Thursday, November 12, 2009

Clearification!

There has been some confusion regarding the date and hours of Ben Williams upcoming service at the Sarasota Showfolks Club.

Doors at 4:00 PM Saturday Nov. 14.
Bar opens at 4:01 PM (two attendants have been engaged).
Cook House flag goes up at 5:00 PM.
At 6:00 PM Col. John Herriott will begin with comments and introductions.

Beatty-Cole 1999 #1

Dear Buckles:

Joyce and I cannot thank you enough for the joy you give us with all of the photos that you have sent out through your blog. I have saved the majority of them to albums on my computer so they cannot be lost if something should happen, given the way our hurricanes and tornados can be.


We have not worked with you, but you worked with my Uncle, Mel Cabral, Don Foote's assistant and companion. I inherited quite a few of Don's sketches for RBBB when my Uncle passed away. I am not sure how we might be able to scan them. They are quite large. If you have any advise please let me know. Don did many of the sketches on my Mom and Dad's kitchen table during vacations in Dartmouth, MA.

Joyce and I just bought a new MAC computer and I would like to send in photos from time to time. Please let me know if that is OK.

Here is a photo from the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. winter quarters Feb. 1999. Brad Jewell was the bull boss that year. We started the season with six bulls. Pete and Conti were sent back from Staten Island during the 1999 tour, which I am sure you know. I have what may be the only photos of the two bulls being loaded up for the trip back to WQ. I have not scanned all of the photos from later in the tour, but will in the next few months.

All photos unless noted have been taken by Peter & Joyce Rosa

Again, thank you for taking the time to keep all of us entertained.

Peter & Joyce Rosa

Beatty-Cole 1999 #2

Prior to unloading first day in DeLand, FL

Beatty-Cole 1999 #3

Clyde Beatty - Cole Bros. Circus publicity photos taken rehearsal day March 1999.


Showgirls L to R: Jana / Russia, Gina / USA, Dani / Bulgaria, and Jennifer Walker / USA with Brad Jewell Elephant Boss

Beatty-Cole 1999 #4

Bull grooms L to R: Reggie, Big Un, Tony the Tiger


None of the grooms would be in the bull dept. at the end of the 1999 season. Reggie became a butcher, Big Un left the show and Tony became Josip Marcan's Groom in the cat dept. Missing is one of the hardest workingmen, Geronimo.

Beatty-Cole 1999 #5

Buckles, these are the bulls returning from the publicity shoot on the midway and another shot from the second day of publicity photos.

Beatty-Cole 1999 #6

Beatty-Cole 1999 #7

Previously, I mentioned official photos. I need to clarify that I did not take the official photos for the show. I took all of the photos while they were posing for the official show photographer, John Neely.

From Jim Clubb


img297, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Hello Buckles,

Please see attached a much later picture of Paul Fritz taken at the Phoenix Zoo (date unknown).

Regards,

Jim

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

From Dave Price


SAVE0495, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Buckles: Sorry I didn't get this in earlier.

Am, I the only one on the blog who still calls today Armistice Day?

Do you kids know what the expression, "The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" means?

According to Arlo and Janis, there's only one American WW I vet left atop the sod and his name is Frank Buckles. That's right- BUCKLES.

This man lives in West Virginia and is 108 years old.

May God bless him, not so much for his longevity as for his service.

From Kari Johnson

Hi everyone -Please watch this video all the way through and remember to donate to your local animal shelters and to groups like The International Elephant Foundation, www.elephantconservation.org, where your money goes to truly help animals. Thanks. ~Kari

Kari & Gary Johnson
Have Trunk Will Travel, Inc.
(951) 943-9227
kari@havetrunkwilltravel.com
www.havetrunkwilltravel.com
We help elephants all over the world by supporting the International Elephant Foundation. You can too! Visit www.elephantconservation.org

As they used to yell at me, "No soldier your other left!"


Scan12403, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Veteran's Day and no school for Pat and Ryan but having signed up Kay for a field trip she had to attend her Pre-Kindergarten.
On the way down there this morning I asked where the class was going and she said to see some old people in a hospial and sing them some songs.
Driving home I wondered if this might be the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital. I've heard them sing but having survived World War 11 they should be able to withstand anything.

From Casey Gibbs


2936.113116, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

What an entrance!
People at Palisades Park watch as groom Ramit Varma takes a ride on Tai the elephant down Ocean Avenue on his way to his wedding on Saturday Night.

