Circus owner. Jack B. Moore will be most remembered as the co-founder of the Carson & Barnes Circus. His parents were Solon Barnett Moore and Martha Elizabeth Branch. In 1939 Jack married Angela Chastain, who was not only his wife, mother of his children, but worked along side of him in this business. After serving in the United States Navy during World War II, Jack and Angela formed a partnership with Kelly Swim starting a tent movie show, the "Jack and Kelley's Bear Track Shows". The show toured through Texas and Louisiana and wintered in Marshall. Texas. They began acquiring and training animals which they would present after the movies. Soon they stopped showing movies and began featuring animal and country western acts. At this point, the show was renamed "Tex Carson's Jamboree and Wild Animal Show". After relocating to Hugo, Oklahoma in 1952, Moore met D. R. Miller, the co-owner of the Kelly and Miller Brothers Circus. He and Miller formed a partnership in 1953. Miller leased tents, equipment and an elephant named Mabel to the show. In 1954, the now larger circus traveled the circuit as the "Tex Carson Circus". Moore, his wife and their four children all worked and performed on the show helping to bring it to a success. In 1958 Moore renamed his show the “Carson & Barnes Circus”. The show grew to become the largest five-ring circus needing six trucks to transport up to 57 elephants, other large animals, the performers, crew and equipment to twenty different states covering nearly 20,000 miles annually while on tour over the next ten prosperous years. Upon his death, his interest in the circus was transferred to his wife and children, but Miller gradually purchased the family's interest and in 1971 became the owner. Moore was buried in “Showman's Rest”, an area of Mt. Olivet Cemetery, which is reserved for circus people.
Circus owner. Jack B. Moore will be most remembered as the co-founder of the Carson & Barnes Circus. His parents were Solon Barnett Moore and Martha Elizabeth Branch. In 1939 Jack married Angela Chastain, who was not only his wife, mother of his children, but worked along side of him in this business. After serving in the United States Navy during World War II, Jack and Angela formed a partnership with Kelly Swim starting a tent movie show, the "Jack and Kelley's Bear Track Shows". The show toured through Texas and Louisiana and wintered in Marshall. Texas. They began acquiring and training animals which they would present after the movies. Soon they stopped showing movies and began featuring animal and country western acts. At this point, the show was renamed "Tex Carson's Jamboree and Wild Animal Show". After relocating to Hugo, Oklahoma in 1952, Moore met D. R. Miller, the co-owner of the Kelly and Miller Brothers Circus. He and Miller formed a partnership in 1953. Miller leased tents, equipment and an elephant named Mabel to the show. In 1954, the now larger circus traveled the circuit as the "Tex Carson Circus". Moore, his wife and their four children all worked and performed on the show helping to bring it to a success. In 1958 Moore renamed his show the “Carson & Barnes Circus”. The show grew to become the largest five-ring circus needing six trucks to transport up to 57 elephants, other large animals, the performers, crew and equipment to twenty different states covering nearly 20,000 miles annually while on tour over the next ten prosperous years. Upon his death, his interest in the circus was transferred to his wife and children, but Miller gradually purchased the family's interest and in 1971 became the owner. Moore was buried in “Showman's Rest”, an area of Mt. Olivet Cemetery, which is reserved for circus people.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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