Thursday, August 10, 2006

Blue Show 1970 100th Anniversary Edition #2


The first section of elephants with Harold Ronk in the center ring, Franzi Althoff riding "Siam".
I saw this show the next year in Memphis. By this time the Althoffs had returned to Europe and Dickie Chipperfield was enthroned on the elephant.

When I came on the show I suggested using howdahs like these, maybe even a double howdah but I was told that the back door in Madison Sq. Garden only had 10' clearance. So in 1970 they must have still been showing in the old Garden.

By the way, I saw former Ringling clown Swartzie at the Memorial yesterday. He was the purchasing agent when I knew him and now is a Bridge Tender in Venice.

Posted by Buckles at 8/10/2006 06:54:00 AM

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Buckles,

The Ringling show first played the "new" Garden in 1968 or 1969 --the 100th Anniversary edition was definately in the new building.

10 August, 2006 09:38
Anonymous said...

RBBB opened in the "New Garden" MSG IV ,the present MSG, for the first time during the spring of 1968. RBBB first played the "Old Garden" which opened in December 1925,Madison Sq. Garden III, opening there 1926 season there.
An added note the combined Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus opened for the first time under the present title in MSG II on March 29th, 1919.
Plans continue to move forward slowly on the construction of a fifth garden.

10 August, 2006 13:25
GaryHill said...

Hey Rigermortis! Glad you finally joined Buckles blog! Had to say Howdy! Gary

10 August, 2006 18:10
Buckles said...

To the uninformed, Riger Mortis is one half of that famous team of Italian clowns Riger Morti and Corpus Delecti imported to this country by Bobby Gibbs.

10 August, 2006 18:12
Anonymous said...

Howdey Riger. Are you still working out of Local 631? I've been a IATSE brother for 10 years, and of all things a Teamster in fur the before that.

10 August, 2006 20:54

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