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Monday, September 13, 2021
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9 comments:
Back in 1966 he was billed as "Melvor"
I believe Art Concello dreamed that up
It didn't last too long
Nobody was more prejudiced against the race, religion, politics, or general lifestyles of almost everyone than James A.H. Smith. That included the Jews. But during the Depression, he took the Jewish-sounding name of Hal Silvers, seeking work from Jewish booking agents. It grated him, but he got prime contracts, including movie work. Imagine his consternation when he got to the Ringling show and found John North had changed his name to the English-toned Hubert Castle.
Owners and managers often step out of their lane. Elvin Bale needed no help with his name.
Many thought Elvin was given
the same name as his father
E T Bale was Edwin Trevor
He was known to family &
close friends as "Tommy"
(some folks I know still
call Elvin Alvin)
I tell them Alvin was
"Schwartzie"
Elvin's dear exquisite
twin sister Dawnita "Nita"
died very unexpectedly on
December 13 2017 of an
unknown heart condition
Nita was born several minutes
before Elvin so he referred
to her as his older sister
Schwartzie, almost singularly, was a new, welcome, and steadfast friend of mine in an unacceptable atmosphere.
I quote from his obituary in Cherie Valentine's BACK YARD, dated May 15, 2007:
"ALVIN SCHWARTZ - Born May 29, 1928, Died May 4, 2007. Schwartzie was in show business most of his life, spending about two years with comic Milton Berle, and then on the Ringling show from 1945 until 1977. He met and married his wife Betsy in 1955. In 1955, he won the Carnegie [Hero] Award for breaking the fall of a showgirl during rehearsals for web. He is survived by his wife Betsy, sons Lewis and Michael, daughter Dianne Ross, three grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Betsy Schwartz can be reached at 805 Guild Dr., Venice FL 34285."
Schwartzie started in clown alley
& finished his last several years
titled "Timekeeper"
In retirement from RBBB Alvin
became the bridgetender for the
South Venice "Circus" Bridge
Winter Quarters General Manager
Dick Brown went on to become
the bridgetender of the North
Venice Bridge
I believe it was Michael who
wrecked 2 show school busses
1 after another 1 year apart
Hew was then given a brand
new custom straight job that
we fitted out for 6 virgin
Super Trouper followspots
That he wrecked in the 8th
week on the road which was
the final event before he
was removed from driving
any show equipment
Dick Brown was another friend, supportive in his way, but with all things said, he had little voice.
Dick had "retired" as it was told, from the Venice Police Department, and somehow got on with the Felds. One RB staffer in Winterquarters took note of his title there, quoting it as "Dick Brown - Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Vice-President and General Manager of Venice, Florida Winterquarters". Said staffer asked how all that was supposed to go on the office door, not to mention his ornate business cards, but evidently it did. This source also told that when the show was somewhere Dick wanted to be, he called in a fake threat on the Felds, and they'd fly him on to provide personal security.
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