John Herriott - Revision history

Djando: /* The Herriotts */

2025-06-06T19:59:49Z

‎The Herriotts

Djando at 19:59, 6 June 2025

2025-06-06T19:59:12Z

Djando: /* Image Gallery */

2018-05-06T00:03:21Z

‎Image Gallery

Djando: /* John and Mary Ruth */

2016-02-12T17:12:50Z

‎John and Mary Ruth

Djando: /* Later Years */

2015-11-05T16:59:36Z

‎Later Years

Djando: /* John and Mary Ruth */

2015-11-05T16:57:33Z

‎John and Mary Ruth

Djando: /* The Herriotts */

2015-07-25T01:09:42Z

‎The Herriotts

Djando: /* Later Years */

2015-07-25T01:06:00Z

‎Later Years

Djando: /* In And Out Of The Ringling Show */

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‎In And Out Of The Ringling Show

Djando: /* John and Mary Ruth */

2015-07-25T01:04:58Z

‎John and Mary Ruth

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 ===The Herriotts===
-[[File:John_and_Milton_Herriott.jpg|thumb|left|250px|John & Milt Herriott (c.1950)]]John Herriott’s grandfather was Osmer Pike Herriott (1871-1936), who is said to have been a descendent of the legendary explorer Zebulon Pike (1779-1813), who explored the southern Louisiana Territory and Colorado. Pike Herriott entered circus life as a cook, at a time when American circuses were huge affairs that traveled with a full Dining Department. Pike started with the Miller Brothers’ [[101 Ranch Wild West Show]], the last of the great American Wild West shows, which toured the United States from 1907 to 1939.
+[[File:John_and_Milton_Herriott.jpg|thumb|left|300px|John & Milt Herriott (c.1950)]]John Herriott’s grandfather was Osmer Pike Herriott (1871-1936), who is said to have been a descendent of the legendary explorer Zebulon Pike (1779-1813), who explored the southern Louisiana Territory and Colorado. Pike Herriott entered circus life as a cook, at a time when American circuses were huge affairs that traveled with a full Dining Department. Pike started with the Miller Brothers’ [[101 Ranch Wild West Show]], the last of the great American Wild West shows, which toured the United States from 1907 to 1939.
 Pike’s son, Milton (known as Milt), began to work in the circus at a relatively early age, taking care of animals. He eventually went on to training them, and over the years, he presented all sorts of animal acts, with a preference for horses and elephants. He was also for a time Manager of the [[Cole Bros. Circus]]. Milt Herriott’s circus career spanned a half-century.

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	==Animal Trainer, Circus Owner==		==Animal Trainer, Circus Owner==

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−	[[Category:Artists and Acts\|Herriott, John]][[Category:Equestrians\|Herriott, John]][[Category:Animal Trainers\|Herriott, John]][[Category:Circus Owners and Directors\|Herriott, John]]	+	[[Category:Artists and Acts\|Herriott, John]][[Category:Equestrians\|Herriott, John]][[Category:Animal Trainers\|Herriott, John]][[Category:Circus Owners and Directors\|Herriott, John]][[Category:Elephant Acts\|Herriott, John]][[Category:Exotic Animals\|Herriott, John]]

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 [[File:John_and_Mary_Ruth_Herriott_at_CWM.jpg|thumb|right|400px|John & Mary Ruth Herriott]]Then, John and Mary Ruth Herriott embarked on a long and rich career that would take them from "mud shows" to [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey]] and everything in-between, and eventually to their own circus. Whatever circus it was, big or small, John Herriott loved it; circus was his passion, his life. Their career also included a few stints in television and film. In time, Mary Ruth would develop her own pony and dog, and aerial acts, and also assisted her husband in presenting elephants, horses, and exotic animals&mdash;to the exclusion of big cats (lions, tigers, leopards, etc.): John’s philosophy on that matter was clear, he didn’t want to work with animals that could conceivably enjoy him as their meal!
-In November 1955, John Herriott was contracted to present elephants and exotic animals from the [[Gil Gray Circus]] at the brand-new ''Mickey Mouse Club Circus'' in Disneyland. In spite of all the Disney hoopla, the show was short-lived: it would close early January 1956. John would then remain with the Gil Gray Circus for a few years, before moving to the [[Hunt Bros. Circus]], where he presented a group of horses at liberty.
+In November 1955, John Herriott was contracted to present elephants and exotic animals from the [[Gil Gray Circus]] at the brand-new [[Mickey Mouse Club Circus]] in Disneyland. In spite of all the Disney hoopla, the show was short-lived: it would close early January 1956. John would then remain with the Gil Gray Circus for a few years, before moving to the [[Hunt Bros. Circus]], where he presented a group of horses at liberty.
 At the end of 1962, he was contacted by circus historian "Chappie" Fox, the Director of the newly created (in 1959) [[Circus World Museum]] in Baraboo, Wisconsin&mdash;the [[Ringling Brothers]]' former hometown. Chappie was developing the Museum, and wanted an associate to manage the circus that was part of the project. In many aspects, John Herriott was a perfect match for the Museum: He knew the circus scene well, he had a natural authority, he had some business education, he could train and present animals for the show&mdash;and in addition, he had a passion for the circus and a keen interest in American circus history; in essence, he was a true circus fan, albeit a highly knowledgeable one!

