Buckles Blog

Thursday, June 05, 2008

H-W Program 1932 #4

Scan10255, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

H-W Program 1932 #5

Scan10248, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

H-W Program 1932 #6

Scan10249, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

H-W Program 1932 #7

Scan10257, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

H-W Program 1932 #8

Scan10250, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

H-W Program 1932 #9

Scan10251, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

H-W Program 1932 #10

Scan10256, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

H-W Program 1932 #11

Scan10252, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

H-W Program 1932 #12

Scan10258, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

H-W Program 1932 #13

Scan10253, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

H-W Program 1932 #14

Scan10254, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

The Tiger Temple #1 (From Josip Marcan)

!cid_X_MA1_1212337061@aol, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The Tiger Temple or Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Thailand and has been a sanctuary for many endangered animals including several tigers that walk around freely once a day and can be petted by tourists. The temple received several tiger cubs where the mothers had been killed by poachers. As of 2007, over 21 cubs have been born at the temple and the total number of tigers is about 12 adult tigers and 4 cubs.

The tigers are tamed by being fed with cooked meat to avoid giving them a taste for blood. The staff keep the tigers under control and the abbot will intervene if the tiger gets agitated. They are treated as family members in the temple and visitors are asked to give a donation if they want to take photos with the tigers.

"and what may I ask is the conservation and education angle on this one? Oh, I see, the famous engaging-connecting bla bla bla, sorry sometimes I am so old fashioned,,,"

Paolo

"Strictly to make money. They solicit a donation which in this country is called a "Ding Joint", if the proprietor takes the picture and sells it, the establishment then becomes a "Mug Joint" hence the name "Mug Shot".

Buckles

From Raffaele de Ritis

naumann, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

I discovered and posted on youtube a brief video of Heinz Naumann's high-dive with a tiger.

You can reach it from my "Novelties and Wonders" blog:

www.raffaelederitis.blogspot.com

(a pictured of Naumann is attached to this message)

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Frank Murray Day #1 (From Richard Flint)

Frank Murray, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

FRANK MURRAY
Frank Murray gives much credit for what he knows about elephants to
Rex Williams under whom he worked while on Vargas years ago. He also
has great respect for Fred Logan. In this photo I caught Frank
working the elephant ride on the midway.

Dick Flint
Baltimore

Frank Murray Day #2

Murray family, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

MURRAY FAMILY
Cole Bros. was the first of a slew of tent shows to appear in Maryland
this season followed by Carson & Barnes, Kelly-Miller, Lewis & Clark,
and, opening this Tuesday following its D.C. engagement, Universoul,
through next weekend. Walker Bros. is also expected to soon be in the
area. In a couple of cases, these shows have even played the same
lots this month!

Seen in this group of photos is Cole Bros. where Frank and Gayle
Murray have their two elephants. The family act is shown here last
May 7-8 on the Anne Arundel county fairgrounds lot in Crownsville, MD,
a location very familiar to the Murray clan since for the past dozen
years they have played the Renaissance Fair held there each fall. The
elephants are Topsy, age 48, who was with Sells & Gray in her younger
years, and Annette, age 35, and one of the last elephants imported to
the US, in her case by Juergen Schultz of Catskill Game Farm. When
the Murray's begin their medieval fair dates later in the season,
their replacements are expected to arrive from the Hugo ranch of the
Byrd family.

Frank Murray Day #3

Lauren and sit up, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

LAUREN MURRAY AND SIT-UP
The Murray act is presented by their youngest daughter Lauren, seen
here. Of the several tricks presented, the headstand got the biggest
audience reaction at the shows I saw. While Lauren's two older
sisters remain in Florida with the family's other animals, she is
joined on the road by brother Grant, at 19 the youngest of the clan
and an aspiring hand balancer.

Frank Murray Day #4

drunken horse, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

MIKE RICE AND DRUNKEN HORSE
Also on Cole are Mike and Carolyn Rice. Mike does a great drunken
horse routine as seen here in this photo with the imbibing equine.
Carolyn presents a charming dog and pony routine but she told me that
one of her first gigs was as a showgirl on Ringling about 15 years
ago. I discovered Mike got started on the Cristiani-Wallace show
about 1962. We figured he had probably blown the show by the time I
saw it in August of that year but he has fond memories of his first
season out. And Mike, I've dug out some photos I took of the show
that year which I'll send along to Buckles in a few days.

Frank Murray Day #5

camels 3, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

MIKE RICE AND CAMELS
Mike also presents a fast-moving camel routine on Cole this year and
his four gorgeously bedecked camels are seen here in this close-up to
show off their finery as well the backside of his own fancy vest.

Frank Murray Day #6 (From Lane Talburt)

IMG_3441, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Frank Murray, on the Cole Bros. lot in Fishkill, NY on May 30 Frank credits Rex Williams for being his mentor, saying he had a great "touch" with elephants.
After completing spring dates with Cole Bros., the Murrays will be departing for a fair engagement in Wisconsin in mid-June.

Frank Murray Day #7

IMG_3430, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Frank Murray Day #8 (From Bill Schreiber)

Baraboo 083 (2), originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Tom Demry asked me to forward this recent photo of him and his African
elephant Anna Louise taken at the Circus World Museum at Baraboo where they
will be performing for the 2008 season. Tom is also presenting his dog act
and trained pony as well. He heard you had been posting about the good ol'
days at Baraboo and thought you might like to see the 2008 version!

Bill Schreiber

Frank Murray Day #9 (From Joey Ratliff)

murray60, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

You mentioned Frank Murray in the Cleopatra set yesterday. Here is a set of Mr. Murray that I was planning on sending later this week but today is just as good. As you may know, the Muuray's were at Aududbon in New Orleans for many years with "Topsy" and gave "Panya", "Jean" and "Annette Marie" their beginning education. Gary Jacobson's bull "Pete" (sire to "Romeo" and "Juliet") was also here under Frank's direction.

Can you pass along a message to him? First, I can give him copies of these photos when the show plays here and I'd like to take him or Gail to see his old charges at the park. It is a 20 minute drive, there and back from where the show set up last year. I promise he won't see anyone he doesn't want to see as we can go day or night, straight to the barn. Thanks.

Joey

Frank Murray Day #10

murray40, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Frank Murray Day #11

murray30, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Frank Murray Day #12

murray20, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Monday, June 02, 2008

Filming "Cleopatra" 1962 #1

000_0002, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

At left, Cole Bros. Circus owner Johnny Pugh.

Filming "Cleopatra" 1962 #2

000_0008, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Filming "Cleopatra" 1962 #3

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Filming "Cleopatra" 1962 #4

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Filming "Cleopatra" 1962 #5

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Filming "Cleopatra" 1962 #6

000_0006, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

The Very Dignified Weigh-In, Week #4

Scan000011194.MOD, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Today's weight..........244 lbs.
Net loss....................12 lbs.

At this rate, by next Fall my waist size should be down to what is seen in the #4 Polack Show picture below.
That being the case, I will then proceed to challenge Kenneth and Nicole to a foot race, three laps around the St. Pete Times Forum.
And to make sure everything is fair and balanced, I will insist that Bill Powell be the Official Timekeeper.