What a Circus!

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We went to Marina Jacks in Sarasota and stayed on the mooring balls for 3 nights.  The Lashers on Sanctuary were in the marina also. The highlight of our stay was our visit to the Ringling Museum. I almost don’t know where to start.

Brief History Lesson: John Ringling was from Iowa and had seven brothers and one sister from his German immigrant parents. His father was a harness maker. Five of the brothers started the show business along with other in 1884.  In 1889 the brothers took the show from  animal drawn wagons to the railroad and traveled the country.   In 1905 John married Mable Burton.  He was 39 and she was 30. Two years later they bought the Barnum & Bailey show and they became the “King of the Show World”

John was soon investing in railroads, oil and real estate and may other enterprises.  He was said to be worth  $200 million in 1925.

He and his bother Charles started purchasing land in the Sarasota area in 1911. At that time there were only about 800 people living  in the area. John purchased 20 acres on the waterfront where he and Mable built Ca’d’ zan, their Venetian Gothic style mansion. At one time John and Charles owned 25 percent of Sarasota.

In their search for new acts they would travel to Europe. This is when John and Mable began their art collection.

After the death of his brother John in 1929 John took over the management of the Ringling circus.  His wife died  and he was brokenhearted.  He had an unfortunate second marriage that didn’t last. He spent 1.7 million dollars purchasing the American Circus Corporation. When the depression hit John was financially in trouble but he refused to break up his and Mable’s art collection.  John died on December 2, 1936 of pneumonia with $311 in his checking account and masses of dept.  He never had children. He left everything to the State of Florida. His debtors were paid off pennies on the dollar by dissolving his many interests in oil, railroad etc. They state kept John Ringling’s estate and priceless art museum in tact. It is open to the public and if you ever in the area DO NOT miss this.  I only touched on a very brief history.

There are hundred of amazing and very old paintings in the museum. The horse girl in me made me post this picture.

This painting intrigued both Teresa and I. It depicts David holding the Head of Goliath after the battle. Look closely, you can see the bruise on Goliaths’ forehead.
Not only did John and Mable have an eye for art, they also purchased rooms from Mansions all over the world that were slated to be torn down. He reconstructed the rooms in the museum. It is amazing how good of shape things like Fireplaces and wall panels were in after being torn out and replaced.
The sculpture was outside the museum. I never did see an explanation for it.
Here has a replica of Michelangelo’s David that was one of few made from a direct cast of the original sculpture.
Michelangelo carved this piece at age 29 out of piece of marble that was rejected by other artists for 40 years because it was just too big of a project. David has the sling over his left shoulder and a rock in his disproportionately large hand. This was done on purpose to accentuate what David accomplished with this rock.
There was also incredible furniture.
There was a whole Asian section.
There were many ancient pieces.
This is a carving done on a giant piece of Amber.
How would you like to be the guy on the bottom?
Now on the the Circus part of the museum.
A man was actually shot out of this cannon. He was on fire when landed and had beautifully dress girls to put him out.
This wagon was damaged in a fire. They shipped the remains back to the museum and from photos and what was left they were able to recreate this elaborate wagon.
They hand carved all the decorations on the wagons. This shop shows where they are recreating pieces. All the gold on the previous wagon I posted was hand carved and recreated.
One of the animal cages.
This wagon carried the seals and pygmy hippos. It has a water tank in it. I didn’t even know they had those animals in the Circus.
Every wagon had such amazing detail. They would parade these magnificent wagons with Animals down the street and the people could watch for free. But it cost 50 cents to get in to see the circus.After seeing these wagons everyone wanted to go!
They had the Ringling’s personal train that they traveled in. Every car was decorated with the finest that was available at the time.

I have literally hundreds of pictures there was so much to see. I wish I could share them all.  On to the Mansion…

This is the front of the mansion.
This compass rose inlay was in the sidewalk leading to the front door.
There are no guard rails to distract from the beauty of the elobarte stone work on this deck over looking the water.
Stone work on the deck on the water was not only elaborate but massive.
A view from the side. This deck had stairs down the front to another level and went the whole length of the house.
Everything was so elaborate.
All the windows in the entire house were filled with these beautifully colored panes of glass.
Steve and Teresa Lasher standing in front of a Banyan Tree. We learned that Thomas Edison gifted the trees to John Ringling. Edison had many trees that he was using to experiment to make rubber for tires. I got this information from a local standing by the trees. I hope it is right.
Here we are nestled in the Banyan tree roots.

I am still in awe of this whole experience.

Thank you for reading.

Scott and Karen

Unique Random picture of the day.

It was 80 degrees in January. This just doesn’t look right.

 

2 thoughts on “What a Circus!”

  1. I have been in the Ringling House a few times when I was on Long Boat Key I still remember it, especially the porch over the water. I was there before they started to upgrade it, but what a great place it is now. I also saw the circus parade down main Street Sarasota the first year I was there. the year was ????? in the 8o’s. They discontinued them shortly there after. Glad you enjoyed the mansion and the property.

    Have you heard the news that the Ringling Co. will be disbanded and there will be no more preformmances.sp? Try to find this info in a newspaper for the statistics.
    1
    Thanks for the honeybells and the navels. They are delicious
    Miss you too. Abby

  2. THIS BROUGHT BACK GOOD MEMORIES OF OUR VISIT THERE
    WITH MY HS GIRLFRIEND AND HER HUSBAAND. THERE IS SO
    MUCH TO SEE IN THAT AREA …………………

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