Monday, September 11, 2006

James Bros. Circus 1969


Tom Upton took this picture, also in 1969, showing the Kellner elephants "Ellie", "Lovie" and "Sue", at work putting up the former Mills Bros. Cirus tent in California.
When Kenny Feld bought these two punks in 1977, I changed their names to "Louie" and "Sid" and as far as I know they are still under Feld Inc. ownership. In fact, "Sid" has had a number of calves up at the Stud Farm.

Posted by Buckles at 9/11/2006 06:16:00 AM

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those little harnesses are adoreable. It would make a nice act letting them put up a little big top. Some place like Baraboo[?] or what used to be Bensons.

11 September, 2006 14:06
Anonymous said...

My chief memory of working with you in '69, on Sid Kellner, was heading into Seattle to open on January 11, hitting black ice and spinning out into a ditch. There were only four lions in the act, and we got it all in a 20-foot van, but as a truck wreck, it was plenty for me. The lions were uninjured, and Linda, then pregnant with Ben, and I, escaped with bruises. You were at the back door when the tow truck hauled us in. I got unloaded and set up just as the show was starting. The Ringmaster was ending my announcement just as I came running out of the dressing room to the cage. Our publicist was Eddie Howe, and he got national headlines screaming "Circus Lions Skid Into Seattle!"

11 September, 2006 15:12
Anonymous said...

"Sid" and "Louie" are both at the stud farm. "Louie" is there as a companion cow and "Sid" was supposed to go out on the gold show with "Gunther" but things didn't work out so "Doc" was sent out. I worked at the farm back when the act was being framed and got the chance to work with some of your old guys, Gary Jacobson, Jim "Chico" Williams, Sammy Haddock, Tom Hafner and "Mad Dog". All good guys.

11 September, 2006 23:35
Buckles said...

Karen, wait until you see the DVD we just received from Eric Beheim of the 1978 Blue Show in San Diego.
Shows the elephants unloading and the walk to the building with all the people you mention, back yard shots of Spec entering the back door, etc.
It will take a little while for Shannon to add music and for me to brush up on my diction.
As Kathleen Freeman instructed in "Singin' in the Rain", "Round Tones!" "Round Tones!"

12 September, 2006 14:42
Anonymous said...

Kathleen Freeman was a friend of the Parley Baer family, and a drama coach to Kim's son, Anthony.

When she died of lung cancer, on August 23, 2001, she was appearing in THE FULL MONTY, on Broadway. The entire theatre district dimmed its lights in honor of her passing. Ms. Freeman was 82.

12 September, 2006 16:40
Anonymous said...

I haven't talked to them in a while now but thier names come up when I talk with other elephant people. Gary is in Sri Lanka possibly getting more elephants. Chico is still at the farm in Polk City, I too loved being around him, the guy is hilarious. Mad Dog was engaged to a lady in Houston and planning on moving there. Last I heard Sammy and Tom were also still at the farm. Those two were great for stories about the Blue Show.

12 September, 2006 20:43
Anonymous said...

great idea Karen, thought of this my self and would be willing to possible host event here.

13 September, 2006 20:52
GaryHill said...

That would a great thing if the dates lined up for everyone!

14 September, 2006 08:13
Anonymous said...

Hi Buckles, Barbara, and Ben, from George Kellner of James Bros. Circus, George Matthews Great London Circus and the State Bar of California!
I remember those elephants like it was yesterday, but I was just a kid in 69 and then they looked big...now I realize how small they were. And those two babies really worked. Great to see this!
gkeln@yahoo.com

25 March, 2009 23:04
Unknown said...

Hello. I hope you don't mind my post. I traveled with the 1968 edition of the James Bros. Circus, throughout a lot of the U.S. that year. I played keyboard in the band, and got to know a lot of the performers (including the animals). What an experience! Glen Miller's brother, Herbie, was even with us for most of the trip. Dwight Moore's Mongrel Review, and some great circus acts.

18 June, 2009 11:04
Ryan Easley said...

Buckles, can you tell us who imported these two ?

27 July, 2015 09:56

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)