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These images are
just a part of Max and Jean Montgomery’s collection from
their photo albums that were created in the twenties and
filled up by the mid-thirties. Max was the musical director
of the Dodson World’s Fair Show. I collected the three
albums in an estate sale in San Francisco circa 1998. There
was no family involved in the sale.
Many of the images were casual playful shots taken in
various cities as Max and Jean traveled with the Dodson
World's Fair Show in the troupes' own railcars, frequently
shown with their ukuleles, and dressing up in costume to
promote the shows in the city streets.
A recently
discovered brochure for the Dodson Organization listed:
"1924, Route
Card and Mail List, Dodson's World's Fair Shows, C. G.
Dodson, Owner, The World's largest carnival organization.
Show Number 1, closes Port Arthur, Texas, October 18. Number
2 and 3 shows, Open October 20 for the winter. W. J. Kehoe,
Mgr., Number 2 show, John Hoffman, mgr., Number 3 show.
Route Card:1924. Opening March 31. Number of R.R.Cars 30,
Number of attractions 22. Number of weeks 29. 2595 miles."
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Included was a
listing of management:
C.G. Dodson, sole owner and gen'l Mgr.
W.J. Kenoe, Assistant Mgr. and sec.
Mel G. Dodson, gen. rep.
Mrs. Kate Dodson, Treasurer
John Hoffman, Supt. concessions
John Ward, Lot Supt.
Fred Miller, Trainmaster
Homer James, Assistant Trainmaster
Carl Hansen, Chief Electrician
John Autrey, Asst. Electrician
Bert Warren, Sept. Riding Devices
Max Montgomery, Musical Director
William Foster, General Announcer
Wm. Fuller, Boss Hostler
Mechanical Engineer, H. McCauley,
Head Porter, Howard Hall |
On the Back of The Route Card was a list of the acts:
Minstrel show, Jungleland, Webb's World wonder,Water,
Lilliputian Village, Over the Top, Wild West, Athletic,
Crazy, Mysterious Sensation, Land of Oz, McDougals Dream,
Penny Arcade, Beautiful Bagdad, Goat Track, Juanita, War
Exhibit, Motordome, Caterpillar, Mercy Mix Up, Carousel,
Ferris Wheel, Whip, Band.
Some images from the Montgomery’s albums shown here are of
friends of Max and Jean's who were in other associated acts,
like the Van Arnome Sideshow, and the High Flyers. Some
images not included had the added text below of Max Gordon
Presents, and Greater Exposition Shows, dating 1936. I've
also included a couple of images from the albums that give
a strong flavor of the times that the Dodson troupe lived
in.
They say If you build it they will come, but first the
performers came, then the audience, and these pictures
attest to the comradeship and spirit the Dodson Troupe had
that kept their entertainment alive through the twenties and
thirties, to finally be interrupted by the coming of the
second world war. Here's to these wonderful performers, and
may their spirits be remembered here in these pictures.
Andre Hunt 2007
The following
names came from a
scrapbook I have of comments written in farewell by several
of the folks on the show.
Abe Stait
(looks like)
Joe Baker
Nan Edgar
Joe Lambert
C. Guy Dodson
Mother Lucile
Mary Bavoir
Bucketts
Mr & Mrs R. Spencer
Red Brooks
Gladys Brooks
Mrs. C. R. Bruer TX
Lou Cobb
Evelyn - Girl Show 1935
Ruth Bert, French Revue 1935
Marie Ricardo, Nov 2, 1935.
Carol Pillard (Lasky's French Revue)
Hattie Mendelson, French Revue
Jerry Rogers, French Revue
M y
parents, Bill and Bertie Beadles, and I were with Dodson's
for a few months in 1937 and left them when the tour arrived
at Norfolk VA. My father had no particular job and I believe
he was part of the crew putting up and taking down the
tents, etc. Mother sold tickets either at the entrance or at
one of the amusements.
Pat (Patsy)
Beadles Palmisano
We
want to thank Andre Hunt for sharing his photographs from
the Dodson's.
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