Circus Parade Horse Pony Wagon Police Escort Elgin Illinois 1972 Photo 8 x 5

In July 1972, Louisville photographer Bill Rhodes documented a traveling circus street parade in Elgin, Illinois, capturing a small pony wagon surrounded by handlers and mounted escorts.

Circus parades remained a recognizable feature of American traveling shows well into the early 1970s, even as many larger rail circuses had shifted toward motorized transport and stadium performances. Smaller wagons, pony teams, and mounted escorts continued to appear in parade units designed to showcase performers and attract attention ahead of scheduled performances.

The photograph shows a decorative pony wagon pulled by a team of small ponies wearing ornamental harnesses while circus personnel guide the unit through the parade route. A mounted handler rides alongside on horseback while another performer sits on the wagon seat beside a costumed figure. Additional parade units and performers are visible further down the street, with crowds watching from the sidewalk and parked automobiles lining the background. The reverse carries a stamp identifying the image as an Original Photo by Bill Rhodes of Louisville, Kentucky, dated Jul 72, and includes a reproduction prohibition notice. A handwritten note on the reverse appears to identify a performer or participant as Dick Lectner.

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