It's an ad for Paul A. Miller's Wild Animal Free Circus, appearing at the Ridgeview Shopping Center that ran in the Lorain Journal on June 1, 1960.
There's not much information online about this circus, but one website, www.circushistory.org, contained a post that shed a little light on it. A gentleman named Ben Brigham left a message on January of 2009 that contained the following information:
Every boy dreams of running away and joining the circus and I did just that In 1960. I was 25 and ringmaster of a small circus (Paul A Miller circus) that promoted shopping centers. I had the honor and privelege of presenting the Great Arturo along with his son and niece. I can't remember their names but maybe someone can tell me. The son and I ran around together and maybe he would remember me. We were about the same age. I left the circus later that year and have not seen them again. I did run into The Hannefords again at Pomona fair in 1961. Would love to hear from anyone that remembers me.
– Ben Brigman
Another website, www.sideshowworld.com, contained another reference to the Paul Miller Circus, referring to it as the Paul Miller Free Merchant's Circus. And a blog, Pat Cashin's ClownAlley.net, contained another post by Mr. Brigham about his time working with Bumpsy the Clown.
Anyway, I really like the ad – its fun layout and use of illustration really grabbed my eye. Plus, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to do a blog entry on North Ridgeville, one of the many Lorain County cities neglected in this blog!
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UPDATE (February 27, 2015)Here is the link to my post describing the Paul A. Miller Circus visit to Billy Nahm's Lorain home in September 1963.
