Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Atterbury Bros. Wagon Shows 1924


Scan12519, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

My dad wrote on the back:
Elephant "Diamond"
Billy Ward, clown on bull's head
Ben Reed at bull's right
Woodcock, elephant man at bull's left.

BLACK DIAMOND
1900 Imported from Hagenbeck Zoo
1900-14 Various Gentry Bros. units
1915 Sold to Wm. P. Hall
1915 Barton & Bailey Circus (Leased from Hall)
1916 Wheeler Bros. Circus
1917-18 R.T. Richards Circus
1919 Resold to Hall
1920-24 Atterbury Bros. Circus
1925-26 Monroe Bros. Circus (Albert Cauble)
1927 Wilson's Greater Shows
1928-29 Al G. Barnes Circus
(Diamond's rampage in Corsicana, Texas 10-12-29)
(Executed in Kennedy, Texas 10-16-29)

6 comments:

Buckles said...

My dad was 20 years old in this picture and only his fourth season on the road.

Frank Ferrante said...

I believe that Billy Ward ended his career with Ringling in the mid-60's. I'm sure that Pat could give us a better idea. ~frank

Buckles said...

Your Billy Ward was a flier and later a clown.
Can't be he same person.

Roger Smith said...

Was Ben Reed kin to Louis Reed?

Buckles said...

The name is new to me.

Unknown said...

My grandfather owned Black Diamond from 1920-1924.l heard many stories growing up.