Cà d'Zan Mansion[1]

Truly the most spectacular building in Sarasota, the breathtaking Ca d'Zan Mansion was the Florida home of circus magnate John Ringling and his wife, Mable. Purported to be the last of the Gilded Age mansions built in the United States, the home overlooks the waters of the Sarasota Bay and is undoubtedly the most photographed building in Sarasota.

Construction on Ca d'Zan - literally "House of John'' in Venetian dialect - began in 1924 during the height of the success of the Ringling Bros. Circus. It took just over a year to build this Venetian Gothic masterpiece and the cost at the time was $1.5 million. The home was designed by New York architect Dwight James Baum and was built by local developer Owen Burns.

The Ringlings loved everything about Venice and wanted their winter home to resemble the structures they admired on their trips to Italy. They chose the Sarasota Bay location because the waters resembled those of the Grand Canal of Venice. In addition, design elements in their home were modeled after some of the great buildings of Venice, such as the Doge's Palace and the Ca d'Oro, a splendid 15th century Venetian palace. It is said that Mable Ringling possessed a portfolio full of postcards, photos, drawings, and other items from Venice that aided architects in the design of Ca d'Zan.

The mansion is 200 feet long and includes approximately 36,000 square feet of interior space. It boasts 41 rooms and 15 bathrooms. It stands five stories tall and includes a full basement. The highest point of the mansion is a belvedere tower that stretches to 81 feet and includes an open-air overlook.

Materials used for the exterior of the mansion include terra cotta T-blocks, concrete, and brick, covered with stucco and ornamented with shiny, glazed tiles. The terrace that fronts Sarasota Bay is made of both imported and domestic marble and the tiled roof is constructed of 16th century tiles imported from Spain.

Inside, deep reds and gold dominate the d‚cor. Reproduction Louis XV furnishings bought from major auction houses in New York are resplendent and indicative of the opulence of the Gilded Age. About 95 percent of what visitors see today are original pieces purchased by Mable.

Artwork is everywhere inside the home as the Ringling's were major collectors of art. Pieces include not only paintings and sculpture but also tapestries that span several centuries. Even the insides of closets were hand-painted with bucolic scenes of the Venetian countryside.

Mable Ringling died in 1929 and John in 1936. Ca d'Zan became the property of the state in 1946, after much red tape. Unfortunately, between that time and the 1990s, little was done to preserve the historic structure. However, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Thankfully, a $15 million restoration project was initiated in 1996 and completed in 2002, and the building was repaired and restored to - for the most part - its original state.

Today, visitors can enjoy docent-led tours of the mansion, narrated by museum aficionados who can share colorful anecdotal stories about the circus magnate and his wife. It remains one of Florida's most visited attractions.

The Circus Museums[1]

The Circus Museum celebrates the American circus, its history and unique relationship to Sarasota. Established in 1948, the museum was the first in the county to document the rich history of the circus. View colossal parade and baggage wagons, sequined costumes, and a sideshow banner line that document the circus of the past and of today.  See memorabilia and artifacts documenting the history of The Ringling family circus, John Ringling as the Circus King, and the greatest circus movie, The Greatest Show on Earth, which was filmed in Sarasota. 

Also on exhibition in the Circus Museum is the Wisconsin, the private Rail car of John and Mable Ringling built in 1905.  Built during the golden age of rail, the Wisconsin car provides a unique view into the splendid travel accommodations that John and Mable Ringling enjoyed on their travels around the country on business and with the circus. 

Enter the Circus Museum’s Tibbals Learning Center and see an exhibition of circus posters. Ranging in size from window to barn sized, these colorful posters were plastered on buildings, walls and fences all across America and broadcasted in no uncertain terms that the circus was coming to town. 

The cornerstone of the Circus Museum’s Tibbals Learning Center is the world's largest miniature circus, The Howard Bros. Circus Model. The model is a replica of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1919 – 1938.  It was created over a period of more than 50-years by master model builder and philanthropist Howard Tibbals.  The second floor of the Tibbals building documents the history of the American circus from ancient times to the present.

Opening in 2012, an expansion to the Circus Museum will contain exhibitions that celebrate circus performers were visitors of all ages will experience the magic of the center ring. 

