Friday, October 26, 2007

Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. 1965 #1 (From Joe Giordano)


Clyde Beatty Cole Bros CBCB65 -034, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

I am sending some photos, from slides, of Red Hartman.
The photographer is unknown. The slides are dated September 1965. According to the 1965 CBCB route the photos were taken in Ohio, Indiana or Illinois.
As you know Red worked as a fill in for Clyde Beatty during the '63,'64, and '65 season's He filled in if Beatty had other obligations and of course as Beatty's health deteriorated his work was seen more frequently. Clyde opened the '65 season in the Commack Arena, he made a few dates after the opening before returning to California for good due to his bout with cancer. Not sure when Clyde performed for the last time that season, maybe you or one of your legion of fans and friends may know. Beatty died early July of 1965 so Red would have taken over the act for the balance of the season after his passing. I have heard Red Hartman liked a drink or two a bit more often than most. Also heard he was a hand full to deal with. I guess these reasons plus possibly money is why McCloskey and Collins sought out Dave Hoover to succeed Beatty.
At any rate I don't think too many photo's of Hartman working Beatty's cats under the CBCB big top exsist.
Enjoy tuning into your Blog everyday! Great work!!!!

Posted by Buckles at 10/26/2007 06:17:00 AM

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Some very well done cat act photos!

It seems that about a year ago, right here on this blog, there was some discussion as to whether or not Red Hartman worked the tigers from Beatty's group, as well as the lions.

Well here is the proof, right here in Kodak color.

Does anyone out there have any similar photos of Clyde working the full act in the early '60s? I recall that he was very accommodating to some circus fans in allowing them up to the cage for photos. At the time (early '60s) I was a teenager stumbling around the lot with my Dad's 127 camera taking mostly equiptment photos for my model circus.

It was Dave Hoover, who in 1964, first allowed me up to the cage for photos. Then I discoverd that his wife Lois would invite Dave's friends into their trailer for dinner. I became a Dave Hoover fan for life!

Also, Clyde Beatty historians such as Dave Price, Jim Clubb, Roger Smith and myself have long wondered if a complete, good quality movie film of Beatty's act, with the original music exists. The "Ring of Fear" movie clips may be the closest we can come to that, but Clyde's music was replaced with a high school march, typical Hollywood.

26 October, 2007 07:47
Harry Kingston said...

Joe,
Thank you so much in sharing these great photos of Red Hartman with us.
I got to meet Red when he was on Reid Bros circus helping Helen Carpenter with her cat act.
Red and i hit it off great and he treated me like his son and all those cat stories were great.
Red invited me to come see him in Jefferson, Texas.
So off we go and he was in a 12 foot trailer in a corn field. there were 2 refrigerators out side by the door.
Red smoke one sig after another and lit the other one off it and was on oxygen and drinking a beer and telling circus stories.
He got out a chicken box with his circus history in them.
There was a letter from Clyde Beatty to Red just a few days before Beatty died.
Stories from every show you could think of and when he was with Hubert Castle with 5 cat acts.
I heard the story when he was on Beatty cole and McClosky came to him and said here is your replacement Dave Hoover which was a surprise to him he said as he said i got the shaft.
Red gave me a film of him doing a bear act years back.
Then way down in the box he pulled out 2 of Clyde Beatty's guns and said Harry here i want you to have these for your collection. Well I could not see for all the tears as these had been Clyde Beatty's.
Red signed a letter for me telling all about the guns and there use.
So that is how i spend a Saturday afternoon in a corn field with the man that took Clyde Beatty's place in the arena.
I reaked of smoke but who cares when you get to visit with a former circus star like Red Hartman.
A wonderful person to a young circus fan and the memories.
Harry kingston

26 October, 2007 10:33
David said...

Just seeing Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. 1965 listed on the blog brought back such memories to me. It was the following year in November, 1966 as an eighth grader I helped raise the side show tent in Tampa and received a free pass. Reading about Clyde Beatty in the program and of his passing was my introduction to him. I immediately went to the library and checked out his biography.

