Buckles Blog: 1949 Grotto Circus-7

Friday, May 29, 2009

Dick Flint said...: Plenty of well-known acts here in a program of great strength and I wonder if it will ever be duplicated again. One lesser known act is that of Francisco and Dolores—Francis (“Butch”) and “Mel” Brann. Butch was known professionally as Butch Siegrist since he had started in the Charlie Siegrist flying act on the Barnum show in 1910. Mel was part of Cy Compton’s wild west concert on the Barnum show starting in 1916 and her bunkmate on the train was Tiny Kline, author of the recent book “Circus Queen and Tinker Bell.” Both are mentioned in that marvelously insightful account of circus life, certain to become a classic. Butch was a lifelong friend of Orrin Davenport (both were on the Barnum show baseball team) and he functioned as Orrin’s assistant on many of his Shrine dates. Butch and Mel left the combined shows after the 1921 season and then played mostly vaudeville, including the Billy Rose Jumbo production at the Hippodrome, with their perch act, hallmarked by its very fast pace and rapid spins. At the time of this Cleveland appearance, the two would have been in their mid 50s but would continue to work another half-dozen years.
Dick Flint
Baltimore; 29 May, 2009 12:24

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