Ringling Relics Retrospective[1]

RELICS REMAIN FROM THE JOHN RINGLING TOWERS. SARASOTA ARCHITECTURAL SALVAGE HOSTS RINGLING RELICS RETROSPECTIVE, AN EXHIBIT, CHARITY SALE AND AUCTION OF REMNANTS FROM THE JOHN RINGLING TOWERS.

The Event is Free, but we ask that you RSVP - 941-362-0803 or info@sarasotasalvage.com . We are collecting a suggested donation of $10 at the door.

On Saturday March 28th at 6:30 p.m. Sarasota Architectural Salvage is hosting Ringling Relics Retrospective an exhibition, auction and sale of remaining relics from The John Ringling Towers. Ribbon cutting at 7:00 pm. Proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Sarasota County History Center, the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation and the Historical Society of Sarasota County.

Complete in 1926, The John Ringling Towers were designed by Dwight James Baum and built by Owen Burns. The building was originally called the El Vernona Hotel in honor of Mr. Burn’s wife. John Ringling acquired the hotel in 1930 and eventually renamed it The John Ringling Towers. Originally built as a hotel it was converted to private apartments in the mid 1960’s.. In the early 1980’s the building was closed and sat vacant.

There was a large community effort in the late 1990’s to save this grand historic building. However the wrecking ball was sent in for demolition in 1998. At the time of demolition three trailers of relics were carefully salvaged, recorded and packed away. These relics were then given to The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art who have recently donated them to The Friends of the Sarasota County History Center.

Sarasota Architectural Salvage is thrilled to bring relics from this beloved building back to the public at this unique community based event that will bring attention to the importance of historic preservation and will benefit future heritage conservation in Sarasota County.

Held under the magical canopy of our local treasure warehouse Sarasota Architectural Salvage, Ringling Relics Retrospective will be a glorious evening affair honoring our rich history. The relics from The John Ringling Towers will be exhibited and sold at this evening event with music, food, drinks and entertainment.

Donations help support historic preservation in Sarasota. Our Special Patron Tickets are available for individuals and businesses that would like to show their support for preservation. All Patrons will be listed on the website, with your permission, or anonymously.

Online donation is available through Secure Web Site -- Click on the button below to make a donation.

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CHARLIE CHAN AT THE CIRCUS (1936)

CAST:

Annie Mar:  Mrs. Chan

Florence Ung: Number 1 Daughter

Jimmy Ung:  Jimmy, Number 2 Son

Lily Mui:  Number 6 Daughter

Circus acts in the Kinney and Gaines Combined Circus

(aka Kinney & Gaines Greater Circus):

MADAME BEARDO

GANGOR

THE SNAKE CHARMER

SU TOY

THE HUMAN KNOT

(AKA:  THE HUMAN PUZZLE)

THE BIGGEST LITTLE PEOPLE IN THEWORLD

COLONEL TIM & LADY TINY

HAWAIIAN PRINCESS – PRINCESS ALOLHA

SAMSON THE EUROPEAN STRONG MAN

LONDON PUNCH & JUDY SHOW

How much were the tickets to see the circus?

Twenty-five cents, which would be just over four dollars in 2010 US dollars.

Col. Tim was 42” tall.  Lady Tiny was “two inches shorter”—40”?

The dance that they’re doing is the rhumba.

What’s with the finger in the mouth when they dance?

Does Tim really dance with his cigar case inside his cummerbund?

What does he do with the peppermint stick that Charlie gives him?

Does “Lady Tiny” always keep HER autograph and pen handy?!

Does Charlie finish his lollipop while they do their dance?

If not, what happens to it?!

How does the ticket taker describe Charlie?

As the guy with his own sideshow!

The circus master who announces all the acts is obviously reading Marie Normand’s introduction as she comes out to perform.

Kinney asked how much the “take” was (did they take in).

Gaines told him $2,680., which would be $41,77.50 in 2010 US dollars.

How could Charlie see the skylight on the roof of the business office if he was too close to see anything on the roof?

How could a locksmith open the bolt if it’s on the inside of the wagon?

Was Collins the name of the character or the real name of the giant who held Lady Tim up when she said she couldn’t see anything?