From Fr. Dolphin #1


20091109_circo01, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

This morning, Brother John Nitsch, M.M. who is in curico, Chile send me an article about the Circus in Chile in reference to receiving the sacrament of Confirmation by Bishop Enrique Troncoso. It was held under the circus tent Sterns, ten children received the sacrament of Confirmation and in October there were 6 Baptisms. There are all children of circus performers and they don't have a parish because they are traveling all the time.. The people involved in the preparation of these children are from famous circus families in Chile.


The same being true with the Circus ministry in the United States that is Priests, Sisters, Brothers and lay people who are also involved in this ministry and providing the sacraments for "the traveling people on the road" and having the sacraments recorded at the parish of St. Martha, that is under the Pallottine Fathers, with Father Fausto Stampiglia as Pastor and his parish team in Sarasota, Florida

From Fr. Dolphin #2


20091109_circo04, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Le Magazine du Cirque (Part 7)


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Circus Knie #1


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Circus Knie #2


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Circus Knie #3


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Circus Knie #4


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Circus Knie #5


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Circus Knie #6


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Circus Knie #7


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Circus Knie #8


Scan12399, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

From Eric Beheim


NG 11-39, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

This photo ran in the November 1939 issue of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC as part of an article titled “Chemists Make a New World.” The caption reads:

“Here a pouting pachyderm tests one of Pacific Forest Industries’ plywood planks. But four elephantine tons can’t break a 29-ply, chemically waterproofed board barely two inches thick.”

No information is provided as to when and where the photo was taken or who the trainer is.


"That's Walter McLain with "Jewel" who was closer to 10,000 lbs.
I would like to think that Mr. McLain tested those boards inches off the ground before trying this."
Buckles

From Jim Clubb


img288, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Hello Buckles,



Thank you for the response in connection with the picture of Paul Fritz. John Whitfield also wrote to confirm it was him. The picture attached is of the trainer we are trying to identify. I think it is Paul Fritz. The dates tie up, but I am not 100% sure. As mentioned before, he worked for Chipperfield’s Circus in the UK in 1951 presenting a group of tigers. Is this the same person as pictured in my previous image?

Regards,

Jim

From Lynne Bell #1


houston show, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

houston show

am including the scans from the memorabilia of Sam Houston, given to me by his daughter Adonna. I am also sending the picture of Singh.

Mr. Houston had a traveling museum with four railroad cars, including the former Paddy Conklin elephant car. He started out with circus and helped set up the Sells Floto Circus for Bonfils. He also worked with Gentry's Dog and Pony Show.

I will send what I can and also take pictures of the elephant wardrobe that I have.
Lynne Bell

From Lynne Bell #2


elephant blanket front, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

elephant blanket front

From Lynne Bell #3


bill of sale4, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

bill of sale 4

From Lynne Bell #4


bill of sale5, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

bill of sale 5

Cirque Du Soleil KOOZA (Sunset Strip 11-09)

From Chris Berry

Who says a circus can't be successful in the 21st Century? Cirque du Soleil's KOOZA opened at the Santa Monica Pier on October 16 and will continue it's run until December 20 with the least expensive single ticket at $60 and the highest at $250. The show is described as combining "two circus traditions – acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor". Although purists might say that Cirque du Soleil's various shows are a departure from the traditional circus, the fact remains that it is a VERY successful venture - as evidenced by this enormous vinyl 12 story poster - on the side of a building on Hollywood's famed "Sunset Strip". The cost of this one individual posting is estimated at approximately $100,000 a month.

The Glockenspiel! (From Buckles)


250px-GlockenspielSousaphone, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

In relation to yesterday's photo of Mooney's Musical Elephants this story comes to mind.

During rehearsal Bill Bradley came to me and asked if it would bother the pay-off elephants in the Neptune Spec if the girls played glockenspiels. I told him there should be no problem. He said they couldn't quite figure out where the girls could place the mallets when they styled, which caused considerable sniggering from some of my elephant men. I asked what they were going to play and he said "Climb Every Mountain" more sniggering.

The idea was eventually abandoned and Harold Ronk sang "If I Ruled The World".



From Vickie Rossi #1


!cid_X_MA5_1257710382@aol, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

At this So. Carolina Park, "Suryia" the Orangutan and "Roscoe" the Blue Tick Hound are the best of friends.

From Vickie Rossi #2


!cid_X_MA3_1257710382@aol, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Ringling Park 1976 #1 (slide)


Slide004, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Shannon was off work yesterday and came across a box of slides. He has a gimmick that switches them into photos and he cranked out these three.

