| Pallbearers, all animal men, Eugene "Arky" Scott formerly of Ringling Bros., Vernon "Sllim" Walker of Christy Bros., Frank Phillips of Al. G. Barnes, Barney Unrath and Bob Matthews of King Tuffy Lion Farm. (From White Tops) |
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Joe Metcalf #7
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3 comments:
My father told me of being on Heritage Bros. with Joe and in the early fifties as a young fellow I would hear jackpots about Joe and when we did movies in Calif., George Emerson and others would cut up Jo0e stories. Seems he had a reputation of handling tough elephants. It appears that in his late years he became a "forty miler" around shows animal parks, etc. in L.A. area. Its interesting that for some fifty plus years when we hear of circus, animals, training, importing and related things in the field, movies, etc. in the L.A. area that the most prominent individual would be the little man, Louie Goebel. What a guy.
The elephants with Heritage Bros. in 1926, "Prince", "Toto" and "Mary" were leased from the Corporation.
At the close of the season Toto and Mary went to Wm. P.Hall who sold the latter elephant to George Engesser in 1928.
Metcalf returned "Prince" to the Floto Show and in fact took over the herd.
Arky Scott was also buried in his military-style uniform, on April 15, 1968. Even after his long struggle with cancer, he looked superb in the open casket, with his cap resting on top. He also is interred in Showmans Rest. For those of you who haven't been here, the parent title of the grounds is Evergreen Cemetery, with Showmans Rest, as noted hereon, as a separate section within. Although we know they've gone on to the Big Lot, there are a lot of great showfolks' graves keeping each other company here.
Roger Smith
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