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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.
Post Script: Mr.
Houston was born Feb. 14, 1869 in Anderson, IN and died Mar
1, 1957 in Los Angeles.
Joseph H. Huston aka
Sam J. Houston
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His real last name was Huston! Sam, ever
the showman, took the Houston spelling because of the
historical recognition.
His parent's owned the
Huston Hotel in Winchester, WI. His father was in the
Civil War and his mother died in a run away buggy
accident.
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