Howard Lengs: Not to be forgotten

Many blog viewers won’t even remember the late Murray Powers who was probably the best-ever managing editor of the Beacon Journal. Those who do remember Murray will know that he was a circus fan. If you don’t remember Murray you certainly will not remember Harold Lengs–another circus man and also a reporter that Powers hoped would not be forgotten. Here’s his piece on Lengs from the Nov-Dec 1974 issue of Tower Topics, the almost-forgotten BJ employee publication.

By Murray Powers
Former Beacon Journal Managing Editor

"There I was talking when I should have been listening,"

It was Harold Lengs talking. Harold Lengs-police reporter, labor reporter. Harold Lengs-circus press agent, circus cook. Harold Lengs-seminary student for the priesthood.

That expression-"There I was talking" - was Lengs' mea culpa for talking too much, when he had put his foot in it.

The Beacon Journal through its years had had more than its share of good reporters and colorful characters-from Broadway columnist Earl Wilson, author Ruth McKenney, historian Howard Wolf, Clyde Mann, Charlie Howard, Jim Schlemmer, Doe Kerr, Oscar Smith. None of them should be forgotten and es pecially Harold Lengs.

LENGS came out of Akron, graduated from St. Vincent High and took off for Indiana and a seminary, determined to become a priest. Like a lot of youngsters, for one reason or another, he left the seminary. I don't think any of his friends ever asked him why he drifted into a circus but now it seems that was the natural thing for him to do.

He went with a tough circus owner by the name of Ray Rogers who came out of Canada with his Barnett Bros. Circus which he subsequently named Wallace Bros. Wallace was a good name, akin to Hagenbeck-Wallace, and it is said Rogers picked up a couple Wallace brothers in the South, gave them some stock and obligingly picked up their name.

Circus life fitted the tall, stoutly built Lengs and he did everything that Rogers asked him. The Rogers family and the circus folk loved Lengs. When he'd go back on the show you'd hear everywhere: "Goddam, Lengs."

BECAUSE I was Lengs' friend, Rogers asked me to come on the show, my first mud or truck show. "If you want to go on one of these things, you'd better go now," said Lengs, "he never invites anybody." I went. Lengs never missed a circus, stayed on the lot until the last light wagon left and often introduced "the concert" for shows playing Kent.

Lengs came to the Beacon Journal before the war. Bob Stopher told me one day, "We hired a fellow yesterday that you'll Harold Lengs; he's been on a circus."

Everybody in. the BJ loved Lengs, as the circus folk did. He knew Akron, got along well with the police, did his work well, then was made labor reporter. Harold had a rough exter-or, certainly was never dressed in fashion, always had a cigar in his face and he looked more like movie actor Ken Murray than Murray himself. After an evening on my porch, with a six-pack and a pocketful of cigars, the front yard looked like a bunch of dogs with bowel trouble had come through.

LENGS had the worst looking desk in the old BJ office, piled high with carbons, releases, letters. Clyde Mann, who was with us for many years, did a great im itation of Lengs cleaning up the mess - "I wondered whatever happened to that obituary ... There's that story I was going to write." Lengs had the ability to clear news stories rapidly but his weekend labor column was always late.

Lengs was always broke. He was a soft touch, especially for circus people coming through. And when he went out on a date with his girl friend, it was better that she should have money with her. When he would go back to the circus, he always hit the old boss for a fin-and came away with a sawbuck. When he wasn't working he was coaching. the junior varsity at St. V.

Lengs was in love and told most of his friends he was going to marry the girl but he never got around to telling her, much to her discomfiture. During the war days one of the women reporters suddenly took a shine to him. "He was so nice to poor people when they came into the office," she said. And she began the pursuit. "Here I have been chasing girls all these years and getting nowhere and now look what's happening," he moaned.

LENGS became restless. He decided he ought to get out of the newspaper business and get back to the circus. He inveigled his old boss to bankroll him for a circus in the Rubber Bowl. Ringling Bros.-Barnum and Bailey were on the Airport lot a few weeks ahead and Lengs' efforts didn't pay off. He went on to another date or so- nothing hot financial-ly.

He must not have been well through that period. It wasn't long before he developed tuberculosis of the spine and his last days were spent with his sister, Marie Wolcott, in Kent. He left his father, George, Marie and her husband, Marion "Red" Wolcott, Kent newspaperman. His only relative in the area is Bill, Marion's son, who works for the Dix organization in Kent-Ravenna.

Lengs died May 6, 1946, 40 years old.