Milwaukee PBS is premiering a documentary on the Great Circus Parade

Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·2 min read
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The Great Circus Parade, a summertime staple for decades in Milwaukee, was first televised live by Milwaukee PBS station WMVS-TV (Channel 10) in 1963. A new documentary, "Remembering the Great Circus Parade," looks back at the popular downtown event.
The Great Circus Parade, a summertime staple for decades in Milwaukee, was first televised live by Milwaukee PBS station WMVS-TV (Channel 10) in 1963. A new documentary, "Remembering the Great Circus Parade," looks back at the popular downtown event.

The Great Circus Parade is back. Well, on television, anyway.

Milwaukee PBS will premiere the documentary "Remembering the Great Circus Parade" at 7 p.m. Feb. 29 on WMVS-TV (Channel 10).

Launched in 1963, the Great Circus Parade was a centerpiece of Milwaukee summers off and on for the next 45-plus years. The parade, launched by then-Circus World Museum director C.P. “Chappie” Fox and promoted by Milwaukee PR maven Ben Barkin, was held downtown and wound toward the lakefront, attracting tens of thousands of people each year it was held.

In its first decade-plus, the parade was funded by Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co., but a lack of later financial support led to a couple lengthy hiatuses for the event. The last Milwaukee circus parade was held in 2009.

Channel 10 broadcast the first Great Circus Parade in 1963 live, and continued the live broadcast for decades; eventually, the telecasts were picked up for national broadcast.

To put together the documentary, producers Dale Palecek and Joseph Sankey mined Milwaukee PBS' video archives, including rare black-and-white scenes from the 1964 parade as well as footage from nearly a dozen other parades, including the 2009 finale.

The filmmakers also look at some of the celebrities involved in the parade, including how Oscar-winning actor Ernest Borgnine became "the official Grand Clown of the Great Circus Parade"; include interviews with experts on circus history; reveal some of the behind-the-scenes preparations for the parade; and show off the collection of historic circus wagons at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo.

WTMJ-AM (620) personality Sandy Maxx hosts the one-hour documentary.

Milwaukee PBS has scheduled repeat airings of "Remembering the Great Circus Parade" for 10:30 p.m. March 2 on WMVT-TV (Channel 36); and 5:30 p.m. March 3, 7 a.m. March 9 and 10 a.m. March 10 on Channel 10.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee PBS is premiering a documentary on the Great Circus Parade