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Pages from History
A
collection of historic Images - Sam
Houston's Show |
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The images on this page
came from the collection of Miss Adonna Houston, the
daughter of J. Sam Houston.
Mr. Houston was
originally involved with the Gentry Dog and Pony Show. He
then was involved with Otto Floto around 1905 and helped in
the merger of the Sells Flotos Circus. He was close friends
of the Bonfils family of the Denver Post . He eventually
became known for his independent show which traveled the US
and Mexico. He owned Balto the Dog who Saved Nome, Cheetah,
the Pancho Villa death car and many other exotic items.
Miss Houston worked at a
children's park in Oakland CA that my husband worked at
as a child. (Fairyland) She was the Old Woman in the
Shoe but when Count Popo De Bathe (resident clown) went
on UNICEF trips, she filled in for him as Lolo the
clown.
I met them both in 1981 but
Popo passed away that year. We stayed in touch with
Lolo as we called her and helped her out when we could.
Her father passed away in 1957 but she kept many of the
things he had. Some ended up at Bridgeport in the
Barnum Museum. Popo had a display there for many years
along with a wax figure. A two headed calf and an emu
are still there. She removed Popo's things and some
ended up here or in Baraboo. He started out with Mr.
Morris's Monks but was in several circuses including
Christy Bros. and the Madrid circus (I think). She had
known Popo thru her father.
Sam Houston worked in the
silent picture industry, circus and as an independent
showman.
Adonna was as much a partner as a daughter. She showed
with him from 1926, when she ran away from a grandmother
until his death in 1957. She was a stand in for Dorothy
Lamour at one time, worked on Rose Parade floats, worked
at Fairyland in Oakland, played the Palace as a child. They had several
railroad cars that they used and they took them to
Mexico and back. Sam provided the Hilton Sisters with
music lessons and helped them out after they ran away
from their manager.
There is a great deal more
about Sam and Adonna but we never were able to get her
to write it down or put it on tape. She never thought
anyone would be interested. Lynne Bell
We'd like to thank Lynne
Bell for sharing these images with Sideshow World. All
photographs are the property of Lynne Bell and are posted here
with her permission.
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Click
On The Photos Below To View Full Size. |
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Sam
Houston's Show Front Mexico City show of 1947 |
Sam Houston's
Show Front Mexico
City show of 1947 |
According to Adonna, her
father
had permission
to use
the Barnum name
172 W.
Pike
Long
Beach CA |
Jose
DeLeon the armless boy and Betty Broadbent the Tattooed Lady
1118
Market St in San Francisco |
Railroad Car
El
Paso Texas |
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Railroad Cars
El
Paso Texas |
Adonna
with one of their
G-man dogs |
Special Invitation
to
the Floto Circus |
Mummy Case
Toured on Houston's Shows |
Poncho Villa's Death Car |
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Good Tooth Jimmy |
Pig-Tail |
Dutch
lecturer Mink De Ronda |
Sam Houston Displays
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Popo with
emu and stuffed python, two headed calf
Sam's Displays |
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Popo
by Ansal Adams
San
Mateo fair 1955
Original
Children's Hospital Oakland California |
Popo at Rodeo
El
Paso 1947 |
Popo and Popo
Bridgeport Barnum Museum
Wax Figure Display |
Popo and Bones
Hartgett Ringling Show |
Popo and Mrs Morris
Monkey Act |
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Adonna, Popo and
Barney Adonna's dog who went every where with her. |
Adonna in Hilo Hawaii 1927
after she left her
grandmother and join Sam.
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Tiny Lavonda
World Smallest Lady
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Maybe Henry Hite |
Popo |
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The Count |
Popo,
Ernest Borgnine,
Lou
Jacobs
Circus World - Circus Parade
1970 |
JAPANESE STATUE
OF
"ITO YAMASHI"
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Ito on
display
Maui
1927 |
Jodonna
Houston
Maui
1927 |
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Hilton Sisters
Not Sam's Name on Card |
Monster Reptile
Exhibition in Mexico |
Tarzan
Exhibition in Mexico |
PoPo And Michu |
Maybe Daisy Doll
with Camera Man |
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One of Houston's Show's |
Guicel William "Willie" Camper |
PoPo & the Basket Horse
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Photographs
courtesy of Lynne Bell
©copyright
2007 all rights reserved
If you have
information or images you would like
include in this section please contact us by
Clicking Here
No Images may be
reproduced, reposted or used in any manner except that of viewing
without the express written permission of Sideshow WorldTM
or the copyright holder. If you have images
you would like to be include please
drop us a line
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