Famous
Robinson Show Wagon
In
her autobiography, Lois Robinson Daugherty wrote down her father's
memories of the Robinson family history. Charles B. Robinson recollected
that three brothers, John, Billy and David (his
grandfather) Robinson, came together from Buncombe Co.,
NC to Kentucky. David settled on Big Wild Dog Creek (now Jackson
County) and Billy in Clay County. According to Charles B., John
did not remain long in Kentucky, but went to Cincinnati to join
the Famous Robinson Show. To date, nothing further is known about
John.
Frank
A. Robbins Circus Cage No. 85
This
interesting wagon gets its nickname "Picture Frame" from
the unique configuration of the side panels, added by an unknown
carver.
Originally the cage was on the Famous Robinson Show, thus the initials
FRS, which can be seen faintly in early photos of this wagon. In
1911, the Frank A. Robbins Show purchased the wagon at auction for
$200. They did not need to change the initials FRS.
On this circus, the vehicle was used as a baggage wagon and in parade
as a bandwagon. The side panels had beautiful paintings of wild
animals. When the Robbins circus folded in 1915, this wagon was
sold to a movie studio in California, at which point the elaborate
woodcarvings were added.
The wagon finally wound up at Disneyland and, in 1962, was presented
to the Circus World Museum by Walt Disney Studios.
Note the "sunburst" wheels on this 1905 wagon. Usually,
small painted wedges are were inserted between wheel spokes; here,
one large circular piece of wood has been bolted to the wheel. The
scalloped-edge framework was done by an unknown carver after the
Picture Frame was retired from circus usage.
The wagon is 15'9" long and 10'6" high and is pulled by
six Belgians.
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