Sunday, April 24, 2016

#7 Late 50's RB


5 comments:

Wade G. Burck said...

I away's thought Axels Osh-Gosh-B-Gosh pink died janitor shirt was the ugliest, cheapest costume ever created. I stand corrected. You are right John Milton, it has been done before..........

Wade Burck

Chic Silber said...


This was many years before

Don Foote's era Wade

Many acts used what they

had including "rainy day"

Buckles said...









Axel was incredibly accurate with that whip, during a conversation he would casually toss it up and take a leaf off a tree without breaking his train of thought.
Someone asked Ted if he used a whip and he replied, "Certainly!.....hangs on the wall if my bedroom!"









Chic Silber said...


I never met "Barbette" but

have heard so many stories

over the years from folks

who knew him including my

very favorite about when

he was reviewing costumes

of a newly hired family of

performers which appeared

to all be well past their

expiration dates but some

far worse than others he

was told that a few were

considered "rainy day"

at which he exclaimed it

could never rain that hard

That quote comes to mind

whenever I see unpleasant

or ratty show attire

Roger Smith said...

Eddie Dullem delighted in telling me the story this way: Clyde Beatty bought some aged Ringling for "rainy day wardrobe" for his rail show. Then he brought on Barbette to stage the Beattyettes Aerial Ballet. Within minutes, Barbette created a raging bonfire in the backyard. As the wardrobe girls held up each piece, he'd imperiously intone, "IN-to the fire!" Beatty exclaimed, "Mr. Barbette! I just paid for that. It's my rainy day wardrobe!" Without missing a beat, Barbette advised, "My dear Mr. Beatty, it will never rain that hard. IN-to the fire!"