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Monday, November 26, 2007
Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus 1977
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24 comments:
This aerial photo of Beatty-Cole was taken by me in July of 1972 in my home town of Middletown, RI. Bobby Cline from the elephant dept. went with me up in the plane, which as I recall cost me all of $15., plus a free circus ticket for the pilot.
Today is my last day up here at the Marcan tiger ranch. I have been taking care of his tigers while he has been off on fair dates and been away in Europe.
Notice how close the passing cars on the road come to those RV trailers. No room for a wheel chair ramp on that lot!
Beautiful white canvas! No plastic.
WOW! those days are gone! (Sadly) The Unknown poster wrote:Beautiful white canvas! No plastic.....I believe Vynl or plastic is a much Better TENT, and it comes in "White" if one chooses, to bad the rest of the Elements can't be recreated...as easily.......Jim Zajicek
What a difference 30 years make. Who could have predicted that we were witness to the last days of canvas and a mighty show.
Throwing out a question...was it McClosky or Collins that brought the real circus expertise to the show? I suspect McCloskey had the know-how and Collins had the scratch...any other opinions? Please share.
OK, I'll buy the "white" part, but missing canvas is like missing an old black & white television that needed periodic "fixes" from a guy with a truck full of vacuum tubes. "Plastic" lasts 5 times longer, leaks less, any idiot with a heat gun and a roller can patch it, and it still weights 18oz a square yard wet or dry. Not to mention the fire marshal thing.
Walter Kernan was until his death along with Frank McClosky the two men who made the Beatty-Cole show so successful. But let's not forget the great people they brought with them: Bob Reynolds, George Werner, Edna Antes, Theo Forstall etc.
Bill English told me that Collins was brought in because he alone could get the bank to finance the late 1956 tour of the Beatty show after they took it over (and were able to pay back the entire loan at season's end).
The fourth original partner Randolph Calhoun was brought in for his legal know-how.
Thanks Jimmy, I`ll make a note that you made the shot. It`s a great photo.
Hal Guyon
Looks like they either were expecting rain or when they arrived it was wet - all the bosses' caddy's & airstreams are parked on the edge of the road, and it SURELY does not look like a tight lot!!
:-)
Cindy Potter
There is another name you all left out.
Doug Howadell, as he had the finesse to book a town and make it a winner.
He traveled in his Lincoln car with the trunk filled many cases of booking material.
Doug brought the new age booking and marketing ideas to the circus.
I also wish the circus looked today like it did in 1977.
The tent looks like a 150' by 300' Leaf.
I still wish it was named Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros Circus, the Greatest Circus on Earth, but times change and prices have gone up.
Harry
Doug Holwadel was the President of the St. Louis Zoo Friends organization when I first knew him. A circus fan with some money, he would tell me his plan to buy the Beatty show and how he could make money with it. I would listen skeptically, remembering tales of previous investors who lost money with shows. He did go on to buy into the show and it did well for several years.
We all understand how great the plastic tents are, but I sure miss the smell of walking into a canvas top.
P.J.Holmes
Great picture! If in fact the picture is 1972, this is just 2-years after this show was in Winston-Salem, NC at Bethania Station. The sideshow was managed by a guy named Lou Guillemin. (Not sure of the spelling) Emmett and Pricilla Bejano and Nabor Felix were with the show in 1970. It’s amazing the things one can remember, but after lunch a guy yells over to Lou, “Hey there’s a couple of punks messing around the mean ones”.
This was during the week, and I was unable to stay for the show, so I drove to Durham the following Saturday with my mom. One of the old time seat jacks fell during the performance, but no one was hurt. Does anyone know? Was Jimmy James still a clown then? He later moved up to the ringmaster slot.
Wasn't there a tale where someone had two wives? Rumor or fact?
I knew Doug real well, He was also president of Giant Portland Cement Co. here in South Carolina, and live here in Columbia. It was Doug that let me inside the Beatty Cole Ticket semi to take the picture of Johnny Pugh`s office. I remember when I first met Doug at the load out of RBBB here in Columbia, can`t remember the year. but it was before he bought CBCB. My Dad who was well into his 80`s started talking to him about the old days, and how his mother (my grandmother) once toured with the Pawnee Bill Wild West Show before she met my grandfather. I also remember riding with Doug to a CFA & CMB gathering in Greenville, S.C. right before he bought the show. He gave me a list of all the property, I still have that list, and will post it here after I look it up. Doug also had a beautiful 1/4" model circus at his home, I have photos of it and will also send them to Buckles. I also have a pair of the red CBCB coveralls that Doug gave me as well as a bullhook he got from Fred, and a wooden tent stake. He was a great Guy. Hated to hear about the problems he had in Alabama before he passed away. Hal Guyon
I think Count Nicholas was Ringmaster in 72, he also was the Sideshow talker. Correct me if I`m wrong.
Hal Guyon
Doug did have another wife in Alabama. When his wife in Columbia found out she about took Doug for everything. I got a call from an appraiser here in Columbia to go out and help him appraise Doug`s model circus because his first wfe was going to sell it. I told the appraiser that if it was sold I`d like to get a few pieces because I couldn`t afford the whole thing. I found out later that Doug was able to keep it, it wasn`t long after that he died of cancer.
Yeah, Doug made a lot of "decisions" like that...But Johnny Pugh would come along and fix everything...That's why the show is still on the road.
Yes those divorces can be a killer.
Particularly here in Florida where the cut is 50-50 which a Ken & Nicole Executive will soon discover.
DH...one circus and two wives...the man was a glutton for punishment!
Regarding Mr & Mrs---You didn't have to be a blind man to see that one coming...I'm surprised it took this long.
Does this mean floss goes to $20?
In regards to Mr. and Mrs.---
I'm wondering who is going to get custody of the shavings.
Do you know why divorces are so expensive?
They're worth it.
Why so expensive??? It's the lawyers. I once knew a couple who worked out their property settlement on a yellow pad and were satisfied. Her father was a lawyer and insisted that she hire a lawyer. It turned out to be a mess and the lawyer was well paid.
Hey, Hey, Hey...we might be jumping the gun on this...it just might be one of those new arrangement... this marriage might be similar to the Fruit of the Month Club... A different tastey treat every month.
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