Buckles Blog

Sunday, October 05, 2008

From Walt King

!cid_1_1890610233@web50703_mail_re2_yahoo, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Why trampolines are so dangerous in Texas.....

Sarasota Showfolks Club last night!

IMG_3126, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1. Mike McClure- Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
2. Jim Alexander- St. Louis Zoo (Ret.)
3. John Herriott
4. Lee Sambrook- Whipsnade Zoo, London
5. Scott Riddle- Riddle's Elephant Sanctuary
6. Bill Woodcock- Renowned Dietician
7. Dave Campbell- Louisville Zoo
8. Glenn Sullivan- Whipsnade Zoo, London

St. Armand's Circle at Longboat Key

IMG_3115, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Earlier in the evening we paused to reflect at Rex Williams plaque.

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Walter McLain #1

Scan10806, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

My dad always said that Walter McLain was the best all around elephant boss the Ringling Show ever had. When it came to handling a big herd of elephants (in 1941 the Ringling Show carried 47), managing a department of over 30 men, loading and unloading the train with teams of elephants plus setting up and taking down the show, not to mention putting the acts together, he was unequaled.

Walter McLain #2

Scan10795, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

McLain was a one man army, his long time assistant Slivers Madison told me that Walter was a tireless worker and could never understand why everybody in the department wasn't that way.
Seen here on horseback so he could quickly be on the scene wherever elephants were at work.
Easy to see what JRN had in mind when he eliminated the Baggage Stock on the Ringling Show.

Walter McLain #3

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Walter McLain #4

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You Model Builders should appreciate this one showing McLain with Bert Backstein and his two sons Bill and Oren riding "Ruth" on the Barnes lot in 1938.

This picture was taken by Terrell Jacobs when the show was playing Decatur, Illinois.

Walter McLain #5

Scan10807, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The 1937 Barnes elephant herd.

Walter McLain #6

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Evelyn and Walter McLain.

Walter McLain #7

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Walter McLain #8

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Walter McLain #9

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Walter McLain #10

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It was in a setting like this that McLain met his demise.
The hook rope snapped and a wagon like the one in the background came flying down the runs and in an attempt to scramble aboard and set the brake he fell beneath to his death.

WALTER MCLAIN
1917 Sparks Circus (First season, candy butcher)
1923 Sparks Circus (Assistant to Louis Reed)
1924-31 Sparks Circus (Elephant Supt.)
1933-38 Al G. Barnes Circus
1939-42 Ringling-Barnum Circus
(Died in Jacksonville, Fla. 11/25/42.

Friday, October 03, 2008

From John Whitfield

ART CONCELLO & JRN, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

No date on this Sarasota WQ picture but whenever it was, they ruled the world!
Buckles

Baraboo Display #1 (From Berry Phillips)

!cid_1222677572, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

110th Edition "Circus Galaxy" spec, designed by Don Foote.

I'm always fascinated by the photos and drawings of Ringling wardrobe from the 70's and 80's. These are costumes, props and floats currently on display at Circus World Museum that might bring back some memories.

Berry Phillips

Baraboo Display #2

!cid_1222678215, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Costume from 117th Edition "King Tusk" spec designed by Arthur Boccia.

Baraboo Display #3

!cid_1222678102, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

115th Edition "Living Unicorn" spec, costumes designed by Winn Morton.

Baraboo Display #5

!cid_1222677775, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Pull up from the 109th Edition "Circus Toyland" spec.

Baraboo Display #4

!cid_1222677859, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Jim Ragona's spec costume from the 116th Edition designed by Arthur Boccia. I never saw him wear the mask.

Baraboo Display #6

!cid_1222677678, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

116th Edition "Oriental Odyssey" spec, costumes designed by Arthur Boccia. I believe the wagon was designed by Reid Carlson.

