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Wednesday, December 13, 2006
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9 comments:
Is that Gunther Williams first wife working with Elvin Bale. Didn't they marry?
You are correct.
Currently VP of Cole Bros. Circus...
From Eric:
The finale of Elvin Bale’s gyro-wheel act was accompanied by the finale from "Dance of the Hours." Bill Pruyn once said that he had heard "Dance of the Hours" performed during a center ring concert by Merle Evans and the under-canvas Ringling-Barnum Band when he was quite young. It must have made quite an impression on him, since he liked to work in bits and pieces of it in his musical programs whenever he could. Its use for the finale of the gyro-wheel act was so effective that it was used in this capacity for as long as Bale presented this number for Ringling.
Is Elvin any relation to trevor?
Elvin is Trevor's son.
Seeing this photograph brings back great memories. No one in the business today or in the past could sell this act as Elvin did. He was nimble and athletic and performed all the simple and easy tricks on the apparatus, however his showmanship, charm, and charisma absolutely captivated the audience. Saw the show that year many times in Madison Sq. Garden. By the conclusion of the act Elvin had the entire crowd clapping hands, stampimg feet,hooting and hollering. Most times the crowd graced him with a standing ovation. Back then Saturday night crowds did not contain many kids. Saturday night was date night or mostly couples. I remember most in the crowd to be fairly well dressed, men with sport coats or suits and women dressed sportily. They had attended dinner prior to the show or would dine after the show and then take in a bit of New York night life.
This was, if you will, a bit more sophisticated circus crowd. Elvin never failed to win over even this group with his stylish showmanship.
i agree. elvin's performance on the wheel never failed to stop the show whenever I saw it, whether it was in florida, alabama, north caroilina, virginia or maryland. everything i ever saw elvin - wheel, heel catch, motorcyle or cannon was exciting. had he kept the mechanical monster, i'm sure it would have eventually reached the same level. the way he sold his cannon act was amazing - it brought back the thrills the cannon probably had when it was first introduced. it's one of the great tragedies of life that his performing career was cut short like it was -- and a testament to his courage he was able to rebound into management as he has.
I really sould not write this but here goes. I never did understand this wheel act and never could watch the whole act. I did not see how it fit into a circus. THEN I saw Elvin Bale. I really was there to see his wife. Nosey as to whom she was married to before. Elvin's performing grabbed me and I was in shock. He was fantastic and all my reasons for visiting the show were forgotten. He was GREAT. No one has ever passed him on the wheel performance. See what you learn when you pay attention? The wheel is indeed circus. Thank you Mr Bale.
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