big show a short time before she passed. 

I discovered this program for the 1943 circus in a scrapbook of her college days.  Enjoy!

The cover in beautiful color.

A poem by Edgar Guest.

Why we love the circus.

The flying Wallendas.  I loved them.

Circus animals.  I remember taking our boys to see the elephants before the show.

Clowns--who doesn't love them?  (Well, Kramer for one.)

I thought these were amusing.

To learn more about the 1943 circus here is a great website to visit.  The Circus Historical Society (never knew there was such a thing!) is full of great information.

"The Scrap Album"

I discovered a wonderful website while researching Raphael Tuck and Sons for my last post.  The Scrap Album is an amazing site about the history of keeping scrapbooks and albums, as well as greeting cards and calendars.  I encourage you to visit and look around this most informative site where you can learn about "Father Tuck's Complete Picture Maker For Little People", a box set complete with an album, brush, glue pot, and pages of stickers.  Children were encouraged to use the stickers to make their own scenes and pictures in the album.  How creative! 

Malcom Warrington is the site owner who gave me permission to share with you.  He has compiled a colorful history of scrapbooking and greeting cards from long ago. 

There'll Always Be An England

I discovered this beautiful calendar from 1942.  It has beautiful photographs of England along with snippets of poetry.  Enjoy!

The calendar was manufactured by Raphael Tuck & Sons Co., Inc.  They produced not only calendars, but greeting cards and post cards for many years.  Here is a good place to learn more about them.



 

A Note From the Author and Some Miscellaneous

Hello readers!  I just want to take a minute to thank all of you that have taken the time to leave me a comment or to email to tell me how much you enjoy Madeline's Memories.  It means so much to me to hear from you and to know that there is someone out there who is interested in Madeline's keepsakes.  I recently posted some photos and letter from former Red Sox Dave "Boo" Ferriss and I received a very nice email from his daughter.  What a nice surprise for me!  I always forward your emails to my husband Bill so he can know that you are enjoying his mother's memories as well.  Thanks again and keep them coming. 

I have some miscellaneous items to share today that I discovered in my organizational chore.  The first is a series of 4 photos taken when Madeline was about 3 or 4 years old. 

I've posted this last photo before.  My youngest son Andrew is an artist and he recently painted his interpretation of this photo for Father's Day:

Pretty cool!  I like how he brought the photo up to date with the bright colors.

 

I found this photo in a box with no other clues to identify it.  Madeline does not look happy!  It looks like a cheerleading squad and she is their coach. 

This is the back of the photo and the girls have all signed it.  From the few notes I believe it was the cheerleading squad.  Love the note that says "Thanks for helping us with all our problems."

(Added 7/23/2012)

I received some information about the cheerleading photo from my sister-in-law:

The cheerleading photo was taken many years ago, of course, and those "girls" are now in their fifties! In the photo, the girl in the second row from the bottom, third from the left, is Sheila Judkins, whose mother was Judy Judkins, a good friend of my mother's. Sheila still lives in Rutland on the old family farm that she inherited, and she is a school principal at one of the elementary schools in Holden. She was Abby's first grade teacher, and Abby adored her. She is still a Judkins as her only marriage ended in divorce many years ago. She never had any children of her own. Now you know the life story of one of the cheerleaders!

With the group photo I discovered these really cute Easter cards that some of her class made for her.

Just adorable and so colorful. I wish I knew who made them so I could let them know that she liked them so much she kept them forever!

This card looks like an end of the year one.  I would have kept them too.

Vintage Oversized Greeting Cards

My sorting and organization project is in full swing.  I think I have emptied all the boxes in the garage and now the task will become much easier.  In the last box I found a large manila envelope bulging at the seams with old greeting cards.  Most of these cards would be from the late 1940's through the 50's, as they were given to Madeline's children.  There are so many!  I do believe I could open a vintage greeting card store with all the cards I have discovered.  It is mind-boggling!

A few oversized cards stood out so I pulled them out and will feature in this post. 

Here is a sweet Christmas card featuring a little girl, snowman, and a bird.  The snowman has two tabs which can make him stand out a bit when on a table.  This is a Rust Craft card from Boston, MA.  On the back is printed:  "The original of the design reproduced on this card was painted by Marjorie Cooper a member of the Rust Craft Artists' Guild."  It really is a beautiful card that would look great in an old frame.

Baby's First Christmas in a shoe!  The baby is actually a separate piece and can be removed from the shoe.  I need to put this one aside in a special place as next Christmas will some lucky baby's first Christmas at our house.

Another Baby's First Christmas card.  Like the snowman above, the baby has tabs that make him stand out. 

The back of the card, with the note that it is a Marjorie Cooper painting as well.

For a Special Someone - I really like this card because it shows a little girl, a puppy, a book, and a doll.  All things I love.  Just about all these cards were given to my sister-in-law Judy who was the oldest in the family.

Santa on the chimney with his sack of toys.  There are even a few feathers for his beard.  This one was a Hallmark card from 1949.

Moving on to birthday cards, this is a very cute one.

Here is the back of the card with a little verse.  The girl is on brads so she can be manipulated and her head rocks back and forth.  The name of the maker is "Rock-N-Play Cards".

On to Valentine's Day!  This is a sweet card with a little kitten with a big bow.  The kitten is flocked so he feels soft.  On the back there is a cardboard stand to show him off.

Last card - another valentine with a kitten.  This one has a metal heart around his neck and also has a stand on the back to show him off.  I love how each of these cards has something special about them.  I think they are all true works of art. 

Dave "Boo" Ferriss - Red Sox Player

Madeline's father went to Red Sox spring training every year in Florida.  I guess he got to know many of the players and one of those was Dave "Boo" Ferriss.  I discovered many letters from Dave to Madeline, from his college years to his days as a Red Sox.  She often talked about their friendship and shared newspaper clippings about him.  What I didn't know is that she had three bulging scrapbooks on Dave Ferriss alone!  This is where things get a little sensitive.  From all his letters I can see that he thought of Madeline only as a friend, the daughter of James Farmer, mayor of Keene, NH.  But I believe Madeline had stronger feelings for Dave.  Whatever the case, the letters, cards, and photos are a part of her history.

An autographed photo which I know she treasured.

With her brother Charlie.

The original of the charlie photo I found in a photo album. 

This photo was also in the album, but the other player is unknown.

I found several Christmas cards from Dave.

A post card he sent her after the war.

In this letter he asks Madeline to save the newspaper clippings about him.

Letter sent with a ticket to World Series.

That ticket stub!

I think they had a very nice friendship.  If you want to know more about Dave "Boo" Ferriss, click here.  And here is a nice little video about him.