Friday, April 17, 2009

Blue Show 1970 #39


Ringling 100-78, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The Metchkaroffs

10 comments:

Jack Ryan said...

Nice people and an excellent act.

Booked them on "The Tonight Show" in Burbank shortly after Carson had moved to the west coast.

Somebody from The Forum drove the act to NBC while I transported the long balance pole, sticking out the window of a station wagon.

Was stopped by a cop on the Ventura Freeway because of the protruding pole. Explained the situation. Offered him a couple of passes to the show. Got away without a traffic ticket.

Chic Silber said...

One can only imagine what those

passes have been traded for

over the years

Oh My

Chic

Chic Silber said...

Wasn't it The "Mecners" that

did a very similar bar act

on Ringling several years

before them and didn't one of

these acts have a shooting

within a love triangle

Chic

Buckles said...

Those comps were quite negotiable. I remember a show girl and her husband that managed to get groceries, etc. by bartering them.
On one occasion they were used to get a flat tire fixed.

Eric said...

For this particular trick, Bill Pruyn used the "Habanera and Vaquero’s Song" from Victor Herbert’s 1912 opera Natoma. It provided an almost ballet-like accompaniment to the performers’ movements that was most effective.

Frank Ferrante said...

The good old American system of Circus currency!

Buckles said...

When we were on the show, Bill put a "Rhapsody In Blue" medley together for the 3 ring perch pole display.
It was excellent, sometimes I would step inside the arena just to get the full effect.
Smokey would have been proud.

jerry digney said...

they were indeed a great act, beautifully executed!

Frank Ferrante said...

Buckles -

Whatever happened to Smokey, the kids and 'Baby' Tika? ~frank

Buckles said...

Smokey died several years ago and is buried in Commece, Texas.
His daughter Kari and her husband Gary Johnson own the renowned "Have Trunk Will Travel" elephant academy of movie fame in Perris, Calif.
And as far as I know, "Tika" remains with Circus Gatti.