Call Number
CWM Mss 102
Title
Cristiani Bros. Circus, Business Records, 1955-1961, 5 c.f. (13 boxes)
Biography
The Cristiani Family, renowned for their world-famous bareback riding act, is considered one of the most famous equestrian families in circus history. The original troupe consisted of “Mama and Papa” Cristiani and ten of their children. The family’s circus roots can be traced back to Italy during the 1840s. In 1934, the family traveled to the United States at the invitation of John Ringling North to perform with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. In 1938, the family settled in Sarasota, Florida, where many descendants of the family continue to reside today. After touring with several circus companies, the family decided to enter a partnership with Floyd King’s King Bros. Circus in 1950, performing under the title “King Bros. and Cristiani Circus”.
In 1954, the Cristiani family established the “Cristiani Bros. Circus”, using their home in Sarasota as its headquarters. Family members comprised the majority of the performers and staff. Lucio Cristiani, one of the ten siblings from the original equestrian troupe, served as the President and General Manager. His brothers, Pete and Daviso, held the positions of Superintendent of Concessions and Assistant Vice President, respectively. Their sister Marion designed all the circus’s costumes while also performing as an aerialist. The youngest member of the original troupe, Corcaita "Corky" Cristiani, performed both as an equestrian and aerialist.
In 1954, the Cristiani Circus became the first traveling circus to perform in the state of Alaska, earning widespread admiration from local audiences. By 1958, the show had grown to become the second-largest circus in North America, surpassed only by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. At its peak, more than 50 trucks were required to move the show from one town to the next. Following the 1960 season, however, the show closed due to financial difficulties. Members of the Cristiani family went their separate ways, though many continued to work in the circus industry either as performers, managers, or other circus personnel.
Scope and content
This collection consists of business records from the Cristiani Circus dating from 1955 to 1961. The collection contains invoices, contracts, permits, insurance and tax forms, and correspondence between General Manager Lucio Cristiani and other circus personnel. The collection also includes order requests for a picture book released by the Cristiani family in 1960, as well as newspaper clippings related to the circus.
Individuals prominently represented in the collection include advance car manager Elmer Kaufman, insurance agent Sam Soloman, accountant David Schwartz, and Tony Diano, who provided exotic animals for the sideshow.
Container List
Box Folder
Box 1 Folder 1 Advertising Contracts 1958
Box 1 Folder 2 Advertising Contracts 1958
Box 1 Folder 3 Advertising Contracts 1958
Box 1 Folder 4 Advertising Contracts 1960
Box 1 Folder 5 Performer’s Contracts 1958 Season (A-H)
Box 1 Folder 6 Performer’s Contracts 1958 Season (I-Z)
Box 1 Folder 7 Performer’s Contracts 1960 Season
Box 1 Folder 8 Musician’s Contracts 1960 Season
Box 1 Folder 9 Musician’s Contracts 1960 Season
Box 1 Folder 10 Union Forms, undated
Box 2 Folder 1 Union Contracts 1956-1957
Box 2 Folder 2 Union Contracts 1958
Box 2 Folder 3 Union Contracts 1959
Box 2 Folder 4 Union Contracts 1960
Box 2 Folder 5 Permits 1956-1957
Box 2 Folder 6 Permits 1958
Box 2 Folder 7 Permits 1959
Box 2 Folder 8 Permits 1960
Box 2 Folder 9 Licenses to Show 1957-1958
Box 2 Folder 10 Licenses to Show 1959-1960
Box 2 Folder 11 Tent Flame Resistance Certificates 1956-1958
Box 2 Folder 12 Florida Industrial Commission Unemployment Compensation Division
1958-1960
Box 2 Folder 13 Employment 1957-1960
Box 3 Folder 1 Financial Statements 1956-1957
Box 3 Folder 2 Financial Statements 1958
Box 3 Folder 3 Financial Statements 1959-1960
Box 3 Folder 4 Mortgage on Show 1959-1960
Box 3 Folder 5 Federal Taxes 1958-1959
Box 3 Folder 6 State Taxes 1955-1958
Box 3 Folder 7 State Taxes 1959
Box 3 Folder 8 State Taxes 1960/Blank forms
Box 3 Folder 9 Gas/Vehicle Tax 1957
Box 3 Folder 10 Gas/Vehicle Tax 1958
Box 3 Folder 11 Gas/Vehicle Tax 1959
Box 3 Folder 12 Gas/Vehicle Tax 1960-1961
Box 3 Folder 13 Gas Tax- Ohio 1956-1961
Box 3 Folder 14 Gas Tax- Ohio Forms- Blank
Box 4 Folder 1 Insurance 1956-1958
Box 4 Folder 2 Insurance 1958
Box 4 Folder 3 Insurance 1958-1959
Box 4 Folder 4 Insurance 1959
Box 4 Folder 5 Insurance 1960
Box 4 Folder 6 Insurance 1960
Box 4 Folder 7 Insurance 1960-1961
Box 4 Folder 8 Insurance–Sam Soloman–1959
Box 4 Folder 9 Insurance–Sam Soloman–1959
Box 5 Folder 1 Insurance–Sam Soloman–1959
Box 5 Folder 2 Insurance–Sam Soloman–1960
Box 5 Folder 3 Insurance–Sam Soloman–1960
Box 5 Folder 4 Insurance–Sam Soloman–1961
Box 5 Folder 5 Invoices Miscellaneous undated, 1956
Box 5 Folder 6 Invoices Miscellaneous 1957
Box 5 Folder 7 Invoices Miscellaneous 1958
Box 5 Folder 8 Invoices Miscellaneous 1958
Box 5 Folder 9 Invoices Miscellaneous 1959
Box 6 Folder 1 Invoices Miscellaneous 1959
Box 6 Folder 2 Invoices Miscellaneous 1960
Box 6 Folder 3 Invoices Miscellaneous 1961
Box 6 Folder 4 Lewis Diesel Company 1957-1960
Box 6 Folder 5 O. Henry Tent & Awning Company 1958-1960
Box 6 Folder 6 Quaker Storage Company 1959-1960
Box 6 Folder 7 U.S Tent & Awning 1957-1958
Box 6 Folder 8 U.S Tent & Awning 1959
Box 6 Folder 9 U.S Tent & Awning 1960
Box 6 Folder 10 Central Show Printing Invoices/Correspondence 1957
Box 6 Folder 11 Central Show Printing Invoices/Correspondence 1958-1960
Box 6 Folder 12 Enquirer Printing 1956-1957
Box 6 Folder 13 Enquirer Printing 1957
Box 6 Folder 14 Enquirer Printing 1958
Box 6 Folder 15 Enquirer Printing 1959-1960
Box 7 Folder 1 Globe Poster Invoice/ Correspondence 1957
Box 7 Folder 2 Globe Poster Invoice/ Correspondence 1958-1960
Box 7 Folder 3 Billboard Publishing Company 1957-1961
Box 7 Folder 4 Printing Invoices 1960
Box 7 Folder 5 Printing Correspondence 1959
Box 7 Folder 6 Printing Correspondence 1960
Box 7 Folder 7 Printing Correspondence 1961
Box 7 Folder 8 National Ticket 1959
Box 7 Folder 9 National Ticket 1960
Box 7 Folder 10 Globe Ticket Company 1958-1959
Box 7 Folder 11 Ticket Orders 1958
Box 7 Folder 12 Ticket Orders 1958-1959
Box 7 Folder 13 Ticket Orders 1960
Box 7 Folder 14 Attorney Inventory 1960
Box 7 Folder 15 Inventory of Show Equipment 1956-1958
Box 7 Folder 16 Inventory of Show Equipment 1959-1961
Box 7 Folder 17 Pete Cristiani Reports 1956-1959
Box 7 Folder 18 Philadelphia Date Correspondence 1958-1959
Box 7 Folder 19 Route 1960
Box 7 Folder 20 Sarasota Bank & Trust Company 1958-1960
Correspondence
Box 8 Folder 1 A 1958
Box 8 Folder 2 A 1958
Box 8 Folder 3 A 1959-1960
Box 8 Folder 4 B 1956-1959
Box 8 Folder 5 B 1959-1961
Box 8 Folder 6 C 1958
Box 8 Folder 7 C 1958-1959
Box 8 Folder 8 C 1959-1960
Box 8 Folder 9 D 1958-1959
Box 8 Folder 10 D 1958-1960
Box 9 Folder 1 E 1958-1960
Box 9 Folder 2 F 1957-1958
Box 9 Folder 3 F 1959-1960
Box 9 Folder 4 G 1958-1961
Box 9 Folder 5 H 1956-1957
Box 9 Folder 6 H 1956-1957
Box 9 Folder 7 H 1958-1959
Box 9 Folder 8 H 1958-1960
Box 9 Folder 9 H 1960
Box 9 Folder 10 J 1958-1959
Box 9 Folder 11 K 1958-1960
Box 10 Folder 1 L 1958-1959
Box 10 Folder 2 L 1958-1960
Box 10 Folder 3 Mc 1958-1960
Box 10 Folder 4 Ma-Me 1958-1959
Box 10 Folder 5 Mi-My 1958-1959
Box 10 Folder 6 N 1958-1961
Box 10 Folder 7 O 1959-1960
Box 10 Folder 8 Pa-Pe 1958
Box 10 Folder 9 Pf-Py 1958
Box 10 Folder 10 P 1959-1961
Box 10 Folder 11 Q 1959
Box 10 Folder 12 R 1956-1959
Box 10 Folder 13 R 1959-1961
Box 11 Folder 1 S 1958-1959
Box 11 Folder 2 S 1958-1959
Box 11 Folder 3 S 1960
Box 11 Folder 4 T 1958-1959
