Monday, May 05, 2008

Rex and Ava Williams #2


Scan000011177, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

I don't have the date on this one either but it was taken when the Beatty Show was playing an indoor date in NYC. The show was Nationally Televised while there.
This building is at Columbus Circle, I'm sure all you New York guys can fill in the blanks.

Posted by Buckles at 5/05/2008 06:22:00 AM

8 comments:

Mike Naughton said...

The New York Colosseum was located just west of Columbus Circle where I saw a circus as a kid; I'm guessing mid-60's..

In the early 70's, while I was in high school, Bob Commerford brought his World Pet Expo into the Colossuem. A publicity stunt "Meeting the Animals" was conducted across the street in Central Park garnered a photo in the New York Daily News

Only Bob Commerford could get a photo of his elephant from the farm in Connecticut into the NY Daily News while the internationally known Central Park Zoo and its glorious animals are moments away and ignored by the tabloid.

05 May, 2008 07:46
Anonymous said...

Buckles, I believe that Beatty - Cole NYC date was around 1962. It was at Christmas time. I don't recall it ever being nationally televised.

In Dec. of 1966, the Beatty-Cole elephants (with Rex) did a nationally televised circus show that was filmed under the Beatty-Cole big top at the Circus Hall of Fame in Sarasota. Gary Moore was the host. I think that Zwiffle has a copy of it on film, but good luck trying to get a copy of it.

The photo that you have here was taken on the Commack, NY, Long Island Arena date. 1968 was the first year that Rex used the horse, so this photo would be either '68 or '69 (Rex's last year on the show). Some earlier photos that you posted of Rex on the '68 Columbus, Ohio Shrine Circus, show him working the act on foot. However an Amusement Buisness magazine article from Apl. 1968 has a photo of him on horseback.

I remember Bobby Gibbs saying the horse was so "Rex wouldn't have to walk through all the shit in the ring". Johnny Herriott joked that "Those elephants have done that same routine so long, that Rex could work them from a helicopter!"

Jimmy Cole

05 May, 2008 07:55
Buckles said...

I walked past the Coliseum countless times during my Big Apple days going back and forth between Lincoln Center and Times Square.

05 May, 2008 07:59
Mike Naughton said...

Buckles,

1. What was the reason a man of your impeccable moral standing doing strolling in Times Square?

2. How come I didn't see you in Times Square?

3. Anyone remember Tannen's Magic on 1540 Broadway?

My wife, Nora, grew up on Amsterdam Avenue across the street from the band shell/backstage where Big Apple now plays. This was before there was a Big Apple Circus.

Our standard backyard routine while visiting friends on Big Apple is:

Me to Nora: Did you ever imagine that growing up on Amsterdam Avenue that you'd be standing backstage at a circus right in front of your building?

Nora to me: There's lots of things I couldn't have imagine when I met you.


Isn't she a sweetheart? 30 years next month and I think my option is being picked up.

05 May, 2008 08:12
Buckles said...

Jimmy, I'm sure you are right about the dates but I'm also sure that I saw Rex's elephant act on TV from the Coliseum.
We were still in Hugo in 1962 so rather than a TV Special, it may have been something like a segment on "The Today Show" to publicize the show.

05 May, 2008 08:37
Mike Naughton said...

I was 6 1/2 in 1962; there was an annex to the Christmas Circus where I seem to remember kiddy rides and a monkey races. I distinctly remember a clown with a dome head and a coo-coo bird popping out the door in the front of the false head. Years later when I was visiting the Beatty-Cole, Lou Nagy dug into his trunk and pulled out a beat-up old cardboard box and pulled out this same dome head/coo-coo bird.

Can someone fill me in on this -- I remember a clown/comic playing a drum set during the show -- does a line-up of talent for this show exist somewhere?

05 May, 2008 10:30
Anonymous said...

Seeing these photo's of Rex no doubt brings back many memories for a Lot of people....When I was at Hawthorn, one winterery day I was headed for the barn...Rex pulled up on his Golf cart and said Hop on, and hold on to the Ole Dog....He then punched it and proceeded to do spin-outs on the ice and snow....(Me and ole dog hung on) after about 3-360's he dropped me off at the Barn...(Rex was in his 60's) what a great Man!!!.........Jim Zajicek

05 May, 2008 10:48
Anonymous said...

The Coliseum date was November 29, 1962 to January 1, 1963 but attendance was very negatively affected by the New York newspaper strike.

Some self-styled humorists later referred to it as the New York Mausoleum date.

It was Mr Beatty's last time to appear in Manhattan, where he had been such a hit four time with Ringling-Barnum 1931-1934 and again with the Cole show in 1937.

05 May, 2008 11:26

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