Experts say, most emotional memories are the result of cued recall. It might be a certain date or an anniversary. Then again it could be anything that is connected to one’s senses, a cue that ignites an emotional recall. The wonder about recalled memory is how unpredictable and random such an occurrence can be.
Yesterday’s flight had the Bazflyers leap almost 1000 kilometres northwards from the small rural Kansas settlement of Newton, across the State of Illinois before landing at Baraboo in the adjoining State of Wisconsin. The point of this was to position close to Oshkosh. Every year, in the third week of July, the small Wisconsin town of Oshkosh plays host to a staggeringly huge assembly of aircraft, the biggest air show in the world. Somewhere around 15,000 airplanes are anticipated for this year’s 50th EAA Oshkosh and the Bazflyers in Comanche ZK-BAZ will be one of them.
As is the Bazflyers determinate style and with their Comanche securely in the care of Baraboo-Dells Flight Centre, it was off to explore the town of Baraboo. Surly with a name like “Baraboo” there just had to be something interesting to discover. Not only was there a fascinating discovery, for one Bazflyer it also lit the fuse of an emotional recall.
It was probably sometime in 1953, definitely in the era when a frugal accumulation of several weeks pocket-money was necessary for admission to an afternoon movie matinee. Deciding what movie to see was a judicial process, although in retrospect selection was likely influenced by posters displayed outside the theatre. One of those movies indelibly inked a lasting impression on the mind of a very young boy. It was “The Greatest Show on Earth”.
As a movie the Greatest Show on Earth was a lavish production. It featured the great Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus including heart wrenching spectacular action sequences and an emotional show-stopping train wreck. For 130 years (the circus ceased in 2017) Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus toured coast to coast across America with an entertainment experience cherished by young and old alike. It was the Greatest Show on Earth...!
How amazing then to discover the five Ringling brothers had lived in Baraboo and started their famous circus on the town square in 1884. What a marvellous memory cue. The tradition of this great circus and the Ringling Brothers legacy is enshrined in Baraboo. Then, as if a memorial to that past era, the town’s recently restored theatre built as a gift to Baraboo by A L Ringling in 1915, stands proudly comparable to the best in the world.
The Ringling Brothers not only founded the Greatest Show on Earth, but each of them in their own way was a great showman. Thank you Baraboo for a wonderful recalled memory experience. Surely a fitting prelude for the Bazflyers next mission....flying into the Greatest Airshow on Earth.
BAZ after a 100 hour service outside Webco Aircraft at Newton, KS (KEWK) with John and Wayne.
Flying over unusually green prairie country stretching all the way from Newton to Baraboo
Baraboo’s A L Ringling Theatre restored to its former glory and still in use after 115 years.
The theatre’s interior
A theatre relict from the silent movie era when an organist provided relevant music sound effects
Original poster for ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’
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