Saturday, July 20, 2019

BILLER #12


10 comments:

Chic Silber said...


More generic paper

Roger Smith said...

Ken Maynard, at one time, was as big a B-Western star as it gets. His name also appeared on the railcars of Cole Bros. and Clyde Beatty Circus. I had forgotten he was on Biller. There is extensive history for Maynard at IMDb, and Wikipedia, plus the Western movie sites. He met his end with a sad and lonely death in a decrepit trailer.

Roger Smith said...

CORRECTION: A further search tells us Maynard did live his closing days as a hopeless alcoholic in that trailer in North Hollywood. But his brother, Kermit, who cared for him almost daily, removed Ken to the Motion Picture Hospital and Country Home, in Woodland Hills, where he died in better surroundings in 1973. Source: IMDb.

Tony Greiner said...

I don't know this title. How long was it out, and what was it's territory. With the Cristianis and Ken Maynard, it was a class operation, high grass and all.

Charles Hanson said...

Tony Greiner: I can give you some information on the Biller title. The show was only out for a couple of Seasons. The show had winterquarters at Athens, Ga for at least one winter. Arthur Sturmak, who worked in concessions on King Bros, Circus (Floyd King era) owned the show. He left on bad terms from the King Show, taking concession equipment, which belonged to Floyd King. This is not hearsay, as I have it on tape, with Floyd King. Floyd King called him a toe tapping thief, and had the FBI on him. In Floyd King's words, he brought the equipment back quick and fast. I have seen program line ups of the show and it was impressive. I will see if I have any route info or other info.Floyd King owned King Bros Circus, not Arthur Sturmak, for clarification.

Roger Smith said...

To go with what CHARLES posted, check online for Biller Bros., and find a list of pages. At the CHS site, you will find references to 2 articles on the show by Fred D. Pfening, Jr. There is a site for their Sideshow, and others from which you may find good information and some you may not need. One fairly good site is Wikipedia if you're careful. They post what is submitted, and their vetting is not always so hot. Like Wiki lists Clyde Beatty as a big game hunter who became an animal trainer and a lion tamer. He was never a hunter, and there are no lion tamers, so with Wiki you draw your own conclusions.

Tony Greiner said...

Thanks guys!

Charles Hanson said...

Tony Greiner: Most welcome...Strictly off topic, but when you were with Normark, did you know Dr. Paul Fitzpatrick, Morrow, Ga (Atlanta area)? He visited that show frequently and was a friend of the Golden Carlos Twins. (Nordmark)

Tony Greiner said...

I don't remember meeting Dr. Fitzpatrick, although we did play Georgia that season. The Carlos Twins were not on the show that year (1982 or 1983)

Tony

Charles Hanson said...

Thanks Tony....