Bert Nelson HW Peru WQ 1935

Bert%20Nelson%20HW%20Peru%20WQ%201935%20No_%2030001, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Bert Nelson with leopard cubs "Muffy" and "Toughy 1935 on Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus At Winterquarters, Peru, Indiana In 1935, Cardbert Nelson Snyder, billed as Bert Nelson, took over the Big Act, assembled and worked by Clyde Beatty through the season of 1934. Beatty left over disputes with Sam Gumpertz, then General Manager of all Ringling interests, which included Hagenbeck-Wallace. The Gump refused to sell the act, or any of the equipment, to Beatty or his new bosses, Zack Terrell and Jess Adkins, who were forming the Cole Bros. Circus with Clyde Beatty, in nearby Rochester, Indiana. Beatty hustled up all new cats for his second Big Act, and the new arena was duplicated in a hurry from the plans of the 1932 aluminum cage, at the Nipple Factory, in Chicago. Incredibly, Beatty was ready for Cole's early winter dates, and was a sensation for 1935. Nelson, with an immense challenge in taking over such a large act of mixed lions and tigers, came through and did well for Hagenbeck-Wallace that season. Gumpertz gave him star billing and featured him heavily in all advertising. From Roger Smith