Robbins Bros. Circus 1949/ For Anita and Brandy

My family was on this show too, owned by Big Bob Stevens and previously known as Bailey Bros. Circus. I was a high steppin' candy butcher working for the A & E Concession Company (Laura Anderson and Frank Ellis). Other than the Riding Conleys we had the Silverlake Family, Jackie Tolliver and Ernest and Percy Clarke who did a comedy fencing act dressed as Musketeers. Skinny Goe had an excellent band. The boss canvasman was Johnny Wall and his wife Gladys Gillum (a former lady wrestler) had a small cat act, four or five lions (Killum' Gillum). After her act the Silverlakes did a "Gargo" number (giraffe parody) while the steel was coming down. Marcus in the front, Franklin in the back and their father Brownie, in clown makeup and pith helmet, worked the act. He would conclude a long introduction with "Tie him up and turn him loose!". One day for some unknown reason Miss Gillum while exiting the tent spied Gargo awaiting it's cue and walked over and laughing, shot it in the ass with her blank gun. The canvas immediately ignited and Franklin was rushed to the Hospital with severe burns. The show carried a lot of grift and on more than one occasion the last of the trucks pulling off the lot at night were escorted with gun fire. Fortunately the Lucky Boys only worked after the night performance affording ample time for artists and animals to be gone before all Hell broke loose. I remember a rare two-day stand in Canada and business was so good Big Bob let them work after the first night resulting in the loss of the second day. We were promptly escorted out of town.