Monday, December 31, 2007

1908 Barnum & Bailey Program #11


Scan000010661, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Posted by Buckles at 12/31/2007 06:02:00 AM

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I note Orrin Davenport being in the center ring as a somersault rider. Already an established star. I and yourself would both work for Mr. Davenport on his "indoor winter dates". Just thinking that the B&B program is 100 yrs. ago. Makes me feel quite old.

My Dad had booked the Cole Show animals to once again play Orrin's dates including the 12 palomino liberty act, presented by my father. At the time the Chicago Stadium owned Cole Bros. in Bunker HILL Had bought semi-tractors and trailers to haul the animals, but also to haul the ice making equip. of "Hollywood Ice Revue" [Sonja Heini] to buildings that did not have permanent ice making facilities and also all the paraphenalia for Sport Shows, Water Tank, etc. and this was the busiest part of those seasons. Being the Mgr. my Dad was quite busy in keeping it all together with schedules, drivers, etc. So he called Orrin in late Fall and asked him if he would agree to let me, his son, to present the horses. Orrin did not know me at all and suggested to my Dad that I could work the first day in Detroit and if it was not good that he would expect my Dad to take over. So we did that and Orrin was pleased in my showing and I was off and running. Also Mr. Davenport put me in my first job as a Perf. Dirctor, etc. in that he said to me to "line up the spec". Harry Thomas was the great rgmstr-anncr, so I was in pretty heady stuff, also being on the bill with Clyde Beatty, Otto Greibling, etc. What a thrill for a just over twenty year old. I remember it well.

31 December, 2007 09:09
Anonymous said...

P.S. So I guess I have been "lining up the Spec" ever since and it has never been my favorite cup of tea.

I remember lini ng up the spec with Charly Baumann and we had a section with Cowboys and Cowgirls that Charly would yell out, "Come on Cowboy boys and Cowboy Girls" Nobody ever enlightened him.

31 December, 2007 09:41

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