Dailey Bros. Circus 1950 #1 (From Joey Ratliff)

DB1950-1, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Here are some photos of Dailey Bros. in Ames, Iowa in 1950. In the fourth picture, is the little bull Tommy? Joey "When I showed this picture to Barbara she immediately recognized the second elephant "Myrtle" from the first elephant act she ever performed in, she appeared in Ring 5 with "Myrtle", "Jenny" and "Jap", trained and presented by the celebrated Robert Jones. Buckles

Dailey Bros. Circus 1950 #2

DB1950-2, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Dailey Bros. Circus 1950 #3

DB1950-3, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. These pictures are about as clear as they come. Probably taken by a newspaper photographer. Buckles

Dailey Bros. Circus 1950 #4

DB1950-4, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. This is "Charlie" the larger of the two young males. "Tommy's" ivory grew straight outward at a much wider angle before they started to curve in. So much so that Barbara says she used to worry that one day he wouldn't be able to enter the car door.

Dailey Bros. Circus 1950 #5

DB1950-5, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Arthur Bros. Circus 1945 #1 (From Buckles)

Scan000010906, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Arthur Bros. Circus 1945 #2

Scan000010907, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. My Dad wrote on the back "One of the Anfenger whale cars." "I remember seeing a whale show in Hot Springs when I was very young. It was spotted right down town and I recall it as an oversized pit show. You walked around the outer perimeter of the car to view the "carcass". Buckles

Arthur Bros. Circus 1945 #3

Scan000010908, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Herta (Klauser) Cuneo

Scan000010909, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. To: Twenty-four hour man Regarding: Hawthorn Traditions There seems to be a discrepancy over the definition of Hawthorn Tradition. The Hawthorn Tradition has always been to provide exceptional animal acts presented by superbly talented and dedicated animal trainers who have ALWAYS been appreciated as well as paid promptly. Trudy Strong did a wonderful job presenting and partially training a Hawthorn Tigers Act in the U.S. and Overseas. In Germany, on Circus Krone, I always understood that Trudy enjoyed her stay very much and as far as I know never once complained about having to "cope" with Hawthorn Tradition. Wade Burck is free to purchase his own animals or train for whomever he wants if 24 hr man feels he has had too much to "cope" with Hawthorn Tradition. After all President Lincoln freed the slaves many years ago! And NOW it seems the Hawthorn Tradition is being brought into question. To be more specific, John Cuneos methods of producing his own acts. No trainer was kept against his/her own will. And all shows employing The Hawthorn Acts had other acts to choose from, but chose the Hawthorn Acts. I guess the Hawthorn Tradition is not all bad. I am grateful that my husband does not believe in the computer age and therefore has been spared the hurtful comments by some of the postings here. Mrs John F Cuneo

Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #1

Scan000010898, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. "Located in the heart of "Movieland" on beautiful Washington Boulevard, exactly midway between Los Angeles and the ocean and on the shortest route between these two points. This boulevard is a hundred feet wide and according to a recent survey is traveled each day in both directions by nearly a quarter of a million people. Here is located the palatial and comfortable winter home of the Al G. Barnes Circus, with it's fire-proof buildings, bungalows and oil wells. Capt. Albert Stonehouse, Resident Director of Winter Quarters and Ranches. Mrs. Teresa Stonehouse, Auditor and Accountant.".

Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #2

Scan000010893, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #3

Scan000010894, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #4

Scan000010896, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. I'm sure you Beatty Show fans remember Bill Moore, quite a character. A bunch of us were in a restaurant in Hugo one day when he came charging in the door and creating quite a stir. Someone said "Hi Bill, how's things on the Beatty Show?" and he answered, "I told that fuckin' Concello, if you think I'm fired you are sadly mistaken! So I kept his fuckin' $100,000 and had him escorted off the lot!"......all the while he was picking french fries off my plate. Somehow he was involved in Texas politics and held in high regard by Sam Rayburn. One time he even showed me two invitations he had for Lyndon Johnson's Inaugural Ball. My first thought was, I hope they don't seat him by Lady Bird. I've told the story before that during some open time in Texas, Barbara and I camped with the elephants with her father's little show (Rube Ray) and one day a couple of local rowdies came on the lot looking for trouble. A scuffle ensued and they later came back with the police and I was arrested. Fortunately we were close to Bill Moore's home town, Bonham, and Rube called Mr. Moore's widow who simply made a phone call and I was immediately released. Parley Bear lived on Bilmoor St. in Tarzana and he told me that the main reason he bought the house was due to the name of the street.

Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #5

Scan000010899, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #6

Scan000010897, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. "Arthur A. Wright's band and entertainers with Al G. Barnes Circus Annex, 1923".

Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #7

Scan000010895, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #8

Scan000010901, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #9

Scan000010905, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #10

Scan000010900, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #11

Scan000010903, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #12

Scan000010904, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #13

Scan000010902, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Richard Reynolds

Knoxville1903Barnum&Bailey6, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Buckles - -Please credit the Howard Tibbals collection for this photo. For many years Howard has looked for circus photos taken in Knoxville, TN He finally came upon a set of Barnum & Bailey in Knoxville, identified as 1903, of which this was one. But that year cannot be correct. Here we see the female African female Topsy. She was on Forepaugh-Sells in 1903. She and mate Mike were sent to Barnum & Bailey when F-S was taken off the road at the end of 1907. In 1908 B&B did not play Knoxville but did in 1909. So that has to be the year. Besides Fred Dahlinger found some proof from the wagons in the parade in 1909. This is the last photo proof I have uncovered of Topsy. She must have died within a year or two of 1909. But, who is the male Asian tusker marching with Topsy? If anyone has other photos taken in Knoxville, Howard would like to know.

From Buckles

Scan000010886, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. I feel sure that the young male seen with "Topsy" in Mr. Tibbals picture is "Pilate" seen here with the Barnum Show in 1917. The tusker in the background is "Mighty". A good example of how much an Asian male can grow in 8 years.

Elephants in Europe #1 (From Filipe von Gilsa)

Image1, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. 1. Photo Wolfgang Nehring and African Duala in the streets of the Krefeld Zoo.

Elephants in Europe #2

Image2, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. 2. Photo Wolfgang with Mumtas and Rhena at the Krefeld Zoo in the 80's.

Elephants in Europe #3

Image3, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. 3. Photo Wolfgang with Rhena at the Krefeld Zoo in the 80ties

Elephants in Europe #4

Image4, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. 4. Photo Colonel Joe

Elephants in Europe #5

Image5, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. 5. Photo Robert Köllner at Circus Corelli in Germany 90ties

Elephants in Europe #6

Image6, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. 6. Photo Elephant rides at Tierpark Ströhen in Germany

Elephants in Europe #7

Image7, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. 7. Photo Elephant rides at Tierpark Ströhen, this park is famous for the arab horses breeding. They have 3 african females and also do shows with them

Elephants in Europe #8

Image8, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. 8. Photo Carsten Kock gets Hussein ready for the rides at Hagenbecks Tierpark 1992 (tierpark Hagenbecks is not doing elephant rides anymore).

Helen, Ann Jean and Berneta Ruth (Toots) Orton 1939

Scan000010892, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUCKLES ONE THAT IS ALL YOUR OWN. HOPE IT HAS BEEN A GREAT DAY FOR YOU, AND THE COMING YEARS BE OF GOOD HEALTH. I HAVE NOT FORGOT YOU. OR HAS THE OTHER 8 COUSINS THAT ARE LEFT NOW. I HAVE FUN WITH THIS FAMILY HISTORY. HIRAM ORTON MAY HAVE DIED IN MICHIGAN, BUT HIS NOW RESTING BACK IN DUST WITH ADEL. AND HAS BEEN ALL THE TIME. JUST TAKES TIME TO GET TO THE TRUTH OF THINGS. EVERYTHING IS HEAR SAY, ABOUT OUR GREAT GRANDPA HIRAM ORTON.NO ONE IS ALIVE WHO REALLY WALKED BESIDE HIM IN THEM DAYS. IT WAS A WILD LIFE BACK IN THEM DAYS, OUR OLDER COUSINS HARD LIFE FOR THEM. NONE OF US ASK FOR THAT CIRCUS MESS. I HAVE ALBERT ORTON LIFE HISTORY. I WAS GLAD AUNT BABE WAS HERE TO READ HIS BOOK THAT ALBERT AND HIS MOTHER AUNT ADA PUT TOGETHER. I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE MY DAD. HE DID NOT WORK US KIDS LIKE DOGS. ANYWAY GOD BLESS YOU AND FAMILY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY; TILL NEXT TIME TOOTS

From Dominique Jando

Houcke Gilbert, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. I have seen Charly Baumann, and I have seen Gilbert Houcke many times, too. Charly Baumann was indeed a great cat trainer, but as an artist, he was not in Houcke's league. This is what made the difference. Houcke had an amazing charisma, the sort Gunther had, but with more elegance. He was very quiet, always smiling, very sure in each of his moves. Nothing brisk, ever. His act was choreographed like a ballet. In its final version, Houvke didn't have other props than large stools in the cage -- like low profile elephant stools -- on which the tigers could move and lie. In some way, the act looked like a first-rate liberty act, but with tigers. It was gorgeous, and nonetheless spectacular. It just showcased the sheer beauty of the animals. But there was something else with Gilbert Houcke, too: I always noticed that when he entered the cage, before his tigers, the audience was mesmerized; you couldn't ignore his presence, his extraordinary charm. I remember him, too, when he was in his Tarzan costume. I was perhaps 10 years old when I saw him for the first time; my mother whispered, when Houcke entered the cage, "What a built, this man!" (in French...) I guess that for every woman in the house it was, "Tigers? Which tigers?"... I am a big cat fan, and I have seen all the great cat acts I could get a glimpse of, here, in Europe, in Russia, and even in Asia. Baumann was Houcke's replacement with the group of tigers he originally brought here. He surfed on Houcke's wave for a time, but never reached his predecessor's fame or impact on the audiences. Keep in mind that in Europe, audiences actually watched the acts (in a one-ring circus, it's difficult to do otherwise) and were pretty savvy. In Paris, where you had until 1963, two permanent circuses that changed their program every month, the audience saw a great quantity of acts, and was able to judge the difference between one and the other. Houcke was a star, who actually could draw an audience. There was a reason to this. Other cat trainers may have done the same tricks as Houcke. Few did it with such remarkable artistry. Dominique Jando (Photo from Mike Naughton)

