Thursday, November 30, 2006

From John Herriott



Johnny sent me this picture of Bobby Gibbs and "Marie" on Jimmy Hetzer's "Oxydol Show", a combination Circus and Ice Show. Neither of us can put a date on it.
Bobby once told me that the top of the howdah had a simulated ice surface, upon which the skater was supposed to pirouette but rarely managed to pull it off.

I have told the story many times of how we came into possession of "Anna May". D.R. Miller ordered three baby elephants for the Miller-Woodcock elephant act in 1951 and after they arrived at the NY Central Park Zoo, my dad flew up from the show to check them out. Unfortunately, one had a crippled hind leg and he only returned with two, "Fannie" and "Lydia". The act was already booked with Siebrand Shows for the following season so D.R. relucantly let him borrow "Anna May" and the rest is History.
She was eventually replaced in the Kelly-Miller herd by the elephant above, "Marie".

MARIE
1949-51 Biller Bros. Circus (Original name "Margie")
1952-64 Al G. Kelly & Miller Bros. Circus
1965-77 Bobby Gibbs Independent Act
1978 Carson & Barnes #2 Unit
1979 Circus Genoa
1980-81 Carson & Barnes Circus (Died in 1981)
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Posted by Buckles at 11/30/2006 10:32:00 AM

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

1967 - " The Oxydol Circus" promotion directed by Gibson Carey, Procter & Gamble VP-Advertising worldwide. James Hetzer, Huntington, WV Circus Producer...It was combined ice show and circus. For more information go to - http://promomagazine.com/mag/marketing_lions_tigers_bears/ You will find a fantastic 5 page article titled " Lions, and Tigers and Bears" after reading it you will recommend to others....My only complaint with the article was no mention of the "girl ice skating on the elephants back and more of a hard luck story for Gibson Carey, P & G VP and not totally accurate...

30 November, 2006 11:48
Anonymous said...

IT WAS 1997 WE OPENED IN INDIANAPOLIS.BOBBY HAD THE HOUDI MADE AND IT HAD BRINE COILS IN A TANK .WE WOULD HOOK IT UP TO A SMALL COMPRESOR TO MAKE THE ICE IT WEIGHED ALMOST 1000 LBS. IT TOOK 6 OF US TO GET IT ON HER. SHE DID NOT LIKE GETTING UP WITH IT. SO SOMEONE WITH THE ICE SHOW SAID THAT YOU COULD SKATE ON TEFLON. THAT CUT IT DOWN TO 175 LBS. BUT THE SKATER COULD NOT PIERROTE ON IT. GREAT SHOW CASEY

30 November, 2006 12:33
Anonymous said...

Mr. Woodcock, the elphant you mentioned, "Lydia" would that be David Tecsh's Lydia of Lydia Elephant Rides?

30 November, 2006 15:11
Anonymous said...

The July 9,2005 issue of the Promo magazine has letters to the editor from two of J. T. (call me Jim ) Hetzer's daughters (Cathy Hetzedr Rogers and Carolyn Hetzer Zuttel) that are good supplemental info. When reading the original article, be prepared to really enjoy and laugh out loud!

30 November, 2006 15:21
Buckles said...

Yes it's the same Lydia. She was named after Obert Miller's wife.

30 November, 2006 15:35
Anonymous said...

I remember the brine mini-rink in Indianapolis at the Fairgrounds. As Casey mentioned it was heavy and needed a cast of thousands to get it on Marie. John and Herta Cuneo were on the show with a mini-Horse Fantasy and Klauser bears including one on ice skates.

30 November, 2006 18:57
Anonymous said...

Is she still even around?

30 November, 2006 19:42
Anonymous said...

BUCKLES,
Saturday, Dec.2 is the revival of Breakfast at Bob's, in a refurbished Ringling car on School north of Fruitville, starts about nine, I wouldpop for breakfast for you.
Infor Sat Morning at 941.228.677at 8:30 am.

30 November, 2006 20:12
Buckles said...

Thanks for the invite Judge but on weekday mornings, serving as chief shuttle bus driver and asst. diaper folder, my hands are full.
However I will see you at Robards next week.

01 December, 2006 06:07
Buckles said...

Erase the previous message from your mind. Upon a second reading I see that the Breakfast is Saturday.
I'll see if I can round up the Colonel.
The reason for my loss of composue was discovering that the ads at the top of the page this morning, included Sex Bondage Equipment.
Shannon tells me that the little chatter over "Zoma" with the Robinson Show is all that it takes to attract a more exotic audience.

01 December, 2006 07:00
Anonymous said...

More on the ( Oxydol Circus ) P & G Jim Hetzer Circus. Cathy Hetzer told me that when her dad telephone her with a report on the show. He mention about the elephant and the female ice skater...Said, the elephants name was Marie and he named the female ice skater Antoinette.

01 December, 2006 21:08
Anonymous said...

More on the ( Oxydol Circus ) P & G Jim Hetzer Circus. Cathy Hetzer told me that when her dad telephone her with a report on the show. He mention about the elephant and the female ice skater...Said, the elephants name was Marie and he named the female ice skater Antoinette.

01 December, 2006 21:09
Anonymous said...

dpowhitetiger says the show was out in 1967 and Casey says 1997 ???

02 December, 2006 09:53
Anonymous said...

I believe the show would have been out in early spring of 1968. My guess is based on a minor car accident I had in Evansville on the way to the show. I decided to trade the car in on a new 1968 Mustang.

02 December, 2006 16:11
Anonymous said...

I believe a typo frm Casey

02 December, 2006 19:05
Anonymous said...

I think we have dueling Blogs going on between Bill and Buckles..Cathy Hetzer responded on Bills blog yesterday Friday, Dec. 1st the P & G Oxydol Circus / Ice Show was 1969. Matter of fact Cathy wrote a very interesting article on Bills blog...I think we all agree that Jim Hetzer was one great showman.

02 December, 2006 20:19

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