This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website

 

Seibel Brothers

Dog and Pony Show

 

1894

Advertisement, Emil Seibel, 310 E Main

 

1898

1898 310 E Main, laying of sewer line on Main

1898, 310 E Main, laying of water line on Main, WHS_004_NT_064

 

1899

1899, Sept 13-15, ponies and carnival wagon, Harvest Jubilee & Carnival, WHS_005_484

1899, Sept 13-15, ponies and carnival wagon, Harvest Jubilee & Carnival, WHS_005_604

 

1902

08 22       Tuesday afternoon a large number of our people attended the dog and pony show at Seibel's training academy, corner Eighth and Main streets.  The exhibition was first-class, especially when it is taken into consideration that the animals have only been under training for 10 weeks.  The work of the ponies is first-class, most of the things done being new and original.  The work of the clown pony Snow Cloud, the smallest clown pony on earth is particularly amusing, and Teddy, the diving dog, is a wonder.  He climbs a ladder 40 feet high and jumps into a netting suspended about 2 feet from the ground.  This act alone is a great drawing card in Seibel's pony show.  Mr. Seibel has inducements from various places to exhibit his show, but as yet has not decided on taking it out of the city.  It is a local amusement that would be encouraged, and we hope Mr. Seibel will be well repaid for his enterprise.  His show is a good one, and whenever the community is given a chance to see it, the people should turn out in large numbers.  On Tuesday and Thursday evenings of next week, at 7:30 o'clock, the program will be repeated, and all who possibly can should witness it.  Admission, adults 25 cts; children 10cts.  Music by Weber's orchestra.   WG

 

1908

06 28       Emil Seibel lost pony mare at Northwestern depot.   WL

 

1909

1909c, 310 E Main, Seibel & Co, Emil, notions       

 

04 30       Cooper and Robenson arranged with Seibel Bros. to lease their show for the season.   WG

 

1910

1910c, dry goods, 310 E Main, post remodel, WHS_005_599

1910c, dry goods, 310 E Main, pre remodel, WHS_005_600

12 09       Emil Seibel, general manager of Seibel Bros. Dog and Pony Circus, returned yesterday from a tour of the south, with his circus aggregation, and Sunday the ponies, comprising the circus, will go into winter quarters at Watertown.  The pony and dog circus has been engaged to take part in the society circus at the Auditorium Annex Christmas week for the benefit of the Maternity hospital.  It is expected that the novel entertainment will net the hospital $10,000.

 

"Among the attractions I am going to bring to Milwaukee during Christmas week," said Mr. Seibel, “will be Snow Cloud, the smallest Shetland pony stallion in the world.  I carry him in a suit case and he weighs thirty pounds.  We are also going to bring our famous drilling ponies, Comet, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Cupid, Vixen, Dunder and Blitzen.  We will introduce sixteen other ponies in the ring and will reproduce our entire circus program." — [Milwaukee Journal]   WG

 

1911

05 04       On Thursday of next week Seibel Bros. Dog and Pony Show will exhibit on the circus grounds in the 5th ward of this city, afternoon and evening.  Watch for the grand street parade at 11 a.m.  This show is one of the best of its kind on the road and being a home institution our people should all turn out to attend it.  Admission children 15 cents, adults 25 cents.   WG

05 18          Last Thursday afternoon and evening large crowds of people witnessed Seibel Bros. dog and pony show, and all were pleased with the performances.  There were many new acts in the program and Seibel Bros. may well feel proud of the performances the intelligent dogs and ponies give.  Many of their tricks seem almost human.   WG

10 12          Auction—The undersigned will sell at public auction, at the corner of Main and Eighth streets, in the second ward in the city, on Friday, Oct. 20, 1911, at 1 o’clock sharp, the following personal property, to wit:  20 draft horses, 1 fine high-bred chestnut stallion, 2 large spotted riding and driving ponies, 1 black driving mare in foal, 5 lumber wagons, 1 wagon box, 1 4-seated carryall, 1 open phaeton harness, 1 single buggy harness, 2 sets double carriage harnesses, 8 sets heavy work harnesses and many other articles too numerous to mention.  Terms of sale – All sums up to $10 cash; over that amount 6 months time will be given on bankable notes at 6 per cent interest. -- Emil Seibel   WG

 

1912

04 25          Seibel Bros. Circus Opens Season of 1912 in Watertown

Watertown, the home of Seibel Bros., proprietors of Seibel Brothers mammoth dog and pony circus, will be greatly favored on Thursday, May 2nd, by this excellent circus opening the season here by giving afternoon and evening performances.  The show had a very successful season last year, and starts out this year larger and better than ever and with every prospect of an even more successful season than that of 1911.  Watertown people should turn out in large numbers at both performances.  The farmers of the surrounding country and people of nearby towns will be here in the hundreds to see it.  The trained animal division is said to be the best of any circus on the road today, while human talent to make the show complete in other details is not lacking.  Besides having added greatly to the size of the show they have a number of features which are exceptionally fine.  Cairo, the trained monkey, does a loop-the-loop act which is thrilling and amazing.  He sits in his little auto with apparent unconcern and takes his dare devil ride with great enjoyment.  Young Sandow, the strong man, is very good as is also Del Fontain, the slack wire artist, who has some original acts that are very fine.  Nero Brothers, the contortionists, are both amusing and interesting.  Prof. Roy Rush of Bloomington, Ind., and formerly of the Gentry shows, has been with Seibel Bros. all winter and has the dogs, monkeys and ponies well trained.  There will be a street parade on the day of the show.  WG

 

05 02          A Great Show

Seibel Bros. dog and pony show, which exhibited at the Sharon hall park last Saturday afternoon, proved to be a wonderful exhibition of equine and canine skill.  The ponies performed, in an almost unbelievable manner, many tricks which must have required months of patient training to perfect.  The work of the dogs, also, was truly wonderful.  One feature about the show was the noticeable absence of the tough element which many times too often follow the traveling tent show.  The people from the proprietor down to the humblest canvass hustler conducted themselves as gentlemen.  The show itself was perfectly clean and we would be glad to welcome them here for a return date. — Sharon Reporter    At Watertown, Thursday, May 2nd, 1912, afternoon and evening.  WG

 

1916

Winter headquarters for show leaves Hartford, returns to Watertown  1916 is assumed date

 

1960

05 04          One of the city's old and well constructed mansions, the former home of Edward and Emil Seibel, owners of the old Seibel Bros. Circus, is coming down to make way for a service station to be erected by the Clyman Oil Co.  The home is at 802 [actually 804] Main Street.  In more recent years it was owned and occupied by the late Dr. A .B. [actually A. H.] Hartwig, one of the city's mayors, and later by his son, Attorney Harold W. Hartwig.

 

Seibel, Emil, dau of

1920, Mention of

Seibel, Emil, M/M

Dogs and ponies, animal barn, WHS_005_556

 

Cross Reference:

Chapter on Circuses