Sunday, May 04, 2008

From Jim Cole


1960, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

This photo was taken in Newport, RI in either 1959 or 1960. It was taken by then teenager Robert Maloney, who helped me to get started as a circus model builder. Jimmy Cole

Posted by Buckles at 5/04/2008 05:23:00 PM

2 comments:

Roger Smith said...

This is a good view of the up-and-down chute. It was collapsible, and we had to stand up the sides and top and bolt them to the heavy wooden floor. Then we lifted it up to fit the iron hooks above the guillotine door through which the animals were driven down by George Scott. This was Pharoah's cage, making him the first cat down and lead cat in the tunnel, since he was the top-mounter and first in the arena. Gone were the days when all the lions were in during the announcement, and Beatty would dash in through the safety cage to break up their roaming and their fights to get them all seated--which old-timers say was the beginning of the true fighting act. But sometimes Mr. Beatty would signal me to let Pharoah in before him. Then he would enter to bounce the lion around and finally chase him up top. At the end of the act, Pharoah would bounce the door, then trot down the tunnel and up to his cage. In 1960, in Marion, Indiana, he leaked out when the tunnel was broken up at the track. Mr. Beatty came back and got him back in, but from then on, he remained at tunnel-side until all cats were home and the guillotine door was down. Then it was time for the robe and towel and a cold Michelob in the Airstream.

Roger Smith

05 May, 2008 16:58
Harry Kingston said...

According to my trusty Beatty Cole route book the circus played this date on June 3rd and 4th, 1960, and they only played Providence, in 1959.
Roger thanks for all the great information on Mr. Beatty.
That is sure alot of steel tunnel to move and then the arena, WOW. Some ones back must have been hurting.
I sure wish Mr. Beatty was still with us and I know in Daves's home and mine he still stars in the center ring.
Harry

05 May, 2008 18:26

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