|
|
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Contributors
Recent Comments
Retirement Fund
Favorite Links
- Circus Historical Society
- Circus News
- Circus Fans Association of America
- Showfolks of Sarasota
- Arkansas Elephant Sanctuary
- Jim's "All My Days are Circus Days"
- Pat Cashin's Clown Alley
- Bill Strong's Yesterday's Towns
- Circus Links
- Circus Model Builders
- Magic Gallery
- Tim Perkins Blog
- Trumble's Carson & Barnes Blog
- Dick Dykes
- Wade G Burck
- Chuck Mayo
- The Circus Blog
- Jackie LeClaire
Subscribe
Blog Archive
- March 2023 (15)
- February 2022 (5)
- November 2021 (33)
- October 2021 (3)
- September 2021 (61)
- August 2021 (37)
- May 2021 (39)
- April 2021 (10)
- March 2021 (17)
- February 2021 (103)
- January 2021 (137)
- December 2020 (21)
- November 2020 (76)
- October 2020 (151)
- September 2020 (73)
- August 2020 (65)
- July 2020 (181)
- June 2020 (174)
- May 2020 (225)
- April 2020 (181)
- March 2020 (124)
- February 2020 (221)
- December 2019 (36)
- November 2019 (77)
- October 2019 (166)
- September 2019 (146)
- August 2019 (62)
- July 2019 (250)
- June 2019 (238)
- May 2019 (311)
- April 2019 (355)
- March 2019 (367)
- February 2019 (313)
- January 2019 (373)
- December 2018 (377)
- November 2018 (348)
- October 2018 (378)
- September 2018 (381)
- August 2018 (542)
- July 2018 (514)
- June 2018 (153)
- May 2018 (4)
- April 2018 (3)
- March 2018 (110)
- February 2018 (296)
- January 2018 (590)
- December 2017 (569)
- November 2017 (587)
- October 2017 (565)
- September 2017 (405)
- August 2017 (509)
- July 2017 (575)
- June 2017 (558)
- May 2017 (653)
- April 2017 (562)
- March 2017 (507)
- February 2017 (451)
- January 2017 (516)
- December 2016 (367)
- November 2016 (479)
- October 2016 (449)
- September 2016 (517)
- August 2016 (427)
- July 2016 (400)
- June 2016 (360)
- May 2016 (272)
- April 2016 (374)
- March 2016 (481)
- February 2016 (405)
- January 2016 (429)
- December 2015 (240)
- November 2015 (381)
- October 2015 (477)
- September 2015 (461)
- August 2015 (427)
- July 2015 (463)
- June 2015 (421)
- May 2015 (350)
- April 2015 (416)
- March 2015 (467)
- February 2015 (441)
- January 2015 (460)
- December 2014 (408)
- November 2014 (379)
- October 2014 (416)
- September 2014 (378)
- August 2014 (413)
- July 2014 (414)
- June 2014 (482)
- May 2014 (429)
- April 2014 (367)
- March 2014 (458)
- February 2014 (406)
- January 2014 (390)
- December 2013 (508)
- November 2013 (353)
- October 2013 (423)
- September 2013 (468)
- August 2013 (536)
- July 2013 (490)
- June 2013 (447)
- May 2013 (411)
- April 2013 (401)
- March 2013 (407)
- February 2013 (372)
- January 2013 (432)
- December 2012 (413)
- November 2012 (388)
- October 2012 (398)
- September 2012 (376)
- August 2012 (387)
- July 2012 (382)
- June 2012 (351)
- May 2012 (356)
- April 2012 (367)
- March 2012 (351)
- February 2012 (336)
- January 2012 (410)
- December 2011 (393)
- November 2011 (283)
- October 2011 (333)
- September 2011 (363)
- August 2011 (356)
- July 2011 (336)
- June 2011 (363)
- May 2011 (351)
- April 2011 (324)
- March 2011 (327)
- February 2011 (253)
- January 2011 (368)
- December 2010 (359)
- November 2010 (315)
- October 2010 (342)
- September 2010 (345)
- August 2010 (352)
- July 2010 (344)
- June 2010 (335)
- May 2010 (338)
- April 2010 (321)
- March 2010 (369)
- February 2010 (318)
- January 2010 (338)
- December 2009 (358)
- November 2009 (338)
- October 2009 (354)
- September 2009 (368)
- August 2009 (354)
- July 2009 (401)
- June 2009 (403)
- May 2009 (375)
- April 2009 (346)
- March 2009 (406)
- February 2009 (341)
- January 2009 (353)
- December 2008 (351)
- November 2008 (362)
