Thursday, January 15, 2009

Ringling Hall of Fame Honorees

I just learned from John Herriott that The Hall of Fame inductees will be honored tomorrow at the Ringling Museum at 6:30 PM.
This years winner is Barry Lubin and also being awarded are Bob Dover and Antoinette Concello.
John added that the annual Ring of Fame awards at St. Armands Circle will be held Sunday at 1:30.

Posted by Buckles at 1/15/2009 11:21:00 AM

5 comments:

jerry digney said...

does anyone know whatever happened to Bob Dover?--we worked together in the 70s and then personal matters seemed to overwhelm him and suddenly he disappeared--never heard about him again; a great guy to know and work with;

15 January, 2009 21:42
Anonymous said...

Buckles. For some of your area bloggers I would alert them that this years Celebrity Night nat the Ringling Museum will be this evening starting at SIX THIRTY and not seven thirty. Thanks. Johnny

16 January, 2009 08:55
Pat Cashin said...

I can't think of a more deserving person.

16 January, 2009 11:04
Anonymous said...

Whatever happened to Bob Dover may be the biggest circus mystery to ever exist. Some say he committed suicide by hanging at the Venice Winterquarters building, but that's never been confirmed. He was originally from Texas and was adopted as "Baby Rosenberg", although he legally had his name changed to "Robert Dover" by a Texas Court in the 1970s. I purchased a notebook on eBay last year that contained a number of 8x10's from his career with RBBB, as well as the Texas Court Papers for his name change, as well as his social security card and other artifacts. One of the photos was of him and possibly his adoptive mother taken in the backyard of an arena in Texas. Another photo shows him standing in front of an elephant with Hugo Schmidt assisting a young lady on the back of the elephant; the young lady is Marilyn Monroe and the photo must've been taken by a RBBB publicist, but I've never seen this particular photo published anywhere. The rest of the photos are all behind-the-scenes of RBBB with various personalities including Sophia Loren and other famous Hollywood actors and actresses. There were a number of photos of Bob with Arthur Godfrey, who was a guest host on an early RBBB TV show, but they must've been friends outside of the show as well. Interestingly, there was also a xeroxed copy of Bob's address book, which included many RBBB people (including you Mr. Digney) as well as other Circus Fans and Friends from around the U.S. One of the last pieces of correspondence in the book was from the late J. Allen Duffield, CFA Secretary-Treasurer from the 1970s, and one of the founders of the Bob Dover CFA Tent in PA. The letter was sent to Bob as a patient in a Veterans Hospital in Washington D.C. and from the content it seems that he was in the psychiatric wing some time in the early 1980s. Another of the photos showed Bob with a wife and 2 or 3 children, which appeared to be a RBBB press photo from the 1960s, which the press department was really into showing families of staff and performers in publicity during the 60s and into the 70s. I hadn't ever known that Bob was married, let alone having children. I wonder whatever happened to them? At any rate whatever happened to Mr. Dover may never be known and I suppose those few people who may know and are alive today probably will take the information to their graves out of respect for Mr. Dover.
Neil Cockerline
Minneapolis, MN

16 January, 2009 17:01
Anonymous said...

I worked with all 3 and they were fantastic showfolks. Barry and his puppet gag, Antionette taught me web, and Bob Dover was always a rock and handled so many emergencies with unbelievable patience and calm. In 75, my last year on the show, Bob started to show the strain. I am sorry to learn that it unravelled so quickly after I left. I liked him very much.

17 January, 2009 02:26

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