Polack Bros. Circus 1965/ Barbara and "Stella"

When we were out in California in 1965 our first season with the Polack Show, we were laying over a few days at Jungleland then Louie Goebel mentioned that he had some punks coming in. Later back on the show I mentioned it to Louie Stern and to my surprise he said "If you want to Kid, go pick one up". Simple as that. I assumed they would be yearlings or more but unaware they were now being flown in and the smaller the better. "Stella" turned out to be about two months old if that. Barbara started out feeding her Calf Manna and over the weeks added oatmeal and fruit squashed up in the blender. Naturally she followed Barbara everywhere as seen in this picture taken at my sister in law Billie's swimming pool in San Jose.

Polack Bros. Circus 1965/ Jimmy Douglas and "Stella"

This was just about the extent of Stella's activities her first season in Show Biz. So long as she was exposed to crowds, traffic, noise, ect. as my dad used to say " important that they find out what the world contains beside themselves". Elephants in the background are "Millie" (Millie Ward), "Kathy" (Kathy Goebel), "Opal" (Opal Page) and "Kae" (Kae Johnson). The Polack people that Mac MacDonald had named them after.

Polack Bros. Circus 1966/ Barbara and "Stella"

This was "Stella's" first appearance at Medinah Temple, included in the picture are Parley Baer and Sam Ward.

Big Apple Circus 1986/ Barbara and friend

Fast forward 20 years and we find Barbara being bestowed with the "Honorary Old Show Broad" award.

Polack Bros. Circus 1947/ Chicago

George Powers sold his elephants to the Polack Show "Lena" and "Jennie" are seen in the center. The two younger elephants at left are "Bonnie" and "India" acquired from Arthur Bros. Circus along with Cheerful Gardner who now worked the act. The elephants traveled by baggage car in those days and I suspect this shot was taken on their arrival in town. This is the best dressed elephant man I ever saw, it is certainly not Gardner.

Polack Bros. Circus 1967/ Medinah Temple

This is the same march 20 years later, we kept the elephants in the Chicago Armory seen in the background at right and walked them to Medinah Temple and back each day. With "Anna May" in the lead is James "Rosie" Stank followed by "Jean", "Millie", "Opal" and "Kae". The small elephants are "Kenya" and "Stella". The African was delivered to the show six months earlier while we were playing the L.A. County Fair and made her debut in the ring when the new show opened in Flint in January. Buckles We are having a large family gathering today since Sister in law Peggy's grandson Mike returns to Lejeune tomorrow and then immediately to Iraq.

Polack Bros. Circus/ Sam Ward and Louis E. Stern

At left is Sam Ward, one of the Polack Show's principal promoters, "putting the arm" on my favorite boss, Louie Stern. I never met I.J. Polack or his wife Bessie, both had died by the time I joined the show in 1965 but I was told that Louie was always "the Man". He had a poor memory for names and addressed everyone as "Kid" and referred to me as the "Elephant Guy", the Potentate as the "Shrine Guy", etc. the only person he called by name was "Polly" Baer who handled the Press. Parley compared him to Samuel Goldwyn regarding his manipulation of the English language. I often think of Louie, I liked him a lot.

Polack Bros. Circus 1944/ George Powers and "Lena"

The Polack Show was mostly sponsored by Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and usually appeared indoors or sometimes in Ball Parks and in a one-ring format, featuring the best circus acts in the business. This picture appears to have been taken on a theatrical stage which was often the case. I remember we showed Medinah Temple in downtown Chicago for six weeks.

Polack Bros. Circus 1944/ Powers Elephants

These are the three Powers elephants of Vaudeville fame "Jennie", "Julia" and "Lena" that were originally trained for the Walter L. Main Circus at the turn of the Century and shown here in 1944 at Davenport, Iowa posing with the Barnum & Bailey "Two Hemispheres" band chariot while with the Polack Show. They are certainly in beautiful shape, you won't see anything like this in the jungle. Most people think that in their natural habitat they frolic all day in a field with a waterfall nearby and graze with unicorns. I remember 30 years ago when you purchased them from the wild, they were malnourished, scarred and infested with external ticks and lice as well as an incredible assortment of internal parasites. It sometimes took weeks of medical care before you would even think of training them.

