Saturday, August 13, 2005

Polack Bros. Circus/ Sam Ward and Louis E. Stern


At left is Sam Ward, one of the Polack Show's principal promoters, "putting the arm" on my favorite boss, Louie Stern. I never met I.J. Polack or his wife Bessie, both had died by the time I joined the show in 1965 but I was told that Louie was always "the Man".
He had a poor memory for names and addressed everyone as "Kid" and referred to me as the "Elephant Guy", the Potentate as the "Shrine Guy", etc. the only person he called by name was "Polly" Baer who handled the Press. Parley compared him to Samuel Goldwyn regarding his manipulation of the English language.
I often think of Louie, I liked him a lot.

Posted by Buckles at 8/13/2005 07:07:00 AM

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

It must have been in the early 50s when I was a kid in Wheeling, WV and was the assistant manager of the Capitol Theatre. We played a three day stand of the Polack Bros. Circus. Bessie Polack was with the show and and I remember her as one of the most elegant and charming of women. I had a publicity picture taken with her sitting in the theatre seats with a big Black bear between us. I recall her wearing more furs than the bear.

13 August, 2005 10:02
Anonymous said...

Louie, was always great to the CFA....I was always welcome in the Polack backyard...And of course Buckles....How about bringing those days back...Still think of Louie, Parley, and I believe Ross Paul and we can't forget Soldier with his route cards...I think he saved all the season end cards for me.

13 August, 2005 10:41
tami rae said...

It was Ross Paul. It's nice to see my dad's name mentioned. I have fond memories of the circus; Lottie brunn, uncle parley, Dougie Ashton, pat Anthony, my mom Anne doing acrobats and barbette's Arials and so much more. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Tami Rae Paul

09 March, 2011 17:26

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