Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Beatty-Cole 2007 #3


ColeBrosCircusTentFullUp001, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Posted by Buckles at 7/31/2007 06:06:00 AM

7 comments:

Harry Kingston said...

Has circus advertising changed and a mile long blue fence and and one small window card on it.
In the old days that would have never happened as the whole fence would be coverd to let the locals know the circus is in town.
Does any body know what a one sheet is or a three sheet date????
Harry

31 July, 2007 07:35
Anonymous said...

The answer to your first question: yes, it has changed. You can thank those billposting crews from the good old days who covered fences and walls for the restrictions that are in place today.

31 July, 2007 16:32
Anonymous said...

as far as i know, billposting has not died everywhere because of city oridnances. businesses are still free to put paper in their windows, which was a more effective way to flash a town better tha covering a barn few people would see. the problem is very simple. there are no more billposters or even press agents anymore. they've died or retired and show owners do not want to pay for any that might be available or train anyone.the advance departments have gone for the same reason so many other things have gone. unfortunately, shows can't hire an oriental family or a latino family who can cover the entire advance the way they hire one family to fill the performance. if anyone really wanted an advance, they could get one. just as they could still find a way to fill a 90 minute performanace without more pitches than acts -- if they were willing to put money back into the shows like they once did.

31 July, 2007 18:24
Harry Kingston said...

Mr Edgar,
I think Ralph Gifford, last of the old time bill posters would beg to differ with you that all the bill posters are gone.
Ralph worked for Clyde Beatty Cole, King Bros. and for Carson and Barnes for many years and other shows.
He is alive and well and is bill posting for Ringling Bros three units and ice shows.
He has trained bill posters for Kelly Miller and Culpepper, etc.
The Ringling Gold unit that played my town put up window cards, half sheet dates and thousands of discount cupons.
So yes billposting still exists but in smaller terms than years ago.
Harry

31 July, 2007 19:37
Anonymous said...

Harry:
I have a 9-sheet tiger hanging in my office! Having posted a "hod" of 125 pieces every day for the Beatty show for two years, I agree...that fence should be covered with half-ups, half-flats, 1-sheets and 3 sheets! One year in Philadelphis we had to get a "permit" to post, place little stickers on each poster and then had to backtrack to take the all down afterwards or the show would get fined! I used to LOVE to find "empty's" like an old car showroom I once did in Ithaca New York! Iput a 6-sheet & a 9 Sheet in there and parered all available holes with dates! Those were the days!!!
:-)
Cindy Potter

01 August, 2007 09:44
Anonymous said...

Touche' Henry. But here's a thought. Earlier this year our Corporation was approached by a former "World Class" advance man, (his word's), who was taking out a brand new show, and was interested in our new tiger act. He promised 41 weeks, week long dates, all coliseum engagement's, and added that he was going to put Ringling out of business, and show Dick Garden, Johnny Pugh, David Rawls, and other's how the old school advance team used to do it. I told John, let's wait and see after a year. Moral: The new trendsetting show was late opening, and closed 2 months later. Wade Burck

01 August, 2007 12:41
Harry Kingston said...

Hi Cindy,
I remember here in Beaumont, Texas when in 1961 when Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. combined Circus played here and that was when the trend was for busines to move from down town to better locations.
We had a large car dealership down town and the Beatty crew covered every window inside. What a grand sight it was all with those great poster they had. Sure wish i had been a circus collector back then.
I bet your 6 sheet was the Enquirer lion head and the 9 sheet was there tiger. I have both in my collection.
All that now is just gone and I doubt very few could tell you what a hod is or what a sticker was. And what lithograph sticks were used for.
Being a true collector of the circus you have to know all about it to collect posters.
I helped circus Vargas put up a many a sheet years ago and we covered many a building front as we had the paper.
What fun for a fan that was and even got to help Alan Pierson on Beatty Cole card a town.
Great circus menories from days in the past.
Harry

01 August, 2007 13:21

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