More on Obert Miller

Scan000011172, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. This is the Kelly-Miller menagerie in Perry, Iowa May 30, 1950. For some reason it was called the horse top and was included in the price of admission. By that I mean the public passed thru it on their way from the marquee to the big top. The caged animals were displayed in the side show. Us seat butchers put it up each morning, no big deal, it came off a canvas spool in one piece, nothing to lace up, the big top stake driver drove the stakes and Smokey or Logan would take it up with an elephant, hardest part was hanging the side wall and guying it out. As soon as the night performance started the big top crew would take it down. But like all 15 year olds, I voiced an opinion on most everything and one Sunday, Obert came into the tent just as we were finishing and I announced, "Mr. Miller, I don't see why we bother setting this thing up on Sunday since there's only one performance and in a few hours they will be taking it down already." He calmly replied, "Young man, I wish we had held this conversation earlier, it would have saved me a lot of money (he gave me the exact figure) all I can say is, if you don't want to put it up, I'll get someone who will!" End of conversation.