Ringling Brothers 124th Edition Blue Tour costume designs

1994

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus is an American circus company formed in 1919. The company runs two train-based tours throughout North America, the Red and Blue Tours, each of which perform a separate edition of the circus show for two years. This collection consists of sketches, fabric swatches, sample notions and jewels, photographs, measurements, specifications, and notes for a selection of costumes created for the 124th Edition Blue Tour of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. All material in the collection dates from 1994. Circus acts documented through the costume designs include the Boulibekov riding act, clowns, Muratov and Koukan aerial act, ringmaster Jim Ragona, and elephant trainers Tom Heffnet and Buckles Woodcock. Animal attire is also represented, with designs for elephant blankets and carousel horse costumes. The designs are arranged by act or performer name. Multiple design within a file are ordered sequentially by design number. Some costumes documented in the collection were designed by Michael-Jon Costumes and created by the Eaves-Brooks Costume Company.