Arthur F. Rammer(Art, Rammer, Ramer, Dutch)

Tight Wire Artist Extraordinaire1909 to 1914

Etta Leon Troupe 1912Art Rammer was born Aug 26, 1893 in Antigo Wisconsin and begins his Wire Walking career atthe age of 15 when he was asked to join the Cevene Brother’s Troupe. The Cevene brothers hadrun a laundry in Antigo, Wisconsin. (Antigo Daily Journal, Dec. 7, 1911)Art’s first performance with the Cevene Troupe in 1909, a four person troupe, was working for theSUN BROTHERS CIRCUS.

Art Rammer & Fred CeveneSun brothers Circus - 1909

Franklin, LA

At the end of the 1909 circus season the Cevene Troupe performed the following winter as avaudeville act at various theaters. Some of the following recorded events in 1910 were: the BijouTheater in Racine, Wisconsin, the Appleton Theater in Appleton, Wisconsin, the Majestic Theaterin Fort Wayne Indiana and a theater in Indianapolis, Indiana and the Opera House in Antigo,Wisconsin.

Cevene Troupe – Wonders of the WireBijou Theater - Racine, Wisconsin, February, 1910

(Art Rammer on left end)

Cevene Troupe and othersBijou theater – Racine Wisconsin, February, 1910

(Art Rammer 2nd Row 1st. on left)

Cevene Troupe - Appleton TheaterAppleton, Wisconsin – March 1910

(Art Rammer on left end)

(Art Rammer 2nd from right)

Cevene Troupe - 1910(Art Rammer on top row left end)

Photo taken at Madison’s Studio, Antigo, Wisconsin

Majestic Theater, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1910In 1911 the Cevene Troupe joined the Gentry Bros’ Show (Circus). They were the FeaturedAttraction and were billed as the European Wonders of the Tight Wire.

Cevene Trpupe – 1911( Art Rammer on far right side )

Cevene Troupe & friend- Chicago, Illinois, July 8, 1911

Cevene Troupe – Gentry Bro’s Show, 1911The Gentry Bro’s show was known for its dog and pony acts.The 1911 season opened in Bedford, Indiana on April 22nd. Later that year a fire destroyed themenagerie tent. And shortly after that a head-on collision at Pembia, N.D. telescoped three stockcars, killing four hoses and injuring twenty more. There were no personnel injuries but this wasone of the most costly wrecks that the Gentry shows had ever experienced. The season ended onDecember 2 in Victoria, Texas and the show went into winter quarters at San Antonio instead oftheir normal winter quarters in Bloomington, Indiana. In 1911 the show moved on 15 railroadcars, I advance, 4 stocks, 7 flats and 3 coaches.The great European War in progress from 1911 through 1918 caused poor years for Americancircuses. Many acts return to vaudeville to make a living.Art had returned to Antigo again at the end of the circus season, residing at his home at 903 East5th Av. Fred Cevene took his troupe to Cuba for the winter months. Art had received two postcards fromHarry Crawford in Havana, Cuba, dated Jan. 1912. Harry was working for Fred Cevene alongwith Herbert (Slats) Beeson at the Publiloes Circo in Cuba. Fred also sent Art a letter offering hima job when he returned to the states.On December 5th, 1911 Art received a telegram from the Etta Leon Troupe stating as follows: “Can you do understanding and carrying with light top mounted waste running can you carrypole if so wire me your lowest salary and me pay transportation and furnish all wardrobe andhow soon can you join answer quick unique theatre here salary must be low as this is steady workthe year round”.(Referring to his ability to carry someone on his shoulders and walking with a balancing pole) Apparently Art was qualified because on December 7th, 1911 the Antigo Journal printed thefollowing article about Art.

