From Chris Berry |
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
RBBB HUBERT CASTLE (1939) Three Sheet
Posted by Buckles at 8/27/2008 10:11:00 AM
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From Chris Berry |
Posted by Buckles at 8/27/2008 10:11:00 AM
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2 comments:
I saw Castle on RBBB in 1940 here in Atlanta. As I recall he did a slack wire routine and was in a baggy black suit, feigning a drunk on the wire.
I sat with my Dad on the top row of the grandstand right next to the performers' entrance/exit with Merle's band in the middle between the two doors.
I could look out into the backyard
through the gap between the sidewall and the eve of the tent top.
I spent as much time looking out to the back as I did to the performnace itself. I recall Castle walking into the backyard after his turn.
I also saw the fascinating process of running Court's leopards from their cage wagons outside into the long chute which came into the tent at the back door entrance right beside and below our seats. I think we were in the last two seats before the dropoff to the back door.
Here's one few may recall about Castle. Col. Tom Parker booked him on the Elvis Presley tour for 1957, when Elvis, whose fame was exploding, was the hottest act in showbusiness. There was an hour performance before Elvis came on. Castle worked his wire, and I think the stand-up was done by Jackie Carter. They played the coliseum in Waco, TX. I think he retired from the wire not long afterward. It was the last time I saw him perform. In the fall of '71, he sought a replacement to work his cats, and soon we had a deal.
Roger Smith
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