Buckles Web Log

From Chic Silber #1

2012-01-31T07:00:00.001-05:00

SEXYASS, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Hi Buckles

I pulled these 2 from a lame collection of bumper stickers

a good friend just sent along to me (Florida primary vote today)

Chic

From Chic Silber #2

2012-01-31T06:57:00.001-05:00

KISSASS, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Republican Response!

2012-01-31T06:56:00.001-05:00

!cid_1_1780504916@web54302_mail_re2_yahoo, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"ALBERT" #1

2012-01-31T06:29:00.001-05:00

albert_Page_2, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From: Kenton Cornish
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 3:15 AM
To: Darrin P. Lunde,
Subject: Q./mounted skeleton of Asian Elephant"Albert"(1886)

Dear Sir,

Hello,

would you please tell me if the archives would have a photograph
of the mounted skeleton of the infamous circus elephant
"Albert" which was shot at Keene NH july 1885?
Reporedly it was mounted in the old museum.

thank you
K.C Cornish

"ALBERT" #2

2012-01-31T06:26:00.001-05:00

albert_Page_3, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From: Darrin P. Lunde
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 12:45 PM
To: Craig Ludwig
Subject: FW: Q./mounted skeleton of Asian Elephant"Albert"(1886)

Craig, any ideas?

Darrin

"ALBERT" #3

2012-01-31T06:21:00.001-05:00

albert_Page_1, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From: Craig Ludwig
To: Kenton Cornish
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 1:09 PM
Subject: RE: Q./mounted skeleton of Asian Elephant"Albert"(1886)

Dear Kenton,

I haven’t heard from you in a while! I was able to find four old black and white prints dated from 1922 of an Asiatic Elephant mounted skeleton in our mammals photo file. Please see the attached pdf file containing scans of these images. There is no indication as to which specimen these photos represent, but how many mounted skeletons of an Asian Elephant could we have had? These are probably images of “Albert.”

The skeleton of “Albert” was cataloged on 27 July 1885 as USNM 21977, and is currently indicated on our database as a partial skeleton (no longer mounted) located in our offsite storage facility.

I hope this helps! Best wishes for the upcoming holidays.

Sincerely,

Craig Ludwig
Scientific Data Manager
Divisions of Birds and Mammals

Smithsonian Institution
PO Box 37012
National Museum of Natural History
MRC NHB 108
Washington, DC 20013-7012 USA

"ALBERT" #4

2012-01-31T06:14:00.001-05:00

albert_Page_4, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Kenton Cornish
To: William Woodcock
Sent: Tuesday, January 3, 2012 11:40 PM
Subject: Fw: mounted skeleton of Asian Elephant"Albert"(1886)

Dear Sir,
I thought you may be interestied in seeing some photographs of the mounted skeleton
of Barnum& Bailey's elephant
"Albert"as it was once displayed in the old Smithsonian Building in the early 1900's.
K.C

Wagons Of Wood And Men Of Iron #1 (From Buckles)

2012-01-31T06:09:00.001-05:00

01-30-2012 11;07;52AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

......especially selected from the Sacred Scrolls.

Wagons Of Wood And Men Of Iron! #2

2012-01-31T06:06:00.001-05:00

01-30-2012 11;10;37AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Wagons Of Wood And Men Of Iron! #3

2012-01-31T06:04:00.001-05:00

01-31-2012 05;54;06AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

George Arstingstall
1876-78 Howes Great London
1879-80 Cooper & Bailey
1881-85 Barnum & London

1892-93 Adam Forepaugh (Menagerie Supt.)
1894 Barnum & Bailey (Worked an end ring act)

Elephant Bill Newman #1

2012-01-31T05:44:00.002-05:00

2158781613_395802144e, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

1879-80 P.T Barnum Show (Elephant Hand)
1881-87 Barnum & London (Asst. Supt.)
1888-91 Barnum & Bailey (Elephant Supt.)
1894 Barnum & Bailey (Elephant Supt.)
1898-99 Barnum & Bailey (In Europe)
Said to have returned to USA due to illness.

Elephant Bill #2

2012-01-31T05:18:00.001-05:00

SAVE1424, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Elephant Bill #3

2012-01-31T05:17:00.005-05:00

SAVE1423_0, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

.....and to think, eight years ago I couldn't even spell "Academia" and today I are one!