The Troupe started in St Paul, Minneapolis and by the first week of January, 1912, the troupe wasin Butte Montana. At the end of January they were at the Empress Theater in Seattle, Washington. The Etta Leone Troupe then preformed in Vancouver B.C. the week of Jan. 28th, TacomaWashington the week of Feb. 4th, Portland Oregon the week of Feb. 11th and San FranciscoCalifornia the week of Feb. 18th. While in California, Art received a telegram telling him that his brother Peter, age 26, who wasworking as a line for the Great Western Power Company was electrocuted in SacramentoCalifornia. No further entries until July 1912. Between July 1912 and March 1913 Art performed as a vaudeville act at various theaters andCountry Fairs throughout the USA. During this time Art preformed with the Etta Leon Troupe butalso performed with different troupes or as the same troupe under different troupe names. Many ofthese performances were only one day stands.The following dates and places are listed in Art’s route book for the 1912 and 1913 season.July 1, 1912 New York CityJuly 4, 1912 (opened) Palisade Park, N.J. - Etta Leon TroupeJuly 8, 1912 New York City, 264 west 38th St. (Laid off)July 15, 1912 Brooklyn, New York – Empress Theater (3 days) - Etta LeonTroupeJuly 21, 1912 7th Ave Theater, 125st and 7th Ave - Etta Leon TroupeJuly 25, 1912 Grand Theater, Bowley - 7 Romalo TroupeJuly 28, 1912 River Side Theater, 96st and Broadway - Six Vaughens (3 Days)Aug. 1, 1912 Gotham Theater, 3rd Ave. & 125th St. - Six Vaughens (4 Days)Aug. 8, 1912 Harlem Opera House, 125th St. & 8th AveAug.12, 1912 New York City, 264 west 38th St. (Laid off)Aug. 18, 1912 Saginaw, Michigan, River View Park (1 week) - Etta Leon TroupeAug. 25, 1912 Champaign, Ill. (opened) Urbana County Fair - Etta Leon TroupeSept. 2, 1912 West Union, Iowa - Fayette County Fair - Etta Leon TroupeSept. 8, 1912 Des Moines, Iowa - Etta Leon TroupeSept. 10, 1912 Green Field, Iowa - Etta Leon TroupeSept. 12, 1912 visited the Hagenbeck & Wallace Circus at Creston, IowaSept. 16, 1912 Creston, Iowa

Sept. 18, 1912 Guthrie Center, IowaSept. 25, 1912 Guthrie County Fair (opened) - Etta Leon TroupeSept. 28, 1912 Sedalia, MissouriSept. 30, 1912 Sedalia, Missouri, opened Missouri State Fair (2 days) - Etta LeonTroupeOct. 5, 1912 Kansas City, Missouri, (Hotel convention) - Etta Leon TroupeOct. 14,1912 Minneapolis, Minn., Miles Hippodrome - Etta Leon TroupeOct. 17, 1912 Taske HotelOct. 21, 1912 Milwaukee, Wis., Nixdorf HotelOct. 28, 1912 Milwaukee, Wis., Crystal Theater -- Etta Leon TroupeNov. 1, 1912 Sister Hanna came to visitNov. 4, 1912 Chicago, Ill., Hamlin Theater - Etta Leon TroupeNov. 7, 1912 Chicago, Ill., Lincoln Theater - Etta Leon TroupeNov. 9, 1912 Chicago, Ill., Randolph HotelNov. 11, 1912 Buffalo N.Y., Academy Theater - Etta Leon TroupeNov. 13, 1912 Buffalo N.Y., Victoria HotelNov. 17, 1912 New York City, 251 West 34 StNov. 24, 1912 New York City, Casino theaterDec. 1, 1912 New York City, Empire Theater, BrooklynDec. 3, 1912 New York City, Proctors Fifth Ave Theater - Lozano Troupe The New York Evening Journal, dated Saturday December 7, 1912 printed one of Art’s mostfavorite quotes and he would often repeat it to his family members“Last come the Lozanos a wonderful troupe of tight wire performers who jump through a hoop. They get you all dizzy with feats in the air; for a marvelous balance there’s none to compare.”

