Early Los Altos

By Don McDonald, Special to the Town Crier

An unidentified girl appears at the big sign with Circus Chairman Fred Craig, and two advance men, Herb Skinner and “Eddie” Eddy.

It was a unique attraction - the only visit to Los Altos of a genuine under-the-big-top circus. The Yankee-Patterson Three-Ring Circus performed here just 56 years ago. It arrived in special cars, hauled by the Southern Pacific Railroad. They hired some of the local kids to help erect their big top and two smaller tents in the large vacant field adjacent to the SP Passenger Station at First and Main streets, where Draeger’s now stands. The circus complex included other traditional midway features on a modest scale.

Getting this event to come here was the brainchild of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce, under the leadership of Bill Powell, its president. They conceived it as a way to bring traditional, wholesome family entertainment to town, as well as to serve as a fund-raiser. For this, they struck a deal where part of the show’s profits would be given to a worthy civic enterprise, specifically the campaign to raise money for the Los Altos Youth Center Fund.

The first publicity for the event appeared on the front page of the Los Altos News on June 11, 1949, under the headline: “Corky and Bimbo to visit Los Altos - Circus days are June 26, 27, 28.” The highlight would be “Corky the Circus Boy, TV’s favorite, and his wonder elephant Bimbo.” Shows were to be given at 2 and 8:30 p.m. each day. Tickets bought in advance were $1.50 for adults and 75 cents for children.

Accompanying the following week’s article were several publicity photos of the big sign which had been erected on the lot. The article promised that the three-ring acts under the Big Top would include bare-back riders and tigers. The smaller tent would feature such attractions as a fire-eater, sword-swallower and glass-blower. There was no circus parade, but six guest appearances of Bimbo the elephant were scheduled at area shopping centers.

On the day before the show, the Los Altos News printed a front-page article headlined, “Circus hits town for 3-day stand.” A large ad inside listed the acts in more detail: “A Troop of Performing Elephants, High Trapeze Acts, Clark’s Performing Bears, Jugglers, A Unicycle Act, Dick Walker’s Exclusive Lion Act, World-famous Aerialist - Carmelita, The Spanish Web Aerial Act, Those Funny Chimpanzee Stars, and CLOWNS, CLOWNS, CLOWNS.”

Dick Walker’s lion act had a surprise in store at its first performance. Bill Powell, well-known around town, looked very much like Dick Walker. So Dick dressed in Bill’s street clothes instead of his usual flamboyant lion-tamer’s costume. When “Bill Powell” in his street clothes stepped into the ring with the lions, an audible gasp rose from the audience. It took several minutes for them to realize that the daring lion-tamer couldn’t possibly be Bill Powell. This little charade was good publicity and probably helped the circus attract near-capacity crowds for the five subsequent shows. By the time the tents were struck and the railroad cars loaded, everyone concerned was happy that the Los Altos performances had been an outstanding financial success.

The News reported that nearly 14,000 spectators had paid to attend. As a result, there was enough profit for the Chamber of Commerce to give “a nice check” to the Los Altos Youth Center Fund.

McDonald is a member of the Los Altos History Museum Association.