Wests Worlds Wonder Shows was started as Wests Bright Lights Show, It began as a gilly show in 1919 by Frank West after he purchased the salvageable equipment from the bankrupt Rohda Royal Circus. By 1924 he was operating a 20 car railroad show and changed the name to Wests Worlds Wonder. West got his start on the Walter K. Sibley midway in 1910 operating an Athletic Show and as the owner of a Mangles Whip. He is best remembered by die hard circus fans for buying 5 tableau sides from the ill fated U.S. Motorized Circus in 1926 and making show fronts out of them. (like his Filipino Serenaders show.) By the thirties West had assembled a fine show carrying a Hey-Dey, a Whip, Caterpillar, Chair-O-Plane, Carousel, Eli 5 wheel, Lindy Loop, Ridee-O and kiddie rides. The show carried 23 attractions including Emerys Bar X Ranch Wild West show, Apples Motordrome, a Minstrel Show and Bellinas big magic illusion show to name just a few. Art Eldrige had a small circus on the back end of the midway. The show routinely carried around 45 concessions with the Baden Brothers owning 7, Frank Pope 10 and Harry Rubin 5. During his years of operation he made no secret of being a racket Show and in fact was close personal friends with the infamous gangster Legs Diamond who frequently hid out from the law on his show. West himself was a big man and from his At show days, not afraid to scuffle. He routinely kept a contingent of cane wielding sluggers under the office canopy for any emergencies that got out of hand. Frank West accomplished what many great carnival owners failed to do. He kept a large show operating profitably for over 24 years during some of the most difficult times in our countrys history. His show motto was All That The Title Implies... which was bringing a world of wonders to the grassroots people of America. In 1943 his show was legally attached in Gary Indiana. West changed the name for the final time to All American Exposition and sold the rides and equipment, selling the rolling stock to Ben Davenport for his 1944 edition of the Austin Bros. Circus. After West left the carnival business he became a bail bondsmen in Norfolk Va. where he finally passed away at the age of 80 in 1968 survived by his wife and sister.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 02:36:45 +0000
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