From Casey Gibbs

10-29-09 024, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Here is a sneak preview of Tai's ballerina costume for the Anaheim Spooktackular Parade tonight. Her dance partner will be in a tux not a leotard. Tai is proud of her plus-sized figure but Gary wouldn't go for it. ~Kari

Ben and Family (Paul Gutheil Photo)

ben and family, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Nobody here wants to call Ben's memorial a memorial and prefer "A Celebration of Life". John Herriott tells me that senior showfolks in Sarasota don't like to drive after dark so I decided that 4:00 PM on Nov. 14 should be about right, two weeks from today. This will be rather unique since it will blend right into the regular Saturday night crowd. A number of out of State people are coming in which caused me to ask Dalilah which account she was tapping, Big Apple or Universoul.

Show Kids #2

Scan12335, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Show Kids #3

Scan12336, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Show Kids #4

Scan12343, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Show Kids! #5

Scan12340, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Show Kids! #6

Scan12338, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Show Kids! #7

Scan12341, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Show Kids #8

Scan12339, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Show Kids! #9

Scan12337, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Show Kids! #10

Scan12342, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Ila Mae "Ollie" Gauger

Ollie was Marv's Wife Marv was the wagonmaster at CWM for many years Ila Mae "Ollie" Gauger age 92 of Oshkosh passed away peacefully on Saturday evening October 24, 2009 at Bethel Home. She was born in Oshkosh on July 1, 1917 the daughter of Louis and Emelia (Latterman) Cappert. She married Marvin E. Gauger on December 10, 1938. She was a faithful member of St. Jude's Catholic Church (Sacred Heart Site) in Oshkosh. Ollie is survived by one son Tom (special friend Deb) Gauger of Indiana, two daughters Susan Schedel and Sally (Bill) Cuttill both of Oshkosh. Six grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Ollie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Marvin, two brothers Robert and James and one granddaughter Michelle Cuttill. Memorial services will be held at the Fiss & Bills Funeral Home at 865 S. Westhaven Drive on Friday, October 30, 2009 at 11 a.m., Father William Van De Kreeke will officiate. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 10 a.m. until the hour of service at 11 a.m. Private committal services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers a memorial fund will be established in Ollie's name. Fiss & Bills Funeral Home 865 S. Westhaven Drive Oshkosh, WI 54904 (920) 235-1170 www.fissbillspoklasny.com

Ringling_1970_1 (From Jerry Digney)

Ringling_1970_13, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. GGW and Charly, rare photo together, at winter quarters "As my first introduction to the circus I ran away from college for the summer of 1970 and toured with Ringling Blue/100th anniv. show, first working concessions, where we had to load rubber onto the wagons during tear down (ugh!) and later in men's wardrobe working for Joe Hodgini, Sr. Seems like a lifetime-plus ago!" Jerry

Ringling_1970_2

Ringling_1970_14, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Capt. Hugo and the Elephant Fandango.

Don Foote Design_3

DonFoote2, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Don Foote spec design for 1970

Ringling_Stephensons_4

Ringling_Stephensons, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. The Stephensons, still in RBBB center ring for a few more years with horses and dogs

Ringling_Otto_5

Ringling_Otto, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Otto Griebling, in his final years as one of the all time greats--famous on the 1970 show for his pie pan routine during come in.

Ringling_Ronk Slayton_6

Ringling_RonkSlayton, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. A youngish Harold Ronk with Frankie Saluto and the wonderful Dick Slayton, who would later head up Ringling concession for Sells Floto

Ringling_1970_7

Ringling_1970_1, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. In an effort to license the Ringling name and trademark, the Felds in 1970 came up with a series of characters who appeared on Ringling licensed merchandise in stores--as i recall the characters appeared in life size costumes at the start of the 1970 show's second half. Al Schwartz the timekeeper was the elephant.

Ringling_routeBlue70

Ringling_routeBlue70, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Don Covington

nakedclowns1009, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. San Francisco Clown Calendar.

From Gary Hill

!cid_X_MA1_1256736551@aol, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Sammy Haddock at Circus World.

