Two weeks ago today Toys & Stuff started a new mini-series based on one of the best playsets ever produced by Marx - Super Circus. Based on a popular television show of the 1950s this playset was BIG. It had action, it had gorgeous tin-litho pieces, and it had charm aplenty. Part 1 of the series, Aug 20, 2012 (Super Circus Pt 1), featured photos of the Big Top Tent. Last Monday, Aug 27, 2012 (Super Circus Pt 2) we featured the sideshow tents along with a quick overview of side shows in general. Today we're going to list the set contents and show photos of the People Group. The People Group of figures has two sub-categories: Circus Staff (performers and other circus personnel), and Civilians (a policeman and customers, aka 'rubes'). Enjoy!
Super Circus Contents
TIN-LITHO
PIECES
- Big Top,
Tin Litho: 3pieces, roof and two sides
- Side
Shows, Tin Litho: 2 each with different sideshow graphics
- ‘Super
Circus’ flags: 2 each
FIGURES –
PEOPLE
- Character
Figure: Ringmaster Claude Kirshner
- Character Figure:
Mary Hartline
- Character
Figure: Cliffy the Clown
- Character
Figure: Nickie the Clown
- Character
Figure: Scampy the Clown
- Clowns,
various poses: 4 each
- Juggler
- Man on
Stilts
- Sword
Swallower
- Barker
- Ringmaster
- Female
Midget
- Male Midget
- Lion
Tamer, male
- Fire Eater
- Horse
Handler, female
- Trapeze
Artist, female (The Flying Hartzells?)
- Trapeze
Artist, male (The Flying Hartzells?)
- High
wire Artists: 2 each different poses
- Highdiver,
female
-
Miscellaneous performer, female
- Hula
Dancer
- Ballerina
- Snake
Charmer
- Fat Lady
- Siamese
Twins
- Water Boy
- Balloon
Vendor
- Popcorn
Vendor
- Bare Back
Rider (for horse), female
- Little boy
sneaking into tent
- Cop with
hand on boys shoulder
- Mother
holding daughter by hand
- Father
holding son by hand
- Female
Elephant Rider
FIGURES -
ANIMALS
- Elephants
walking: 2 each same pose
- Elephant
sitting
- Lions: 2
each same pose
- Bear,
adult: 2 each different poses
- Bear cub
- Costumed
dogs 4 each different poses (one dog used for riding barrel)
- Gorilla
- Monkees: 7
each (5 different poses and one monkey in costume)
- Seal
balancing ball on nose
- Giraffe,
adult
- Giraffe,
baby
- Camel
- Tiger
- Leopard
- Zebra
- Alligator
- Bison
ACCESSORIES
– SOFT PLASTIC
- Howdah
(elephant saddle)
ACCESSORIES
– HARD PLASTIC
- Poles for
‘Super Circus’ flags: 2 each
- Circus act
rings: 2 each
- High wire
ascent ladders: 2 each
- High diver
pole
- Monkey Bars: 3-piece set (2 vertical ladders
and 1 horizontal rungs)
- Barker
Stand
- Barker
Stand Umbrella
- Fire ring
- Bucket
- Stools,
round: 2 each
- Pedestals,
square, short: 2 each
- Pedestals,
square, medium: 2 each
- Pedestal,
square, tall: 1 each
- Barrel,
narrow (for use with performing dog)
- Barrel,
wide in center (for use with juggler)
- Performers
Platform (Stage)
ACCESSORIES
– METAL
- 14” long
high wire
- Trapeze
support
- Trapeze
ring
- Staff for
barker stand umbrella
People Photos
The figures were all cast in soft plastic. The above shot shows creamy yellow and gray castings.
Middle row, far left: Ringmaster Claude Kirshner
Middle row, far right: Mary Hartline
Bottom Row: Nicky (left) and 2 each Scampy the Clowns (mid & rt). My set contained a duplicate of Scampy.
Above is a photo of Cliffy which I had to purchase separately and which normally would have been included in the set
One of the nice things about the set was the variety of colors used for the people; from cream to gray to brown it was a nice contrast
If anything can be said to be disappointing about this set it's that there were so few civilians included. It would have been terrific to have a larger audience than what was provided. I s'pose one can argue that they were all inside the tent watching the show as evident by the interior tent graphics :-)
Hail, hail,the gangs all here.