26 October, 2007 11:05
Anonymous said...

I beleive the last town that Clyde Beatty performed in was, my hometown, Salisbury, Md. I can't remember the exact date but my brother and I and Baltimore Brownie promoted a parking lot right across the street from the show. And the word off the lot was that Beatty was flying home from Baltimore the next day. Dick Dykes

26 October, 2007 11:46
Anonymous said...

From Eric:

Re: Clyde Beatty's music: I just listened to my tape of the 1961 performance (copied from Boom Boom's original which was recorded in Orlanda, Florida in October)and here are the selections that were played for his act that year:

Special Fanfare
William Tell Storm Music (Rossini)
Burma Patrol (King)
Bolero (Ravel)
Caravan Club (King)
The Breeze and I (Lecuona)
Love for the Three Oranges March (Prokofieff)
The Breeze and I (Lecuona)
Chaser
Miserlou
The Big Cage Galop (King)

The next season, "A Salute to the Sultan" by King was added. Most of this music dates from 1940s and earlier, so it might well have been played for Beatty's act for years and years before tape recorders.

26 October, 2007 12:03
Anonymous said...

Dick. If Beatty's last performance was given in Salibury Md., according to my route files, the date would have been April 29th. April 30th the show played Glen Burnie Md. which is very close to the Baltimore airport. Makes a good deal of sense.
Joe

26 October, 2007 16:17
Anonymous said...

Obviously Red was only a quick fix temporary replacement for Beatty for varios reasons, plus the entire operation was "in hou8se", show owned 52 weeks of the year. A deal with Hoover was more sound biz. Beatty was the name and there was nobody out there that could fill his shoes. Anthony;s operation maybe, but he was accostumed to those indoor dates, Polack and Tom Packs money and would want a sizeable omount to do one nighters on Beatty. All they needed was a cat act of lions and tigers and Hoover was a good looking guy, able to converse with the media and was affordable. They were happy until the Whip, chair and gun became a no no.

Now I am sure there are hundreds of Red Hartman stories out there and will enjoy them and add some of my own. He was quite a guy in the mold of the great characters of this crazy business. Go9d love him' I hope.

26 October, 2007 17:15
Anonymous said...

Eric, The "Big Cage" galop was written for Clyde by Karl King.

26 October, 2007 18:52
Anonymous said...

What year was he attack by a cat?

David P

26 October, 2007 18:54
Anonymous said...

Red Hartman broke me in to the cage.
There are lots of Red Hartman Stories. He was quite well liked by other performers.
I was very pleased to bring him to RBBB when I played Dallas. I brought him from that 12' trailer in East Texas. We had a grand old last Hurrah.
He watched the lion act at Reunion Arena from front and center,in a wheel chair. With a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other, hooked to an oxygen tank !

26 October, 2007 21:12
Anonymous said...

From Eric:

(For Anonymous): You are correct, Karl King's 1934 galop "The Big Cage" was dedicated to C.B. The dedication on the conductor's part reads "Dedicated to Clyde Beatty, Famous Lion Trainer." It was published by King's own K.L. King Music House in Fort Dodge, Iowa. (We must assume that this galop was played for Beatty's act from 1934 onward.)

26 October, 2007 21:22
24-HOUR-MAN said...

I remember Red & Karli Peterson working Bears for John Cuneo in St Paul, he & John got into a beef & John fired Red. The only thing was Red couldn't leave because he was the only person who could go in & muzzle the bears.

26 October, 2007 23:17
Anonymous said...

24 hour man, where was Herta? She sure could have muzzled the bears

27 October, 2007 01:50
Anonymous said...

... and maybe John too.

27 October, 2007 01:50
Anonymous said...

24 Hour Man, I heard both Red's and John's version of this story, and of course, it was too very different version's. Because I could not ask Karli's version, I smartly believed the one with the most animal knowledge.

Anonomyous, this act was pre-Herta. Believe me, she would have had no problem muzzleing any bear. A supremely talented individual. Wade Burck

27 October, 2007 08:24
GaryHill said...

Larry, where in E. Texas did Red live?