- October 2008 (391)
- September 2008 (375)
- August 2008 (382)
- July 2008 (324)
- June 2008 (349)
- May 2008 (375)
- April 2008 (383)
- March 2008 (369)
- February 2008 (426)
- January 2008 (457)
- December 2007 (360)
- November 2007 (369)
- October 2007 (359)
- September 2007 (361)
- August 2007 (370)
- July 2007 (341)
- June 2007 (307)
- May 2007 (298)
- April 2007 (391)
- March 2007 (374)
- February 2007 (326)
- January 2007 (385)
- December 2006 (343)
- November 2006 (252)
- October 2006 (213)
- September 2006 (174)
- August 2006 (180)
- July 2006 (176)
- June 2006 (155)
- May 2006 (178)
- April 2006 (170)
- March 2006 (149)
- February 2006 (134)
- January 2006 (154)
- December 2005 (135)
- November 2005 (137)
- October 2005 (113)
- September 2005 (100)
- August 2005 (102)
- July 2005 (103)
- June 2005 (43)
17 comments:
Wilson Storey, John Pugh, Jerry Collins and..??....
Tim Stinson, a former Ringling Show promoter where he was often referred to as "Tiny Tim" but he appears to tower above everyone else in this picture.
Tim Stinson, is the last gentleman
On that subject, some of you may recall that Art Ricker (who knew where all the bodies were buried)promised some pictures but so far has been a no-show.
....Gentleman?
I've heard him called a LOT of things, but never THAT!!!
This quartet wasn't smiling after that 1980 Winter Tour.
Years ago I brought up Tim Stinsons name when visiting Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. and Bridgette Pugh told me they had no love for him after the winter tour disaster.
And what a disaster. I was there. The cast and crew outnumbered the audience in every town. One reason had to be that we were day-and-dating either Carter or Reagan on their campaign trails--guess where the TV crews went. Our last town, Winston-Salem, wanted an astronomical fee for their building, and Jerry Collins said, "Bring that son-of-a-bitch home."
One story had "a certain promoter" split and run up equally astronomical amounts, absconding with the show's American Express card.
Winter tour?
I was also on the indoor tour and was asked to be Perf. Director and indeed was. I believe the failure could be spread around to all parties involved, starting with Tom Scallon [Ice shows, Harlem Globetrotter, etc.]. The show was poorly formed for building operations with sleepers and nasty looking cookhouse trailor obvious outside buildings and trailors allaround. Looked pretty shabby. On Ringling they load em all up on the Gilley bus and haul them away until the next day. Tim and Dave Mobbs tried to do their jobs, but it was obvious the left hand didn't know what the right was doing. When Scallon was needed he was not around. Very frustrating for all involved. It was supposed to go back out again in January into western cold climates and clear heADS FINALLY PREVAILED. All I can say is that I was there.
Wilson Storey was a fine man to do business with and a gentleman in every way. We all new him as Willy. He booked me numerous times and was always a man of his word. Obviously a very high intelligent individual. He rarely spoke of his Alfred Court years. He was one of those great people that was always WITH IT AND FOR IT. There are a few people in this business, small in stature that I refer to as GIANTS in the field. He was one of them.
Mr. Johnny,
I agree with you all the way on Willy Storey. As there will never be another like him in show buiness.
I always ask questions as how are us fan going to learn about how it was without asking the circus greats about the way it was.
I asked Willy about his days with Court. He talked about the great acts and the one he did and told me he was there when May Kovar was killed.
