MY RINGLING CONNECTION

This 1923 photo shows your webmaster being held by his uncle, NORVAL STARR DAVENPORT, who spent most of one season with Ringling Bros. Uncle Norval is my only connection with the "big one". His job was to make certain that the rigging for famed aerialist Charles Siegrist was properly installed. Once the gear was in place, the rest of the day was his own. Undoubtedly, on the lot, Norval was known as Davie Davenport to his coworkers.

Siegrist was the first to perform a standing Double Somersault. Toward the end of the season the supporting ropes for his rigging were beginning to show definite signs of wear. Since the management wouldn't purchase new ropes at such a late date, my uncle felt that he could no longer certify the safety of the installation and so he left the circus.


See pictures of true CIRCUS WORK HORSES on the following page

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