Sunday, March 05, 2006

Gunther #3


When this cat grew a little larger, Don Foote designed what I thought was one of Gunther's most outstanding costumes. It was jet black and with his blonde hair and the coloring of the tiger it was stunning.
Don later told me that Irvin Feld hated black and refused to have the color used in the show in any way. He then described the battle he had to go thru to get the costume made and the satisfaction he received from it's reception in the show.
I wonder what comments Gunther and Don might make about the circus with no rings?

Posted by Buckles at 3/05/2006 05:43:00 AM

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Its a blessing they did not see it. That would be a pain they could not take. God rest their talented gifts to the Circus of yesterday.

05 March, 2006 08:56
Anonymous said...

I wonder if anyone noticed or cared the number behind my name? I have used it for three years, even before all the rukess.

05 March, 2006 08:58
Anonymous said...

OK, so what about the 42?

05 March, 2006 09:41
Anonymous said...

Good morning George. The size of a ring curb, the year I was born, and the number of years I have known JC. I only noticed the oddity a couple of years ago. Some of the things I come up with amaze me.

05 March, 2006 09:58
GaryHill said...

I was wondering "why" you were using so many differant "identities"?

05 March, 2006 10:23
Anonymous said...

This is funny Gary. I have ADD. I have a very hard time remembering my sign in names and pass words. Most of the time I get not available. I could not use the same name for all the sites I visit sometimes. To remember the names I chose JCs last name spelled backwards and years we have known each other. The years have changes but I kept the original number. My Nick name on the show was The Dutchess as people thought I was Hodi Todi because of JC. I was just very shy, not stuck up as they learned as they got to know me and that took quite a while. Anonymous is usually when I hit the wrong button. I screw up more trying to correct so just leave it. The spelling of dutchess was a mistake but I just left it that was as the name duchess was used by someone else. Two of my clients pets died during the night so today is very tough Sadie and Bella had been grooming and boarding clients for at least 10 years. I prepare them for cremation, Making sure they are clean and groomed, shrouded and then take them to my Lady friend in Brighten IL for the deed to be done. Then I bury the ashes in little bio degradable caskets in my garden and plant a pretty bush over them. Still rips the old heart everytime after 20 years. This blog is a god sent out let for me . Might add I don't take a penny to do this. Just an animal nut that takes it to the extream.

05 March, 2006 10:52
Anonymous said...

Hey, I thought the 42 was your bra size?! tee hee

05 March, 2006 10:58
GaryHill said...

I have the rare disease CRS- Can't Remember Shit!

05 March, 2006 11:13
Anonymous said...

I see you hit the wrong key and number also. You got the numbers backward.

05 March, 2006 11:14
Anonymous said...

Gary I can remember it, just not how to spell it. I have a horse shoe nailed in every building on my property. Not over the doorway thou.

05 March, 2006 11:18
Anonymous said...

Gary, The one word the both of us can never forget is S%#^ as we both still deal with it everyday with our animals. No Horse Shows today?

05 March, 2006 11:28
GaryHill said...

First Sunday in a long while I haven't had to be anywhere. I do plan on working a few young horses today. The wife is off with a few girlfriends running burn barrels-hope she wins some money! She's taking me to Cozemel on the 16th for my birthday! Been working on my tan in them booths, must say I like having alittle color instead of winter white or pale!

05 March, 2006 11:39
Anonymous said...

Gary I use the 30 gallon plastic barrels to teach my pets the figure eight that is needed in shows. I live in the rust belt and got tired of having to paint every spring. I keep sawdust stored in the barrels to add weight and that keeps it handy to use and keeps it dry. I use cedar chipps so it helps make the yard smell better. I also use garden lime every month to keep the weeds green.

05 March, 2006 11:49
Buckles said...

Gary,your CRS illness can't be any worse than my DunLop Disease, my belly has dun lopped over my belt.

06 March, 2006 11:53
Anonymous said...

Buckles, I can go you one better. BBB. Boobs Beyond Beltline

06 March, 2006 12:36
GaryHill said...

Now thats funny! If you don't think that's funny you need to get out of here! (Larry the Cable Guy)

06 March, 2006 17:47
Anonymous said...

I wonder what comments Gunther and Don might make about the circus with no rings?

I dunno... How about...

Gunther - "Kongo! Get out of the seats! Where are deringz gawddamit!"

Don - "Now that's just TACKY!"

07 March, 2006 13:00
Anonymous said...

Clownron, I think you picked the perfect one word to discribe the Ken and Nicole Show. TACKY

08 March, 2006 10:31
Anonymous said...

I think you picked the perfect one word to describe the Ken and Nicole Show. TACKY

Thanks Dutchess, the Blue will hit Los Angeles this summer. I look forward to seeing Janice Aria then. I saw the Red at the Staple's Center last year and even with 3 rings the place looked empty. I can't imagine what the ring-less version will look like. 'Clowns on Ice' probably. I found it unsettling that I watched an entire show and could not for the life of me smell ANY circus smell. It was absolutely antiseptic... no cotton candy, no poop, NO DESIEL?

