| During a period of over 40 years we made all the TV shows you mentioned and then some, starting in the early 1950's when my mother and father still worked the act. They appeared on both "Super Circus" and "Sealtest" the latter being the easiest to play since it was done in an Armory outside Philly as opposed to working out of the truck in downtown Chicago for "Super Circus". |
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Woodcock Family on TV!
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9 comments:
You used to have a link that showed a video clip of a three elephant act on the Ed Sullivan show with you and Barbara in the act. When was that done and how much did the show pay for appearances?
Clyde Beatty did a couple of spots on that show during the years the show was on before Clyde's passing.
Ed Sullivan was a very big name in those days and to get booked on that show was definately the big time.
How come we can't access that video anymore?
While with the Polack Show we were permanent employees with a year round salary and any outside work only merited the Laurel and Hardy handshake.
I don't think Mr. Stern fared much better, he was a wealthy man and just the prestige of having his elephants on the Sullivan Show was good enough for him.
The man who scored big time was the Agent who not only swung with the "scratch" but when I went to pay my Income Tax found that it had been accredited to me.
This led to a major beef and a story for another day.
I don't know what became of that tape you refer too. As I recall it was "Anna May", "Opal" and "Stella". I'll have to ask Shannon about it.
Didn't the ethically-confused ROSE ADAIR and LEO GRUND with his INTERNATIONAL ATTRACTIONS participate in the brokerage of the variety/novelty/circus agents for the Ed Sullivan Show?
TRIVIA...who was the lady that left the Hamid organization and opened her own deal...Dorothy?...and is that how INTERNATIONAL ATTRACTIONS came to be?
Mike, I was booked by both Leo Grund and Rose Adair years ago. Leo would write two page single spaced letters in regard to work. He later teamed with Ray Beaudet.
God love wonderful Rose Adair. She was a typical little fuss budget agent, very ethical. Right out of Central Casting. She booked us with NBC for Macy pre parade show. All NBC big shots were aware of her and she attended pre taping meeting with us at NBC center for music, timing, etc. We got a big kick out of her. She was a hoot but very nice person. I think in her day she had been a "gypsy" in New York.
Johnny,
Rose Adair drove me nuts HOWEVER got me the biggest money I ever earned to that date.
Someone from way back when told me that Rose started as a stripper and then legit dancer.
I always thought she was way too short for stripping cause when she dropped a glove she'd be too close to the floor for anyone to notice.
1977--having just picked up my most prized publicity photos from the James J. Kreigsmann studio in NYC, I started "dialing for dollars" by calling the agents in New York.
Adair, Rose...250 W 57th Street... phone number *** **** as it was listed in the phone book. With a fist of dimes and a nearby phone booth I call Miss Adair, get her secretary (answering service) who gives me Miss Adair's private number.
Miss Adair will see me TODAY at her residence on Central Park South, but not for 2 hours as she was not ready for visitors.
Central Park South is known today as Donald Trump Real Estate Territory. Miss Adair's building had a doorman, a concierge and a very, very plush and tastefully decorated apartment.
We sat at her desk that overlooked Central Park where the Hansom Cabs meandered by. Business was 1-2-3, piece of cake.
As I left her apartment with carpet so deep I was sinking into its fibers only one thing came to mind, "She must have been a hell of a stripper".
Ex-Hamid secretary who became a powerful agent -- Dorothy Packman? And wasn't it Al Dobritch who, for a spell, booked circus/vaiety acts onto The Ed Sullivan Show, usually thru, & we may need clarification on this, Vince Calandra? We do remember acts that played Sullivan reporting that show producers instructed them to, "Give us your best 3 minutes!" -- Bill Hall
Bill Hall,
I only recall Hamid's Elva Hauser, who called me in 1975 with the ominous message, "John Cuneo would like you to call him at this number at 3:00 PM, but don't say anything to Larry Carden or Donny Johnson. Keep it to yourself." As Paul Gutheil says, God bless the circus, and damm everthing else.
Wade Burck
Thank you Bill Hall.
Jimmy Hamid told the story ages ago.
Did Ms. Packman team with others or was she a solo operation?
A mini Bill Hall interview...what was the first act/event/show that you handled?
This blog is getting more like 60 Minutes every day.
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