Box 11 Folder 5 V 1958-1959
Box 11 Folder 6 W 1957-1958
Box 11 Folder 7 W 1958-1959
Box 11 Folder 8 W 1960
Box 11 Folder 9 Y-Z 1958-1959
Box 11 Folder 10 Paul Conaway 1956-1960
Box 11 Folder 11 Daviso Cristiani 1960
Box 12 Folder 1 Lucio Cristiani 1958-1959
Box 12 Folder 2 Tony Diano 1957-1959
Box 12 Folder 3 Tony Diano 1960
Box 12 Folder 4 E.K Fernandez 1960
Box 12 Folder 5 L.B Holtcamp 1959
Box 12 Folder 6 Elmer Kaufman 1958
Box 12 Folder 7 Elmer Kaufman 1959
Box 12 Folder 8 Elmer Kaufman 1960
Box 12 Folder 9 Elmer Kaufman 1960
Box 12 Folder 10 Charles Lenz 1958-1960
Box 13 Folder 1 Tom Parker 1958-1960
Box 13 Folder 2 J.C Rosenheim 1958-1960
Box 13 Folder 3 David Schwartz 1956-1957
Box 13 Folder 4 David Schwartz 1958-1959
Box 13 Folder 5 David Schwartz 1960-1961
Box 13 Folder 6 Walter Stebbins 1958-1960
Box 13 Folder 7 Charles Underwood 1958
Box 13 Folder 8 Yaarab Temple 1959
Box 13 Folder 9 Picture Book Orders 1960-1961
Box 13 Folder 10 Show/Performance Schedules and Plans 1958
Box 13 Folder 11 Miscellaneous
Box 13 Folder 12 Photos & Newspapers 1960
CWM Mss 102
Title
Cristiani Bros. Circus, Business Records, 1955-1961, 5 c.f. (13 boxes)
Biography
The Cristiani Family, renowned for their world-famous bareback riding act, is considered one of the most famous equestrian families in circus history. The original troupe consisted of “Mama and Papa” Cristiani and ten of their children. The family’s circus roots can be traced back to Italy during the 1840s. In 1934, the family traveled to the United States at the invitation of John Ringling North to perform with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. In 1938, the family settled in Sarasota, Florida, where many descendants of the family continue to reside today. After touring with several circus companies, the family decided to enter a partnership with Floyd King’s King Bros. Circus in 1950, performing under the title “King Bros. and Cristiani Circus”.
In 1954, the Cristiani family established the “Cristiani Bros. Circus”, using their home in Sarasota as its headquarters. Family members comprised the majority of the performers and staff. Lucio Cristiani, one of the ten siblings from the original equestrian troupe, served as the President and General Manager. His brothers, Pete and Daviso, held the positions of Superintendent of Concessions and Assistant Vice President, respectively. Their sister Marion designed all the circus’s costumes while also performing as an aerialist. The youngest member of the original troupe, Corcaita "Corky" Cristiani, performed both as an equestrian and aerialist.
In 1954, the Cristiani Circus became the first traveling circus to perform in the state of Alaska, earning widespread admiration from local audiences. By 1958, the show had grown to become the second-largest circus in North America, surpassed only by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. At its peak, more than 50 trucks were required to move the show from one town to the next. Following the 1960 season, however, the show closed due to financial difficulties. Members of the Cristiani family went their separate ways, though many continued to work in the circus industry either as performers, managers, or other circus personnel.
Scope and content
This collection consists of business records from the Cristiani Circus dating from 1955 to 1961. The collection contains invoices, contracts, permits, insurance and tax forms, and correspondence between General Manager Lucio Cristiani and other circus personnel. The collection also includes order requests for a picture book released by the Cristiani family in 1960, as well as newspaper clippings related to the circus.
Individuals prominently represented in the collection include advance car manager Elmer Kaufman, insurance agent Sam Soloman, accountant David Schwartz, and Tony Diano, who provided exotic animals for the sideshow.