08 March, 2006 12:07
Anonymous said...

Karen, I remember staying in a camper over a pickup truck at some indoor dates in the Winter. Having an elephant rocking it rubbing her trunk rocked me to sleep a lot of nights. Murray Hill sent me an elephant turd and something was missing. Then I noticed what it was. The smell of warm elephant S&^%. Are we nuts or what?

08 March, 2006 15:06
Anonymous said...

Buckles,
I was thrilled to stumble onto your blog while searching for a former instructor of mine from RBBB Clown College in 1984, a gal named Colleen Linnehan. Her brother is an astronaut.
You and I worked together 86-89 when I was the front man for The Big Apple Circus. I'll never forget you, me, and Anna May at a little closed-street mall in downtown Burlington Vermont. The show had just parked in Shelburne, and you were none too happy about putting Anna May back on the truck for a promo, and it was my job to make that happen. I was struck even then by your strong commitment to safety. This is about how I remember the conversation going:

Buckles: "There's gonna be cops, right?"

Me: "Yup. Sure. You betcha."

Buckles: "And barricades, right? I don't want any kids running under her legs."

Me: "Of course, Bill. I'll see to it myself."

Well, you can figure out the rest. Of course there were no cops, several tots almost got squished, and the whole way back to the lot I just tried to think of ways to evaporate into the dry grass, or snap my fingers and become invisible. Anything to avoid what I was sure was going to be a mighty big talking-to.

It never came. All that afternoon, as everybody prepped for the first show that night, there was nothing but silence. As the afternoon wore on I got more and more nervous. The show that night was bought out by the New England Culinary Institute, and they were celebrating a birthday of some sort. They had baked what they claimed was the world-record setting largest-ever cake in the shape of an elephant. I was assigned the task of babysitting 4 giant ice-carts, each of which had balanced precariously on it one fourth of this enormous cake--the thing was going to be pieced together, and then someone was going to polish up the frosting, at the last minute. Where did they put me and these 4 monstrosities and me? Right in the chute, of course. During curtain call, I was almost clobbered by the Gaona family, had numerous capes and sombreros dumped on my arms and head, and generally me and my 4 giant cake-portions were considered the biggest nuisance ever invented.

Then it happened. Just as I was standing there, trying to stay out of the way (as much as was possible in that tight area), I felt a distinctly non-human tap on my shoulder, and heard the barest whisper: "Anna May, UP!" I turned, and there she was, on her hind legs, towering over me and these delicate cake quarters.

You were calm. Cool. Collected. "You gonna ever let that happen again, Howard?" you said quietly.

"n- nu- noooo. I swear, Buckles. Never."

"You gonna make sure there's cops next time?

"Y- ye- yessss. Of course I will, Bill. I'm so sorry!"

"And barricades to keep the kids safe?"

"I swear, Bill. Never again. I promise. Please, tell her to get down, her trunk is swinging lower and lower and if this frosting is messed up..."

"OK. Make sure you do the right thing next time," you said.

And then that whisper: "Anna May, DOWN!"

And down she came, beautifully, elegantly, gracefully. I watched in mute horror as the trunk swung this way and that, maybe about 3 inches above the thick buttercream frosting.

"You remember that," you said. "Because next time, I'll let her eat it. Anna May LOVES cake!"

Remember it I did, Buckles. I surely did.

I never thanked you for that memory--and most importantly, I never thanked you for saving the cake!

Sincerely,

Howard Wahlberg
Big Apple Circus Senior Marketing Associate, 1986-1989.
hwahlberg@cox.net

08 March, 2006 15:19
Buckles said...

Hi Howard, I remember you well but I don't remember this particular photo-op, I must have done a thousand of those damn things in my life time.
I hope you enjoy the Blog Site but I must warn you that couple of elderly lady contributors occasionally use dirty words.

09 March, 2006 07:05
Anonymous said...

Karen, Did you read what Buckles wrote about us? As we are the only LADIES that write everyday he has to mean us. Elderly in deed! I would not know a dirty word if it was in the wash. He will pay as soon as I find a really GOOD picture. .

09 March, 2006 07:33
Anonymous said...

I sent Gary my e-mail address yesterday. Have not heard from him. I sent him a dirty joke that the Mayors wife sent to me. Maybe he did not know it was from me. Its a good thing Kathy has a great sence of humor if he wrote her instead of me. I did not stop to think he did not know my real last name. Don't ask.

09 March, 2006 16:45
Anonymous said...

Karen, all my stories are about sex and violence for the over 60 crowd. I have to wait for some to die before I can kiss and tell. Or I would be killed for sure. Grand kids would not believe what swingers their grandparents were. We just have to wake Gary up. You do know I am joking right? Right Karen? This is an ELDERLY joke.

09 March, 2006 19:03
GaryHill said...

I heard from Karen, but Dutchess I haven't a thing from you?????

09 March, 2006 21:30
Anonymous said...

Gary. I e-mailed the RING JOKE to you. Maybe you thought it was from Kathy?

09 March, 2006 23:21
GaryHill said...

My Dearest Dutchess, I have nothing from you in my mail ???? I'm awake and waiting?????

10 March, 2006 00:01

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