Sells-Floto Circus & Buffalo Bill Wild West 1914

The big male is "Snyder" who during this period had sired a number of calves with the Floto Show however the small elephant in the picture is no one of them. For some reason he was named after a popular Evangelist of the day "Billy Sunday". I wonder how those wooden bull tubs maintained the weight.

Sells-Floto Circus 1918/ Henry Boucher and "Muggins"

Henry Boucher took over the Floto Show elephants in 1918 and is seen here in parade with a young male elephant named "Muggins" who was actually owned by the show's Performance Director Rhoda Royal. This unit even appeared in the performance, "Muggins" would do the "bottle walk" since the axle on the cart was high enough to clear the bottles and the configuration of the hitch even allowed him to waltz as he continued around the ring.

Sells-Floto Circus 1919/ "Alice from Dallas"

Sells-Floto Circus 1920/ Snyder's hind leg walk

This is the Floto Show appearing at the Nebraska State Fair in Lincoln, quite a crowd. The elephant man is Henry Boucher and the "Elephant Empress" is Blanche Wells. Not long after this picture was taken, "Snyder" attacked another male "Floto" while the show was playing Salina, Kansas, continued on a lenghty rampage around the lot and unfortunately met the same fate as "Hero".

John Robinson Circus 1900/ Camel hitch

Shannon managed to tweak this picture for me since it was very badly faded. Until then I wasn't aware of the three seat wagons in the background being unloaded, stringers, star backs and jacks. They appear to be breaking the cardinal rule by "humping that lumber" all the way to the tent whereas it would be quicker and easier if the wagon was spotted inside on the track. And while I am expostulating, I will further state that I'm glad I don't have to make a U-turn with that camel hitch. You may note that the wheelers are horses. Buckles

Camel unknown

This came out of the John Robinson folder but no further information. I'll file it away in case Ingrassia should decide to take out a circus.

Hagenbeck/ Camel ride

I always thought this was the Frank Bostock Show until I enlarged the picture and spotted "Hagenbeck" on the entance. Might this be the ill fated Carl Hagenbeck Show of 1906 in Mexico? Another thing I pondered after close examination of the saddle and attendant, "How much money would Mr. Hagenbeck have to pay me to actually ride this animal?" At last count it was a very vast sum.

Ringling-Barnum Circus/ circa 1941

I recently received this terrific picture from Mike and Silvius Piccolo showing the 1st Section being unloaded after the baggage horses had been eliminated and elephants served as "pull over" and "pull away" teams. The show carried in excess of 40 elephants transported in 4 cars, these 12 had left the lot early the night before probably before the performance had ended and departed with the "Flying Squadron". By this time the rest of the herd would have arrived and loaded the rest of the flatcars. Once the cage coming down the ramps reaches the ground one of the "pull away" teams in the foreground will take over, the man at the extreme right will drop that ring he is holding over the "gooseneck" on the end of the wagon tongue.

Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth/ circa 1915

Another great picture showing the B&B parade in "counter march" passing itself on what appears to be a Western town. In the lower right corner, three trumpeteers herald the beginning, followed by 24 horses pulling the bandwagon and passing 24 elephants headed the other direction. Wow!

Ringling-Barnum Circus 1927/ Lillian Leitzel

The best remembered of lady aerialists, Lillian Leitzel who in 1930 fell to her death in Copenhagen.

Sells-Floto Circus 1924/ Erma Ward

Barnum & Bailey Circus 1897

J.M. Nixon Show 1863/ C.D. Fredricks

Unfortunately, this trick can no longer be performed since the drummers today require a glass shield while playing.

Detroit Shrine Circus 1963/ Barbara and "Lydia"

Madison Sq. Garden 1978/ Barbara and friend

Grover Nitchman

A moment of "high drama" in the circus ring.

Wallace Bros. Circus 1941/ Lawrence Cross

Sparks Circus 1947/ Ernie Burch

Mr. Burch was immortalized some time later when responding to the announcement "Is there a nurse in the house?".

Orton Bros. Circus 1916/ "Hero" at practice

This is "Hero" practicing the "cover" with his trainer, a trick common in elephant acts. At this point they must have been very confident with him since at 20 he was well overdue to start "bulling".

