Merry Christmas!

*Twas the month before Christmas* *When all through our land,* *Not a Christian was praying* *Nor taking a stand.* *See the PC Police had taken away,* *The reason for Christmas - no one could say.* *The children were told by their schools not to sing,* *About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.* *It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say* * December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.* *Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit* *Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!* *CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod* *Something was changing, something quite odd! * *Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa* *In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.* *As Targets were hanging their trees upside down* * At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.* *At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears* *You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.* *Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty* *Are words that were used to intimidate me.* *Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen* *On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !* *At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter* *To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.* *And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith* * Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace* *The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded* *The reason for the season, stopped before it started.* *So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'* *Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.* *Choose your words carefully, choose what you say* *Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS , not Happy Holiday !* Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet MERRY CHRISTMAS Christ is ?The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season!

Christmas Present!

2009-12-19 15.04.50, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Don, Jan and Anne Covington

Scan12491, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Dolly and Pedro

Scan12492, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From KLSDAD

ChristmasCard2009Email copy, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. (Had the pleasure of watching Ms. Pages and her six beautiful tigers perform at Coney Island last summer, on opening night and near the end of Ringling's BOOM-A-RING successful run. On the last occasion I sure enjoyed watching her tigers playing in their state-of-the-art enclosure outside during the pre-show hour. I opted for this photo instead of a snow cone!) klsdad

From Dominique Jando

!cid_4A06DFE4-34B9-4461-8953-15D4112BDAFB, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Josip Marcan

MarcanXmas01, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

rbbb card 1943 (From Hal Guyon)

rbbb card 1943n, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. To all our circus and carnival friends, I want to wish all of you and your`s a " Very Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year" ! Hal & Kathy Guyon Attached are a few old RBBB Christmas Cards from 1943, 1948, 1951, & 1954.

rbbb card 1948

rbbb card 1948n, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

rbbb card 1951

rbbb card 1951n, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

rbbb card 1954

rbbb card 1954n, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

This morning's Tampa Tribune!

Scan12488, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. I'm glad to see the attendant has a cheery smile and wave. I always did! Buckles

Christmas Past #1

Scan12493, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Christmas Past #2 (1940)

Scan12497, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Christmas Past #3

Scan12498, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Christmas Past #4

Scan12496, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Christmas Past #5 (1942)

Scan12491, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Christmas Past #6

Scan12488, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Christmas Past #7 (1952)

Scan12499, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Christmas Past #8 (1954)

Scan12494, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Christmas Past #9 (1956)

Scan12492, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Christmas Past #10

Scan12495, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Russell_Bros_TEDDY_ELEPHANT_(1940)_one_sheet_flat

Russell_Bros_TEDDY_ELEPHANT_(1940)_one_sheet_flat, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. From Chris Berry In a followup to the earlier Cole Bros. "Teddy" poster - Ole Whitey mentioned how the Erie Litho Co. was able to rehash some of its poster designs by selling them to other shows, including "Famous Cole". This one-sheet -- also for "Teddy" -- was originally produced for Downie Bros in the late 1930s, but this particular copy was used by Russell Bros to promote its Labor Day performances in Williamsport, PA on September 2, 1940. By then Downie Bros was off the road - but clearly there was old poster stock on the shelves at Erie. In this particular instance the old Downie title was simply cut off and the Russell Bros title glued to the top of the poster. Sounds like a win-win for both the circus and the printer.

Beatty Cole CLYDE BEATTY and BC DATE (1960)

Beatty Cole CLYDE BEATTY and BC DATE (1960), originally uploaded by bucklesw1. From Chris Berry By the time that these two posters were put up in the summer of 1960 - the "Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros" title was already a year old....but -- as you can see -- the billing crews were still posting the old "Clyde Beatty Circus" paper. I believe that Ole Whitey joined the Beatty-Cole advance in 1960. Maybe he can fill us in on how long this old poster stock continued to be used.

1973 Museum Exhibit #1 (From Buckles)

Scan12482, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Chappie gave me this booklet years ago while at the Ringling Park. Featured throughout are pictures of an Erte type miniature circus. Long list of artistic credits, the only one of merit being Robert Parkinson, Circus World Museum, Baraboo Wisconsin.

1973 Museum Exhibit #2

Scan12483, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1973 Museum Exhibit #3

Scan12484, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1973 Museum Exhibit #4

Scan12489, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1973 Museum Exhibit #5

Scan12486, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1973 Museum Exhibit #6

Scan12487, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1973 Museum Exhibit #7

Scan12485, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1973 Museum Exhibit #8

Scan12490, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Movie ads #1 (From Buckles)

Scan12479, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Movie ads #2

Scan12475, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Movie ads #3

SAVE2308, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. John Herriott on the "Jupiter'sDarling" set.

