Monday, October 03, 2005

Ringling Circus World 1974


From time to time Barbara would work an act from horseback at the Ringling Park. This was before the arena was constructed and we were working outdoors "grind show" fashion. It took longer to get the horse "Alpo" ready than the five elephants.
That's Keith Trusdale and Gary Jacobson in the background.

Posted by Buckles at 10/03/2005 07:39:00 AM

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

The horses name "Alpo" is the best I have ever heard!

03 October, 2005 07:49
Anonymous said...

Is the horses name for real. I mix ALPO with dry food to my pets in cold weather. Also hide medicine in the chunks to get it down them sometimes.

03 October, 2005 07:50
Buckles said...

Actually his name was something else but one of my elephant men who had to take care of him came up with it.

03 October, 2005 07:58
Anonymous said...

Went to Ringling Park a couple of times with my high school students. They had a good time. I have a picture of my wife riding an elephant. Young man leading the bull, black hair and black mustache. Students had a great time. Of course any time the wife gets near, or on an elephant her day is made!
Carl

03 October, 2005 14:52
GaryHill said...

Buckles wasn't the horse's name, "Turk"? And didn't "Highflyer" take care of him? Can't remember any of my ride elephant guys haveing black hair? Best, Gary

03 October, 2005 18:45
Buckles said...

You're right, Turk.
Barbara finally got a cowgirl to take care of him and the leopards, Linda?

03 October, 2005 18:56
GaryHill said...

Sure it wasn't Joanie Bale that worked with Trevor Bale ,no relation. Donald's wife? Gary

04 October, 2005 16:46
Anonymous said...

I was twenty years old, and I was working in the first Circus that I’d ever seen. I’d been awe struck by all the female performers standing inches away from me in the dark back stage area, their rhinestones occasionally catching a traveling spot light illuminating their well developed bodies, but when the big doors opened and Barbra entered the wings on horse back, it was apparent who the real star of the show was.
I was training on the curtain, but mostly hugging the walls trying to stay out of the way, and to stay alive. A whistle blew the clowns off stage, the ringmaster announced Barbra, and the horse took off with Barbra Styling to the audience. As I tried to get a better look, I was pulled out of the way by my trainer Pokie because a second latter five elephants ran though our curtain like a run away freight train.
After the elephants, Buckles coolly walked onto the stage as Barbra presented his ring on horse back; he carried what looked like a small putting iron, more like a shinny wand than a bull hook.
BUT, the picture that I have of Barbra burned into the walls of memory is of her screaming bloody murder at me. In finale, the elephants did a cross mount with Barbra in the center in her Peacock costume sitting on the neck on Ana Mae. It was my first day as a clown and I rode the lead elephant charging out of stage right. Holding on for dear life, I had my American Flag under my arm because I needed both hands to hold on to the headpiece to keep from falling, braking my neck, and being trampled into a stain on the floor. Barbra turned her head toward me and roared, she made it clear to me, over the music, and all of the commotion, that I was not to harpoon her to death with my American flag on that day.

05 October, 2005 08:59
Anonymous said...

Little John. We sure had some great times on these circuses didn't we.? It is a merical we survived. Some of the things we did just to be a part of this world scares me to think about. Im was explaining to my friend Kathy how I did the cover up with the elephants. She could not believe I would ever do anything like that. She would take off to join the circus Kelly Miller in a heart beat. As she is the preachers wife she has to stay here. The circus sure opened her eyes. I am so glad I took her to see the show and visit. When I told her to style on the elephant and camel she did not hisatate for one minute. Just like I did on Kelly Miller so, many years ago. Hate to admit it but she looked better than me in the pictures we took. Another circus fan is boen.

07 October, 2005 12:25

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