27 October, 2007 12:02
Anonymous said...

Mr. Beatty wrote me in detail, in his own hand, about the job involved in replacing Red. He wanted a change, and wanted me to take over. I got torn up by a lion before joining out, and therefore lost two valuable months healing up. When I arrived in Philadelphia, he was already seeing doctors there, who missed his cancer. He schooled me in every way he could, moving me up to the tunnel door at the end of my first week. Cut to: Rochester, Minnesota, where he left the show for his cancer surgery in Chicago. There hadn't been time to thoroughly break me in on his act, so they took all the tigers and one lion away from the act, and gave the remainder to Red, which is how it stayed till the end of '64. In '65, Mr. Beatty surprised everyone by returning to work the full act until his condition rapidly worsened, and he last performed in Salisbury, Maryland. The Front End didn't like it, but Red once again was in the cage. As Johnny said, it was more a quick fix than a wanted deal. Everyone, including Hoover, told Red if he'd straighten up he might have a good go over there. This was not to be, and with Beatty gone, the show let Red take in the tigers--as many in the know said, hoping they'd do the job so a particular phone call would not have to be made. Many elements attend to this story, very many, but the show went after Hoover, who evolved a long and happy career there, and the rest is history.

To Jimmy Cole: It is very tantalizing, but yes, the full Beatty act exists on many reels of film. He had them with him while Edward Anthony was on the lot finishing up their last book, FACING THE BIG CATS. Mr. Beatty had me box them up to send to Mrs. Curran, his mother-in-law, then living in Hollywood. One major reel was labeled "The Big Act". Alas, I did not see these, but I am certain where these films are, and still hope to run them one day. I have to believe these were professionally shot, but I cannot tell you if they contain the music. You're right--for now RING OF FEAR may be all we have, and indeed the music was horrific.

For other questions, Mr. Beatty's first highly publicized attack was in Texarkana, with Hagenbeck-Wallace, in 1925. My Godmother witnessed that one. The next major attack came from Nero lion, in H-W Winterquarters, on January 13, 1932, giving rise to endless stories about his near-fatal "jungle fever". This led to his first book and film of the same name, THE BIG CAGE (1933).

28 October, 2007 15:32
Anonymous said...

What a colorful character. Red's best asset when it came to muzzling bears was; he healed fast.I assume the 24 hour man is referring to the Paramount bears? I knew Karley and Red,but only knew of a gent by the name of Paul Emerick. Walter Klauser and Buckey Steel made sure I knew that name well in regards to muzzling and getting around those fuzzy little critters. When I started. I do agree with Wade in regards to Herta and that's not just cause she'd would kick me if I did't.

28 October, 2007 23:48
Anonymous said...

Hubert Castle was a rabid Dallas Texan right wing conservative Republican and was anti government, predgidous in every way you can imagine, loved a fist fight and "would cop a sunday" and was quite vocal in expressing his ideas, even to using extreme language for impact.

So I was outside of the building the day before opening in Indianapolis with Castle as he was the producer and spotting my animal truck. Allof a sudden pulling into the lot was a brand new red tractor and white trailer and Castle said to me "there is seventy grand". I said what is it and he replied it was a brand new cat act of lion, tigers, arena, props, etc. and driving it was the trainer, Red Hartman. I said, How about Red, Is he off the lush?" And Castle being also a Teetolar [ he did a great drunk in his wire act] replied in his own frashion, " I told that SOB that if I ever caught him drinking that I would kick the shit out of him, cut his guts out and throw him over a cliff in winterquarters and he ain't had a drink since."

So Red got spotted, Castle went back in the building to get the show set up and Red said to me< "Hey Cap you got a cold one ?"

29 October, 2007 09:16
Anonymous said...

Castle sure figured out a private chauffeur for the illustrious Joseph Hartman was the best way; "Cleo Plunket" who also chauffeured the cat truck for Roger Smith a season.I must say when Aquarius was in line with Mars, Red was pretty fair at cat training. It surprised me during my times cage dooring for him in the barn.
Also Red and Lou Regan both were known to have broke and worked those type of male lions that were rumored to have been known to bite.

