Polack Brothers Circus in United States

Polack Brothers Circus
Local name	Rutherford Greater Shows, Polack Bros. World at Home Shows, Polack Bros. Greater Shows and Twenty Big Shows
Type	circus
Founded	1931
Closed down	1976
Country	United States
Related persons
Owner	1931-1976: Louis Stern 1949-1962: Bessie Polack

Directors	Louis P. Stern

Key People	-: June Madison (animal trainer) 1955-: Audrey Ching (artist)

Veterinarians
Elephant department
Head keepers of elephants	1954-1965: Mac Macdonald (elephant trainer) 1946-1950: Cheerful Gardner (elephant trainer) : Slivers Madison (elephant trainer) : Pinky Madison (elephant trainer) 1965: William "Buckles" Woodcock (elephant trainer)

Elephant keepers
Record history
History of updates	2024-01-06

Latest document update	2024-01-06 18:02:10

Description

Polack Brothers Circus, United States , was founded in 1931. Polack Brothers Circus closed down in 1976.

Comments / picturesInitially railroad carnivals that were operated by brothers Irving R. and Harry R. Polack. Alternative names: Rutherford Greater Shows, Polack Bros. World at Home Shows, Polack Bros. Greater Shows and Twenty Big Shows.

1919-03-20: Harry passed away at Brunswick, GA, age 42.

1931: Louis P. Stern became partner with Irving as founders of Polack Brothers Circus.

1949-07-13: Irving passed away in Van Nuys, CA, age 64. His widow Bessie (d. 1962) took over his share.

Records about Polack Brothers Circus from William "Buckles" Woodcocks Blog at http://www.bucklesw.blogspot.com/
The Tom Packs elephant act "Alice", "Jean", "Penny", "Mary" and "Tommy" was so impressive that Louie Stern hired it for the Polack Show several seasons before stealing Mac Macdonald and Peggy away.

>William "Buckles" Woodcock

Circus historian and elephant trainer William "Buckles" Woodcock consider Mac Macdonald as one of Americas best elephant trainers, his masterpiece being the "Besalou elephants" the combination of the Polack Brothers Circus owners names, Bessie Polack and Louis Stern. The Besalou elephants names was "Mary", "Jean", "Millie", "Betty", "Kathy" and "Opal" named for Peggy and Macs friends such as Millie Ward, Betty Bell, Kathy Goebel and Opal Page.

1976: Louis P. Stern sold the show.

References for records about Polack Brothers Circus