Buckles

From Don Covington

2012-01-30T21:29:00.002-05:00

Circus_Family_Feud_09dc4, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Feld Entertainment to relocate 190 jobs to Florida

Feld Entertainment, which produces shows from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to Monster Jam to Disney On Ice, will permanently relocate 190 jobs from its Vienna corporate headquarters to a new $20 million world production headquarters on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the company announced Monday.
The move, which will take place over the next five years, will still leave more than 100 jobs at its headquarters in a Tysons Corner office building.

“I am pretty sure we will always have a level of corporate presence in the Washington area,” said Kenneth Feld, chairman of the company, which is one of the largest of its kind in the world.
The move is part of a corporate consolidation designed to put much of Feld’s massive operations, from refurbishment of its circus trains to costume creation to choreography of its ice and Monster Jam shows, under one roof.
Feld Entertainment, which began as a Washington record store more than half a century ago, employs 2,500 people worldwide.
The new facility in Ellenton, Fla., replaces its current operations center in nearby Palmetto, where it has been for 20 years.
The new 47-acre campus is on the site of a former General Electric turbine plant and includes 100,000 square feet of office space with an additional 450,000 square feet of manufacturing space in two buildings. Construction on the new campus is expected to take a year.
Feld said he had been eyeing the location for 15 years, referring to it as one of the few “unique opportunities” that come around.
“It’s got stuff that really works for us in every aspect of our business,” he said. “To build it, we probably could never have economically made it work.”

From Jerry Digney

2012-01-30T06:21:00.001-05:00

DeMille, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Dorothy Lamour, Cecil B. DeMille, Betty Hutton and John Ringling North, travel by train ("The Chief") thru Chicago in 1951 enroute to Philadelphia for location filming on The Greatest Show on Earth. This year is the 60th anniversary of its release!

Braathen Photos #1 (From Chris Berry)

2012-01-30T06:15:00.005-05:00

ht_circus_chrome_pics_12_77_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

“A Passion for Circus”
As an avid circus goer, Sverre Braathen found an outlet to show off his hobby by photographing the Ringling Bros. circus throughout the Midwest in the 1940′s-50′s. He was born in North Dakota in 1895. An attorney by day, Braathen however always made time in his busy schedule to follow his true passion; the circus. He followed and photographed many circuses but didn’t start using the Kodachromes until 1941. The people at the Milner Library at Illinois State University have put together an online archive, “A Passion for Circus,” of all his works. Here are a selection of the impressive Kodachrome slides produced by Mr. Braathen.

"I received this set of pictures from three or four different people over the last few days but since other material had already been introduced into the "Dooms Day Machine" and are irrevocable, I had to wait until today.
For the benefit of the few who might have missed these, I will do so this morning.
Mr. Berry gets the credit since his came in first.

I met Mr. Braathen a few times while we were in Baraboo but never really knew him. A great fan of Circus Music and a close friend of Merle Evans."

Buckles

Braathen Photos #2

2012-01-30T05:44:00.001-05:00

ht_circus_chrome_pics_06_131_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

The elephants, dressed with their purple blankets, get ready for a production number, August 18, 1945. The Ringling Brothers have seen issues arise over the years from PETA and other activists groups for the mistreatment of their animals. The elephants in particular.

Braathen Photos #3

2012-01-30T05:39:00.001-05:00

ht_circus_chrome_pics_07_117_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Emmett Kelly against a blue sky in August 18, 1945. He and Otto Griebling were the two best clowns the show ever had.

Braathen Photos #4

2012-01-30T05:36:00.001-05:00

ht_circus_chrome_pics_08_609_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

One of the shows highlight acts was “Clown with a big rope and a small dog.” Seen here is clown Charles Bell with his small dog outside the tents.

Braathen Photos #5

2012-01-30T05:34:00.001-05:00

ht_circus_chrome_pics_09_236_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

The Sideshow banners line the midway. The acts of the Sideshow were used to draw crowds and featured human oddities, feats like fire eating and sword swallowing, and other unusually rare sights.

