Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Barbara Durtche/Smokey Jones Album #1


Scan10928, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

I had hoped these pictures would turn out better but no such luck. Being a copy of a copy takes it's toll.

Roger Smith and Eric Beheim should be familiar with these first photos. My father introduced me to Percy Turner in California right after I returned from the Army, a very nice man.
This is "Gentry Babe" indicating Mr. Turner had beefed up this date by hiring some stuff from Gene Holter or maybe they were appearing together at a fair.

Posted by Buckles at 11/12/2008 06:41:00 AM

5 comments:

Eric said...

I remember Percy telling me that "Big Babe" was on his show. Percy was, by trade, a sign painter who wanted to take out his own circus. He eventually found a local "angel" who was willing to bankroll him. The animals were all leased through some contact he had in the Paul Eagles Circus Luncheon Club up in Los Angeles. (I think this was more a case of somebody recognizing an easy mark and then taking advantage of him.) Since he had no circus experience, his show only lasted a few weeks and he (and his "angel") ended up losing just about everything. Percy went back to sign painting and later lettered some trucks for Circus Vargas when they were in Southern California. For the rest of his life, he kept trying to find another "angel" who could provide the financial means to allow him to take out another circus.

12 November, 2008 11:33
Anonymous said...

Turner Bros. Dog and Pony Show [or Circus], Percy Turner, properetor,
1958-59.

12 November, 2008 14:03
Don said...

I remember some wonderful gatherings at Percy's place in San Diego. He would erect his cookhouse tent, he and his wife Joyce would fix dinner and all of the local fans would spend the day surrounded by the remnants of his dog and pony show that were in various states of repair around his sign shop. As Eric says, he was always looking for another angel to take the show back on the road. Percy was a fascinating individual and a true gentleman.

12 November, 2008 17:26
Anonymous said...

The elephant is Babe from Gene Holter. The Man with her is my father Ray Chandler and the girl on Babe is Ray Chandler's Daughter Janice.

25 November, 2008 16:55
suryadasi said...

percy and joy turner were my grandparents... <3 if anybody knows where i can find more info about him, especially photos that would be sooooo wonderful!!! its been a blessing reading about how many people enjoyed him almost as much as i do! thank you for loving my grandad!
my email address is suryadasi@yahoo.com

22 July, 2015 05:52

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