Mighty Haag Circus was started by American entrepreneur Ernest Haag (17 June 1866 - 1 Feb. 1935) in Shreveport, Louisiana.[1] His circus toured continuously for over 40 years, from 1891 to 1938. During these years, the circus used a variety of types of transport: boat, carts, trains, horse-pulled wagons, and trucks. It was one of the largest traveling circuses in the United States.[citation needed]
Many Haag performers had successful careers elsewhere after working in the Haag Circus. Harry James (1916–1983) grew up in the Mighty Haag Circus; his father, Everett Robert James, was its bandleader. Harry James' mother, Myrtle Maybelle (Stewart), was an acrobat and horseback rider in the Circus. Maybelle and Everett James gave their son Harry the middle name of Haag after the circus owner. The James family departed the Circus in 1931 when Harry was 15.[citation needed]
Other notable circus alumni include the following: Laurence Brasfield, of Uncle Cyp and Aunt Sap Brasfield, started in the Haag Circus at age 14. Cornet player Don Essig played in Haag Circus. Starting as Haag performers, Rube Walters and Heinie Emgard became a vaudeville act. Fisher's Performing Elephants continued tours after the Haag Circus ended. Ruby Haag Brown performed for 50 years in the Haag Circus, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Circus Hall of Fame and Shrine Circus.[2][3][4]
- ^ "Ernest Haag, Mighty Haag Shows" Archived 2016-10-18 at the Wayback Machine, Circuses and Sideshows website, with photos]
- ^ McDowell, "Mighty Haag Circus" Archived 2016-10-18 at the Wayback Machine, Circus Wagons website
- ^ "MIGHTY HAAG SHOW THREE-RING WILD ANIMAL CIRCUS COMiNG TO MONTERREY, July 2, 1936" Archived October 18, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Virginia Chronicle, 26 June 1936
- ^ "Mighty Haag Circus, Sells Brothers Circus" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, Josephine Journal