Dec. 8, 1912 New York City – laid offDec. 16, 1912 New York City, 251 West 34stDec. 28, 1912 Union Hill New Jersey, Hudson theater - Lozano TroupeDec.29, 1912 New York City, 251 West 34 StJan. 1, 1913 Laid offJan 5, 1913 New York City, Colonial Theater - Lozano TroupeJan 12, 1913 New York City, Alhambra theater- Lozano TroupeA handbill of the Lozano Troupe listed them as the “The Original Mexican Aerial Tight WireNovelty. First Time in America”. “The Act With Out an Equal Bar None. Fast – Artistic –Daring and Beautiful”

The Lozano Troupe, 1913(Art Rammer top row left hand side)

The Lozano Troupe, 1913(Art Rammer top row left hand side)

Art joined the B.F. Keith’s greater New York circuit tour group. This later included the famoussinger Eva Tanguay as the feature act. Art and Eva toured 21 cities together in 1913.Jan 20, 1913 New York City, Orpheum Theater (Opening stand for B.F. Keith’s)Jan. 27, 1913 New York City, Bronx TheaterFeb. 3, 1913 New York City, Brooklyn Bushwick TheaterFeb. 10, 1913 Bridgeport, Connecticut (Lozano Troupe joins Eva Tanguay tourgroup)

Feb. 11, 1913 Hartford, ConnecticutFeb. 12, 1913 Holyoke, MassachusettsFeb. 18, 1913 Worcester, Massachusetts, Bay State Hotel (3 days)Feb. 17, 1913 New London, ConnecticutFeb. 18, 1913 Taunton, MassachusettsFeb. 19, 1913 Fitchburg, ConnecticutFeb. 20, 1913 Springfield, Massachusetts, Cort Squire Hotel (3 days)Feb. 24, 1913 Providence R.I. Colonial Theater (one week) with Miss Eva Tanguay

Note: The Lozano Troupe either changed their name or the program had a miss spelling of troupename.March 1, 1913 Albany, New York, Broadway Central HotelMarch 4, 1913 Rochester, New YorkMarch 5, 1913 Ithaca, New YorkMarch 6, 1913 Auburn, New YorkMarch 7, 1913 Utica, New YorkMarch 8, 1913 Syracuse, New YorkMarch 10, 1913 Geneva, New YorkMarch 11, 1913 Hornell, New YorkMarch 12, 1913 Erie, PennsylvaniaMarch 13, 1913 New Castle, PennsylvaniaMarch 14, 1913 Akron, OhioMarch 15, 1913 Steubenville, Ohio (Closed with the Eva Tanguay Show)March 16, 1913 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Keuijou Theater (1 week)March 12, 1913 Rochester, Pennsylvania, Majestic Theater (3 days)

Laid off account of flood, theater out of businessMarch 29, 1913 Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaMarch 31, 1913 Philadelphia, Nixon Theater, (opening stand of S.C. Tirne)April 7, 1913 Philadelphia, Victoria Theater (3 days)April 10, 1913 Cleveland, Ohio (laid off 3 days)April 14, 1913 Cleveland, Ohio, Duchess Theater (1 week)April 20, 1913 Detroit, Michigan, Broadway Theater (1 week)May I, 1913 Fort Wayne, Indiana, Empress Theater – Lozano troupe

The summer of 1913 Art returned home to Antigo, Wis. In August he received a letter from hisfriend W. D. (Dormilly) Glasscock with the Lozano troupe. W. D. asked him if he had bought afarm yet. Dormilly and his wife Etta I believe manage and performed in both the Etta Leon andLozano troupes.It appears that about this time Art join forces with Harry Crawford and Geraldine Lloyd. Firstlisting themselves as Rammer, Lloyd and Crawford, and then renaming them-selves the LaVilas Troupe, “MANIACS OF WIREDOM -the fastest of the fastest”. The La Vilas Troupelisted a permanent address at the Belmont Hotel in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. I believe that Harry andGeraldine had at one time performed with the Cevene Troupe. Geraldine had also preformed withthe Rosa Valerio Troupe.

