Inviting the Children to the Circus

One of Tom Tyler’s favorite means of giving back to his community was meeting children from community homes, or orphanages, as they were also called back in the early twentieth century. Whenever Tom visited his hometown of Hamtramck, Michigan during studio vacation time, he would stop by St. Ann’s Community House and chat with the youth who stayed there. According to “The Tom Tyler Story” by Mike Chapman, Tom would also share meals with the excited children who frequently patronized his westerns at the local movie house. Naturally, these events included entertainment, which help raise money for St. Ann’s. However, this is just one example of Tom’s generosity towards children. During 1937, the year he took a break from his acting career to tour nationwide with Wallace Brothers Circus. Tom requested his personal representative to check for local orphanages in cities where he would be appearing and offer to invite the children in these homes to come see him perform. One such orphanage was Bethany Home in Rock Island, Illinois. 

Bethany Home was located in the former Gilpin Moore House, a beautiful historical home built in the French Second Empire architectural style. An orphanage since 1906, orphaned children lived in this particular house until Bethany moved to a new location in 1941. When Nellie Seiler, the superintendent of Bethany House made the announcement of Tom Tyler appearing with Wallace Brothers Circus to the resident children, they were excited to go see their hero perform live in person. According to The Rock Island Argus dated July 26, 1937, Tom is quoted as having said: “I am having the thrilling time of my life traveling around the nation meeting all the boys and girls in person. Many of these have written mail to my Hollywood address at one time or another.” 

The trip alone to the circus must have been filled with laughs and shouts of delight as the members of Bethany Home boarded the Tri-City Railway train all the way to Moline, Illinois, where Tom was to appear. By the time the boys and girls took their seats at the circus, Tom made his entrance in the center of the ring, welcoming them all for coming to see his exuberant performance. With Tom and his entourage of cowboys, cowgirls and Indians, the fast paced entertainment was a lifetime event to remember and pass down to their families for generations after.

                                                   from The Dispatch, Moline, IL, July 27, 1937