Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Sells & Gray Circus #5


Scan10052, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Dave Mullaney, seen here, gave me this picture many years ago but I neglected to date it.

Posted by Buckles at 7/11/2007 06:05:00 AM

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's Anna May, Bessie and Chris Hudson with Dave. Either 1963 or 1964, my age is showing and I can't remember which years Dave worked the elephants and which ones he was on the front door. But my best guess would be 1963.

11 July, 2007 07:58
Anonymous said...

Dave was on this show in 1963, and it was the first year I met him; previously he had been on Beatty-Cole selling side show tickets. In later years he was back on Ringling, probably when Buckles was on, and for a time was ring boss. I remember him showing me his stateroom on the train about the first year he had it and very proud as a working guy to have one. He was a great show guy from my home state of Massachusetts and a very knowledgeable and practical circus and carnival historian. Circus Historical Society president Al Stencell dedicated the 2004 convention to his memory.
Dick Flint
Baltimore

11 July, 2007 09:46
Anonymous said...

Steve Fanning knew Dave from years back. I believe Dave started his circus career with Ringling in the tent show days. He worked in the menagerie but not on elephants as I recall.

I first knew him with Beatty-Cole when he was a sideshow ticket seller for Bill English. He followed Bill to Sells & Gray and I know he had the elephants in 1963. I believe that in 1964 he went back to some other department.

Then he went to Ringling red where he worked on Ringcurb for the rest of his circus trouping.

My family and I have visited him on the train several times in two different staterooms or roomettes and he has been to several of our homes over the years.

What a great guy was Dave Mullaney.

11 July, 2007 15:13
Anonymous said...

Dave was on Ringling when it closed the under canvas tour in 56'. Was working in the prop dept. on the Red unit in the 70's. Found it funny to be back 20 years later. He would work as a stage hand in the winter when the show was off the road.
P.J.Holmes

11 July, 2007 19:42
Anonymous said...

The first time Walter Kernan heard Dave speak, he asked, "What part of Boston are you from?" to which Dave replied, "Quincy- I'm Shanty Irish, the same as yourself."

11 July, 2007 23:30

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