Buckles Blog: Castang's Chimps with Polack Bros. Circus (date unknown)

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Scan000010369, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Anonymous said...: Richard Reynolds asks - - -

At some point Castang added a young gorilla. Can anyone give detained information about it?; 21 October, 2007 19:09
24-HOUR-MAN said...: They were on Polack Eastern in 1955, but the name I remember was Costine.
When you drive south out of Ruskin FL there is a Mobile Home Park on the right side of Hwy. 41, on the north shore of the Little Manatee. After retiring from the road, they managed it for many years.; 21 October, 2007 19:09
Anonymous said...: Reuben Castang was a famous early chimp trainer back in the 1920, maybe before. He began his career as a trainer for Hagenbeck. He worked the elephants that went down the big slide, presented cage acts, and more at the 1904 Fair in St. Louis. According to R.W.Thompson's book he was in his early 50s in 1933. My question, is this gentleman his son, just using the name, or look really good for being in his 70s like Mr. Woodcock.

As to the gorilla: There was an act on Ringling in 1960, maybe more, named Kasten. On RBBB they had cats and rats (remember the rats that parachuted from the rocket ?)and two chimps. When they returned to Europe they acquired a gorilla and orang. John Whitfield would know much more.; 21 October, 2007 20:02

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