I even have a contract from the Wilson Storey talent agency where he and I signed for my circus collection for Clyde Beatty Cole Bros.
Willy and his wife were always very nice to us fans on Sells and Gray Circus.
I always took 16mm movies when I visited a circus and always asked permission first. I was shooting on Sells and Gray and I think alex Linton?? the sword swallower gave me pure hell for filming him. I asked him who was he working for himself or Sells and Gray?? I said Willy gave me permission.
I looked around and Willy and his wife were really laughing.
I met Jerry Collins as he flew in to Beatty Cole where it was playing near to Beaumont, Tx. and as a fan I figured that something was up for him to come on the show.
A real nice person and I have the program he signed for me and sat right next to him at the circus.
Harry
I was also on the full '81 canvas tour, which really took a beating by the time we got into Texas. One error was booking Waco for 3 days. I graduated high school there and knew Waco would not support any show that long. RBB sat out at the Coliseum there for 4 days in 1970, and died like a snakebit hound. Jerry Collins flew in with a rumored million dollars in cash in a briefcase. My late uncle, John Trenam, was the tax attorney for John North, Art Concello, and Mr. Collins, so I knew more than I was supposed to about how much money Collins had, but it was said by this time in '81, he was rapidly wearying of playing the show's rich uncle.
When we got into Galveston, we couldn't get on the lot. A near-panic ensued in obtaining another one. The show couldn't afford to lose a town. Talk about Willy Storey being with it and for it, he stood out on the road waiting to get the first word on new arrows being up. He wouldn't leave. I walked out and visited with him for two hours. He seemed to enjoy passing the time, and answered all my questions about his and his uncle's acts, advanced animal caretaking, and general circus. He was visibly relieved when Eddie Firlein returned from getting us arrowed in, and thus the day was saved.
Mr. Roger,
Do you remember where the new lot was in Galveston??? Most shows play out by the airport.
I remember you outside of Hoovers cage act.
They played Nederland, Texas by our airport as that is between Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas.
You also date and dated our fair with the Bill Hames show carnival
going the second largest in the state of Texas.
Harry Hammond told me they did not even make the media money back.
I painted Jimmy James small elephant tub he stood on announcing the show as it looked so shabby.
I think circus Vargas played Beaumont before you all as alot of route switching was going on then between the shows as the great circus war was going on.
One year and it might have been 1981 as both Vargas and Beatty played Galveston as one show was there and the other was coming in on the same freeway to play another 2 day stand.
I think Vargas was so scared that someone from the Beatty show was going to sneak over and damage his tent??? And from all that no one made any money from the battle.
Great days of the circus.
Yes, and Waco for 3 days, just nuts.
Where was Floyd King when you needed him.
Harry
There was NO ONE in this "World," Circus or otherwise, who could top Willy Storey's honesty and integrity. I worked with him for 5 years in the Beatty ticket Wagon. I am fortunate to have learned from him!
:-)
Cindy Potter
To Harry Kingston: I took snapshots of us sitting in Temple, Texas, the morning after closing, awaiting word on the 237-mile jump into Galveston. At last we rolled, only to be denied the original lot. Cookhouse was set up for us as we waited for another lot. We were so weary, I don't recall where in town we finally showed. Route Card #9 has us routed then to Texas City, Huntsville, Bryan, Port Arthur and Orange to close a disastrous Texas run.
No one tried to sabotage Vargas, but he must have been brought to face his limitations, and I'll leave it at that.
My heart sunk when Waco showed up on the route. Elvis was the hottest act in showbusiness in 1957, but at the 10,000-seat Heart O' Texas Coliseum there, he drew a mere 3,000, when he had been selling out all major venues,to give you an idea about Waco. Incidentally, Hubert Castle worked his wire on that show for Col. Parker.
I would love to know how to reach Tim Stinson. I was a friend of his such a long time ago.
I would appreciate any information anyone has. I am Bobby Stoner and can be reached at BobbyStoner@Bellsouth.net. My home number in Fort Lauderdale is (954) 987-6078.
Thanks so much!
Post a Comment