Friday, June 03, 2016

#4 Still More Oddities

Sober Sam.

Posted by Buckles at 6/03/2016 05:26:00 AM

2 comments:

Joseph Laredo said...

Sober Sam was featured with the Russell Brothers Circus and even managed to find his way into the pages of Life Magazine.
Both of the images you’ve posted were printed in the Letters section of the May 29, 1939 issue (which featured Eleanor Roosevelt on the cover).
The caption under the photo of the banner read: Sam is a sideshow star because he has refused to smile for 23 years.
The caption under the other photo read: Sam says he is gloomy because he broods over his unhappy childhood.
The following letter was also printed under the heading 23 YEARS OF GLOOM:
Sirs:
When Russell Brothers Greatest Show on Earth played here, the hit of the circus was “Sober Sam, The Man Who Never Smiles”. A $50 prize was offered to anybody who could make Sam laugh. Hundreds of people tried, told jokes and made faces. But Sam just got glummer and glummer.
GILBERT PRATT
Missouri
These days Sam is rumored to be analyzing the upcoming Presidential election for CNN, where his expression comes in quite handy indeed!

03 June, 2016 13:46
Joseph Laredo said...

Sober Sam was featured with the Russell Brothers Circus and even managed to find his way into the pages of Life Magazine.
Both of the images you’ve posted were printed in the Letters section of the May 29, 1939 issue (which featured Eleanor Roosevelt on the cover).
The caption under the photo of the banner read: Sam is a sideshow star because he has refused to smile for 23 years.
The caption under the other photo read: Sam says he is gloomy because he broods over his unhappy childhood.
The following letter was also printed under the heading 23 YEARS OF GLOOM:
Sirs:
When Russell Brothers Greatest Show on Earth played here, the hit of the circus was “Sober Sam, The Man Who Never Smiles”. A $50 prize was offered to anybody who could make Sam laugh. Hundreds of people tried, told jokes and made faces. But Sam just got glummer and glummer.
GILBERT PRATT
Missouri
These days Sam is rumored to be analyzing the upcoming Presidential election for CNN, where his expression comes in quite handy indeed!

03 June, 2016 13:47

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