Movie ads #4

Scan12480, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Movie ads #5

Scan12481, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Movie ads #6

Scan12478, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Movie ads #7

Scan12476, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Movie ads #8

Scan12473, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Movie ads #9

Scan12470, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Movie ads #10

Scan12472, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Movie ads #11

Scan12477, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Movie ads #12

Scan12474, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Peter Rosa #1

!cid_AED8D991-C5E0-4E89-865B-19AD8802B315@hsd1_fl_comcast_net, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. "Some viewers will remember these two "Emma" and "Marcella". The former from her later tenure at Jungleland in 1,000 Oaks and the later, a long standing member of the Blue Show herd." Buckles

From Peter Rosa #2

!cid_67A2F972-9547-419F-A409-6BC77C9AA2C0@hsd1_fl_comcast_net, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Peter Rosa #3

!cid_D94DC656-4792-426A-B71B-F9149CF94394@hsd1_fl_comcast_net, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Peter Rosa #4

!cid_00EBDB37-E2F2-41EB-A2BF-6D74229E204D@hsd1_fl_comcast_net, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Peter Rosa #5

!cid_84456B77-7BD9-420A-BA07-947F4E22D2C0@hsd1_fl_comcast_net, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Peter Rosa #6

!cid_773D352D-491C-4143-A451-3202E6920396@hsd1_fl_comcast_net, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Peter Rosa #7

!cid_41D1F03E-ED61-4DEC-900B-7973587937C3@hsd1_fl_comcast_net, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Peter Rosa #8

!cid_FB735D76-1B1B-4659-8B48-0E2C7D942F64@hsd1_fl_comcast_net, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Peter Rosa #9

!cid_AE9E1401-3506-450A-B420-CC44AD109BAF@hsd1_fl_comcast_net, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Peter Rosa #10

!cid_45ED9E9A-F984-467C-BD75-416B3CD5C90D@hsd1_fl_comcast_net, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Peter Rosa #11

!cid_9E84CF59-E6D7-4A9A-8E56-CD18F2CDB335@hsd1_fl_comcast_net, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Peter Rosa #12 & #13

Merged0001, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Shannon joined these two together.

From Peter Rosa #14

!cid_0845EB05-DAD6-478C-A149-F2EC86D29712@hsd1_fl_comcast_net, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. This is an 8 X 10 photo from Don Foote and Mel Cabral's photo collection Printed on photo: Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Winter Quarters 1965 ROSA COLLECTION Buckles, previously there was a visitor to your blog that wanted to know more about Don Foote. I grew up with Don and Mel and would be glad to be contacted for more information at rosapj@AOL.com Pete Rosa

Christmas Card

Christmas Card, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Merry Christmas to everybody, and best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2010. Eric Beheim

"The Brigands" (From Eric Beheim)

Scan12466, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Eric, thanks so much for the CD, I had no idea the Frenchman and Englishman had a professional connection. I first became acquainted with Offenbach music over 40 years ago on the Polack Show where it was included in the Barbette aerial numbers. I have "Tales of Hoffman" in both video and audio. Buckles

Little Nemo Get Well Card-1 (From Eric Beheim)

Little Nemo Get Well Card-1, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Little Nemo Get Well Card-2

Little Nemo Get Well Card-2, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Little Nemo Get Well Card-3

Little Nemo Get Well Card-3, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Little Nemo Get Well Card-4

Little Nemo Get Well Card-4, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Little Nemo Get Well Card-5

Little Nemo Get Well Card-5, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Little Nemo Get Well Card-6

Little Nemo Get Well Card-6, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

To Melanie Carty

Scan12465, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. George Powers Powers Elephants Polack Bros. Circus 1944

To Melanie Carty #2

Scan12467, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

This Morning's Tampa Tribune!

Scan12465, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Down Under #1

IMG_0138, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. From Casey Gibbs, Hi Everyone, This is from my friend Brenton Bullen in Australia. He has these 3 elephants from the Bullen Circus and keeps them at Steve Irwins zoo. He also had a book wrote called" Mr Bullen's Elephants" that has pictures of these 3 when they where punks in Tailand where his Dad went into the jungle to catch them. He also so has a lot of cats that he does film and comericals with. Casey Dear Casey and Renee, Hope that all is going well for you both. Thanks for all the emails that you send. I am still at Australia Zoo Queensland wth the 3 elephants, but while there I have been filming 'ELEPHANT PRINCESS II' with Siam the elephant since November and finish in March 2010. I had to replace my elephant truck so bought a 6 year old Volvo Prime Mover for my elephant semi trailer- photo attached. National Geographic Australia also did some filming for their Foxtel 'WILD' launch with my puma, tiger, tiger cub and macaque monkey. They were trilled with the results. For my spare time I have purchased a 1923 Chev truck to do up as an old Bullen's Circus truck from that era. I am also going to refurbish one of the old animal cages from the 40's. Pictures attached of the old Chev Truck, Zoran in the Chev, elephants at Australia zoo, National Geo shots of Zoran and Kota the Puma, Elephant transport and Zoran. I wish you both a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year 2010. BRENTON

Down Under #2

Puma_EB, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Down Under #3

Cub_EB, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Down Under #4

PICT0195, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Down Under #5

PICT0215, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Down Under #6

PICT0191, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Down Under #7

IMG_4320, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Down Under #8

IMG_0295, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Robert Perry

!cid_3CD232D2E6CF11DE9BD0904C58F39026@snj-us-pcwp-701_kodak, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Bud Copeland

Elephant_Hand, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Sue Lenz

!cid_X_MA1_1261097318@aol, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT? If You Build It, THEY Will Come... This is the actual turn-off From Banff, Alberta, Canada to the #1 highway to Calgary . Great picture isn't it? They had to build the animals their own crossing (especially the elk) because that was where the natural crossing was and after the highway was built there were far too many accidents. It didn't take the animals long to learn that this was their very own bridge!