Photo Record
Images
![[Conklin's Shows]](https://s3.amazonaws.com/pastperfectonline/images/museum_44/057/thumbs/2010_025_001.jpg)
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
2010.025.001 |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Title |
[Conklin's Shows] |
Description |
Black and white photographic print. Covered carnival wagon with "Conklin's Shows Here/All This Week/Sensational Free Attractions Twice Daily/Best in Amusements/Canada's Largest Show/A Canadian Enterprise/Bring the Kiddies/Thrilling Rides/Marvelous Shows/A Fairyland of Lights" printed on the side. Wagon is pulled by six ponies, four of which are pintos. A man in a suit is seated in the wagon and is driving the team. They are on a paved road. Behind the ponies is a large group of men, women, and children. Circus tent is visible in the background. Printed along the top of it is "Main Entrance/Conklin's All Canadian Show". Ropes from the tent to nearby trees and hydro poles. A man on a bicycle to the left of the wagon. Buildings in the background to the far left. Print has a double mat. The backing matboard is dark brown; the other matboard is beige with a dark brown, decorative interior border. Photographer's mark "E. Denton/Kitchener, Ont." stamped in the lower right corner. A length of black ribbon is taped into a loop on the reverse of the matboard. |
Date |
1946 |
Date |
1950 |
Photographer |
Denton, Ernest |
Copyright |
Expired |
History |
Conklin Shows was a travelling carnival company that set up midways at fairs and other public events throughout Canada. The company's name changed over the years - Conklin & Garret Limited (1927-1940); Conklin Shows (1946-1970); Canada's Conklin Shows & Conklin Shows International (1970-2004). In 1937, the Conklin head office was established in Brantford, ON. Conklin had permanent shows at the Canadian National Exhibition and the Calgary Stampede. In 2004, the company was sold to a US conglomerate. The founder of Conklin Shows was born Joseph Renker (1892-1970) in Brooklyn, New York. At a young age, Joseph joined Clark & Conklin Shows in the United States. The owner of the carnival adopted Joseph, with Joe changing his name to James Wesley "Patty" Conklin after his adopted father. Patty expanded the business into Canada, eventually creating his own Canadian carnival under the name Conklin & Garret Limited. Patty became a multi-millionaire from the carnival, having been involved in all major midways in Canada. The photograph looks like it dates to the 1930s-1940s from the clothing in the print. According to the Conklin website, Conklin first set up a show in Kitchener on July 3, 1954. Shows were held at Brantford and Hamilton in 1946, which is more in line with the clothing as a date. It is possible that E. Denton went to Brantford or Hamilton to photograph the carnival. |
Search Terms |
Conklin Shows |
People |
Conklin, Patty Denton, Ernest |