A Significant Day for the Skerbecks

100 years ago today, Frank Skerbeck Jr (1847-1921) rode the merry-go-round at his family’s carnival during the festivities for his granddaughter’s wedding and died of a heart attack from the excitement. June 15 also happened to be his birthday.

As requires no explanation to the Great Lakes Region , the Skerbeck Family Carnival is still a going concern. It’s a local show, but it figures into amusement history for many reasons. One is longevity: the family show started in the mid 19th century in what is now the Czech Republic. The other is perhaps apocryphal: there is a legend that Frank is the man who encouraged Al Ringling to take his show under canvas and sold him his first tent.

The saga begins circa 1857 when Frank Skerbeck Sr. sold his factory in Bohemia and purchased a circus. Frank Jr soon learned the skills of sword swallowing and swinging on a trapeze. In 1880 he brought his wife Mary,a snake charmer, and large brood of children, most of them acrobats, to Wisconsin, where they started a farm, and then, four years later, a circus. The family hustled to make a living however they could: some focused on making the farm pay, others traveled with the family tent show, sometimes joining other outfits, even Wild West Shows and Tom Shows to keep body and soul together. They performed on the Midway at the Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. They purchased their first merry-go-round in 1897 — quite early in the history of mechanical rides. Sometimes they traveled by rail, sometimes by steamship to towns around the lakes (the same circuit as Station Eleven, or almost, I think!)

Along the way there were mishaps. In 1889 Joe Skerbeck, who would inherit the show from his father, shot himself in the hand. In 1892 he fell from a high wire. He survived both mishaps. Tents were blown down during high winds in 1901 and 1903. Antone Skerbeck died of an apparent heart attack while performing his clown act when he was only 23 years old. And of course, Frank Jr’s expiration on his own carousel, at the age of 74.

The family carnival, as opposed to the one ring tented circus that had preceded it, was founded in 1912. The sixth generation of this remarkable performing family is currently on the ascendant. For a full schedule on where the Skerbeck show is playing next go here.

For more on show biz history read No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous.