Doc Fonda, 56 Years A Showman, Dies in General Hospital Charles 'Doc' Fonda, 71, of 503 Madison street, widely known showman, died Tuesday night in the General Hospital of Syracuse after a long illness. "Doc' Fonda began his career as a showman at the age of 15 years when he left home in 1882 to join a circus at Oswego. Fonda was in turn a performer, barker, manager and ventriloquist, and lastly back to barker. He married Annetta Keller in Syracuse Sept. 17, 1890. Six years later they reenacted the ceremony for the benefit of showgoers in Pittsfield, Mass. when the manager conceived the idea of a public marriage. They toured in and out of Syracuse, which they claimed as their city home, Mrs. Fonda left the road first and several years later "Doc" gave up the show business. Mrs. Fonda died in 1937. Funeral services will take place at 8:30 o'clock Saturday morning at the Burns & Gaynor funeral home, and a half-hour later in Saint Joseph's (French) Church. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Syracuse Herald, 1938-10-13.
Note: Annetta Keller and Aura Ransom could be the same person. The obit mentions a second wedding ceremony, for show biz purposes, that matches the 1897 wedding date. Their census records have no overlap, but the names are very different.
Note: Annetta Keller and Aura Ransom could be the same person. The obit mentions a second wedding ceremony, for show biz purposes, that matches the 1897 wedding date. Their census records have no overlap, but the names are very different.
Doc Fonda, 56 Years A Showman, Dies in General Hospital Charles 'Doc' Fonda, 71, of 503 Madison street, widely known showman, died Tuesday night in the General Hospital of Syracuse after a long illness. "Doc' Fonda began his career as a showman at the age of 15 years when he left home in 1882 to join a circus at Oswego. Fonda was in turn a performer, barker, manager and ventriloquist, and lastly back to barker. He married Annetta Keller in Syracuse Sept. 17, 1890. Six years later they reenacted the ceremony for the benefit of showgoers in Pittsfield, Mass. when the manager conceived the idea of a public marriage. They toured in and out of Syracuse, which they claimed as their city home, Mrs. Fonda left the road first and several years later "Doc" gave up the show business. Mrs. Fonda died in 1937. Funeral services will take place at 8:30 o'clock Saturday morning at the Burns & Gaynor funeral home, and a half-hour later in Saint Joseph's (French) Church. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Syracuse Herald, 1938-10-13.
Note: Annetta Keller and Aura Ransom could be the same person. The obit mentions a second wedding ceremony, for show biz purposes, that matches the 1897 wedding date. Their census records have no overlap, but the names are very different.
Note: Annetta Keller and Aura Ransom could be the same person. The obit mentions a second wedding ceremony, for show biz purposes, that matches the 1897 wedding date. Their census records have no overlap, but the names are very different.
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