Jerry Bangs: The Most Famous Clown You've Never Heard Of - With Brian Hollifield (31 May 2026)

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

About the Event

Our May 31 Circus History Live! program will feature the story of Jerry Bangs, the most famous clown you've never heard of as told by CHS Trustee Brian Hollifield.

Jerry Bangs was a comedy producer and gag man with Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1930 until 1949. During his tenure, Bangs witnessed many major events in Ringling history including several management changes, labor strikes, and the 1944 Hartford circus fire. Bangs chronicled this important period of circus history in the letters he sent to his parents and in an unpublished book. Bangs died in 1978.

Fortunately for us, however, those letters and the unpublished manuscript were discovered in 2025 and came into the hands of CHS Trustee Brian Hollifield in connection with a circus memorabilia auction.

In this session, Hollifield will talk about how Bangs' letters and manuscript set him off on a research journey that resulted in his article titled “Letters from the Lot: The Untold Story of Jerry Bangs” that appeared in Bandwagon, Volume 69, Number 4 (2025) and a physical quest to find the props built by Bangs. Those props have since been donated by their owners to the International Clown Hall of Fame in Baraboo, Wisconsin. You will not want to miss this fascinating discussion!

In recognition of the role that he played in the history of circus clowning, Jerry Bangs will be posthumously inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame on June 12 during the 2026 Circus Historical Society Convention.

Circus Historical Society vice president Chris Berry will host this session.

Registration is Required

Circus History Live! is free for Circus Historical Society members and non-members. However, because our Zoom Big Top has a limited number of seats, registration is required and nonmembers are encouraged to join CHS.

To register, click the green YES button at the top of the announcement or the REGISTER button on the top left of the event webpage.

How to Attend the Event

To participate, at the time of the event, Click here to enter the CHS Zoom Big Top and follow the prompts. Be sure that your microphone is muted and your video is off to help preserve bandwidth.

To listen to the program on your phone, dial (646) 931-3860. Enter Meeting ID 874 5519 9879. The passcode is: 303678.

About the Circus Historical Society

We are a tax exempt nonprofit educational organization dedicated to preserving the rich history of circus. Nonmembers are invited to join and receive full member benefits, including four issues of Bandwagon: The Journal of the Circus Historical Society, access to the members-only Back Yard and bookstore, discounted registration for our annual Convention, and more! Dues are only $60 per year. Click here to learn more and join today!

Circus History Live! Recordings

Please visit the CHS YouTube Channel for recordings of previous Circus History Live! programs.

Technical Assistance

For assistance, please click Technical Support.

Circus Historical Society Convention 2026 (10 Jun 2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Circus Historical Society Convention 2026

Register now for Circus Historical Society Convention 2026 in Baraboo, Wisconsin! The last day to register is May 24, 2026.

This year's convention will include over thirty activities and feature legendary circus artist Dolly Jacobs as the keynote speaker! Known as the Queen of the Air, Jacobs is a world-renowned circus aerialist.

Click here for a list of convention presentations and activities.

Venue and Program

This year, the convention will take place right across the street from Circus World, inside a historic building dating back to 1909 that once served the Ringling brothers as a circus wagon and costume shop. Now known as the Baraboo Arts Banquet & Convention Center, this building will be a perfect venue to learn about the rich history of the circus. The address is 323 Water Street in Baraboo. Click here for additional information about Baraboo Arts.

The Registration Desk will open at noon on Wednesday June 10 and the convention will begin at 1:00pm with the keynote presentation by Dolly Jacobs. After Dolly's talk, there will be multiple presentations on circus history, followed by a circus history research panel led by experts. Wednesday afternoon convention activities will end with a reception that will include Circus World staff and circus cast.

Thursday’s program will begin at 8:30am with a panel discussion that will be followed by additional circus history presentations. At noon, attendees will go across the street to Circus World where they will have lunch on their own, attend a guided tour of the historic circus wagons, explore the museum's magnificent collections, and see a performance of Jubilee 250! Big Top Circus. Click here for additional information about Circus World.

Following the afternoon at Circus World, attendees will have the option to visit a private band organ collection for a band organ concert and presentation, attend Professor Jerry Stich's Original Circus Band concert on Sauk County Courthouse Square, and/or spend some time at the nearby International Clown Hall of Fame.