From Bill Cooker

DCP_0003, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Hi Buckles, This is my first contribution to your very fine blog. It is a 2 page spread from Leslies Weekly and pictures the Barnum @ Bailey Show being loaded for the trip to Europe. Interesting how they crated the Elephants for shipment. Hope this is of interest to your viewers.
Regards,
Bill Cooker

From Dave Price

Hammer, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Buckles:

These wooden hammers or mauls or mallets crop up on eBay from time to time and are always attributed to some circus. This one is described as "... a rare and wonderful vintage wooden mallet or hammer that according to it's prior owner, was used by staff working for the Ringling Bros & Barnum Bailey Circus around the early 1900's or late 1800's. I purchased the unit approx 30 years ago from a friend who said it had been originally owned by his great grandfather who worked during his youth, as a laborer for the Ringling Bros. Circus then located in Bridgeport Ct. According to it's (then owner)...The wooden mallet was primarily used to hammer tent stakes as well as perform other related duties as needed, by circus staff..."

Overlooking the obvious errors above, my question is: Was this type hammer ever used on stakes?

From Paul Gutheil

Shrine Circus - DC- 1943 cover, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Buckles:
Was lucky to acquire, in near excellent condition, a copy of a Wash DC
1943 shrine
circus program at the CHS convention...Copy of cover attached.

It sure looks like caricatures of Laurel & Hardy on this cover and my
question is...was
there any particular relationship between L&H and the shriners and/or
circuses? I believe they
made only one circus related movie titled "The Chimp".

Any help from you or fellow bloggers is appreciated.
Paul

"As far as I know the only connection L&H had with the Shrine was a parody called "Sons of the Desert" a movie so well remembered that today, Sons of the Desert Clubs still exist."
Buckles

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Cesare Togni (From Raffaele de Ritis)

cesaretognitripla, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Cesare Togni, one of European greatest and beloved circus directors, passed away on 0ctober 1.
He was the oldest living in the large Togni dinasty, son of Ugo Togni. Former acrobat, leaper, trainer, he reached his best as a performer in the flying trapeze: in 1956 he was the first to accomplish a triple return pirouette, starring in his family flying troupe.
In the mid-50s he founded his own circus with his brother Oscar:formerly called Circo Massimo (the largest 3 rings operation seen in Italy) this finally became the famous Circo Cesare Togni, for decades an Italian home for some of the world's finest acts, especially trapeze legends as Tony Steele, Enzo Cardona, the Palacios or the Jimenez. Is in this circus that David Larible had the opportunity to do his first steps as clown. This classy big top toured all around Europe. In 1983 Cesare set once more a fine three-ring circus, traveling completely on containers; he later went back to the classic one-ring format. Cesare trained his sons (Elvio, Alex, Italo, Viviana) in all the classic equestrian and acrobatic specialties, as well in elephant training. His circus was dismissed in the early 90s, even if in the recent years the name was sometimes revived in association with other italian families. Cesare was spending his last years at Circo Americano (led by his cousin Enis), supervising his sons' acts with horse pyramids and elephants.

Cole Bros. Program 1947 #1

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Cole Bros. Program 1947 #2

Scan10783, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Zack Terrell president and general manager of the Cole Bros. Circus.

Cole Bros. Program 1947 #3

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"Mrs. Zack Terrell secretary of the Cole Bros. Circus."

To the unaware, Estrella Nelson was from the famous Nelson family of acrobats and older sister of Paul Nelson.
Buckles

Cole Bros. Program 1947 #4

Scan10785, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

"Noyelles Burkhart assistant general manager."

I just read Bill Taggart's excellent article in Bandwagon that shed new light on Mr. Burkhart when he was the fixer on the Ringling Show in the 1950's.
As a 12 year old, I don't recall that sunny disposition but about 30 years later when I was at Circus World in Florida, a gentleman and two ladies in aqua colored square-dancing attire approached and asked if they could see the elephants.
After a while the man said, "You don't remember me do you Buckles?", not having a clue he said, "I'm Noyelles Burkhart ".
They were participants in a Square Dance competition being held in the outdoor ring.

Cole Bros. Program 1947 #5

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Cole Bros. Program 1947 #6

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"The renowned Cristiani Family
The most sensational and talented group of bareback riders the world has ever known."

Cole Bros. Program 1947 #7

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"The Great Hubert Castle
Internationally celebrated wizard of the tight wire
A preeminent feature of the Cole Brothers 1947 Circus."

Cole Bros. Program 1947 #8

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Cole Bros. Program 1947 #9

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Mrs. Tennyson would sing during the band concert on the come-in as well as spec and the web number.
A very nice lady, I remember she had a device that could mend ladies stockings which during the war was pretty handy and a good source of of side income.
Buckles