I'm in the midst of assembling images for another exhibit and came across this photo, from the Kent Ghirard collection. It is identified as RENE PAPE, but no year or show is mentioned. Any chance that you or one of your many sets of eyes might know about when and where Ms. Pape had a dog act on any specific show. By my guess-timation, this looks to be late 1940's, maybe early 1950's. What say?
By the way, my current touring exhibition, "STEP RIGHT UP! Behind the scenes of the Circus Big Top, 1890-1965" is now on the road (for a 5-year tour), currently at the John E. Conner Museum--at Texas A&M, in Kingsville, TX--until the end of May. The following link will take you to a current news article regarding the exhibit, along with my lecture and show schedule on the campus, in a couple of weeks.
http://www.southtexannews.com/entertainment/5792-step-right-up-to-the-john-e-conner-museum-for-scenes-of-the-circus/
Thanks for any help you might pass along on the Pape photo!
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Wednesday, May 08, 2013
From Tim Tegge
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When Barbara and I were first married she asked what type of wardrobe she should wear in the elephant act and all I knew was outfits like this with Majorette boots.
She thought for a while and said,"I don't think so."
Billy Papeb was a fine circus acrobat and vin the early thirties was an acclaimed "leaper" on Downie Bros. among other shows and was voted along the way to be the World's greatest leaper, having done like a double somersault over five elephants. In the early 50s I worked with him on the Texas dates and he was still in fine physical form and did a perch act with a cute little chic partner named Renee. They did this dog act as well presented by her military style and called "Renees K 9 Cadets" Pretty cute.
Thanks Johnny for this info. The photo I've posted looks to have been shot on a tent show, I'd guess. Can you, by chance, place this act anywhere on a mud-show in the late 40's or early 50's?
And to Buckles...
Your comment re: Barbara wearing the boots and majorette garb is priceless! I dated a majorette once, many moons ago, and in no time at all began appreciating the boots and short skirt look. Add fishnets and a feather and "wham bam..." life is good! Funny how some gals can't always seem to agree, huh???
Shoot, I said it before and I'll say it again..."It's not the sack, it's the potatoes that count!"
Paul
For John Herriott and Tim Tegge: Billy Pape was married to iron jaw performer Conchita Morales and they did a perch act together but parted about 1946-47. In August of 1946 Pape advertised in Billboard for a "Girl Topmounter for Shoulder Perch Act. Age 18 to 24. Photo a must if unknown to me. State experience and salary expected." Whether or not Renee answered this ad or joined Pape’s perch routine later, they were working together by early 1947. On Feb 2 1949 the two were married on the "Bride & Groom" radio show. Meanwhile, Conchita (sister to the great Felix Morales) had married acrobat Karl Erikson in early 1948 and still later she became the wife of Frank Thompson of the Catskill Game Farm.
Billy and Renee generally played a wide range of spot dates at fairs, circuses, and clubs rather than a long season on one circus. 1953 found them on the Barnes & Carruthers circuit doing club dates with a November 1 appearance on television’s “Super Circus.” Several times they were with South and Central American circuses including a late 1954 tour of the southern continent with the Royal Dumbar circus during which Billy contracted a serious infection that forced him off the road the next year.
1952 did find them on a season-long tour with the Clyde Beatty circus which made its way into Canada that season. Vancouver press coverage was exceptional for the show because it included a page 1 story and picture of a fire that destroyed the Papp’s trailer. While insurance covered the $2,200 trailer fire, they lost much of their wardrobe and personal effects. I wonder whether it might be the old or new trailer that is shown in Tim’s photo.
The 1953 season playing Barnes & Carruthers dates proved as tragic when the Pape’s lost Mush, their somersault dog, the victim of a traffic accident. However, when the accident occurred two Spitz dogs were already on their way to the Papp’s, bought from John Herriott’s father, Milt, of Peru, Indiana.
When the Circus Hall of Fame opened in Sarasota in January 1956, Renee appeared there several times; Billy was still working as late as 1959 but after that any trace of them is lost. Billy Pape was discussed in a posting on Buckles Blog last May 19, 2007, and the comments included a relative or two who also had lost track of Billy and Renee Pape.
Dick Flint
Baltimore
Many thanks, Dick! This additional infor adds abit more "meat" to the bones: most appreciated! Hope all is well with you! TNT
Thanks Dick! Information most appreciated. Hope all is well with you! TNT
my father joe neise,who was married to agnes oliver of Louis and the oliver sisters,billy and my father both were from newport news va..performed with pape when he was with conchita morales on 1937 cole brothers show.i have been looking for billys final resting place for years.they just didn!nt fall off the planet,any info on the mentioned people would be appreciated.... jimmy neise
my father joe neise,who was married to agnes oliver of Louis and the oliver sisters,billy and my father both were from newport news va..performed with pape when he was with conchita morales on 1937 cole brothers show.i have been looking for billys final resting place for years.they just didn!nt fall off the planet,any info on the mentioned people would be appreciated.... jimmy neise
Delighted to see photo of Renee. I am researching the Circo Americano which toured South American in 1940/50s and the Papes were with them for 6 months. Does anyone have any information or stories on the following: Jerome & Janis Wilson, James B. (Jimmy) Harrington, Albert & Judy Spiller, Mel Henry (Enrique DeMel), Dorothy & Willy Storey or any stories of touring S.America during this era. I am also interested in anything on the life of Emil Schweyer.
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