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 In time, John Herriott began to accept engagements to speak of circus history and circus life. He had a conservative approach to the latter, and rightly believed in the respect of its tenets and traditions, and in proper circus etiquette. John proved to be an excellent, charismatic speaker, with a solid sense of humor. He also wrote poetry about the circus; the Sarasota ''Herald Tribune'' had even called him "The Poet Laureate of the Circus." Upon his retirement from performing, these became steady activities. He was also actively involved in [[Showfolks of Sarasota]], the famous circus folks club in Sarasota, of which he was President in 1982-1983.
-In 2000, John Herriott was honored with a plaque on the [[Circus Ring of Fame]] at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. In 2005, he was inducted into the [[International Circus Hall Of Fame]] in Peru, Indiana. He had also been inducted into the Ringling Museum of Art’s Circus Celebrity Circle in 1976. John Herriott had written a poem titled ''The Old Showman’s Heaven''; on February 26, 2015, the old showman he was rejoined there the people he had loved and admired. He was 84. The Herriott dynasty continues with his four daughters, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
+In 2000, John Herriott was honored with a plaque on the [[Circus Ring of Fame]] at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. In 2005, he was inducted into the [[International Circus Hall Of Fame]] in Peru, Indiana. He had also been inducted into the Ringling Museum of Art’s Circus Celebrity Circle in 1976. John Herriott had written a poem titled ''The Old Showman’s Heaven''; on February 26, 2015, the old showman he was rejoined there the people he had loved and admired. He was 84. Mary-Ruth followed him soon after, on November 1, 2015. The Herriott dynasty continues with his four daughters, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
 ==Image Gallery==

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 ===John and Mary Ruth===
-The Korean War began in June 1950 (it lasted until July 1953); a strong patriot, John Herriott enlisted at the end of 1952, and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. Upon his return to the United States in 1953, he entered the Minnesota School Of Business, which he left after one year to resume the only life he truly loved, and he returned to the King Bros. Circus. There, on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1954, he married in the center ring Mary Ruth James (b.1936), a young equestrian on the show who, as they say, had "run away to join the circus." [[The Wallendas|Gunther Wallenda]] was John’s best man. John and Mary Ruth had been introduced to each other by Ringmaster [[Harry Thomas]], whom John Herriott considered as his hero and mentor. John and Mary Ruth’s marriage would last 60 years&mdash;until John’s death.
+The Korean War began in June 1950 (it lasted until July 1953); a strong patriot, John Herriott enlisted at the end of 1952, and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. Upon his return to the United States in 1953, he entered the Minnesota School Of Business, which he left after one year to resume the only life he truly loved, and he returned to the King Bros. Circus. There, on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1954, he married in the center ring Mary Ruth James (1936-2015), a young equestrian on the show who, as they say, had "run away to join the circus." [[The Wallendas|Gunther Wallenda]] was John’s best man. John and Mary Ruth had been introduced to each other by Ringmaster [[Harry Thomas]], whom John Herriott considered as his hero and mentor. John and Mary Ruth’s marriage would last 60 years&mdash;until John’s death.
 [[File:John_and_Mary_Ruth_Herriott_at_CWM.jpg|thumb|right|400px|John & Mary Ruth Herriott]]Then, John and Mary Ruth Herriott embarked on a long and rich career that would take them from "mud shows" to [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey]] and everything in-between, and eventually to their own circus. Whatever circus it was, big or small, John Herriott loved it; circus was his passion, his life. Their career also included a few stints in television and film. In time, Mary Ruth would develop her own pony and dog, and aerial acts, and also assisted her husband in presenting elephants, horses, and exotic animals&mdash;to the exclusion of big cats (lions, tigers, leopards, etc.): John’s philosophy on that matter was clear, he didn’t want to work with animals that could conceivably enjoy him as their meal!

