John H. Sparks World-Famous Shows: 1917 Maine Route

Photos of the 1927 Sparks Circus Parade in Augusta, Maine

Featured here are photos of the Sparks Circus Parade traveling up Water Street in Augusta, Maine on August 4th, 1927.

Photo of the Sparks Circus "Dancing Girls Bandwagon" Crossing the Bridge in Caribou

This is a great photo taken on July 13th, 1927 of the "Dancing Girls Bandwagon" crossing the bridge in Caribou, Maine.

Sparks Leaves Lasting Impression in Maine as we cover Circus Day in Lewiston, 1917

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Circus day was a big deal
this year! Here is a 
advertisement promoting 
"Circus Day" specials.

 In the year of the United States Congress issuing a  declaration of war against the German Empire, an escape from reality was truly treasured! 


In Maine, Sparks Circus carried the job of providing that escape around the state starting on Independence Day in Portland and staying here for 18 dates, essentially the whole month of July, going as far north as Fort Kent. This season left a lasting impression all across Maine. A Portland newspaper, a city with rich circus history, stated that it was a "fine performance and the best conducted circus ever in the city." The Kennebec Journal, a newpaper that covers Augusta stated that "Sparks Circus gave two  excellent performances, best ever in Augusta, the program is high class containing many thrillers and more than pleased everybody."

In this post we will take a look at some newspaper articles and promotional materials used for the July 23rd date in Lewiston.

Circus Day, 1917 in Augusta was a Special Day for Solders Heading to War

On April 2, 1917, Pres. Wilson asked a joint session of the United States Congress for a declaration of war against the German Empire. Congress responded with the declaration on April 6. This was America's entry into World War 1 and 1000s of troops where being sent over seas to witness the horrors of war first hand. On April 20, Sparks Circus had just transported their great show from Bangor where they performed on the 19th to Augusta. This year, Circus Day was not only going to be the day in which
families gather to to watch the great circus parade come into town, set up and then spend the day exploring the wonders of the amazing pageantry. This year, it would also prove to be the day that our men serving would have a chance the escape the harsh realities of leaving home and the nightmares that were ahead of them. For this day, reality was replaced by the magical world of the traveling circus with Sparks being the only circus coming to our state this year and talks of it being the only appearance of a circus troupe in general until after the war. One newspaper article from the July 23, 1917 edition of the Lewiston Evening Journal reported on the matter as follows:

CIRCUS DAY SAW HIGH JINKS IN THE CAPITOL CITY - THE SOLDERS' REVEL!

The Entire Regiment Was Given Leave and The Boys Didn't Miss a Thing! 

If the soldiers never have another good time until they disembowel the German, they'll remember Friday evening, July 20, 1917.

There was a circus in town. There are no adequate words in the Anglo-Saxon tongue to express just what the combination of a circus and a group of 2000 soldiers means.

The entire regiments, for the