Braathen Photos #6

2012-01-30T05:33:00.001-05:00

ht_circus_chrome_pics_03_238_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Elena Gabriele, left, and Marion Seifert sitting on their horses, August 17, 1945. Gabriele’s former lover and ex-clown, Polidor, killed her with an axe some years later.

Braathen Photos #7

2012-01-30T05:29:00.001-05:00

ht_circus_chrome_pics_13_45_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

A red cage gets pulled by two elephants, September 6, 1943.

Braathen Photos #8

2012-01-30T05:25:00.001-05:00

ht_circus_chrome_pics_11_1_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Natalia Tock, from Poland, wears her red Jungle Drums wardrobe as she heads to the tent, July 10, 1950. The circus is home to many immigrant families looking to get out of the hardships of their native lands.

Braathen Photos #9

2012-01-30T05:23:00.001-05:00

ht_circus_chrome_pics_15_68_jef_120120_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Sandy Marlowe holds a lion cub, August 30, 1952. She is the daughter of Ray and Theol Marlowe. Theol was a former Nelson Girl and the Nelson Troupe was one of the greatest risley acrobatic troupes of all time.

Braathen Photos #10

2012-01-30T05:18:00.001-05:00

ht_sverre_braathen_circus_thg_120125_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Two girls in Changing of the Guard wardrobe and a clown. State Fair Park lot, August 17, 1945.

Braathen Photos #11

2012-01-30T05:14:00.001-05:00

ht_sverre_braathen_circus_girls_thg_120125_wblog, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

(left to right) Evelyn Kent, Margaret Smith, Laura May Petrillo, Brenda Gorring, Gladys Rimmer, aerial ballet wardrobe. All are from England except Laura May Petrillo. July 25, 1952

To Roger Smith

2012-01-29T18:00:00.002-05:00

01-29-2012 05;50;20PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Here am I holding Shannon and Brandy's older sister in 1970 the following year.

Brandy Loter and "Peggy"

2012-01-29T07:29:00.001-05:00

01-29-2012 07;21;27AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

A descendant of the Loter and Conley Families as seen in the Sarasota Circus Festival Parade a few years back.

Circus Pages #10 (From Josip Marcan)

2012-01-29T05:39:00.001-05:00

DSC_0392, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #11

2012-01-29T05:37:00.001-05:00

DSC_0409, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #12

2012-01-29T05:34:00.001-05:00

DSC_0368, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #13

2012-01-29T05:31:00.001-05:00

DSC_0448, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #14

2012-01-29T05:29:00.001-05:00

DSC_0452, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #15

2012-01-29T05:27:00.001-05:00

DSC_0327, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #16

2012-01-29T05:25:00.001-05:00

DSC_0324, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #17

2012-01-29T05:23:00.001-05:00

DSC_0406, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

(CONCLUDED)

This Morning's Tampa Tribune!

2012-01-28T09:58:00.001-05:00

01-28-2012 09;57;28AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #1 (From Josip Marcan)

2012-01-28T06:35:00.001-05:00

DSC_0360, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Hi Buckles,
here are some pictures of Circus Pages,playing Ft.Walton Beach,Fl.
So.1.22.12 at 4:00 PM.
Very entertaining show.

Circus Pages #2

2012-01-28T06:33:00.001-05:00

DSC_0356, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #3

2012-01-28T06:30:00.001-05:00

DSC_0462, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #4

2012-01-28T05:36:00.001-05:00

DSC_0443, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #5

2012-01-28T05:34:00.001-05:00

DSC_0442, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #6

2012-01-28T05:33:00.001-05:00

DSC_0430, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #7

2012-01-28T05:31:00.001-05:00

DSC_0423, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #8

2012-01-28T05:29:00.001-05:00

DSC_0432, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Pages #9

2012-01-28T05:28:00.001-05:00

DSC_0330, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

From Chic Silber

2012-01-28T05:25:00.001-05:00

TOLEDO, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Hi Buckles

This was never high on the favorites list

I heard that it may have been torn down

Perhaps Randy can update us

I have a bunch of Toledo stories I'll

save for another time

Chic

From Bob Swaney

2012-01-27T06:05:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327325646@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Monte Carlo Gold
Shared between Rene Casselly (Germany) and a Chinese springboard act.

