Sunday, March 31, 2019

BARRELS #9



Posted by Chic Silber at 3/31/2019 01:22:00 AM

2 comments:

Roger Smith said...

Mabel Stark in Jungleland's Tiger Arena, with Goldie on her barrel. This Al. G. Barnes cage was built by J.O. "Red" Forbes in the days when arenas were made of pig iron. This cage was behind Mabel's tiger string, and in a distant location from our Big Stage Arena, where the rest of us worked our cat acts.

If you look close, there is the severe crippling done to Mabel's right hand, in the attack by her ball-roller, Nellie, on September 21, 1935, on the Barnes show, in Phoenix. Nellie also shredded Mabel's shoulder and arm, tore off her right breast, and badly clawed her back. For his second time to save Mabel, Terrell Jacobs went in for her. His first time was for another critical attack on Mabel by 2 tigers, in Bangor, Maine, on the 1928 John Robinson show. After Nellie's attack, Mabel was almost unable to write, but struggled to do so when asked by a niece for family history. I have those letters. She refused autographs, and I was very fortunate to get her to sign 6 photos for me near the end of her time with us.

31 March, 2019 05:31
Paul Gutheil said...

Thanks again Roger, amazing lady, simply amazing.

31 March, 2019 09:49

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)