Considered “one of Kissimmee’s most colorful inhabitants”, Mr. Walter Savage, also known as Rube Lamont (LaMonte), was born in Morris County, New Jersey, in 1875 and raised mainly in Kansas. But he would find his way to Osceola County in the early 1900s by traveling with and befriending a circus aerial act, The Flying Costellos, made up of Charlie, Doc, and Edith Laughlin from Kissimmee.
It appears there was never a dull moment in Rube’s life to recount his pre-circus days playing pro-ball in various clubs in the Midwest until the onset of the Spanish-American War when he enlisted as a member of the Kansas Volunteer Infantry. Upon his return, he joined the Kansas-Oklahoma-Texas (Baseball) League as a pitcher and played alongside future “diamond greats” like Johnny Kling and Joe McGinnity.
In 1904, Rube got interested in show business and the following years ushered in his circus career. He made appearances at the World’s Fair in St. Louis for acts like Hale’s Fire Fighters and even aided in Bull-fighting events. Can you guess what Rube’s circus talent was? Comedy and professional clowning. He eventually joined up with the Buckskin Wild West Show and later the Robinson Circus until 1909. Rube was urged to return to the diamond for a brief period, but the vibrant entertainment and spectacle of Wild West shows were in his blood. Working with a variety of acts and circus outfits throughout the 1910s, Rube had the honor and versatile circus talent to sign with Barnum & Bailey Circus. Within Osceola History’s Archives are scrapbooks compiled by Walter Savage himself (aka Rube Lamont) documenting his adventurous life and his days in the circus. We can highlight a letter signed from John Ringling himself requesting Rube, or more formally Reuben, to report for a performance at famous Madison Square Garden in March of 1917.
Although we are given a glimpse into the colorful circus life of Mr. LaMonte, it’s important to mention Rube’s service as a Wildlife Officer and Deputy Sheriff in Osceola County and additional areas within Florida. Articles and letters commending Rube’s talent for tracking, fishing, and routing address him as Mr. Walter Savage, but however folks knew him, many were impressed by his varied expertise in many areas. Only a few artifacts have been highlighted within our collections, but visitors are welcome to view additional materials from the Lamont Collection by making a research request via our website: https://osceolahistory.org/research-requests/
Sources:
Centennial Book Committee. The Osceola County Centennial Book, 1887-1987. [Kissimmee, FL] : Osceola County, 1987. Pp. 255-256.
Savage, W. Lamont Scrapbook. Personal newspaper clippings and telegrams. Osceola County, FL. C. 1900 – 1920. Courtesy of Osceola History Archives. Spence Research Center.