Buckles' birthday card (From Eric Beheim)

buckles' birthday card, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hi Buckles, Happy birthday. (I know I speak for many others when I say that being able to visit your Blog is like having a birthday every day!) Best wishes on YOUR big day! Eric

Ah yes! It's that time again.

null_B & T, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. When Jim Peterson took this picture of me, "Toto" and Karen Parkinson 20 years ago, I figured that it was all down hill from this point and I was right. Today, having mastered the "old man's waddle", I can still get things done but the once proud posture seen above now resembles Uriah Heep. Thanks for the Birthday Greetings, the highlight of today's activities will occur this afternoon at the "Chunky Cheese" in Brandon where I am taking the grandkids.

From Frederick Neill

Scan000010651, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hi, Trust I've got your email address right. Many thanks for your great circus history blog - however, as I only do internet searches twice a week I have trouble keeping up with your additions to it! I use my local library and several of your archive months are now too large to load on their system! (the 300+ ones) - still, keep adding 'em and I'll keep looking. I've been researching the Barnum & Bailey visits to UK in 1889-90 and to Europe between 1897-1902 and, as often seems to be the case, several useful items seem to have "vanished" into archives/museums/ etc. without showing obviously in their catalogues. I've tried all the obvious UK & US sources but was wondering if any of your blog users know of possible sources of:- 'Olympia Gleanings; A Review of the Winter Season of 1889-90 in London, England with P.T.Barnum' 1890; 'Barnum & Bailey; Eight Views and Order of Procession' c1898; and, much less likely, 'Barnum & Bailey En Route, Leur Systeme Special de Transport' 1902. The 1889-90 season was not so well publicised here as the later one so the 1st would be extremely useful to view, the 2nd was certainly on sale in UK EVERYWHERE but.... Any thoughts from anyone? (I have tried all UK University libraries/British Library/V&A Theatre Museum/Earls Court Archive/local library main catalogues/Library of Congress/Sarasota/etc....). Many thanks in advance. Fred Neill

Next Part Will Follow e-mail, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Circus Vargas 1984 #8 (From Eric Beheim)

Vargas84-10, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Circus Vargas 1984 #9

Vargas84-11, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Circus Vargas 1984 #10

Vargas84-12, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Circus Vargas 1984 #11

Vargas84-7, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Circus Vargas 1984 #12

Vargas84-8, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Bill Bouthellier

Circus Vargas 1984 #13

Vargas84-9, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Circus Vargas 1984 Program (From Buckles)

Scan000010887, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Circus Vargas 1984 Program #2

Scan000010888, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. At right is my daughter in law Darlene and in front center is Vanessa Thomas who also performed with "Anna May" later on the Big Apple Circus. Maybe Dale can name the others.

1984 Program (Back Cover)

Scan000010889, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

This Concludes e-mail, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Cirus City Museum & Park

February 1, 2008 Dear CFA Members: Re: Circus City Museum &-Park We are in process of acquiring property, two lots, and one with a house on it which was built in 1906. Our goal is to develop this property into a historical and educational facility including many facets of the circus and circus life. We have hired an architect who has drawn plans for the house and park area which includes circus animals, an outside area covered with a circus tent-type roof, small playground for children with circus features, a pond-pool area in which we hope to feature an elephant fountain, etc. The facility will be handicap-accessible. The total purchase price of the 2 lots & house is $ l00, 000. We have had large donations from both Kelly-Miller and Carson & Barnes owners, along with smaller donations. With these funds we are in the process of borrowing the remainder of the monies. We as a board are asking for donations whether they be monetary or memorabilia. We also would appreciate any in-put that you may have that could help us in any way. Send your donations to: Circus City Museum & Park P.O. Box 794 Hugo, OK. 74743

Khris Allen 1996

Khris Allen 1996, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. This is quite possibly the most spectacular trick ever to be performed in a wild animal act. Trainied by Josip Marcan and presented by Khris Allen. A full leap over the (standing) trainers head from the ground back to the ground...no props. This was taken on Beatty-Cole in 1996, and remained in the act for several seasons. Tiger's name was Tara. If anyone has anything to top this, please send the photo on in to the blog site. Although I have to admit, that hind leg leaping tiger in Wade's act is certainly a great trick also. But Josip has bought me multiple dinners, and Wade has only come through with one rum coke. So you know where my vote goes!...Jimmy Cole

Circus Vargas 1984 (From Eric Beheim)

NIC-2, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.