THE BALLOON MAN

Circuses, carnivals, 'Wild West' shows featured N.D. natives
 A number of interesting individuals who lived in North Dakota found employment in various circuses, “Wild West” shows, and carnivals. In 1922, Hans Langseth, a farmer in Richland County, N.D., was judged to have the world’s longest beard, which measured 17 feet 4 inches. For a short time, he was showcased in the Ringling Brothers Circus, but quit to return to his farm and real estate business.
from:  infourm.com
By: Curtis Eriksmoen, INFORUM
July 14, 2013
A number of interesting individuals who lived in North Dakota found employment in various circuses, “Wild West” shows, and carnivals.

Last week, we described the circus employment of Sitting Bull, John Baer, Two-Gun Hart, Harold Bachman and John Aasen. Let us look at a few more.

In 1922, Hans Langseth, a farmer in Richland County, N.D., was judged to have the world’s longest beard, which measured 17 feet 4 inches. For a short time, he was showcased in the Ringling Brothers Circus, but quit to return to his farm and real estate business.

In 1924, Louis L’Amour, an aspiring writer from Jamestown, N.D., found himself in Phoenix in need of a job. On Oct. 13, the Hagenbeck and Wallace Circus came to town and hired L’Amour as a roustabout. He was soon given the position of elephant handler, but left after three weeks because he “found the life tough and other circus workers uncivilized.” L’Amour later became a famous author of Western novels and short stories, several of which were made into movies and television shows.
read more:
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/406042/group/Life/