Buckles Blog: June 5-6, 1960 Beatty-Cole

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Anonymous said...: I believe this truck was first on Cristiani Bros. Circus 1959. In 1960 it got sold along with the giraffe to Beatty - Cole and remained on the show up until the 1962 season. After the giraffe died, the truck was converted to a working men's sleeper, and reamained on the show for 5 more years.; 20 February, 2008 07:24
Anonymous said...: Even during the giraffe period on Beatty-Cole, there were two sleeping compartments in this semi: one on each end.

The side show ticket sellers slept in one end (originally Dave Mullaney and Billy Rice) and I believe Jelly Roll Rogers and the side show band slept in the other end.

The giraffe's name was Alex.; 20 February, 2008 10:55
Anonymous said...: Were the giraffe doors arranged like those on a giraffe wagon? That means, the bottom half hinged down as a ramp, then the upper doors swung away, one to either side. The bottom had a keeper or flange that kept the top doors closed. If the giraffe saw blue sky [ramp still up and doors open] it started walking and fell over obstruction.; 20 February, 2008 16:20
Anonymous said...: The problem of the top of the Dutch doors opening before the bottom was a problem with the 6 giraffe wagons Cap Curtis built for the American Circus Corp in 1927 (two each for JR, Sells F. and H-W). The tops had to open before the bottom. This was told me by the late Gordon Potter, circus wagon expert par excellence.; 21 February, 2008 12:42

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