CHARLES & GENA (From John Whitfield)

CHARLES & GENA, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. There is a memorial service at her house at 1 pm on Saturday, October 31st. Address 2124 Montclair Dr in Sarasota. This is off Constitution. She had not been sick and died peacefully in her sleep.

Ringling_1970 (From Jerry Digney)

Ringling_1970, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. In just a few short weeks, we'll celebrate the 40th anniversary of the start of rehearsals in Venice for one of the all time great Ringling shows, the 100th anniversary edition which bowed in Jan., 1970, opened in Baltimore and played New York for approx. 7 weeks. This was the first show solely produced I believe by Irvin and costumed by Don Foote--the beginning of Don's long run as circus costumer. Max Weldy made some contributions to the production but it was Don's designs from this point forward and Weldy soon disappeared.. The production numbers and music, scored for the first time by Bill Pruyn, were sensational. Harold Ronk was at his apex and Richard Barstow, who was also soon to retire, delivered a truly memorable show, one for the history books! The show also went to a new large format program for the first time. It was also a year or so away from Hugo Schmitt's retirement and Jack Joyce was the performance director with Charly Baumann assisting. Lloyd Morgan Sr. and Jr. were with the show as managers as was Paul Hudson. Willis Lawson still had the concessions, at least for another season or two. An unbelievable cast of talent populated the show from start to finish and Antoinette Concello was still heading up the aerial ballet and Bill Ballantine had come on to run Clown College, Ballantine also recruited a number of clown old timers to fill the ranks of two shows and among them was Swede Johnson, a former lion trainer.

Ringling_1970_2

Ringling_1970_2, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Jose Guzman on the inclined motorcycle at Boston Garden, May, 1970.

Ringling_1970_3

Ringling_1970_3, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Harold Ronk

Ringling_1970_4

Ringling_1970_4, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. New program book.

Ringling_1970_5

Ringling_1970_5, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Window card for 100th anniversary.

Ringling_1970_6

Ringling_1970_6, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. The one and only Tito.

Ringling_1970_7

Ringling_1970_7, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. The sensational Elvin Bale, catching "only by his heels!"

Ringling_1970_8

Ringling_1970_8, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Duane Thorpe in the circus Spec, 100th anniversary party.

Ringling_1970_9

Ringling_1970_9, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Antoinette rehearsing a spec number at Venice in which several girls twirl under giant mirrored diamonds.

Ringling_1970_10

Ringling_1970_10, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Evy Althoff rehearsing in Venice.

Ringling_1970_11

Ringling_1970_11, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. "Circus Movers & Shakers"--Elvin, Franz Althoff, Irvin Feld, Joe Guzman and Laly Zacchini. as the years wore on, Irvin's photo would be less formal.

Ringling_1970_12

Ringling_1970_12, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Circus spec, giant birthday cake. (TO BE CONTINUED)

Italy Oct 25, 2009 (From Barbara Durtche)

Italy Oct 25, 2009 003, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Two photos of Gold Unit backyard last week in Milan. "Barbara!....Barbara!....After all the expense to send you half way around the world to document Rome's conquest by Nicole Feld, we get pictures of house trailers, gray water hoses and dog poop. We got that here already. We demand warm, fuzzy pictures such as a shot of yourself in the concession office, counting stacks of Lira!" With all respect, Buckles

Italy Oct 25, 2009

Italy Oct 25, 2009 004, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Don Covington

Hamid 1977, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hi Buckles, I inherited boxes of slides from a circus fan's collection in Ohio. This one was labeled Hamid Circus 1977. Do you recognize the trainer? Is it Fred Logan? Thanks, Don "That is indeed Freddy on Beatty- Cole with "Debbie", "Missy" and "Omii". The year might be right since these punks were imported in 1974 but I don't see how Hamid would fit into the picture. This has been flopped." Buckles

Follow Up (From Dave Price)

Buckles36, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. I wonder if there's some connection between Sidney Rink's Ham Tree Mule act and the McIntyre and Heath production of the same name? This 1913 Strobridge one-sheet of the revival of their "Biggest Musical Comedy Success" is a dandy, although my photography leaves a bit to be desired.