Container List
Box Folder
Box 1 Folder 1 Advertising Contracts 1958
Box 1 Folder 2 Advertising Contracts 1958
Box 1 Folder 3 Advertising Contracts 1958
Box 1 Folder 4 Advertising Contracts 1960
Box 1 Folder 5 Performer’s Contracts 1958 Season (A-H)
Box 1 Folder 6 Performer’s Contracts 1958 Season (I-Z)
Box 1 Folder 7 Performer’s Contracts 1960 Season
Box 1 Folder 8 Musician’s Contracts 1960 Season
Box 1 Folder 9 Musician’s Contracts 1960 Season
Box 1 Folder 10 Union Forms, undated
Box 2 Folder 1 Union Contracts 1956-1957
Box 2 Folder 2 Union Contracts 1958
Box 2 Folder 3 Union Contracts 1959
Box 2 Folder 4 Union Contracts 1960
Box 2 Folder 5 Permits 1956-1957
Box 2 Folder 6 Permits 1958
Box 2 Folder 7 Permits 1959
Box 2 Folder 8 Permits 1960
Box 2 Folder 9 Licenses to Show 1957-1958
Box 2 Folder 10 Licenses to Show 1959-1960
Box 2 Folder 11 Tent Flame Resistance Certificates 1956-1958
Box 2 Folder 12 Florida Industrial Commission Unemployment Compensation Division
1958-1960
Box 2 Folder 13 Employment 1957-1960
Box 3 Folder 1 Financial Statements 1956-1957
Box 3 Folder 2 Financial Statements 1958
Box 3 Folder 3 Financial Statements 1959-1960
Box 3 Folder 4 Mortgage on Show 1959-1960
Box 3 Folder 5 Federal Taxes 1958-1959
Box 3 Folder 6 State Taxes 1955-1958
Box 3 Folder 7 State Taxes 1959
Box 3 Folder 8 State Taxes 1960/Blank forms
Box 3 Folder 9 Gas/Vehicle Tax 1957
Box 3 Folder 10 Gas/Vehicle Tax 1958
Box 3 Folder 11 Gas/Vehicle Tax 1959
Box 3 Folder 12 Gas/Vehicle Tax 1960-1961
Box 3 Folder 13 Gas Tax- Ohio 1956-1961
Box 3 Folder 14 Gas Tax- Ohio Forms- Blank
Box 4 Folder 1 Insurance 1956-1958
Box 4 Folder 2 Insurance 1958
Box 4 Folder 3 Insurance 1958-1959
Box 4 Folder 4 Insurance 1959
Box 4 Folder 5 Insurance 1960
Box 4 Folder 6 Insurance 1960
Box 4 Folder 7 Insurance 1960-1961
Box 4 Folder 8 Insurance–Sam Soloman–1959
Box 4 Folder 9 Insurance–Sam Soloman–1959
Box 5 Folder 1 Insurance–Sam Soloman–1959
Box 5 Folder 2 Insurance–Sam Soloman–1960
Box 5 Folder 3 Insurance–Sam Soloman–1960
Box 5 Folder 4 Insurance–Sam Soloman–1961
Box 5 Folder 5 Invoices Miscellaneous undated, 1956
Box 5 Folder 6 Invoices Miscellaneous 1957
Box 5 Folder 7 Invoices Miscellaneous 1958
Box 5 Folder 8 Invoices Miscellaneous 1958
Box 5 Folder 9 Invoices Miscellaneous 1959
Box 6 Folder 1 Invoices Miscellaneous 1959
Box 6 Folder 2 Invoices Miscellaneous 1960
Box 6 Folder 3 Invoices Miscellaneous 1961
Box 6 Folder 4 Lewis Diesel Company 1957-1960
Box 6 Folder 5 O. Henry Tent & Awning Company 1958-1960
Box 6 Folder 6 Quaker Storage Company 1959-1960
Box 6 Folder 7 U.S Tent & Awning 1957-1958
Box 6 Folder 8 U.S Tent & Awning 1959
Box 6 Folder 9 U.S Tent & Awning 1960
Box 6 Folder 10 Central Show Printing Invoices/Correspondence 1957
Box 6 Folder 11 Central Show Printing Invoices/Correspondence 1958-1960
Box 6 Folder 12 Enquirer Printing 1956-1957
Box 6 Folder 13 Enquirer Printing 1957
Box 6 Folder 14 Enquirer Printing 1958
Box 6 Folder 15 Enquirer Printing 1959-1960