29 October, 2007 12:42
Anonymous said...

For the record: In '72, when we left Seagoville for Grand Rapids, Verner Schumuker and I alternated driving. For a brief time, he was my cagehand. When his brother, Hemming, died in Ft. Wayne, Verner went back in the family act, and I drove the rest of '72. I had left my family home that year, and lived in the cat wagon. In '73, much to Castle's disgruntlement, I bought a motor home, and with my wife and two small children, lived for the first time like a performer. The wife never learned the motor home, so various people drove the cat wagon, among them Roger Zoppe, and kid named David, who put a few dents in it and quit. After Crown Point, Bert Pettus and I laid over at Walt King's, where I was notified my mother was dying in Texas. Cleo drove until I returned in Kingman, Arizona, and he moved into the stateroom. Castle didn't like this and insisted I drive the cat wagon and let someone else drive my motor home, and of course I adamantly refused. Damn, he hated that I had at last a decent place to live. When we finished in Utica, Castle booked me with Eddie Zacchini, in Monroe, LA. Dick McGraw was with me,and we all agreed when we'd leave Utica, so Dick and I could attend the animals along the road. Cleo took off without us, and I didn't see the cats again for five days. When I got into Monroe, I was horrified to see Cleo sitting there lushed and some town kid trying to feed the cats. After Monroe, I carefully followed Cleo back to Seagoville. Just for the record.

29 October, 2007 21:08
Anonymous said...

Thanks, for the info on beatty's attack. I was looking for info on red being attack by a cat. I think it may have been in CA.

David P

29 October, 2007 21:48
Anonymous said...

Roger, now that's what I call setting the record straight. James C. Hall, you have the floor. Wade Burck

29 October, 2007 23:27
Anonymous said...

Your are right Smith I should have put ,part of the season, in regards to Cleo. I know I personally took care of the cats quite a few times when they arrived on the lot as Cleo would come and ask me to help him. I can sure remember when Cleo parked the cat truck in front of the cat house in Deadwood and the fuzz came to the lot for a driver to move the rig. Some fond memories from a long time ago and you're also right also about Zoppe driving the cat rig.I always liked that cat trailer for servicing the cats,also I recall that kid that over revved the truck coming down the hill in Mont and blowing the motor in the cat truck that same year. I was right behind him. That Hubert sure did not have a sense of humor; did he?

30 October, 2007 00:32
Anonymous said...

These comments from all of you are just great. Having trouped in my early years with those building, ballpark and rodeo ground shows, [Gil Gray and Howard Suesz] makes me feel that I am right there sharing so many incidents. Poor Cleo having to drive the cat truck. On Gil Gray he had to put up the side wall and band top but at least he could drive his "See Andy First" Cadillac from town to town. Jackie Wong got paid to be his helper, but Cleo got Zilt.

When I worked with him on some Castle indoor dates he would always, in spotlights make the color book pitch right before the show started and his opening lines would be,"Ladies and Gentlmen, Boys and girls during our travels throughout the United States and Canada each year we entertain thousands and thousands of little boys and girls" and so on. Now Cleo could not Adlib and I knew that, so In Indianapolis before each show I would walk up to Cleo right before he entered the spotlight and the pitch and say, "During our travels throughout the United Syates and Canada each year we molest thousands and thousands of little boys and girls". Now Cleo would have to pause at that time for the proper word and then get tongue tied. Finally when he would see me approaching he would say, "get out of here you SOB. But I lioved him and he was a good friend and quite a character.

30 October, 2007 10:29
Anonymous said...

When it comes to a show family this thought comes to mind.
"the real McCoys"
A.K.A.the Plunkets a little known fact,they could bang out a tune and hoot a few notes in their long and many talents in show business,
Johnny is absolutely right about being able to trip up Cleo, when he put on that red tales and top hat. He sure fit the bill as a ring master on and off the stage, a definite part of the circus family. He sure was considered part of our tribe.
Boy I guess it's time for me to try to set the record straight. Now the fact's. The cat truck at the cat house and the fuzz at the lot in Dead Wood is a fact however the truth be known it was not Cleo involved. His name was used to protect the "Guilty"???????????????
P.S. A moment to tip my hat to Mr.J.H. and Mr.W.B.