From Kari Johnson

2012-01-27T06:01:00.001-05:00

!cid_C50495DB-B890-4E69-A431-4625D9DE581C@dslextreme, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

I am updating my Elephant Update list. I send elephant pictures like this one of the lovely and talented Dixie, as well as legislative alerts and articles I think friends will be interested in. If you do not want to be on this list or want me to use a different e-mail address please let me know. If you know of someone who would like to be added just have them e-mail me. Thanks! ~Kari

From Army Maguire

2012-01-27T05:58:00.002-05:00

30174341-01_big, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From Buckles

2012-01-27T05:54:00.001-05:00

01-26-2012 07;18;23PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From Dave Price

2012-01-27T05:51:00.001-05:00

BucklesNash, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Red Show animal walk night before last in Nashville.

To Chic Silber #1

2012-01-27T05:47:00.006-05:00

01-26-2012 11;41;07PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Is this the building you and Jeff were referring to light-wise?

Blue Show in 1995, "Anna May" and Vica, a girl from the Russian bear-horse act.

To Chic Silber #2

2012-01-27T05:41:00.001-05:00

01-27-2012 05;05;45AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

This was Vica's first shot at an "up and over" during her initial practice session.
Barbara was amazed at how fast she caught on.

Is this trick done any more? Used to be fairly common.

From John Goodall

2012-01-27T05:29:00.001-05:00

bilde, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Catherine Carden directs Carol, Patty and Duchess
When she’s not on the road, Catherine Carden likes to relax at her family farm in Myakka City.

It’s a relatively normal household — with three very big exceptions. There’s Carden, her husband and their two sons, of course. And then there’s the three Asian elephants in the backyard.

That’s life as Carden has always known it. The seventh-generation circus performer grew up with elephants Carol and Patty. Then she married elephant trainer Brett Carden, and he brought Duchess into the mix.

“This has been my life every day for 38 years,” Carden says.

The Cardens and their three elephants perform this weekend when Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus comes to Germain Arena. In addition to the elephants, the brand-new show features motorcycle daredevils, a clown, a strongman, acrobats and more.

Carden says she’s always been fascinated by elephants. So she understands why circus audiences love them, too.

Elephants are practically synonymous with the circus, she says. And they’ve been in the public eye even more lately, thanks to the best-selling book “Water for Elephants” and last year’s movie adaptation (Carden hasn’t seen or read them yet, but she says they’re on her to-do list).

“They’re amazing animals, no matter who you are,” Carden says. “And you don’t get to see them every day. It’s not like you’ll find them in somebody’s yard.” Unless, of course, you’re talking about her yard.

Showman P.T. Barnum — who founded the circus that eventually became Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey — recognized the audience’s love for elephants. "Clowns and elephants are the pegs on which the circus is hung,” he once said.

Carden certainly agrees.

“They’re big, they’re beautiful, and they perform so majestically,” she says. “You’re in awe of them.”

She laughs.

“Clowns are good, too, I guess,” she says.

From Mike Naughton

2012-01-27T05:25:00.002-05:00

images, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

We regret to inform you of the death of Penny Wilson Rodriguez who died yesterday evening after a very long illness.
This information came from The Wilson Family.
Joanne Wilson's email is Bigpoodles@aol.com.
The circus community will miss a very dear friend.

Liebling Family Circus #1 (From Jim Cole)

2012-01-26T05:52:00.002-05:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8313942@N07/6764904109/, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

The Great American Family Circus....AKA Liebling Circus

Sunday Jan 22, St. Cloud, FL. Osceola Flea Market. While the more sophisticated circus fans were in Monte Carlo this past weekend for the 36th Annual Festival, us Florida rednecks had our own circus shin-dig!

Liebling Family Circus #2

2012-01-26T05:46:00.001-05:00

!cid_8B1B181DE53448DEBE6AFAF992559630@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #3

2012-01-26T05:44:00.001-05:00

!cid_A1553277F7ED43A8B281070D3B1E0CBA@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #4

2012-01-26T05:43:00.001-05:00

!cid_790D90DCA6154FD3BFFE877B3A39E512@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #5

2012-01-26T05:41:00.001-05:00

!cid_51714D56E176488888361C81A70F3F17@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #6

2012-01-26T05:39:00.001-05:00

!cid_516CADAB46884B3CBDFE9690E0F9BB16@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #7