Ringling Park 1976 #2 (slide)


slide002, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Ringling Park 1976 #3 (slide)


Slide003, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Charly asked Barbara to baby sit this tiger cub for a while until he could find a home for him since he was genetically defective.
He was a nice cat, no problems.

Monday, November 09, 2009

Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show On Earth


Scan12378, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Barnum & Bailey #2


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Barnum & Bailey #3


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Barnum & Bailey #4


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Barnum & Bailey #5


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Barnum & Bailey #6


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An interesting picture of the Barnum & Bailey parade passing itself.

Barnum & Bailey #7


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Victoria Davenport

Barnum & Bailey #8


SAVE0077, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Harry Mooney's musical elephants.

Barnum & Bailey #9


Scan12388, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

I think this has been proven to be incorrect.
James Bailey was rarely photographed and the gentleman seated is Frank Hyatt, the show's General Superintendent.

Barnum & Bailey #10


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Barnum & Bailey #11


Scan12391, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Two more staff members including Bailey's brother in law, Joseph T. McCaddon at right.

Barnum & Bailey #12


Scan12392, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Nice wide track for the Chariot Races.
Probably as exciting then as Nascar today!.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Wallenda Circus 1947 #1


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Wallenda Circus 1947 #2


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Wallenda Circus 1947 #3


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Wallenda Circus 1947 #4


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Wallenda Circus 1947 #5


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Wallenda Circus 1947 #6


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Wallenda Circus 1947 #7


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Wallenda Circus 1947 #8


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Wallenda Circus 1947 #9


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Wallenda Circus 1947 #10


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Wallenda Circus 1947 #11


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Wallenda Circus 1947 #12 (back cover)


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From Paul Gutheil


IMG_2414, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.


Buckles:

Just saw great pic of Ferris Wheel from 1893. Attached is photo I took Circa 1983 of Wonder Wheel at Coney
Island. Built, I believe, in 1918 and in continuous operation since 1920....without a single accident. I took photo from
a rolling boat about a 1/4 to 1/2 mile off shore. I used a 500mm lens.

Best, Paul

PS All the buildings in background are now gone.

Saturday, November 07, 2009

From Dave Price


CLhst40, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Buckles: In about 1972 Fred Pfening was putting together a Wild Animal Trainer issue and he asked me who had worked the most cats at one time, Beatty or Jacobs. I dodged the question by telling him that I didn't think a trainer could be judged solely on the basis of the number in the act and that they both had great reputations. He handled the matter by saying in his terrific article "Masters of the Steel Arena" that Jacobs was generally acknowledged to have handled more lions and tigers at the same time than any other trainer and that Beatty had more showmanship than all the rest.

From Marion Organ


Scan12370, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Chicago World's Fair 1893.

Goebel's Lion Farm #1


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Goebel's Lion Farm #2


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D. Voss and "Topsy" with Dutton Circus


Scan12365, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

TOPSY
1904-05 Hagenbeck Animal Show at St. Louis Worlds Fair.
1906 Carl Hagenbeck Circus
1907-08 Van Amburg Show (Mugivan and Bowers)
1909-15 Howes Great London
1917-24 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus
1925-29 Southern Zoo
1930-33 Dutton Society Circus
(Sold to South America)

Jim Leonard and Charlie Campbell


Scan12368, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

"Jennie Lockhart"


Scan12366, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

I thought she would be closer to 102.

JENNIE
One of the five original Lockhart elephants brought from Europe by Ringling Bros.in 1896.
1896-16 Ringling Bros. Circus
1917 Wm. P. Hall Animal Farm
1918 Yankee Robinson Show (Fred Buchanan)
1919-29 Orton Bros. Circus
(Died Dec. 23, 1929 at Union City, Okla.

From Adrian Sharpe


Scan12373, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

My Medicine Show in 1910-11-12.

"I remember Mr. Sharpe, he used to correspond with my dad regularly and sometimes visit on the Kelly-Miller lot.
Love those hats!"
Buckles

Source Unknown


Scan12367, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Bill,
I'm on extreme left visiting with a friend and his wife on Kellogg Shows.
Harry had chair-O-Plane and I had color wheel and pan game.

