Will Hill's Society Circus and the Bullowa Girls

First of all, I must thank footnoteMaven, author of a wonderful self-titled site as well of the equally amazing Shades Of The Departed - who very kindly sent me a copy of this circus poster which features Carrie Bullowa and her sisters.

They were with Will H. Hill's Circus as aerialists/acrobats. In the poster, you can see the notice for the Bullowas directly over Eugene O'Brien's name. This poster dates from the 1920s.

I haven't found any vaudeville/circus Bullowas in either the census or the Ellis Island records (yet) so am wondering now if they didn't take the name as a stage name - just as Theodosia Goodman became a silent movie vamp under the more exotic name Theda Bara.

Will H. Hill's Comedy Circus - sometimes called Hill's Society Circus - was known for its animal exhibitions - especially elephants, which he had living on his property in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. Will Hill was born in New York in 1878 and was a vaudeville performer by the World War I period, according to his draft card of that time. He and his flamboyantly red-haired wife Margaret lived for many years in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey - along with their circus animals.

At this site there are some interesting anecdotes about the Hills and their menagerie of dogs, monkeys and elephants at 70 Pollard Road in Mountain Lakes. Apparently once an elephant wandered across the street to peek in the neighbour's dining room window. The neighbour, a brave lady named Mrs. Stoller, phoned Will Hill and calmly said that the elephant needed more attention at home, and would he please come and fetch it.

Here is a YouTube clip from the 1930s showing Will Hill's Society Circus (looks like someone in the audience filmed it). Will's audience appeal varied dramatically - he seemed to play to empty bleachers a lot of the time.The clip is just over 9 minutes long, and gets a bit repetitive at the end: two elephants trudging around the ring, clearing longing to kick Will Hill in the keister. Lots of miniature ponies trudging around the ring, too. There are also a few dogs, one of whom can jump rope.

Do have a look at the first minute or so, though - it shows the troupe at Luna Park, Coney Island, Brooklyn - and in the first minute you can see Carrie Bullowa herself, on horseback. I'm pretty sure it is her, anyway - and I was thrilled to see her!

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Awhile back, I wrote about another acrobat - a French gentleman of the 1850s, who had a little mishap with a wicker eagle in front of Napoleon Bonaparte's grandson - you can read about him here in Aerial Misadventures.


OTHER SOURCES

World War I Draft Registration Cards 1917-18 at Ancestry - William H. Hill, General Delivery, Mountain Lakes, NJ; DOB 18 Mar 1878; Vaudeville Performer; Next of kin Mrs. Margaret Hill at same address.

William H. Hill household, 1930 US Census, Mountain Lakes District 54, Morris, NJ; #439/439, Roll 1374, ED 54, p. 20B, address 70 Pollard Rd. WHH occupation: Manager, Circus Co. WHH age 49 b NY, Margaret A. Hill 37y b CT, occ. Trainer Actor, Animal Circus, Charles R. Smith servant 24y b Germany, Mechanic, Circus Co.


....And thank you once again to everyone who wrote such terrific comments and advice for searching for Carrie B. - I am so glad that you like her as much as I do!