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Upcoming events

    • 26 Jan 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Online - CHS Zoom Big Top
    Register


    About the Event

    Bill Taggart, who witnessed the end of the under-canvas railroad circus era, passed away on December 24, 2024, at the age of ninety-four. Bill joined Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey as a horse groom after graduating from college in 1953 and was soon assigned to the “Yellow Wagon” where he sold thousands of tickets, including the last ticket to the final Ringling under-canvas circus performance on July 16, 1956. Days later he joined the Clyde Beatty railroad circus and was with it when it gave its final performance in Sarasota a brief time later.

    Bill loved the circus and was a member of the Circus Historical Society. In a series of articles in our Bandwagon journal, Bill shared amazing stories of working under the enormous big tops with many of the great performers and managers of that era. In preparation for another Bandwagon article, CHS Vice President Chris Berry interviewed Bill a couple of weeks before he passed.

    As a tribute to Bill, this program will include a video of Bill being interviewed by Chris from a couple of years ago. Register today to hear Bill Taggart share his circus memories - in his own words. Chris Berry will host this session

    How to Register

    Circus History Live! is a free series open to CHS members and nonmembers. However, our Zoom Big Top has limited seats and registration is required. To register, click the YES button at the top of the email announcement, or the REGISTER button on the top left of the event webpage.

    How to Attend the Event

    To participate via Zoom at the time of the event, click here to enter the CHS Zoom Big Top and follow the prompts. Please ensure your microphone is muted and your video is off to help us preserve bandwidth.

    To listen to the program on your phone, dial (646) 931-3860. Enter Meeting ID 861 7531 8584. The passcode is: 978062.

    About the Circus Historical Society

    We are a tax exempt not for profit educational organization dedicated to preserving the rich history of circus. Nonmembers are invited to join CHS to 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! Click here to learn more and join today!

    Circus History Live! Recordings

    Previous Circus History Live! programs are available for viewing on the CHS YouTube Channel.

    Technical Assistance

    For assistance, please click Technical Support.

Past events

27 Oct 2024 Nicole and Rom Portwood - A Match Made on the Red Unit
29 Sep 2024 Dave Letterfly Knoderer - Circus Artist, Author, and Speaker
4 Aug 2024 2024 Circus Historical Society Convention
28 Jul 2024 Nancy Savin: Hartford Circus Fire Survivor
16 Jun 2024 A Conversation with Lisa B. Lewis of Omnium Circus!
21 Apr 2024 A Conversation with Chuck "Chucko" Sidlow!
24 Mar 2024 Women's History Month: A conversation with animal trainer Kay Rosaire
25 Feb 2024 The History and Legacy of the King Charles Troupe
14 Jan 2024 A Conversation with Johnathan Lee Iverson
17 Dec 2023 Pallenberg Wonder Bears: Featuring Peggy Adler
19 Nov 2023 Marty LaSalle - The Big Apple Circus of Today and Yesterday!
22 Oct 2023 Maureen Brunsdale: On Writing the Biography of Art Concello
10 Sep 2023 Kenneth Feld . . . Reimagining The Greatest Show On Earth
24 Aug 2023 2023 Circus Historical Society Convention
16 Jul 2023 Elvin Bale . . . Circus Legend
25 Jun 2023 A Conversation with Sylvia Zerbini
21 May 2023 A Conversation with Circus Ring of Fame Inductee Jeanette Williams
16 Apr 2023 Circus History Live! celebrates World Circus Day
19 Mar 2023 Celebrate Women's History Month with Circus Ring of Fame inductee Peggy Williams!
26 Feb 2023 CHS Celebrates Black History Month with Cedric Walker - Founder of UniverSoul Circus
20 Jan 2023 Live from the Monte-Carlo Circus Festival!
11 Dec 2022 The history of the Nerveless Nocks with Michelangelo Nock!
20 Nov 2022 Circus History in the making featuring Chris Lashua of Cirque Mechanics!
25 Sep 2022 A conversation with Bello Nock!
21 Aug 2022 Circus Clown Danise Payne discusses her new book: Elbows in My Ears
26 Jun 2022 The Photographers!
22 May 2022 The Circus Goes Hollywood: A Conversation with Wini McKay and Chester Cable
16 Apr 2022 CHS will celebrate World Circus Day with a conversation with Paul Binder!
27 Mar 2022 Circus Historical Society celebrates Women's History Month with . . . a Conversation with Dolly Jacobs!
20 Feb 2022 Ringmasters and Role Models - A Celebration of Black History Month!
16 Jan 2022 A conversation with three new Circus Ring of Fame Inductees: Nik Wallenda, Tina Winn and George Carden!
12 Dec 2021 Circus History Live! . . . The Producers!
24 Oct 2021 Circus History Live! . . . the awards show
29 Aug 2021 Circus History Live! - Growing up Herriott - Circus Memories of Laura, Cindy, Heidi and Cristine!
25 Jul 2021 Circus History Live! - Ringling on Rails - Two Trainmasters Talk About Their Travels!
19 Jun 2021 Circus History Live! - Three, Three Ring, Ringling Ringmasters!
15 May 2021 Circus History Live! - Clowns Across 3 Centuries: Contrary, Cliché, Confusion! - A presentation by Dave Carlyon - Hosted by Chris Berry
18 Apr 2021 Circus History Live! – Insights from Circus Legends – Video interviews by circus historian Lane Talburt – Hosted by Chris Berry
20 Mar 2021 Circus History Live! - Rare Film of 1902 Ringling Bros. Circus Parade
6 Feb 2021 Circus History Live! - Ringling DAUGHTERS and Barnum & Bailey: A Conversation with Stasia Kelly and Bonnie Nicholas-Shine . . . the daughters of Emmett Kelly and Count Nicholas
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