Sabu #15

Sabu-15, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Ann Miller and Hugo Schmidt rehearsing for the St. John’s Hospital Fund benefit show. Sabu was one of the Hollywood celebrities who appeared in the special benefit performance that Ringling-Barnum did for the St. John’s Hospital Fund when the Circus was appearing in Los Angeles in 1948. According to Claire Hallard Fawcett’s book WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CIRCUS, during the rehearsal for this special show, the movie people all tended to stay on one side of the big top while the circus performers stayed on the other side. The exception was Sabu, who sat with the circus personnel. His name also comes up in the DeMille film: when an impatient, off-screen Klaus yells out Angel’s name, one of the show girls jokingly remarks, “You better hurry, that’s not Sabu calling.” (Few people watching this film today probably get the connection.) "Oddly enough, I think this elephant's name was "Sabu" also. The five elephants Hugo had brought over from Sweden the previous year were "Kernaudi", "Minyak", "Mudu", "Sabu" and "Icky". Buckles

Sabu #16

Sabu-16, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Following the war, Sabu worked primarily in European films. One source says that he also presented an elephant act with the Harringay Circus. His last screen appearance was in A TIGER WALKS (1964), a routine Disney picture about an escaped circus tiger. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1963 at the age of 39 and is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood. His son Paul Sabu later formed a rock band called Sabu. His daughter Jasmine Sabu was a noted horse trainer who also trained horses for the movies. Sabu's best film THE THIEF OF BAGDAD is available through NETFLIX. It provides more satisfying entertainment than most modern-day films.

Sarasota 1947 #1 (From Buckles)

Scan000010997, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. When Hugo Schmitt arrived in the U.S. with the 5 Hagenbeck elephants. John North told him that the center ring demanded at least 7 elephants. So Shipley gave him "Minnie" and "Dolly" who stood idle and Hugo added the last of the 1930's "Pygmy" African elephants "Sudan" and they left the show for Sarasota as seen above. Fred Logan said that when the show came in Shipley was dismissed and Hugo took over. On Christmas Day he said he was standing by the water tank when he heard a loud "thud", "Sudan" had dropped dead while standing on the picket line.

Sarasota 1947 #2

Scan000010998, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. "Kernaudi" and "Minyak" doing the handshake with Charlotte who later became Mrs. Harry Thomas as mentioned recently by Jackie LeClair. With the loss of "Sudan", Hugo quickly replaced her with the smaller African "Emily". Logan once told me that in the 1948 elephant display, all three trainers rode white horses into the rings ahead of their respective herds and after they came in line, grooms would lead the horses out. Later in the act during the "over he garden wall" sequence, "Emily" was brought in and she quickly went over a tub, sat up and then taken back to the menagerie.. As mentioned before, my mother and I saw the Ringling Show in 1948 and I don't recall any horses or African elephant so all that must have fallen by the wayside.

Circus Franz Althoff (From Henry Schroer)

Circus Franz Althoff, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hi Buckles, Here are some pictures of Franz Althoff Circus Tent and the movie Circus World he did in 1963/4. The Tent was 200'feet by140'feet and had a seating capacity of 6000. Henry

"Circus World" #1 (From Henry Schroer)

Circus World Cover, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

"Circus World" #2

Onkel Franz John Wayne, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. John Wayne and Uncle Franz. John Wayne played the Circus Owner Matt Masters who toured with his show in Europe and after the movie was done my uncle named his show sometimes Matt Masters Film Circus, if he did winter dates in Belgium or other countries.

"Circus World" #3

Harry Marianne Claudia, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Harry & Marianne (at left) are Franzes children who doubled for Claudia Cardinale and John Smith. He was well known in the 60s for a TV series, I think it was called blue moutain.

"Circus World" #4

Pio Nock Circus World, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. The lions beneath Pio where from Henri Dantes, very well known cat trainer in Europe.

"Circus World" #5

Franz Circus World, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. I can not think of the name of the actor who played the ringmaster. Henry

More Equestrians! (From Paul Gutheil)

carlos jespersusanna met op, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Carlos and Susanna at Lincoln Center with Big Apple Circus.

The Riding Hannefords #1 (Paul Gutheil)

hanneford horse dismount, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The Riding Hannefords #2

hanneford troupe 1954, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The Riding Hannefords #3

tommy standing on horseback in baraboo, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Buckles: Attached, after reducing to reasonable internet size is photo of Tommy at CWM in 1994 far as I know the last time he rode a horse. Best, Paul

From Buckles

SAVE0928, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Henry, is this it? Hello Buckles, this picture SAVE0928 with the many horses in the ring, it looks like Franz Althoff and his son Harry in the sixties in Germany with their 60 horses at the same time in the ring from the German Circus "Franz Althoff, Grösster Rennbahncircus in Europa". Where did you get the picture from? Best, Claus ***************************************** Claus Strauch Saalfelder Str. 13 90765 Fuerth Germany

Sabu #1 (From Eric Beheim)

Sabu-1, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Sabu (full name Sabu Dastagir or Selar Shaik Sabu, depending upon your source) was born in the little town of Mysore, India in 1924. The son of an Indian mahout, he was discovered by documentary filmmaker Robert Flaherty who was in India looking for someone to play the lead in an upcoming British film based on Kipling’s TOOMAI OF THE ELEPHANTS. (One source says that Sabu was cleaning out the stables of a wealthy Indian maharajah when he was first spotted by Flaherty.) Impressed by Sabu’s earnest looks, engaging naturalness and the ease with which he worked around elephants, Flaherty arranged for the 12-year old to be taken to England, where he was placed under an exclusive contract with British movie mogul Alexander Korda. Released in 1937 ELEPHANT BOY was a major hit and established Sabu as an up-and-coming young star.

Sabu #2

Sabu-2, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Sabu’s next big part was in Korda’s DRUMS (1938). (Released in England as THE DRUM.) The film’s plot has Raymond Massey as the treacherous Prince Ghul trying to overthrow British rule in India by staging a massacre of British soldiers during a sumptuous feast. Playing a young prince befriended by one of the British officers, Sabu manages to get to a signal drum and beat out a special predetermined coded message to warn his friends of the planned massacre. DRUMS was another a major hit and further solidified Sabu’s position as a young action/adventure film star.

Sabu #3

Sabu-3, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Sabu was RKO’s first choice to play the title role in GUNGA DIN (1939). Unfortunately, he was unavailable, and the part went to Sam Jaffe. When asked years later how he was able to play an Indian Hindu so convincingly, Jaffe replied that he kept telling himself to "Think Sabu."

Sabu #4

Sabu-4, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Sabu’s third film for Korda was the Technicolor Arabian nights fantasy THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (1940). One of the all-time great fantasy/adventure films, it boasted a superb cast, an exceptionally good script, a great music score, and incredible (for the time) special effects.

Sabu #5

Sabu-5, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Sabu plays Abu the Thief who uses his street skills to aid Prince Ahmad (John Justin), the rightful ruler of Bagdad who has been disposed through the treachery of his grand vizier, the evil magician Jaffar.