The La Vilas Troupe was hired by Sun Bros. Circus for the summer season of 1913. On November 4th, 1913 Sun bros. sent the Vilas Troupe an official layoff notice.

I have no further records as to what Art was doing between November of 1913 and March of1914. However, it appears that Art had been corresponding with Fred Cevene who was travelingwith his troupe in Europe with the Sarrasani Circus. Jan. 2Oth 1914 Art received letter from Fredasking him to join the troupe in Germany. On Feb. 14th 1914 Art received a post card from FredCevene who was in Hamburg, German and was to leave for Dresden, Germany on March 8th

1914. Again Fred had asked Art to rejoin his troupe when they returned to the states and starttouring with the Hagenbeck - Wallace circus.

Art, Geraldine & Jack -Sun Bros. Circus, 1913

On March 30th 1914 Art received a telegram from Fred Cevene informing him that they will beopening with the Hagenbeck - Wallace circus on April 9th, in St. Louis, Missouri.Art was with the Hagenbeck - Wallace circus on April 9th, when he received another telegram fromFred Cevene “noting that they had just landed in New York and will be on first train. Fix anchorsfifty feet long and 6 wide, buy cable if you need it or use stakes, get everything ready. As we will bethere Saturday morning eight thirty via Penna. See boss property man for anything you need.”The Fred Cevene troupe consisted of 6 performers; Fred Cevene, Hebert (Slats) Beeson, CariMiller, Arthur Ramer, Tom Waters and Harry Smith. (note: Herbert Beeson later became a verynotable high wire artesian while dress as a female performer, he was also known as HerbertaBeeson and Berta Beeson.)The Hagenbeck -Wallace Circus opened in St. Louis (Coliseum), April 11th for eight days andopened their road season at Peru, Indiana (home of this circus) and closed at Paducah, KentuckyOctober 27th. Season lasted 28 1/2 weeks. Seventeen states were traversed. The route includedone eight day stand and 3 two day stands. All of the rest were one day stands.The Circus’s only performances in Wisconsin that year were in Kenosha and Janesville. Weather was always a factor as rain and floods can ruin a season. The worst storm encountered in 1914 was in Sturgis Michigan, a wind storm of cyclonic powerstruck the canvas endways. However, not a stake was pulled and every tent stood, notwithstanding some buildings were blown over. The wind got under the big top and lifted it until theouter quarter poles dangled in the air as high as a person’s head. These poles struck several peoplesitting on the grand stand. One man died soon afterward and several were sent to the hospital. Many lawsuits were started against the show, but were decided in favor of the circus (unliketoday’s justice system). Not any circus property was damaged. The minute the storm was overand after the terrible confusion had given away to order, the performance continued.

Hagenbeck - Wallace Circus, 1914At the end of the 1914 circus season Art again returned to his beloved home town of Antigo, WI. As I have not found any further information I believe that Art hung up his tight wire shoes forgood. September 15th 1915 Art took a job with the Chicago and North Western Railroad as a fireman.Eventually becoming an Engineer for Chicago and North Western and working for them for thenext 48 years, till the time of his death on January 17, 1963. Arthur Fredrick Rammer is buried inAntigo, WI.Art married Addis Turney, August 6, 1916 and had five children, Thomas, Mary Alice, Joyce,Phyllis and William. Addis died in 1926. Art then married Dorothy Flader, September 25th 1931. Art and Dorothy had four more children, Patricia, James, Margret and Michael.Art never lost his love for the circus; he would go to every circus that came to town, mostly to talkto the performers and renewed old friendships. As they say in the circus “you can shake thesawdust out of your shoes but not out of your heart.”

Circus World Museum, Baraboo, WI

Circus World Museum, Baraboo, WI Written by Arthur Rammer’s youngest son.

Michael Arthur RammerOshkosh, WIOctober, 2009