Orton Bros. Circus 1916/ Babe Orton

This is my mother on the show that season at the age of 16. She often told me the story of Hero's demise. The train was spotted along side the lot that day and she happened to glance outside the coach and was terrified to see Hero's trainer in flight and the elephant in hot pursuit. He rolled under a wagon and barely made it out the other side just as it was being tipped over on top of him and tho badly injured he managed to make it to safety in one of the coaches. "Hero" was big enough that he was eye-level with the coach windows. Til this day I can remember her discribing being inside and watching his eye moving from window to window in search of his prey. It must have been something like "Jurassic Park".

Orton Bros. Circus 1916/ Wrecked bandwagon

Here we see the aftermath of Hero's destruction when unable to satisfy his frustration he continued along side the train and tipped the Bandwagon completely off the flat car. He then headed out into the countryside, chasing and being chased by the local militia who eventually gunned him down. This picture tells all, the body language of the circus people viewing the ruins and the fact that the weather had been horrible ever since the show had opened.

Orton Bros. Circus 1916/ "Hero" and Elkton posse

So there you have it, the show was doomed from the start, it was too large to turn a profit on the old established Orton route and unknown in the bigger towns. In 1960 we happened to show Elkton with the James Christy Circus (the Plunkett family) and I asked if anyone in town remembered the death of "Hero" and to my surprise it is something of a local event. Later in the day several old timers came by claiming to have been members of the posse that day. Now you will say "Alright we saw the "greed and violence" but what about the "sex?" Simple, my grandfather got screwed when Hall took back all the equipment, the elephant "Juno" and attatched all his property holdings in Des Moines.

Orton Bros. Circus 1916/ Winter Quarters

"Hero" and "Juno" at the Orton winter quarters (Ortonville) situated between Des Moines and Adel. No idea who the lady holding the horse might be.

Orton Bros. Circus 1916/ Ticket wagon

This not a tableau but the show's ticket wagon leaving the lot to make parade. Since this is the wagon most exposed to the public while on the lot it would be well decorated so might as well be shown off down town.

Orton Bros. Circus 1916/ "Hero" and "Juno" on parade

Surprisingly I don't know who these elephant men are however I'm sure the man on "Hero" came from Hall's place with him. Seems like I recall my mother mentioning the name "Curly Pritchett".

Orton Bros. Circus 1916/ The Orton sisters

These are the ladies whose names were borne on the side of the coaches, at left my aunts Nellie and Grace and at right my mother Sarah, even in 1916 she was called "Babe" being the youngest of the family. How could they have known on this day that doom and gloom lay just around the corner.

Orton Bros. Circus 1916/ William P. Hall

I have told this story many times and it would make an interesting book in itself. Like the musical "Chicago" it has all the things near and dear to our hearts "greed", "violence" and "sex". The villian would be William P.Hall pictured at his Circus Brokerage in Lancaster, Mo.who playing on Orton's vanity, explained that a man of his stature should put his show on rails. Previously during the winter months the Ortons would buy parcels of property in the Des Moines area upon which they constructed houses themselves. Aware of this, Hall insisted that this serve as collateral. I'm sure you can see where this story is headed.

Orton Bros. Circus 1916/ "Hero"

Well the horrid deed was done, R.Z. was encumbered with more show than he could afford and included in the deal was a big male elephant named "Hero" formerly with the Norris & Rowe Circus. Here he is posing in front of the Advance car flanked by one of his officials "Baker" and General Agent, Dave Jarrett.

Orton Bros. Circus 1916/ Coaches

I think the show was framed on about 12 cars, an offbeat number with the Advance car ahead. The three coaches shown here were named "Grace", "Nellie" and "Sarah" after his three daughters.

Orton Bros. Circus 1916/ Elephant car

This is the elephant car that was used for "Hero" and "Juno". Obviously not a cicus stock car and probably something that Hall came up with in Lancaster. A windfall for "Juno" who previous to this, had to walk from town to town.

Orton Bros. Circus 1914/ "Juno"

As mentioned, my Great Grandfather, Hiram Orton, took out a small circus in 1853 and later his two sons Miles and R.Z. had circuses of their own. Miles was the better known showman of the two and played the larger cities while my grandfather R.Z. settled near Adel, Iowa and with his large family operated a small overland circus, mostly in and around the surrounding States. All the elephants R.Z. had with the show over the years were either bought or leased from Col. William P. Hall at nearby Lancaster, Mo. this elephant "Juno" had previously been leased by Hall to the "Pawnee Bill Wild West Show".