2012-01-26T05:38:00.001-05:00

!cid_DF058A0367134D9182D759AE28F8A80F@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #8

2012-01-26T05:37:00.001-05:00

!cid_FF02371355304C07AA73FF4D94AC8784@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #9

2012-01-26T05:36:00.001-05:00

!cid_D4A790DD5B3C481785F1FCEBE5B11F0A@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #10

2012-01-26T05:35:00.001-05:00

!cid_5D72B3A628E448E6BB752D97FE496C5A@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #11

2012-01-26T05:33:00.001-05:00

!cid_9D0BFB50103C4DBEA61474A1347173AE@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #12

2012-01-26T05:32:00.001-05:00

!cid_4A7DC50F7F4C406EA8A123F3C096EE1A@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #13

2012-01-26T05:28:00.001-05:00

!cid_A0CCD2B0E5384365BB0E82E833101EFB@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #14

2012-01-26T05:26:00.001-05:00

!cid_1C6E1C39617B4AECBF0E8E2FEDF20698@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #15

2012-01-26T05:25:00.001-05:00

!cid_C7EFC8EBCC5D465181DCE84D1A2DC5EA@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From Chic Silber

2012-01-25T22:17:00.001-05:00

CHICSNOW, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

One night in the Amphitheater in Chicago

as I walked around the arena Petey Kinosh

asked me to watch his stand to run an errand

Bobby Johnsen happened by & asked where

the hell was Petey (perfect timing as usual)

This is the photo I offer when asked about

what I did with the show

From Richard Reynolds #1

2012-01-25T05:38:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327444621@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Cavalia's newest show, Odysseo, is nearing the end of its lengthy run in Atlanta. It opened on December 7th and is now scheduled to close on January 29th.

Here is the set up in Atlanta's midtown at Spring and 8th Sts.(Spring is just out of sight to the left). 8th runs parallel to this side of the big top. This view looks south. To get it in the view-finder, I had to take the photo standing on a hill at Spring and 10th St two blocks north. The Chevron station is on 10th.

Out of sight to the right, just beyond the tent lies the Downtown Connector (the combined I-75/85). Many readers will have traveled that highway through Atlanta.

This is the largest tent put up in Atlanta since 1955 when RBBB set up at the Lakewood Fairgrounds. Odysseo's top is 380 ft long and 175 ft wide. The two twin masts at either end are 125 ft tall. The sidewalls must be upwards of 30 to 35 ft high as were Cavalia's when it played here in late 2010.

The four external metal arches support the "canvas" fulfilling the role of old time center poles. So, what we have is sort of a six pole big top without any poles obstructing the view from the seats, which are all on one side as were those of Cavalia. The seats face the stage on which the performance takes place. It is 160 ft wide. There are 2,290 seats, not all that many given the size of the top. The top houses all the concessions and "joints." On Cavalia they under a separate tent.

There are also stable tents for the horses (69 in number) plus others for support functions. The tops of some of these satellite tents may be seen just above the Chevron station.

In a sense Cavalia and Odysseo are throw backs to the original America circus introduced by John Bill Ricketts in 1793 and those which followed him, notably Pepin and Breschard in 1807 et seq. Those shows focused on horses and horsemanship with some clowns, wire walkers and the like thrown in. Odysseo does the same. Its cast includes 55 performers.

Unlike the big tops of old which could be erected in a matter of hours, Odysseo's top took some 5 weeks to set up. The Spring-8th lot is ordinarily used for parking, and it slopes downhill from left to right (in this photo). To make it level for the show, tons of fill had to be hauled in raising it some 20 ft in places.

This lot first saw a circus in April 1933 when the motorized Downie Bros played there on April 21-22 (Fri-Sat). It paraded on Friday with the route heading south on Spring toward downtown which, back then, lay nearly two miles to the south. In 1933 the Spring and 8th location was a residential area with nice homes surrounding the grassy lot - - nothing at all like the high rise surroundings of today. In 1939-40 a new Coca-Cola bottling plant was built on the lot, making it unavailable for field shows. That changed in 1987 when the plant was torn down in favor of a newer one in a different location. That returned the lot once again to an open area.

In late 1991 Cirque du Soleil played there and did so again in 1993 and 1995 after which the lot went unused for field shows until Odysseo.

