From Richard Flint #6

RBBB 1931 Spec bulls by KELTY, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Spec bulls on Ringling, 1931 This is a rather plain Edward J. Kelty photo was shot along with several others while he was on the show in Irvington, NJ, on June 9, 1931. The "Spec. Bulls" photo as titled is nonetheless interesting given recent comments because there are no spec blankets on the seven. With the handlers in their outfits, one would have expected Kelty to take a photo with any blankets on if they indeed had any. The only spec on the show was the "Inaugural Processional Pageant," nothing themed, that was immediately followed by display 2, the five ring elephant act display concluding with a long mount that was "augmented by yet others" from the big elephant herd. Kelty, of course, was famous for his 12" x 20" shots taken on circus lots from the mid-1920s until the late 1930s; note the Zacchini cannon on the left. Dick Flint Baltimore From Buckles The Spec elephants with RBBB in those days were a totally different operation. A half dozen big howdah bulls plus three smaller elephants "Minnie" and "Dolly" that grew up wearing clown suits and "Eva" that pulled the same float year after year, that was it. I have a George Smith list of the 23 elephants that performed in three rings and two stages in those days.