It was John Aasen.

What did she see (if anything) when he did pick her up?

How could Charlie tell dead gorilla hair from gorilla hair just torn from a gorilla?

It took only three men to subdue a fully-grown male gorilla (without any tranquilizer gun or anesthesia)?

Was it only two men who took Caesar back to his catch?

What was the hotel number of Charlie’s room?

410.

Was this one room that the entire family used or was it an entire suite for 14 people?

Col. Tim and Lady Tiny were with Gaines’ circus for how many years?

Five years.

Did he know how to handle circus people?

Yes.

Joe Kinney had been with the circus how many years?

Two seasons.

What had he done before that?

Only worked honky-tonks.

Why was Tom Holt (J. Carroll Naish, aka Gangor) coming into the office on the train when he discovered Dan Farrell (Nellie’s brother) there?

He told Farrell that they didn’t want the smell of animals in the office.  Does that make sense when:

A:  Wouldn’t the office have at least a faint smell of the animals anyway? [Like the

            Southside of Fort Worth could always smell the Blue Northers that hit the

            Northside's Stockyards first?!]

B:  Wouldn’t Holt, himself, smell of the animals, especially after telling Chan that

            they all did several jobs?

What does Charlie have for breakfast with Tim and Tiny in their room:

Coffee, toast and doughnuts.

What does Tiny take with her when they leave to tour the circus?

She takes a banana everyday for Caesar.

What happened to the business office?

It was broken into but burgled badly since no one actually got into the safe.  Charlie figured out that some one had to put in the fake marriage certificate and Lee noticed that someone had filed on the hasp to get around the lock on the door to the office.

Who’s marriage certificate was it?

Joe Kinney and Nellie Farrell’s.   They had married on May 31, 1935—Decoration Day—in Juarez, Mexico.  The Mexican official who signed the marriage certificate was Jose Ortega.

Was there anything else of Kinney’s personal papers in the safe?

A life insurance certificate worth $5,000 naming Marie Norman as beneficiary.

What does Lee see in an ad in the paper that Nellie Farrell may have torn out?

PROFFESSIONAL NOTICES

FREDEREICK GARNER

ATTORNEY

-----

DOMESTIC RELATIONS

INSURANCE

CRIMINAL

CONSULTATION FEE

402 ARCADE BUILDING

How do Lee and Tim shadow Nellie and Dan Farrell?

Lee dresses up as a nanny and Tim dudes up as a baby in the “nanny’s” perambulator.

What does Tim say when they see Nellie and Dan after she’s seen the attorney?

“Well, I should kiss a pig!”

How does Su Toy recognize Lee?

The skirt to his nanny’s costume starts falling off.

What does she tell him?

The first thing he should learn as a detective is how to keep his disguise together and hands Lee her jade pin to help.

How did Charlie know?

He recognized her pin at Lee’s waistband when he got back to his father in the circus office.

What was the name of the wardrobe mistress?

Jenny.

How did Marie know that Nellie’s marriage certificate was faked?

Because she had newspaper clippings in her scrapbook that proved that Kenney wasn’t with Nellie in Juarez.

 What was the newspaper?

“[El Paso?] Times.”

What were the dates of the articles?

May 31, 1935.

What did they say?

STORM WRECKS CIRCUS BIG TOP

Circus Performers and Animals Escape

[Caption under Marie’s picture, misspelling her last name:

Marie Normand, Aerial Star]

DEPUTY SLAIN IN ACE CASINO

Unidentified Killer Caught

Cheating[,] Blasts Way to Safety

PROMINENT CIRCUS SHOWMAN

HELD AS WITNESS.

Who is named in the article?

Deputy Pedro Ramirez. 

BLOOPER:  There is a date discrepancy:  Does Nellie Farrell say they were married May 30^th?  The newspapers all use the date of May 31^st—what gives?

NOTE:  Marie Norman is referred to as Marie “Normand” in one of the clippings from her scrapbook but a sign [on their tent] read “Marie and Louise Norman.”

NOTE:  George Brasno threw his cigar on the floor of their wagon.  Why didn’t it burn the wagon up?

MURDER RATE:  Joe Kinney by J. Carrol Naish