| Buckles, A few weeks back there was discussion about the Strates Shows menagerie in the 50`s & 60`s, someone wanted to see a picture of the show front. I found these photos of the front along with pictures of the elephant herd and some cage wagons. I think that the large wagon on the flat car is the hippo wagon, there seems to be a tank under the bottom of the wagon. I also included a shot of the lion cage for the motor drome, and a couple of pictures of some wagons from the Clyde Beatty Circus that Strates purchased. |
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Strates Shows 1950's- 60's #1 (From Hal Guyon)
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5 comments:
Looks like the Capt. gets first count.
That sure looks like Freddie Logan in that ticket box. I knew Freddie over 45 years, and he never mentioned being on the Strates Shows. Must be, I am seeing things.
I'm sure it's Bert Pettus.
My money is on Bert Pettus...
I caught up with Strates Show on the old Benning Lot that was constructed for the Ringling Tent Show back in the late 30's or 40's...Didn't Strates get some of the old King Bros. animals? Last circus to play the old Benning lot was I believe the 1958 CRISTIANI Circus..At the time I was station at Andrews Air Force Base."SPANGLES,ELEPHANTS,VIOLETS and Me" current best seller by Vickie Cristiani Rossi covers the 1958 Season during that Benning Road lot era..Tommy Diano's big male also was on the Cristiani show during that era. Vickie choose for one of the book cover photos a very young Tommy with Vickie riding out of the big top on Tommy's tusks..During that 50's era there was another tall elephant man with a beard by the last name of McDonald that handle the elephants at the D.C. Zoo..I remember riding the city bus out to the lot with McDonald and feeling safe about my trip..McDonald was a very impressive figure..That was during the Eisenhower Adminstration..IKE received an african elephant as a gift from a foreign country. Then the HOTTE Shoppes (Bill Marriott Sr.Marriott Hotel Fame)paid the freight on the first white tiger during IKES Adminstration and were donated to the D.C. Zoo...What memories..At the time Sandra Pettus very young daughter of Bert and Marie was always getting hassled by the D.C. Youth Department for working due to her young age..I remember Sandra being the trouper she was would cry over not being able to work...
My money is on Bert Pettus...I think most of the animals came over from the old King Show. A very young Sandie Pettus daughter of Bert and Marie always had problems with the D.C. Youth Depatment because of her very young age. And since she was a circus performer enjoyed working with her family in the elephant act. I can remember an extremely upset girl because she wasn't always able to work..Strates played on the Old Benning Road circus lot..The lot was specially constructed for Ringling..Drainage was excellent.
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