World of Mirth 1954 #11

Scan10776, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The weekly weigh-in!............Week #21

Scan10766, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Today's weight............232 lbs. Net Loss......................24 lbs. Another break-even week. At least I'm a lot more streamlined than when this picture was taken in Hershey.

Mary Ruth Herriott

Mary Ruth Herriott, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. More pictures from the Circus World Museum in 1968. Jimmy Cole

Kandra Craig

Kasandra Craig, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Kandra Craig was brought in (along with Murray Hill's elephants) to replace the Herriotts while they appeared at the Lake front in Milwaukee as seen below. You may recall that Miss Craig was the little girl that Johnny had riding the elephant in spec with the Gil Gray Circus at Disneyland thirteen years earlier.

Antar Wazzan

Antar Wazzan, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Dog act in the Hippodrome

Dog act in the Hippodrome, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Wazzan Family

Wazzan Family, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Painting the elephant pink

Painting the elephant pink, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Entrance to Circus Grounds

Entrance to Circus Grounds, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Mary Ruth Herriott's Dog & Pony Circus

Mary Ruth Herriott's Dog & Pony Circus, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Laura Herriott

Laura Herriott, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Elephant act

Elephant act, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1968 CWM cast & crew

1968 CWM cast & crew, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. "Seated in front , the Prince of Providence" Buckles

Kelly-Miller MENAGERIE (1959)

Kelly-Miller MENAGERIE (1959), originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Here is a color copy of the Kelly-Miller menagerie poster that Dave mentioned. Chris Berry

Saddened to learn of Paul Newman's passing.

Scan10749, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Dave Price #1

PosChMen, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. I think this is the bill Paul was thinking about. Art Miller told me that he took this Christy Bros litho by Riverside to Central Show Print (I think it was) and told them to redraw it and to (1) move the elephant line to the center, (2) put a cage over a hippo so there would be a place for the lettering and (3) throw in some giraffes. Of course in time people began to copy the bill; eventually it was a stock poster that Enquirer put out and I believe Acme (John and Grace Hoffman) also reproduced it. Bill Kasiska gave me my first copy of this many years ago. I have had to reproduce it here from the Bandwagon as I don't have one of those modern digital cameras. Maybe someone will send in a color pic of this one.

From Dave Price #2

PosKMmen, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

In reply to Dick Flint

Scan10765, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. In San Antonio was your dad also visiting circus historian Sturtevant and collector Hertzberg? Hertzberg was a supporter of the zoo, I believe. Any idea when he first met those gentlemen? Dick Flint Baltimore "This four page letter to Col. Sturtevant dated Jan.1, 1941 indicates otherwise. I have selected several random paragraphs from page one that you might find interesting." Buckles Dear Sir: I am the fellow who wrote you last winter re circus parade wagons, etc. I preserved your answer as I consider it a valuable piece of data. We returned to our home here in Hot Springs following the close of Wallace Bros. Circus last October and will remain until time to open in the Spring. Have a small house and lot here free from encumbrances and one room exclusively for my circus collection which is a magnificent one, as they go, altho quite humble in comparison to those held by the late Harry Hertzberg and John P. Grace. Can only hope that fire or some other disaster doesn't wipe this out as I cannot take it on the road with me. Have Insurance of course but wouldn't replace the circusiana. The writer will be 37 years old in May but have been with the mud colored tent, the red wagons and the ponderous pachyderms for twenty-one seasons and lately I find that most of my associates and fans I meet can only remember as far back as 1928 or less. My good wife was born and raised with a wagon show but has never shown any interest in the historical phase of the circus and sometimes mildly scolds me for "raking up the dead" as she expresses it. My kid has three generations of circus folk behind him which he inherits from his mother. He is a great grandson of Hiram Orton, founder of the Orton Show and a great nephew of Miles Orton, the famous rider and circus owner.

Happy Birthday!

GEORGIAN TROUPE, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Today is George Hanneford's birthday. 85 years in show business and still driving the bull truck! John Whitfield

Ringling-Barnum TIGER MOON-MSG (1944)

Ringling-Barnum TIGER MOON-MSG (1944), originally uploaded by bucklesw1. From: Chris Berry During World War II Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey hosted the children of servicemen each spring for a special performance. At least one of those performances (April 18, 1943) was featured on the "Fitch Bandwagon" radio program on the NBC "Red" Network. The live broadcast was sponsored by Fitch shampoo ("Don't despair use your head, save your hair - use Fitch Shampoo") took place prior to the actual performance that evening and featured Fred Bradna, Bev Kelly, Merle Evans and others. The program was hosted by Tobe Reed and featured well-known NBC staff announcer Ben Grauer. Transcription discs of the 30-minute broadcast were then sent to military bases around the world to remind soldiers that the American circus was one of the things that they were fighting for.