THE BALLOON MAN

Henry and John Pollies owned circuses and carnivals from at least 1910-1930s. John Pollie worked as a concessionaire with games of chance in carnivals, 1930s-1960s. Their business and personal life is wonderfully documented in the Papers of John C. Pollie, 1910-1969, and undated in 17.5 cubic ft. (in 36 boxes) in the Clarke Historical Library. It is the only collection of a carnival man’s papers in existence in a public institution. It documents circus, carnival, especially the 19-teens when there was a period of much change in carnivals, the Great Depression, the history of people in MI and Grand Rapids, personal relationships with friends and a loving family and business relationships with circus and carnival people.

Henry J. Pollie (1872-1937) was the son of John C. and Maude Pollie, who emigrated from the Netherlands to Grand Rapids in 1880. As a young man, Henry lived in TX. Henry, often called Jorge, was a concessionaire and showman. Shows Henry owned or co-owned, as documented in the collection, include:Zeidman and Pollie Shows (Walter Zeidman and Henry J. Pollie) 1910-Nov. 1937J. Harry Six Shows, 1931Pollie’s Shows, 1932 (Henry and John C. Pollie)Pollie & Scully, 1934 (Henry and Mr. Scully)Pollie and Berger Exposition and Wild Animal Circus, 1935-1937? (Henry and Louis J. Berger)Pollie & Berger Shows, 1935-Jan. 1936 (This is probably the same show as above, minus the wild animals.)
from the Clarke County (Michigan) Historical Museum