Box 7 Folder 1 Globe Poster Invoice/ Correspondence 1957
Box 7 Folder 2 Globe Poster Invoice/ Correspondence 1958-1960
Box 7 Folder 3 Billboard Publishing Company 1957-1961
Box 7 Folder 4 Printing Invoices 1960
Box 7 Folder 5 Printing Correspondence 1959
Box 7 Folder 6 Printing Correspondence 1960
Box 7 Folder 7 Printing Correspondence 1961
Box 7 Folder 8 National Ticket 1959
Box 7 Folder 9 National Ticket 1960
Box 7 Folder 10 Globe Ticket Company 1958-1959
Box 7 Folder 11 Ticket Orders 1958
Box 7 Folder 12 Ticket Orders 1958-1959
Box 7 Folder 13 Ticket Orders 1960
Box 7 Folder 14 Attorney Inventory 1960
Box 7 Folder 15 Inventory of Show Equipment 1956-1958
Box 7 Folder 16 Inventory of Show Equipment 1959-1961
Box 7 Folder 17 Pete Cristiani Reports 1956-1959
Box 7 Folder 18 Philadelphia Date Correspondence 1958-1959
Box 7 Folder 19 Route 1960
Box 7 Folder 20 Sarasota Bank & Trust Company 1958-1960
Correspondence
Box 8 Folder 1 A 1958
Box 8 Folder 2 A 1958
Box 8 Folder 3 A 1959-1960
Box 8 Folder 4 B 1956-1959
Box 8 Folder 5 B 1959-1961
Box 8 Folder 6 C 1958
Box 8 Folder 7 C 1958-1959
Box 8 Folder 8 C 1959-1960
Box 8 Folder 9 D 1958-1959
Box 8 Folder 10 D 1958-1960
Box 9 Folder 1 E 1958-1960
Box 9 Folder 2 F 1957-1958
Box 9 Folder 3 F 1959-1960
Box 9 Folder 4 G 1958-1961
Box 9 Folder 5 H 1956-1957
Box 9 Folder 6 H 1956-1957
Box 9 Folder 7 H 1958-1959
Box 9 Folder 8 H 1958-1960
Box 9 Folder 9 H 1960
Box 9 Folder 10 J 1958-1959
Box 9 Folder 11 K 1958-1960
Box 10 Folder 1 L 1958-1959
Box 10 Folder 2 L 1958-1960
Box 10 Folder 3 Mc 1958-1960
Box 10 Folder 4 Ma-Me 1958-1959
Box 10 Folder 5 Mi-My 1958-1959
Box 10 Folder 6 N 1958-1961
Box 10 Folder 7 O 1959-1960
Box 10 Folder 8 Pa-Pe 1958
Box 10 Folder 9 Pf-Py 1958
Box 10 Folder 10 P 1959-1961
Box 10 Folder 11 Q 1959
Box 10 Folder 12 R 1956-1959
Box 10 Folder 13 R 1959-1961
Box 11 Folder 1 S 1958-1959
Box 11 Folder 2 S 1958-1959
Box 11 Folder 3 S 1960
Box 11 Folder 4 T 1958-1959
Box 11 Folder 5 V 1958-1959
Box 11 Folder 6 W 1957-1958
Box 11 Folder 7 W 1958-1959
Box 11 Folder 8 W 1960
Box 11 Folder 9 Y-Z 1958-1959
Box 11 Folder 10 Paul Conaway 1956-1960
Box 11 Folder 11 Daviso Cristiani 1960
Box 12 Folder 1 Lucio Cristiani 1958-1959
Box 12 Folder 2 Tony Diano 1957-1959
Box 12 Folder 3 Tony Diano 1960
Box 12 Folder 4 E.K Fernandez 1960
Box 12 Folder 5 L.B Holtcamp 1959
Box 12 Folder 6 Elmer Kaufman 1958
Box 12 Folder 7 Elmer Kaufman 1959
Box 12 Folder 8 Elmer Kaufman 1960
Box 12 Folder 9 Elmer Kaufman 1960
Box 12 Folder 10 Charles Lenz 1958-1960
Box 13 Folder 1 Tom Parker 1958-1960
Box 13 Folder 2 J.C Rosenheim 1958-1960
Box 13 Folder 3 David Schwartz 1956-1957
Box 13 Folder 4 David Schwartz 1958-1959
Box 13 Folder 5 David Schwartz 1960-1961
Box 13 Folder 6 Walter Stebbins 1958-1960
Box 13 Folder 7 Charles Underwood 1958
Box 13 Folder 8 Yaarab Temple 1959
Box 13 Folder 9 Picture Book Orders 1960-1961
Box 13 Folder 10 Show/Performance Schedules and Plans 1958
Box 13 Folder 11 Miscellaneous
Box 13 Folder 12 Photos & Newspapers 1960