Saturday, July 18, 2020

OWNERS #9


5 comments:

Chic Silber said...


Will always be "The One & Only"

Roger Smith said...

I'm posting this on July 19th, the 55th anniversary of his passing, of cancer, in 1965.

At Community Memorial Hospital, in Ventura, about 1 p.m. that day, a nurse passing his room was astonished to see him awakened from his 12-day coma, out of bed, dressed in his robe, and looking into his closet. She asked, "Mr. Beatty, can I help you?" He said, "Yes, get me my clothes so I can get dressed. And call my wife. Tell her to bring the car so I can get out of here and go home." She said, "I will, Mr. Beatty. But are you all right? Are you in pain?" He said, "No, no, I'm over it now. I'm OK, so call my wife, and I'll go home." She knew terminal patients often rally, when the body makes one valiant last effort to survive--but that this moment for him would pass. Jane and Clyde Jr. arrived, and had time with him before his coma returned. He passed at 2:30 p.m., and was pronounced at 2:45. His death made headlines and editorials the world around, and was noted on the networks' evening news. VARIETY carried a full-page obituary for him, written by his collaborator, Edward Anthony, and numerous remembrances appeared in the circus press.

Roger Smith said...

He is so trim here. I have to wonder if this was taken in early '65, when he returned after losing so much weight to the cancer surgery of the previous summer. He came back still in a difficult recovery, but never lost his quick smile or his drive to perform.

Chic Silber said...


My note with this photo reads 1957

Roger Smith said...

OK--For '57 & '58, the show title remained Clyde Beatty Circus. Story goes the Cole name was bought from Arthur Wirth, and Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. went out in '59.