Film of East Side Lions Club events and Jay Gould Circus

The Jay Gould circus was a small circus that travelled throughout the Midwest during the 1940s and 50s. Jay Gould’s son, George, performed in the circus when he was young. Later, he became an optometrist on the East Side. George was also a member of the East Side Lions fraternal organization that sponsored circus visits like this one circa 1949 along Ewing Avenue and 108th St.

The East Side Lions club was chartered in 1948 with 46 members. The group was well-known to other residents for providing hearing aids, eyeglasses, winter coats, and wheelchairs to those in need. In 1951, the East Side Lions also sponsored the East Side Centennial Commemoration, bringing together civic, fraternal and religious organizations to compile a booklet about the history of the neighborhood. The Museum has a number of home movie reels of East Side Lion events donated by John Novak.