On
April 4, 1958 the "Clyde Beatty Hamid-Morton" Circus opened a one month stand at
Palisades Park, New Jersey. Photographer Bruce Davidson was on hand to record
the occasion and in doing so took dozens of fantastic photos. Among his
subjects, was clown Jimmy Armstrong. Some of these photos (including this one)
have been published elsewhere, but I hope you enjoy what I believe are some of
the most artistic circus photos of the 20th Century.
|
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
From Chris Berry #1
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
15 comments:
What year did McClosky Kernan
& Collins become the owners
as Acme Circus Operating Co
Geez, these three pics sure make you want to go buy a ticket and "ENJOY THE SHOW"
Trooped a few seasons with jimmy on Hubert Castle show Jimmy sold the route cards 50 cents or three for a buck I still have several season sets also he picked up the show mail in each town ,he traveled by bus as I recall
I am sure it was in 1956 when Beatty railroad show folded May 9th and the three got it back on the road and made there money back and it was history in the making.
The last tented railroad circus in 1956 and then went to trucks next year.
They went to trucks in 1957 and Collins was the co signer for the new trucks and they made money to buy them and Collins was never out a dime.
Mom took me too the 1956 show when it played my town and little did I know I was seeing circus history.
Harry in Texas
I just checked Amazon.com. Davidson's book is scheduled for re-release in January 2016. $45. You can pre-order now.
Used copies of a previous edition are $150 and up on Abebooks.
And if you wanted Castle to know any thing and did not want to tell him your self you just had to tell Jimmy and say don't tell Castle !
The Gang of Four, McClosky, Collins, Kernan, and Calhoun, became owners of the Beatty show at the bankruptcy auction, in '56. They named their new company Acme, rather than buying it as a pre-existing entity. Their other patent title, Kit, was the company that fielded King Bros. and Sells & Gray. Beatty's parent title was National Circus Company, which covered everything except the use of his name, the wild animal act, and all its equipment. His lawyer had him this well protected from winding up with nothing of his own. The Gang of Four thought they also owned Clyde Beatty, only to discover that if they wanted him, they would be negotiating a whole new deal with his lawyer, Mr. Mercurio. The result for Beatty himself was the top contract a circus performer ever signed at that time.
I believe you have Kit Circus Operating
& General Circus Operating reversed Roger
Kit was Bill English's wife & they were
both on Sells & Gray & 813 South Orange
Avenue (previously as the Van Skike Bldg)
was & still is the corp filing address
for all the previously mentioned titles
as well as Branchwater Productions for
which John Mercurio (son) is an officer
Many years later Jerry Collins failed
in a legal attempt to copyright the
full title "Clyde Beatty - Cole Bros"
in a lawsuit against Jane Kuperstock
Ultimately an attorney for Clyde Jr
tried playing hardball in negotiating
a extended contract which resulted
in the current situation (Clyde who)
In more recent times 2 slimeballs
(1 still alive & 1 still dead)
attempted the reuse of the title
that both failed & never paid a
plugged nickel to same attorney
The powers that be at the time also decided at one point they could stiff Jane Kuperstock on royalty payments for use of the Clyde Beatty name. She took them to court over that little episode and a settlement was made on the courthouse steps .....Royalty payments were continued to her. Sweet Lady Justice.....
Far more complicated than that
Jane's action was actually in
response to a suit filed by
Collins in 83 that became a
very lengthy multi jurisdiction
procedure that went through a
few different courts but ended
up in a reversal in her favor
After selling his well respected
surf board company some years back
to a Chinese company & spending some
supervisory time in China Clyde Jr
has returned to retire in Oxnard
California with his wife Deborah
He wants no further involvements
with his father's title according
to that agressive attorney
I missed mentioning that the
King Bros corp title was the
General Circus Operating Co
Even on the show, there were conversations about who was under what corporate title. In '81, Hoover and Charlie Harris questioned who was on Acme and who was on Kit. Frankly, as long as payday was met, no one cared so much.
When Hoover called to bring me back, I wasn't enthused. He said I'd be on the staff of the show as Superintendent of Wild Animals, but I knew that meant cageboy. As I discussed this with Jane, she at once wanted me there to be her eyes and ears in behalf of this burdensome lawsuit. I was not against the show, but my sentiments were for the respect due the Beatty name. Moreover, I was angered that Collins intended to cavalierly disregard Jane and stop her royalty payments. So I returned to the Beatty show, and served the purposes demanded, both for Hoover's animals, and for Mrs. Clyde Beatty.
For the determined researcher, the Jane Beatty Kuperstock lawsuit can be found online, and the outcome in her favor is very clearly defined by the judge.
Even on the show, there were conversations about who was under what corporate title. In '81, Hoover and Charlie Harris questioned who was on Acme and who was on Kit. Frankly, as long as payday was met, no one cared so much.
When Hoover called to bring me back, I wasn't enthused. He said I'd be on the staff of the show as Superintendent of Wild Animals, but I knew that meant cageboy. As I discussed this with Jane, she at once wanted me there to be her eyes and ears in behalf of this burdensome lawsuit. I was not against the show, but my sentiments were for the respect due the Beatty name. Moreover, I was angered that Collins intended to cavalierly disregard Jane and stop her royalty payments. So I returned to the Beatty show, and served the purposes demanded, both for Hoover's animals, and for Mrs. Clyde Beatty.
For the determined researcher, the Jane Beatty Kuperstock lawsuit can be found online, and the outcome in her favor is very clearly defined by the judge.
Post a Comment