"This picture had such a surrealistic effect I decided to add it."
Buckles

Bob Good Photo #1


Scan12374, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

"Presenting my 10 year old daughter Nancy Jane and "Sheba", one of Terrell Jacobs' star performers.
Photo taken on Hamid's Pier at Atlantic City- August 1941."
Bob Good

Bob Good Photo #2


Scan12371, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Bob Good and Bill Woodcock at the "Jumbo" death site in St. Thomas, Ontario.
This is from a set Mr. Good took while visiting Wallace Bros. Circus in 1941. He may have even driven my dad and Lee Powell to the nearby location.

Kelly-Miller 1962


Scan12369, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The 4 day stand in Nashville was at the State Fair in front of the grandstand.
On our open time, Barbara and I would sometimes camp on the Kelly-Miller lot. On this occasion we worked our act "Anna May", "Lydia" and "Sadie" along with Freddy and the Kelly-Miller herd.
The Scott-Stebbing riding act was also added for that engagement plus a few high acts.

Friday, November 06, 2009

From Jim Clubb


img295, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Hello Buckles,

Would anyone be able to confirm that the image attached is that of Paul Fritz? He worked for RBBB in the mid ‘50s alongside Trevor Bale and Albert Rix. He worked in the UK for Chipperfield’s Circus in 1951 with a group of tigers.

We have two photos of an unknown trainer presenting Chipperfield’s tigers and are trying to identify him. He looks very similar to the man pictured here. The problem is he is presenting them with an Indian turban on, which confuses the issue. My son and I are preparing a new book, The British Wild Animal Trainer, which will also include the foreign trainers that worked here, hence my request.

Trusting you are well. I will be in Florida at the end of November for two weeks with RBBB.

Regards,

Jim

Holly Hill Show Folks (From Sherwin Miller)

Hi William,
I was recently informed of your website and I am seeking you and your readers assistance.

I am attempting to learn more about 2 specific entertainers who wintered in Holly Hill, Florida and any performers in their acts. The first entertainer is Kirk Adams, who died Aug 8, 1967. He had an "Educated Dogs and Pony" show, and also worked with monkeys. I am uncertain of the span of Kirk's career but I would estimate it was late 1920's thru early 1960's. His obituary stated he worked for the Cole Bros Circus and the Sonja Henie Ice Show. Kirk was twice married (first to Tilly Smith and second to Helen Hart) and lived in the Holly Hill area. He and his wife were was friends with the second entertainer and his wife.

The second entertainer was Carroll Miller. Carroll was twice married (first to Pauline Darrow and second to Irma Hatch) and lived in Holly Hill, Florida from approximately 1944 until his death in 1958. Carroll's career would have been from approximately early 1920's to early 1950's. He was a ventriloquist and magician, who was born in Vermont and I am told made a name for himself as "the Second Houdini of Middlebury, VT" with a rope trick he performed early in his career. He eventually moved into the carnival/circus circuit and I am uncertain if he worked with Cole Bros Circus or not. I do know he worked with King Reid Shows, but I do not know if that was folded in to Cole Bros or bought by another outfit. I have also heard he performed at local schools and public broadcast television stations in and around Holly Hill and Daytona, but I have not found any proof of this. Carroll's second wife (Irma, photo of 1952 King Reid id) was my mother and I would like to learn more about this portion of my mom's life. Carroll and Irma were also friends with Donald and Evelyn (Williams) Borst, as Don was in the circus business in some capacity. Additionally, I have learned Carroll had also worked at the following organizations: O. C. Buck, World of Mirth, Continental Shows, Grass Shows, Ringling Bros/Barnum & Bailey, as well as King Reid Shows.

I have written to the Circus Historical Society (discussion #3109), but I was also told about "Buckles" blog whose readers have helped in the identification of old photos. I recently have come into possession of a number of carnival/circus photos that have little or no identification on them. Possibly the subjects can be identified with you or your readers assistance. I am sending along a few photos to see if anyone recognizes them and can share any memories of them.

Regards,
Sherwin Miller

Holly Hill Show Folks #2

Carroll Bertrand Miller performer.

Holly Hill Show Folks #3


Carroll & Irma, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Carroll and Irma

Holly Hill Show Folks #4


Carroll and unknown woman, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Carroll and unknown woman.

Holly Hill Show Folks #5


File0002, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Holly Hill Show Folks #6

Donald and Evelyn (Williams) Borst (I think).

Holly Hill Show Folks #7


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Holly Hill Show Folks #8


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Holly Hill Show Folks #9


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Holly Hill Show Folks #10


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Holly Hill Show Folks #11


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Holly Hill Show Folks #12


1952 King Reid Shows ID card, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1952 King Ried Shows ID card