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FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT AT IT’S VERY BEST

 

 

THE SHOW

John Davenport is a third-generation circus performer and along with his brother Jairo have created the “Great Benjamins

Circus”. A traditional circus that offers amazing acts of international quality while being true to the traditional circus roots. Great Benjamins Circus and its caravans travel to the four corners of North America; from Florida to California, Alaska to Newfoundland / Labrador.

We offer a rich and sincere circus experience. Much more than an entertainment organization, we present ourselves as being a symbol of respect and education towards all cultures. We are an ambassador of multiculturalism and have a great appreciation for performance art. Join our family for 90 minutes of entertainment and experience 90 minutes of energy, beauty, and excitement.

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THE PERFORMERS

The Great Benjamins Circus proudly presents a diverse multi-cultural performance. Our performance consists of Circus Superstars from all around the world.

You’ll see Clowns, Acrobats, Aerialists, and daredevils. From North America, South America, Europe and Asia, we’ll give you and your family 90 minutes of non-stop excitement and energy. Our program will entertain and thrill children and adults alike – it truly is the best kind of real family entertainment.

Bring the kids. Bring the Grandparents. See the circus as a family!

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OUR MANAGEMENT

John Davenport

Owner & President

Jairo Ojeda

Owner & Vice President

A RICH FAMILY HISTORY

 

 

Benjamin C. Davenport

One of the most colorful characters in the circus industry, Ben Davenport owned the Dailey Bros. Circus which was a large railroad show.

Information Obtained From:
Bandwagon Magazine, Vol. 14, No. 4 (Jul-Aug), 1970, pp. 4-11.
Article and research By Leland L. Antes, Jr
.

In the fall of 1914 a young boy arrived in Delaware, Ohio, to attend the Methodist College, and study for the ministry. His parents, in Friendly, West Virginia, had planned for their son a career in the Methodist Church.

But one semester was all he could take and he took off. Opening and closing in one semester, Benjamin C. Davenport, joined out with a circus. The record is not too clear as to which show he went, but it is thought that it was Robinson’s Famous Shows, first in the winter quarters and then on the advance car.

A few years later he bought “the smallest horse in the world” and exhibited it fairs and indoor circuses. The next adventure was in partnership with Jimmy Sullivan on a carnival, where Ben framed a one ring circus for the midway. This did not work out and the stock went back to Sullivan at the end of the season.

In 1923 Davenport went out with the LeRoy Motorized Circus, from Fostoria, Ohio. He drove one of the seven Ford trucks. During the 1924 season he was with William Peters (Ketrow) on what was the first tour of the Ketrow Bros. Circus. Ketrow bought an elephant from the Hall farm and after the elephant man left Davenport took over the bull.

Davenport took his assemblage of horses, ponies, dogs and monkeys to the Lindemann Bros, four truck Seils-Sterling Circus, out of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in 1925. He was just about the whole show that season, appearing in 13 of the 26 acts, and on some days worked knives and magic in the side show. He stayed with the Lindemanns through the 1928 season. This was his training ground for a later career as a circus owner.

For the 1929 season he moved to the “Princess Iola’s Medicine Show”, playing week stands. Princess Iola, was actually Miss Eva Billings, daughter of Gay Billings, who had operated “Gay’s One-Horse Circus” out of Quincy, Illinois in the early 1900s. Princess Iola became Mrs. Davenport and in 1931 together they took the med show out again but it soon went broke in Sugar Creek, Ohio. Eva Davenport and her infant daughter Norma, returned to her home in and for a time took up residence.

Meanwhile Ben watched the ads in the Billboard and joined Milton Holland in framing a indoor circus to play Elks’ Club auspices in the Pacific Northwest. They stayed out 26 weeks.

He later went back to med shows playing halls for five and six day stands. For the next two years he was rassling bears and selling medicine. By that time his trucks were worn out and he replaced them with a couple of old Chevrolets.

This was the start of the Davenport Society Circus, in 1935, using a side wall corral, two trucks and an air calliope as the physical property. This little show grew, and continued under that title through the 1939 season. In 1940 the title was changed to Dailey Bros.

Ben and Eva bought Honest Bill Newton’s elephant, Nemo, their first elephant. They later bought a second bull from Newton, Rosie, as well as two camels and a manage horse. The 1940 season lasted until December 14th, and a small winter unit toured for six weeks, prior to the opening of the 1941 season. R. M. Harvey was now general agent, and the show was destined to grow fast from that point on.

In 1993 Benjamin C. Davenport was inducted into the Circus Hall of Fame.

Eva Billings Davenport passed away on February 22, 1958 in Sarasota Florida .

Terrell Jacobs (sep. 16, 1903 – Dec. 24, 1958)

Terrell Jacobs was born in Indiana, on September 16, 1903 to Mary Jane and Charles M. Jacobs.

Jacobs known as “The Lion King” was one of the America’s greatest wild animal trainers, in his 40 year career Terrell Jacobs was featured on 16 different circuses and carnivals and also owned his own circus.

In 1938 and 1939, while working with the Ringling Bros., Barnum and Bailey Circus Terrell performed with the largest number of lions, tigers and Leopards that had ever been assembled in one arena. The act was advertised as having 50 wild animals, the number was more like 30 to 35, however this is still a very impressive number

In 1940 Jacobs purchased an eight acre farm in Peru, Indiana to serve as his winter quarters, he then built barns to house his large collection of circus animals. The structures still stand today and have been recognized by the State of Indiana for their historical value. The facility was later used as winter quarters for Jess Adkins and Zack Terrell’s “Cole Bros. Circus” and has remained owned by show people ever since.

After leaving the Ringling show Jacobs started animal show which he exhibited at fairs and large carnivals. Bill Woodcock presented the elephants on the show and trained a new elephant handler Fred Logan who went on to become a great elephant presenter in his own right.

In 1944 Jacobs took out his own truck show the “Terrell Jacobs Wild Animal Circus” the show however was short lived. In1945 Jacobs was divorced from his wife “Dolly” and forced to sell the circus. The show was sold to Arthur Wirtz who used the equipment to form the “Barnes Brothers Circus”. Jacobs remained with the show, working the animal act.

After Barnes Terrell worked for Ben Davenport on the Austin Bros. Circus, which was the smaller unit of Davenport’s Dailey Bros Circus.

Jacobs career spanned over 40 years, at one time or the other he had worked for almost ever major circus in the country, Al G. Barnes, Sells-Floto, Christy Bros., Lee Bros., Robbins Bros., John Robinson, Gentry Bros., Howes Great London, Gilbert Bros., Holland Classical Circus, Arthur Bros., Barnes Bros., Al G. Kelly-Miller Bros. Circus, many large railroad carnivals and he was featured at the 1940 San Francisco World Fair.

Terrell Jacobs died on Dec. 24, 1958 at his home in Twelve Mile, Indiana

THE GREAT BENJAMINS CIRCUS