tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post1720050635978495094..comments2023-10-30T06:50:17.036-04:00Comments on Buckles Blog: ORIGINAL ARTBuckleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06114738213931098664noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post-5974004562166053412021-05-12T13:52:35.103-04:002021-05-12T13:52:35.103-04:00Hi Chic - Happy to see the new blog entries! (You ...Hi Chic - Happy to see the new blog entries! (You don't need to publish this comment, as it contains some sensitive info.) Ringling clown Gene Lewis and I were "pen pals" when I was a kid. Back then I wanted to be a clown when I "grew up." I saw his picture in the paper and just wrote him a letter (sent the letter to the Winter Quarters in Sarasota.) Gene wrote back a lovely reply and we just started writing each other. (I’ve saved all his letters and someday I plan to donate them to Baraboo.) I first met Gene when Ringling played Plainville CT (my hometown) in the mid-50s. He was wonderful to me and introduced me to his great friend, Albert White. Another introduction to the Doll Family was also quite memorable! When Ringing subsequently played MSG, my parents would drive me down to NYC and Gene and I would meet. We'd go out to lunch with my parents and I remember these times as some of my happiest! However, one time we went down to NY to meet Gene but as I went backstage at the old Garden, Gene was nowhere to be found. All his clown alley pals, probably embarrassed, played “dumb,” as if they had no idea where he went. As I returned to my seat, I was walking along the backstage track that surrounded the area. Otto Griebling was sitting on a trunk, waiting to go on with his pie-plate-juggling routine. He stopped me and asked me how I knew Gene. I told him we were friends, and he placed his hand on my shoulder and explained that “Gene was drinking again.” He said this sometimes happened … and that Gene would disappear for a time. The other clowns would pack his trunk when the circus moved on and that eventually Gene would catch up with the show somewhere down the line. I’ll always remember this very kind act of Otto's … explaining to a kid where his “pen pal” had disappeared to. I’m 76 now and a retired actor/playwright. Over the years I’ve been trying to track down a picture of Gene that was painted by the famous clown painter, Veres (born Margot Yoder … who was the wife of actor Dane Clark.) Her painting of Gene is called “Pensive.” I’ve had a few leads to the painting but so far I’ve not been able to locate it. Anyway, please excuse this rather long note. I hope you are well and I just want to tell you how much I enjoy the Buckles Blog! - Rick WhelanRick Whelanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08219189631582800383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post-86255373073161912742021-05-12T09:21:05.329-04:002021-05-12T09:21:05.329-04:00You mean those huge wagons with long tongues pulle...You mean those huge wagons with long tongues pulled up beside the train on the platform?Bob Swaneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10350024229622261355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post-9403449160077777692021-05-12T09:01:33.375-04:002021-05-12T09:01:33.375-04:00A show of hands please
How many of us remember
...<br /> A show of hands please<br /><br /> How many of us remember<br /><br /> Railway Express Agency<br /><br /> Nowadays that package<br /><br /> would be labeled FedEx<br /><br /> & the Amazon Swoosh<br />Chic Silberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354928875443190942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post-28220468473739200292021-05-11T22:37:02.683-04:002021-05-11T22:37:02.683-04:00
Otto Griebling died on April 19th 1972
just 9 ...<br /> Otto Griebling died on April 19th 1972<br /><br /> just 9 days short of his 76th birthday<br />Chic Silberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354928875443190942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post-6773856668692554462021-05-11T22:35:31.329-04:002021-05-11T22:35:31.329-04:00Saw that a few times also....Loved it...He truly k...Saw that a few times also....Loved it...He truly knew how to use the old KISS method..Keep it simple s----d.....He did not need a ton of equipment to pull off a gag.Charles Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12236421018132978620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post-60955351160845631842021-05-11T22:32:53.374-04:002021-05-11T22:32:53.374-04:00Another favorite pantomime turn
of mine was his ...<br /> Another favorite pantomime turn<br /><br /> of mine was his wandering around<br /><br /> with a pad & pencil stopping to<br /><br /> study a single spectator as if<br /><br /> to judge their reactions & when<br /><br /> he found the exact right time he<br /><br /> would lick the lead of his pencil<br /><br /> & make a big slashing mark as if<br /><br /> to show his disdain<br />Chic Silberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354928875443190942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post-91293976241895923272021-05-11T22:32:42.490-04:002021-05-11T22:32:42.490-04:00CHIC....That is exactly what I attempted to say......CHIC....That is exactly what I attempted to say...He was the man....A first class entertainer.Charles Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12236421018132978620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post-65760177938436844362021-05-11T22:27:59.447-04:002021-05-11T22:27:59.447-04:00Otto would entertain an entire Big Top or Arena
...<br /> Otto would entertain an entire Big Top or Arena<br /><br /> crowd for as long as needed with 3 4 or 5 battered<br /><br /> pie tins (depending on his mood) & have them all<br /><br /> in the palms of his hands screaming with joy<br />Chic Silberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354928875443190942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post-42734797091142673612021-05-11T20:21:25.569-04:002021-05-11T20:21:25.569-04:00Otto was the best..He was funny and could work the...Otto was the best..He was funny and could work the come in like no other. Always felt like he deserved more recognition than he received.Charles Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12236421018132978620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post-7578555449465632402021-05-11T17:14:19.662-04:002021-05-11T17:14:19.662-04:00When I had the privilege to meet Otto, thankfully ...When I had the privilege to meet Otto, thankfully several times, I found him surprisingly open and friendly--except when a dumb fan walked up and said, "Hello, Emmett." Otto had a small photo of Emmett Kelly on his trunk. He angrily pointed to it, exclaiming, "I'm Otto, not Emmett! DOT'S Emmett. I don't LOOK like DOT!"<br /><br />My favorite line about Otto came from Flo White. He observed, "Otto is the only circus clown who can make other clowns laugh."Roger Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07920466115948257597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post-21666599996482638382021-05-11T14:45:49.316-04:002021-05-11T14:45:49.316-04:00Bill Balentine's son Toby
died April 14th at...<br /> Bill Balentine's son Toby<br /><br /> died April 14th at age 71<br /><br /> here in Sarasota<br />Chic Silberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354928875443190942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post-3408918299493858222021-05-11T14:43:22.097-04:002021-05-11T14:43:22.097-04:00
Otto would wander through the
crowd with this ...<br /> Otto would wander through the<br /><br /> crowd with this Railway Express<br /><br /> well traveled package during<br /><br /> the performance without saying<br /><br /> a word (even when he could)<br /><br /> as if searching for delivery<br /><br /> A true master of pantomime<br /> Chic Silberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354928875443190942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897242.post-61785261978175297542021-05-10T22:11:50.509-04:002021-05-10T22:11:50.509-04:00In regards to the question
from BoppaBill about ...<br /> In regards to the question<br /><br /> from BoppaBill about ownership<br /><br /> I have this ORIGINAL of Otto by<br /><br /> Bill Balentine for Art Concello<br /><br /> that I inherited upon his death<br /><br /> It is framed & matted fittingly<br /><br /> & it hangs prominently on a wall<br /><br /> in my Sarasota home & is cherished<br /><br /> I had the greatest admiration<br /><br /> for Otto & had the opportunity<br /><br /> to get to know him over the years<br />Chic Silberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354928875443190942noreply@blogger.com