bambi the elephant & robert (From Robert Perry)

bambi the elephant & robert, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Buckles Robert Perry & Bambi we imported bambi to Australia in 1963 paid 1300 pounds plus 300 pounds tax dont think you would buy a Jumbo for that now we never changed to Dollars until 1966 little devil nearly got me 20 years after this photo was taken Robert Perry Australia

Tom Haffner

Scan12333, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hello Buckles, I am Tom Haffner’s wife Helen. We just got a call from an old circus friend Kaylene (Sam’s girlfriend in 1979 in the blue show…. long story) Anyways she wanted us to let you know that Sam is in the hospital in Clermont with Cirrhosis of the Liver. His chances of survival are not very good. He is at South Lake Hospital in Clermont room 308. We just received this news this evening and really have no other details as of yet. Tom is pretty shaken up, they have remained in contact all these years. He talked with him a few weeks ago and Sam was planning a trip to San Diego to visit Kaylene, Tom tried calling Sam Sunday and got not response so he assumed Sam had already left. Just wanted to let you know, Sam ( & Tom) always had so much respect and genuine admiration for you that I am sure it would mean a great deal to Sam to know you are aware of the situation. So very sorry for your recent loss, Ben will be greatly missed. Our best to you & your family, Tom & Helen Haffner

A5 Fund Raiser leaflet:Layout (From Sue Lenz)

A5 Fund Raiser leaflet:Layout 1, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. An interesting Fund raiser from the Blackpool Tower Circus in England. Sue.

From Gary Payne

Fellow Fans, Once again, destructive legislation is proposed in Massachusetts, by Senator Hedlund. A hearing is scheduled for November 16. I am planning to attend. Kari Johnson and MaryLou Kelly have alerted supporters, including us. She puts it well, and I'll condense her comments here: This bill repeats the ARs technique of the past several years. Unable to ban performing animals, they are once again trying to ban the tool and tethers - achieving the same goal. As in the past, our goal is to point out that the experts all have appropriate guidelines and policies with regard to the use of the tool, tethers, as well as veterinary and husbandry procedures. My message: HOLD - Be alert - stay in touch. We anticipate: There will be an appropriate time for letters, emails, phone calls. You might begin to prepare YOURS! Have it ready for when we need it. When last the fans stepped up to the challenge in MASS. I was told by one state rep that more than 600 communications had been received...the majority in favor of performing animals! We do not yet have www.grassroots.circusfans.org up and running. It looks like it will be ready aprox. Thanksgiving. This latest development indicates more than ever, the need for this site. SAVE THE CIRCUS! Gary C Payne, CFA's National Animal Welfare Chairman

From Rome to Ringling #1 (From Don Covington)

RBBB Milan 2009 - 1, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hi Buckles, A few photos from a French circus site of the Ringling Gold show in Milan, Italy last week. The elephants for the Italian dates were supplied by Elvis Errani. All the best, Don

From Rome to Ringling # 2

RBBB Milan 2009 - 2, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Rome to Ringling # 3

RBBB Milan 2009 - 3, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From John Whitfield

Buckles, Just heard that Gena Moroski, widow of Charles Moroski, died on the 18th. They were featured with the liberty horses for years. She was cremated and that is all I know. She was 98 years old. John

Jungleland #1

Scan12321, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Jungleland #2

Scan12323, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. THE GREAT WHITE STAGE- Scene of the main events.

Jungleland #3

Scan12324, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Roy G. Kabat General Manager

Jungleland #4

Scan12328, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. "Eugene Scott, internationally known elephant trainer poses with his latest charge, "BIMBO" the 3,000 pound elephant featured in Screen Gems "CIRCUS BOY" Teleseries."

Jungleland #5

Scan12327, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. "DONALD O'CONNOR and "BONZO" rehearse their next scene in "FRANCIS JOINS THE WACS" at Universal Studio."

Jungleland #6

Scan12331, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. "Laurence Harvey is pictured with "HUMPHREY" on the desert location while filming the Warner Bros. CinemaScope production "THE TALISMAN."