Friday, January 04, 2008

George Conklin (From Old Whitey)


ColeConk, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.


Here's an 1873 W W Cole ad showing "Prof Conklin" in the lions' cage. Note the wording says "Open in the Street" which must mean you are correct that he appeared in the cage in parade. I realize that this somewhat contradicts the dates listed earlier regarding when he left Pogey and went with Cole. I believe this was the first year the Cole show was on rails and no doubt there are other aspects of this which will be sent in.

Whitey

Posted by Buckles at 1/04/2008 03:14:00 PM

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

right before i left home a few weeks ago i receive 2 copies of George Conklin life story title Life in the circus or something simar i did not get to read it or go threw it one was sigh by him can hardley wait to get home to go threw them the one with his signiture is the one where he is stepping down the steps with the punk on his side . Clean Raul

04 January, 2008 17:15
Anonymous said...

Slout's opus on Cole agrees with the submitter that Conklin was with the show in 1873, the first on rails.

This is a "working cage," larger than those that simply housed and hauled cats. Usually it had bars on the sides and back, the front solid to protect the driver and helper. A canvas cover or a light series of board panels was applied during travel. Uncovered, it would have been rolled into the ring and the act presented. The artist must have seen the vehicle, as it's correct down to the cleanout area below the bars. The stagecoach driver's seat is an uncommon design on circus wagons and note that there are no decorative elements applied to the cage body or the wheels.

04 January, 2008 18:22
Anonymous said...

Having been in a lion wagon, having 4 cats in a cage that size makes it really tight. My cage wagon was a bit smaller(to fit on the track in the smaller buildings) but I only had 1 lion.
By the by, I was very proud to be in that wagon. I had a great lion,named Clarence, it was pulled by a good looking elephant named Caren,worked by Sonny , and it was a drop dead beautiful wagon. the entire package making a great picture. I've always been grateful to Kennth Feld for making me a part of such a great circus scene.

06 January, 2008 11:00

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