Friday's program will include several circus history presentations and our annual banquet and auction. The banquet will include the induction of former Ringling producing clown Jerry Bangs into the International Clown Hall of Fame and the awarding of the 2026 Stuart Thayer Prize! The convention will conclude with Baraboo’s Big Top Circus Parade on Saturday morning. Click here for the complete list of convention presentations and activities.

Individuals who have recently joined CHS, referred to as "First of Mays," will be invited to attend a special "Dukey" box lunch with the trustees on Wednesday, June 10, at 11:15 am.

Registration Rates

CHS members and their guests can register at the Member Rate of only $260 per person through May 24, 2026.* The Nonmember Rate of $320 per person through May 24, 2026* includes a one year membership and subscription to our Bandwagon journal.

The full-time Academic Rate* is $160, and the full-time Student Rate* is $135.

One Day Only Rates* are also available as follows: $100 for only Wednesday June 10 including the reception, $100 for only Thursday June 11 including the afternoon visit to Circus World, and $125 for only Friday June 12 including the banquet and induction of Jerry Bangs to the International Clown Hall of Fame. The Banquet Only Rate* is $75.

The Virtual Only Rate* is $50. This rate is for those want to watch the convention presentations on Zoom. This rate does not include admission to convention locations or activities.

*The last day to register for the convention is May 24, 2026.

To register, click either the Green REGISTER button at the top left of the announcement or the Blue REGISTER button at the bottom left of the website page.

*CHS Members who are not logged on to the CHS Back Yard (members-only) site will need to authenticate to register at the CHS Member Rate. Your Username is your email address.

Click here if you have any questions or need technical assistance.

To register by mail, click here to download the registration form.

Cancellations/Refunds: 50% through May 24. No refunds after May 24.

Optional Activity: Parade Day Brunch

The Al Ringling Brewing Company at the historic Ringling Mansion has offered CHS Convention registrants an exclusive opportunity to have brunch in their restaurant on Parade Day Saturday June 13!

For an additional fee of $40 per person, convention attendees can purchase a ticket that will entitle them to brunch in the restaurant from 8:30am to 10:30am and a parking space in their lot during the parade. They will also receive a coupon for 10% off all food and beverages purchased in the brewery restaurant during the convention from June 10 through June 13!

Registration Procedure: Because this activity is exclusive to CHS convention participants, you must first register for the convention before purchasing this optional event. After completing your convention registration online, log back on to convention registration page and click REGISTER. Select OPTIONAL Parade Day Brunch and follow the prompts. The last day to register for the optional brunch is May 24, 2026.

Note: We have reached the maximum number of porch seating that was originally a component of this option. The brunch, parking, and 10% discount component are still available. Also, due to street closures for the parade, brunch participants who want parking must arrive before 9:00am.

Click here if you have any questions or need technical assistance.

Hotels

The room blocks previously available at the Fairfield by Marriott at 932 Gateway Drive and the AmericInn by Wyndham at 626 West Pine Street in Baraboo have been filled.

There will be no convention activities at either hotel.

Transportation and Location of Convention Activities

Because Baraboo is located about fifteen miles from the Amtrak Station in Wisconsin Dells, WI, forty miles from Dane Country Regional Airport in Madison, WI, and one hundred twenty miles from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, WI, it is anticipated that most attendees will travel to Baraboo via either rental car or their own vehicle.

Convention activities will take place at multiple locations in Baraboo, including Baraboo Arts Banquet & Convention Center at 323 Water Street, Circus World at 550 Water Street, and in downtown Baraboo.

Since both the circus band concert and parade are outdoor public events in downtown Baraboo without seating, attendees driving their own vehicles are encouraged to bring a folding chair or blanket, if desired. Click here for the band concert location and parade route through downtown Baraboo.

Auction Donations - Advertising - Sponsorships - Sales Tables

Contact Brian Hollifield at info@freedomauctions.com to donate circus posters, books, photos, wardrobe, and other memorabilia for sale at our annual fundraising auction.

The time period for advertising, sponsorships, and sales table rentals has expired.

We are looking forward to seeing you at CHS Convention 2026 in Baraboo!

Circus Historical Society upcoming events