30 October, 2007 12:18
Buckles said...

The stories of the parties on the Gil Gray Show are the stuff that circus history is made of.
At one such occasion, I heard that Cleo had drunk himself into a state of imbecility and was asleep sitting upright on a couch with one leg folded across his lap.
Others at the party of low moral fiber proceeded to remove the shoelace and one end was tied around his ankle, next his pants were unzipped and the other end tied around the base his genitals.
A huge noise was made and Cleo jumped up with such force that he actually broke the shoelace.
Gee Gee later told me that Cleo always held her responsible and never forgave her despite her protestations of innocence, explaining that all she did was place her finger on the bow when the knot was tied.

30 October, 2007 13:31
Anonymous said...

Jimmy--That kid who blew the motor on the Grapevine was the David I mentioned. I sat with him and showed him how to put it in Grandma and not to take it out until the bottom of the grade. But he tried to shift over and blew it to hell. Corky Plunkett helped Mary Castle get a new motor. Rick Curtis quit me the day I got nailed in Tucson--when your mother came over and dusted the injury with the powerful powder they used for soldiers in WW II. David joined that night and helped load out. He stayed even after blowing the motor, until we got into Indianapolis, when he sideswiped a building on the Fairgrounds, damaging the length of the trailer, and screwed the lot before Hubert could find him.

I was never mad at Cleo. He could be the funniest man in the backyard, particularly when he'd get loaded and overriding Hubert's privilege, he'd call a meeting of all the performers and bawl everyone out. Once he got drunk at a party at Pablo Martinez's trailer, and we propped him up, put a cigarette in his mouth, someone put a funny hat on him and we all gathered around for a photo. Funny, but not nearly as good as the shoelace story.

30 October, 2007 17:06
Anonymous said...

Buckles, for a moment there I thought you were refering to me as "low moral fiber", as others have done in the past. It must have happened to Cleo twice in his life, as a few of us did it to him, the year Donnie Johnson and Larry Carden bought Clyde Bros. Circus, and they made Cleo the cook in the newly refurbished bunk house/cook house on the property. After a few hours of pretty active house warming festivities, Cleo passed out in an old easy chair. After getting him "rigged up", the alarm was sounded. "Cleo, get up the men are here for breakfast,your are late, Cleo, Cleo, get up". He jumped up, and did 3 summersalt'a, which rivaled any Syrian bear that James C. Hall has ever trained.

30 October, 2007 17:23
Anonymous said...

Just a bit of facts this day is Halloween 10/31 the day Cleo Plunket was born and as "Paul Harvey" says
and now you know the rest of the story.

31 October, 2007 14:49
Anonymous said...

Oct. 31 is also Jim Zajicek's birthday.-BJ

31 October, 2007 17:59
Anonymous said...

James C. Hall, why would you only hang paper, and do publicity for Cleo Plunkett, and not mention the apple of your eye??? I quess Paul Harvey only want's you to know half the story. Wade Burck

31 October, 2007 18:03
Anonymous said...

It is also Jim Zajicek's (Mr. Freak Show) birthday. I wanted to see if anybody else gave a damn before I mentioned it, so I guess I will mention it again. Happy birthday, Tall Grass. Wade Burck

31 October, 2007 18:21
Anonymous said...

Thanks a lot Wade. I have been trying to hide the fact that my grandfather Hall was actually born on the "First of May" and my evil tempered daughter is also born on Halloween; a thing she is not proud of having in common with Jim Zajicek,Curator of the Unusual.
Now that the proverbial Halloween cat is out of the bag,"Happy Birthday Elaine".

31 October, 2007 19:43
Anonymous said...

Oh dam
P.S.Happy Birthday to the incomparable or incompetent Gimp ballying fool Jimmy Zajicek,curator of the unusual.

31 October, 2007 20:01
Unknown said...

Segoville for a while.

25 February, 2022 17:14
Unknown said...

I was learning from him when they sent him homefir the last time from CardenJohnson.

25 February, 2022 17:19

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)