From Richard Reynolds #2

2012-01-25T05:36:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327444813@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

This view of Odysseo looks east across Interstate 75-85. The cars in the foreground are headed south. Cannot beat the location as some 250,000 vehicles pass the lot each day.

On the left are the tops of some of the stable and other tents.

Cavalia/Odysseo is the creation of Normand Latourelle of Montreal, Canada. He was an early partner of Guy Laliberté in Cirque du Soleil.

Latourelle was insistent that the show be set up within sight of the freeway so as to garner attention of the thousands passing by each day. Owing to the size of Odysseo's big top, it could not use the lot at Atlantic Station where Cavalia played from October 2009 to January 2010. That one was within sight of the downtown connector at 17th St., north of this location

From Richard Reynolds #3

2012-01-25T05:34:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327444865@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From Richard Reynolds #4

2012-01-25T05:30:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327444931@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Odysseo's big top is the largest to be set up in Atlanta since this one - -RBBB 1955. This photo is from the opening canvas stand in Baltimore in May. It measured 386 -ft long and was 206-ft wide - -six feet longer than Odysseo's and 31 ft wider.

Odysseo seats 2,290 whereas RBBB's 1955 tent was could take about 10,000 when they pushed it. Of course, folks did not demand as many creature comforts 60 years ago.

Where Odysseo has it over this one is in the height of the sidewalls. RBBB's were only about 17 ft high whereas Odysseo's must be in the 30 to 35 foot range.

Note the new menagerie top in the lower right. It was the first RBBB menagerie tent since 1950. For 1951-54 the menagerie was in one end of a 5-pole big top.

The two donniker wagons can be seen in the connection.

From Richard Reynolds #5

2012-01-25T05:28:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327444986@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

While the 1955 RBBB big top was impressive it was dwarfed by the mighty 6-pole ones that GSOE used before 1939 and again in 1943-47. Here it is in 1946, the year before I last saw the 6-poler in 1947 at Atlanta's Lakewood Fiargrounds. In 1947 the canvas top was blue and the sidewalls were red.

As the caption says, that big top was 600 ft long and 200 ft wide.

From Richard Reynolds #6

2012-01-25T05:25:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327445042@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Here is RBBB's 6-poler in Chicago's Grant Park on the lakefront in 1930. Those 6-pole tents could handle about 12,000 patrons. The largest crowd ever to see a single RBBB performance under canvas was 16, 702 at Concordia, KS on September 13, 1924.

This photo was taken by RBBB press agent Eddie Jackson from atop the then new (1927) Stevens Hotel, now the Chicago Hilton. It faced (faces) onto Michigan Ave across from which was Grant Park. When built, the Stevens was the largest hotel in the world. The builder's son is retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

Circus Vargas #1 (From Frank Ferrante)

2012-01-25T05:20:00.001-05:00

tent2[1], a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

CIRCUS VARGAS, "America's Favorite Big Top Circus" opens their 2012 at Arizona Milla Mall in Tempe Arizona this weekend. The new show features original musical numbers written exclusively for the season opener. Producers Nelson and Katya Quiroga of Tabares Entertainment have brought together circus families from around the globe including Jon & Laura Weiss as hosts of the pre-show and featured performers, the classic trapeze artistry of the Flying Tabares troup and welcomes former RBBB and Big Apple Circus ringmaster, Kevin Vernardos as singing ringmaster and creative director. (Photo courtesy of Tabares Entertainment)..

Circus Vargas #2

2012-01-25T05:14:00.001-05:00

rotatinweb[1], a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Vargas #3

2012-01-25T05:13:00.001-05:00

_abb8534[1], a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Vargas #4

2012-01-25T05:12:00.001-05:00

jon2[1], a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

1965 Saturday Evening Post (From Buckles)

2012-01-24T06:36:00.002-05:00

01-23-2012 03;46;47PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

This Post Cover is dated April 10, 1965 and hit the stands while the Ringling Show was in the Garden.
In order to get all the clowns in the picture I lopped off the top banner line.
An article by Bill Ballentine accompanies the lay out which is most interesting thing in the whole affair.

