“A Tribute to All Showmen Under God’s Big Top.” Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Photo courtesy of author.
While Hugo, Oklahoma is certainly established within the rodeo community, it is a little known fact that this small town is also the headquarters for not one, but three different circuses. Though only three headquarters still exist today as of 2014, over the years since the 1940s, Hugo has made a name for itself as the winter home location for approximately twenty different traditional circus tent shows. Not only was Hugo’s southern location and temperate climate an attractive location for the circus during the winter months, but because of the town’s easy access to state highways running both north and south and east and west, it allowed for a much greater set of options when planning circus routes. (1)
The first circus to call Hugo home was the Kelly Miller circus, which was able to establish itself with the help and support of a local circus fan and businessman by the name of Vernon Pratt who offered the Millers free water for their animals. Following the establishment of the Kelly Miller circus, Hugo also became the winter quarters with notable names such as Herb Walters and Jack Moore. The three currently running circuses that call Hugo home are Carson and Barnes, Culpepper & Merriweather, and the original dweller, Kelly Miller. (2)
To commemorate the longstanding tradition and prominence of the circus in Hugo, a memorial was constructed in one of Hugo’s most popular tourist attractions, Mt. Olivet Cemetery. The cemetery, for the most part, looks like any other ordinary cemetery. However Mt. Olivet has two very distinct sections dedicated to Hugo’s most important cultural entertainment traditions, one being the circus.
Almost immediately as one enters the main entrance of Mt. Olivet, not too far down the main road and to the right-hand side, a very prominent and central focus of the cemetery is located, known as the “Showman’s Rest.” Established in the 1960s by D.R. Miller of the Kelly Miller Circus, this section of the cemetery serves to recognize a number of important individuals in the circus industry, not only from Oklahoma, but from all parts of the country. (3) Circus entertainers, employees, show owners, men and women, all call Mt. Olivet their final resting place. (4)
Though it may not possess the same amount of allure that it once did or draw large crowds like the major tourist attractions found in larger cities, Hugo’s historical connection to the circus is clearly visible. In Showman’s Rest, visitors will find massive monuments and elaborate grave markers dedicated to honoring those who made an impact on the circus industry, even having entire families of the circus industry buried side by side. Even today, Hugo is still referred to as “Circus City USA.”
Notable Memorials:
John Carroll (1926-1980)
Animal Trainer; Worked for D.R. Miller; First circus performer to be buried in Showman’s Rest (5)
Grave marker of John Carroll. Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Photo courtesy of author
Ted Bowman (1927-1999)
General Manager for Carson and Barnes Circus for 17 years (7)
Grave marker of Ted Bowman. Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Photo courtesy of H.I.L.T. on fickr.
Jack B. Moore (1919-1969)
Founder of Carson and Barnes Circus (8)
Grave marker of Jack B. Moore. Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Photo courtesy of author.
Obert Miller (1886-1969) and Wife Mary Rossy (1903-1997); Dale Miller (1911-1984) and Husband Kelly Miller (1913-1960); Dores Miller (1916-1999) and Wife Isla Miller (1917-1998)
Members of the Miller Family of Showmen (9)
Grave markers of members of the Miller circus family. Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Photo courtesy of author.
Herb Walters (1887-1968)
Prominent Circus owner who held winter headquarters in Hugo (10)
Grave marker of Herb Walters. Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Photo courtesy of author.
References:
(1) Finchum, Tanya, and Juliana Nykolaiszyn. “Little Dixie’s Circus Cemetery.” Southern Cultures 21, no. 2 (2015): 102-16.
(2) “Little Dixie’s Circus Cemetery”
(3) Atlas Obscura. “Showman’s Rest .” Hugo, Oklahoma. Last modified 2016. Accessed October 30, 2016. http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/showmen-s-rest
(4) “Little Dixie’s Circus Cemetery”
(5) “Little Dixie’s Circus Cemetery”
(6) “Little Dixie’s Circus Cemetery”
(7) Circus Fans Association of America. “Ted Bowman.” Showman’s Rest Part 3. Last Modified May 8, 2004. Accessed October 30, 2016. http://circusfans.org/res_det.php?res_id=326
(8) “Little Dixie’s Circus Cemetery”
(9) “Little Dixie’s Circus Cemetery”
(10) “Little Dixie’s Circus Cemetery”
HUGO RODEO [WO]MEN 