Since Eugene Scott was in charge of the elephants, the 1949 Grotto Circus must have featured the Ringling performing elephants, earning their winter keep by appearing anonymously at indoor dates. (One of the things that did make an impression on me that day was the elaborate blankets worn by the elephants during the opening grand entry.) After the Grotto Circus engagement had ended, my mother read me a newspaper story telling about how one of the elephants had refused to load back into its assigned railroad car, and had held up the elephant reloading and departure |
Friday, May 29, 2009
1949 Grotto Circus-13
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3 comments:
These were the Cole Show elephants.
Arky didn't go to the Ringling Show until the following winter.
In the program listed above, Bobbie Donovan was the wife of Cole Show transportation boss Ace Donovan. The Paul Nelson liberty horses came from the same place.
The elephants were obviously transported by heated baggage cars in the dead of winter and any change for some of those old cows could be a problem.
If you don't believe me ask Johnny Herriott.
Patricia Scott, married to Arky Scott, eventually married well regarded Shrine Circus producer Bill Kay (William Kay Productions, 3001 Pony Lane, Sarasota).
Bill Kay's real name was William Mulcahly and he was from the Boston area.
His anglo-sized name, Kay, originated as an alternative and easy to remember surname from his phone promotion salesman days with Pollack Brothers Circus. Bill confided to me (also an Irish Catholic) that his Irish Catholic heritage would not sit too well with some Orthodox members of the Shrine.
Just realized that Bobbi Donovan was a cousin to Doc Martin (circus vet) - they were about the same age and I don't think dad realized his cousin was with any circus because he never mentioned it. Ace died in an accident in Aug 1948 in Wytheville. She remarried and it appears went back to civilian life at some point. Teresa Martin Klaiber
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