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 ===Later Years===
-[[File:John_Herriott_and_Friends.jpg|thumb|left|350px|John Herriott (c.1985)]]After this final experience abroad, John and Mary Ruth took over the management of ''Land Of Little Horses'', a farm park with performing animals in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Besides their performing at the park, they continued to appear off-season with their acts at circus dates, notably Shrine dates with the [[Royal Hanneford Circus]] and [[Tarzan Zerbini]].
+[[File:John_Herriott_and_Friends.jpg|thumb|right|380px|John Herriott (c.1985)]]After this final experience abroad, John and Mary Ruth took over the management of ''Land Of Little Horses'', a farm park with performing animals in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Besides their performing at the park, they continued to appear off-season with their acts at circus dates, notably Shrine dates with the [[Royal Hanneford Circus]] and [[Tarzan Zerbini]].
 John Herriott had settled in Sarasota, Florida&mdash;former home of the Ringling show, and known as America’s "Circus City"&mdash;with his family and animals in 1969. For someone interested in circus history, it was a paradise. John was surrounded by its living memory: all the retired (and non-retired) major stars of the American circus, and circus people of all walks of life, called Sarasota their home. (Not to mention Sarasota’s balmy weather; John Herriott used to say, “We thank God that John Ringling chose to move his winter quarters to Sarasota, or we'd all be freezing our asses off in Baraboo, Wisconsin!”)

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 At the end of their contract with ''The Greatest Show On Earth'', John and Mary Ruth went to the [[Hoxie Bros. Circus]], and then spent the summer of 1973 at the ''Storytown Town USA'' amusement park in Queensbury, New York (today Six Flags Great Escape park). They spent the following season with the [[Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus]], returned for a short while to Hoxie Bros. Circus, and toured with the Diamond “S” Rodeo show, where John served as performance director.
-[[File:John_Herriott_(1974).jpg|thumb|300px|right|John Herriott on ''American Anthem'' (1974)]]It is in this latter capacity that John Herriott returned to the Ringling show, on its Red Unit, in 1977. The following year, Irvin Feld sent him to [[Circus World]], the Ringling theme park in Haines City, Florida, which had opened in 1974 and was still expanding. There, John Herriott served as Entertainment Director, with his family performing in various shows within the park; John and Mary Ruth had had four daughters, Laura (b.1955), Cindy (Wells, b.1960), Heidi (Koch, b.1961), and Christine (Plunkett, b.1963), all of whom would continue in their parents’ footsteps, and maintain the Herriott heritage. (Another daughter, Julie, sadly died when she was 14 months old, in 1958.)
+[[File:John_Herriott_(1974).jpg|thumb|300px|left|John Herriott on ''American Anthem'' (1974)]]It is in this latter capacity that John Herriott returned to the Ringling show, on its Red Unit, in 1977. The following year, Irvin Feld sent him to [[Circus World]], the Ringling theme park in Haines City, Florida, which had opened in 1974 and was still expanding. There, John Herriott served as Entertainment Director, with his family performing in various shows within the park; John and Mary Ruth had had four daughters, Laura (b.1955), Cindy (Wells, b.1960), Heidi (Koch, b.1961), and Christine (Plunkett, b.1963), all of whom would continue in their parents’ footsteps, and maintain the Herriott heritage. (Another daughter, Julie, sadly died when she was 14 months old, in 1958.)
 Circus World was an ambitious project of the Mattel Company, Inc.&mdash;at the time Ringling’s parent company&mdash;which was never completed as originally planned and never really took off. Mattel sold it in 1984, and after various incarnations and rebuilding, the park finally closed in 1990 (it was known by then as the ''Boardwalk and Baseball'' theme park). John Herriott stayed only one year at Circus World, and then took his family and animals to [[Circus Vargas]], and later to Mexico’s premier circus (and oldest one), [[Circo Atayde]], where he presented horses and elephants.