1954 RBBB Elephants #1

1954 RBBB Elephants #2

So the next year, Concello managed to get Hugo Schmitt back from the Mills Show to  straighten things out but with the understanding they would be brought to him at the back door then returned afterward to the menagerie where Arky ran the department. Meanwhile in Florida John Ringling North had purchased 20 more baby elephants (at 2 G's a pop) to bring back the herd to it's glory days and also the return of Louis Reed and Smokey. At season's close Arky left the show bound for Thousand Oaks Jungleland.

1954 RBBB Elephants #3

I have shown this picture on the blog several times but might explain that during these years we played a lot of fairs for Barnes & Carruthers and good friend Otto Scheiman who lived in South Bend, found an ideal place for us to lay off between dates. An enclosed area at an Automobile Dealership where the passerbys would see the elephants and pull in to check them out. As luck would have it, there was a South Shore Line Railroad Station within walking distance and after an hours ride the first Station in Chicago was Soldier Field. In this instance I stayed home to take care of the shop while my folks visited the show.

1955 RBBB Elephants #1

Now in 1955, ready to embark with a 50 elephant herd dominated mostly by babies, somebody came up with a "baby elephant" theme.

1955 RBBB Elephants #2

A runaway during a 1954-55 Sarasota rehearsal in which Smokey (seen in the center) is about to be run over and suffer a broken leg.

1955 RBBB Elephants #3

Back in business and in charge of the herd. I asked Smokey how he happened to get that job and he said that the summer before, while they were training all those little elephants in Sarasota, they asked if he could come up with an act since the Quarters was open to the public. Only ones available were three old retired cows "Jenny", "Eva" and "Jewel" so he threw an act together and worked it himself. One day Reed comes up and says, "Henry Ringling North caught your act today and said it's better than what they got on the show and wants you to take over. Simple as that.

1955 RBBB Elephants #4

I took these last two polaroid pictures of  the punks being watered between shows while visiting Smokey at Soldier Field. Menagerie in the background

1955 RBBB Elephants #5

Shortly after they were returned to the menagerie a guy comes in, unchains a number of them and heads for the big top to practice. I asked smokey who he was and he answered, "I don't know, Bob Dover brought him around saying they hired to train some to play musical instruments." I later learned it was Baptiste Schreiber. Smokey didn't make the season, blew in California. Hugo fared better, after closing he went up to the Catskill Game Farm, bought a young elephant he named "Targa" and went on to bigger and better things with Leonard Bros. Circus.

.....on the subject of RBBB

Morning Buckles, Just found this picture, are these Ringlings? Thanks Jim Stokley From Richard Reynolds: I'm sure this is the back door ramp into Boston Garden. I've seen other photos of the ramp. This would be RBBB, likely in the 1940s based on the few vehicles we can see. Buckles can say with greater certainly than I. I've never been into Boston Garden. However, it is my impression that the elephants and menagerie were set up in a separate building from the arena itself and connected thereto by a passage. The late Bob MacDougall (former RBBB General Manager and circus historian) wrote a very good article about the setup in Boston Garden. It was published in Bandwagon. .

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From Bob Good My Dad took this photo. Story was that Mistin kicked Casey Stengel in the shins after meeting him. I remember him trying to throw me out of one of those old beach chairs in the backyard. Charlie Morosky's son rescued me. I am pretty sure Mistin later was Ralph Heid who played all over Europe and wrote the theme for Circus Renz. It is a great piece and has been played by orchestas. It is worth a listen on You Tube. I have been trying for years to get to the bottom of this Mistin mystery. Mistin may not have gone over in the States but Heid was on many shows in Europe. He died a few years ago. goodcir@ptd.net is my email if you wish to correspond about this.

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These ladies were so nice to us when my wife and I first joined Showfolks Club 40 years ago.

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Jackie LeClaire, do you remember this gentleman! Arnie Honkola, only elephant guy I know of that also clowned....tho I remember a few that should have. Freddy Logan told me that if they were short handed he would work a team on the lot in the morning. Elephant is "Big Ruth" (Barnes show) despite the fact she was smaller than "Little Ruth" seen earlier in the John Robinson photos.

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