THE BALLOON MAN

Circuses suffered after

World War I
from bismarcktribune.com
By CURT ERIKSMOEN
June 23, 2013
The circus industry in North Dakota has provided entertainment and enjoyment to the state’s residents for more than 100 years.

During the first 23 years (1883-1905) that circuses traveled to the state, they performed only in towns and cities along the main routes of the Northern Pacific and Great Northern, which today correspond with our two interstate highways.

People who lived in Fargo, Valley City, Jamestown, Bismarck, Dickinson, Wahpeton, Grand Forks, Grafton and Pembina had multiple occasions to attend a circus in their community, but other state residents had to travel long distances to have that opportunity.

By 1906, many of the branch lines of the two railroads had been completed, and the Soo Line was becoming established in many rural areas. That year, the Gollmar Brothers Circus came to North Dakota, and besides putting on shows in the usual places, it also held performances in Carrington, Cando, Rugby, Devils Lake, Lakota, Langdon and Mayville.

During the next few years, it also traveled to other towns. The Gollmar Circus suffered a big loss on June 21, 1908, when its circus train hit another train head-on just outside of Medina. Much of its equipment was destroyed and 24 animals were killed. Despite this misfortune, the Gollmar Brothers still loved North Dakota.
From 1883-1900, nine different circuses performed in North Dakota, with Ringling Brothers being the most active by coming to this state six different years. During the first decade of the 20th century, 10 circuses crisscrossed the state, with the Ringling Brothers and Gollmar Brothers both venturing to North Dakota four times.

The second decade was the golden age of the circus in North Dakota, especially the five years leading up to World War I. In 1912 and 1916, four different circuses toured the state. There were five in 1914, six in 1913 and seven in 1915. The major circus putting on shows in North Dakota was the Al G. Barnes Circus. During that decade, 17 different circuses appeared in North Dakota.
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