Orton Bros. Circus 1914

This is the Orton show on the lot, pretty good spread of canvas, everything nice and white, it must have been very early in the season. All large animals, camels, elephants, horses and ponies walked from town to town. The big top is in the background, the two-pole top is the menagerie, in front of that the marquee and at left you can see the back side of a banner line for a pit show which is walled off. This was a large "mandrill" and in the hinterlands they showed, it was a unique attraction. The Orton's prided themselves in being a "Sunday School" show, no grift, gambling or alcohol allowed on the lot. Consequently they often repeated the same towns every year.

Orton Bros. Circus 1914/ Fery crossing

Here we see Juno and a wagon load of equipment crossing a pretty large body of water. The ramp at left drops down and the march continues.

Barnett Bros. Circus 1937/ "Danny"

In response to Bill Schreiber, they did indeed have a male elephant on the Wallace Show. This is "Danny" a former Corporation tusker that was on the show in 1937-38 when they were still using the Barnett title. He tried to tear up the show in 1938, as those males have been known to do and was hustled off to the Pittsburgh Zoo. The man at left wearing the boots is an old timer named Tommy "Daddy" Burns.

Hamid-Morton Circus 1941/ #57 sleeper

I can remember in mid-season when "Wallace Bros." was painted over and replaced with "Hamid-Morton", a big thing in a kids world. Appearantly the show had been leased for the Hamid tour and was augmented with the Clyde Beatty unit which included not only his big lion and tiger act but his three elephants and entourage of people who always accompanied him. This was our home on the road #57 sleeper with my mother and father pictured. Ours was the stateroom in the rear which provided little more than sleeping accomodations since we ate in the cook house and the water wagon filled the tubs at left for bathing. Flo MacIntosh endlessly repeated a story of when I was still in diapers but could navigate those steps without a hitch. On one occasion I had soiled myself as well as the steps, Flo said she happened by and saw me standing naked in the doorway and saying to my father "Colonel, what happened to that poop?" and he replied "I cleaned it up. Why, were you saving it". Buckles

Hamid=Morton Circus 1941/ Harriet and Clyde Beatty

A group of Circus Model Builders had set up this display right behind our sleeper and are posing with Harriet and Clyde Beatty. I notice that #57 had been parked in a hole and was listing to port. Believe me, years later when married and and experiencing the wonderful world of house trailers, I never got away with anything like that. Buckles

Hamid-Morton Circus 1941/ Cat dens

These were Clyde Beatty's cat dens placed back to back so the cats could be shifted and run thru the chutes into the arena. Arky Scott in the background and an exceptionally fine youth standing in front. Buckles

Hamid-Morton Circus 1941/ Elephant herd

The Wallace Bros. elephant herd was almost doubled with the addition of Beatty's three elephants seen at right. Arky Scott looks like he kept the Robbins Bros. attire. The rack seen on the top of one of Beatty's elephants was attatched to the howdah that carried the riding tiger. Buckles

Barnett Bros. Circus 1939/ Lee Powell #1

One evening after a performance with Big Apple Circus at Lincoln Center I had returned to to our trailer and while taking off my uniform I realized that AMC was showing an evening of the old "Flash Gordon Serials" starring Buster Crabbe. Powell was his sidekick Capt. Roka and Charles Middleton played the villainous "Ming the Merciless". The wardrobe looked like a hodge-podge of stuff rehashed from other movies (who's to say what they wore on Mars?) the rocket ships were suspended on strings and the dialogue was deplorable. All in all it was wonderful. Buckles

Wallace Bros. Circus 1940/ Lee Powell #2

Powell married the show owner's daughter, Norma Rogers, and was highly regarded personally on the show (now retitled Wallace Bros. Circus) Sandy Fullbright's brother was named after him, Lee Powell Pettus. Buckles

Wallace Bros. Circus 1941/ Lee Powell #3

This is the grave site of long time Circus Press Agent Dexter Fellows. Not too long after this Powell joined the Marines and at the rank of Sargeant, lost his life at Tinian Island and was later exhumed and reburied at the Punch Bowl in Hawaii. Buckles