The Schoenhut Tents & Ring

Almost all circuses of Schoenhut's time toured with tents to protect the audience and performers from the weather and to provide a structure from which the apparatus for the acrobats and other performers were attached. The Schoenhut canvas tents present the animals and performers very well - providing three dimensions in which to display them. The tent was introduced in 1906. Only the circus ring is shown in the 1903-1904 catalog.

 Photo courtesy of Bertoia Auctions

Acrobat Tent

This tent came with a high wire for the acrobats. This is an early version - the rear support dowels are inserted into a rotating dowel. All canvas tents have flags of the nations, banner flags for the sides, and a "Humpty Dumpty Circus" flag for the top. The rear entry curtain is usually red but a striped maroon curtain is found on very early ones. A swinging bar with rings hang from the inside top. 24 X 36 X 36 inches

Photo by Judith Lile

Early Curtain Menagerie Tent

The curtain fabric is rare and early. Notice the dowel at the rear that holds up the canvas. Later designs omitted this feature.

Menagerie Tent

The canvas menagerie tent has no high wire apparatus. This example is a later version with its rear vertical support dowels inserted into the rear base piece.

Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Andy Yaffee

Reduced Tent

The reduced size tent was designed just like the regular size canvas tent only smaller. It came in two versions - one as shown here with a wood ring and a relatively shallow frame and one without the ring and with a relatively deep frame. The top flag was changed to an American flag. 
18 X 24 X 30 inches

Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

Lithographed Tent

The lithographed tent was introduced in the late 1920s to bolster sales. Not many were sold, apparently, as the great depression was soon to be underway. 
44 inches long

Reduced Lithographed Tent

This is a rare tent. It also came in a version without the interior lithograph.

Side Show Panels

The side show panels were introduced along with the lithographed tent. They came with a wooden frame. 
18 X 42 inches

Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed

Circus Ring

The circus ring is a very early accessory - introduced before tents. It is all wood. The material inside the ring is simulated sawdust. Its dimensions are 24 1/4 x 24 1/4. 

Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed

Illustration from Schoenhut's Copyright 1928 catalog. All of the animals are painted eyes and the performers have one-part heads.

Canvas Tent Humpty Dumpty Circus Display

The canvas tent for this circus creates an exciting backdrop for the circus performers.
This tent is from about 1920. The circus pieces are from 1903 to the 1930s.