Also included are a few observations from your humble servant.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #2

2012-01-24T06:19:00.001-05:00

01-23-2012 11;45;43AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"Lion leaps from stand over arm of Polish trainer Adela Smieja."

I'm sure that if Ada had paid to have pictures taken for publicity, this one would have gone in the dumpster.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #3

2012-01-24T06:11:00.001-05:00

01-23-2012 12;00;44PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"German-born Chrys Holt, in "Hairial Hairlift" twirls and juggles while dangling 20 feet off the ground by her hair."

Unfortunately someone spilled their coffee on this one.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #4

2012-01-24T06:06:00.004-05:00

01-23-2012 12;33;31PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"The Hanneford Troupe goes through it's paces:
Miss Annette pushes off from galloping horse, hits ground, bounces again onto animal's back."

This empsizes how fast the horse was moving and probably caused raves among the Soho elite.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #5

2012-01-24T05:55:00.002-05:00

01-23-2012 12;36;07PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

No Caption.

Probably something like, "I paid fifty bucks for that fuckin' wig and look what they took!"

1965 Saturday Evening Post #6

2012-01-24T05:52:00.001-05:00

01-23-2012 12;06;55PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"A catcher goes into position for trapeze act."

Nuf Ced!

1965 Saturday Evening Post #7

2012-01-24T05:49:00.002-05:00

01-23-2012 12;04;07PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"Former trapeze artist Antoinette Concello rehearses young performer for aerial version of Swan Lake."

God Almighty!
Not on a par with Miss Concello's cigarette commercial in the Barnes-Floto program.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #8

2012-01-24T05:42:00.003-05:00

01-23-2012 11;49;43AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"Charly Baumann cracks whip, tiger leaps to cages bars."

This photographer must have had a penchant for people's backsides. This was Charly's second season on the show and I can imagine his reaction to this.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #9

2012-01-24T05:36:00.001-05:00

01-23-2012 12;11;19PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"Doval starts down a 45-drgree-angle wire. "If you are not afraid," he admits, "you have no business up there."

Best picture of the lay out.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #10

2012-01-24T05:30:00.003-05:00

01-23-2012 06;14;39AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"Captain Hugo Schmitt's "Performing Proboscidians" perform the sit-up, one of four basic elephant tricks; others are leg-stand, lying down and standing on their massive heads."

This ones OK but they have managed to exclude Captain Schmitt, maybe he refused to turn around. I remember the guy at right tho, his name is Bastone.

In the World of Artsy-Fartsy!

2012-01-24T05:18:00.002-05:00

01-23-2012 12;56;18PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

For most of a season I honestly thought this program cover was the result of a School Kid promotion until someone patiently asked, "Don't you recognize an original Chermayeff?"
I later learned that ticket sales covered less than 20 per cent of expenses, the rest by the NEA and fund raising.
A potential donor soon learned that ours was a very serious art form and should be endowed accordingly.

In The World of Artsy-Fartsy #2

2012-01-24T04:53:00.001-05:00

01-23-2012 12;49;56PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From Chic Silber

2012-01-23T15:22:00.001-05:00

images, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Hi Buckles

I have just verified that Bobby Mitchell died on December 6th

His very brief obituary just ran in yesterday's paper

with no information at all besides the date of death

He had worked on many shows including Polack Bros

Surely others can add much to his history

Sorry for the loss

Chic

Caged Fury #57 (From Eric Beheim)

2012-01-23T05:43:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-57, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

In a panic, the audience runs past some Al G. Barnes cage wagons that had been rented for the production of KING OF THE JUNGLE.

Caged Fury #58

2012-01-23T05:41:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-58, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Inside the burning menagerie tent, a cage-full of lions is released by a husky young man, whom few people probably recognized as Buster Crabbe, appearing in one of his scenes from KING OF THE JUNGLE.

Caged Fury #59

2012-01-23T05:38:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-59, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

More stock shots from KING OF THE JUNGLE, showing animals and humans fleeing from the fire.

Caged Fury #60

2012-01-23T05:36:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-60, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Caged Fury #61

2012-01-23T05:34:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-61, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

My most vivid memory from seeing this film on TV when I was 6 or 7 was of a tiger jumping from cage to cage over the heads of the fleeing crowd. It was probably done using trick photography, although on screen it looks uncomfortably real and maybe was!