The sensational Elvin Bale, catching "only by his heels!" |
Thursday, October 29, 2009
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15 comments:
Elvin Bale Certainly Entertained his Audiances With Excitement !
WOW - did this Stunt take ME by Supprise !
( first seeing it almost from this angle )
This was the MOST spectacular act
It rightfully won him the Gold
Clown award in Monte Carlo
Early in his career he went by
the name "Melvor" for a time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDuQrQ5j1ik
Elvin Bale and the heel catch trapeze on RBBB The Greatest Show on Earth, you can hear Bill Pryun's tremendous score plus Harold Ronk's memorable introduction.
Don't you wish you could buy a ticket and sit in the seats again?
Elvin was not on the show in Orlando.This was the 100th edition.The date was early 1971.I recall it like it was yesterday.They played the Orlando Sports Stadium.
Marvelous show it was!!
The Orlando Sports Stadium was owned an personally built by rodeo cowboy Pete Ashlock.
For many years, it was the only good sized arena in town. Pete hosted shows from Elvis to Roy Rogers Rodeo to the Globetrotters to Holiday on Ice.
I had the pleasure of bringing the 100th Anniversary Edition and several additional Editions to the Sports Stadium when I was Vice President Marketing for the BIG ONE !!
Hi Frank Curry,
Hope you are well.
Best,
Jack
Hey Frank, long time ago.I remember you buying us some Coca Cola after the 6 mile animal walk.
In a followup to Frank Currys comments on bringing several other editions to the Orlando Sports Stadium after the 100th.THat was the last year Ringling played Orlando until the new Orange County Convention Center opened 12 years later.This in 1983.The Sports stadium had become too small for the show.
PLease give dates if I am wrong.
Did gunther ever play Orlando before 83?In my estimation if wouldve had to have been 1969.
I saw Elvin catch by only 1 heel a couple of times. Scared the crap out of me. But you couldn't NOT watch Elvin... and I think that was the point.
A BIG and very fond HELLO to Jack Ryan and Henry Schroer!!!
WOW,do we have some great memories of back then and we were forty years younger! I know, "don't remind me".
Art Ricker, do you remember burning the "deadwood" behind the Sports Stadium?
To "anonymous", why don't you identify yourself and then we can converse? Also, I suggest that you read what I wrote carefully.
Frank Curry,
Big fond HI backatcha. Those were indeed "the days." Was it forty years ago? In that case, you, Henry and I must have been about ten years old when we joined out.
Cheers!
Jack
Clearly, "anonymous" is more intent on trying to find me at fault than he is about being accurate.
The capacity of the Orlando Sports Stadium was NOT an issue for Ringling.
In fact, the OSS capacity was a lot larger than that of both the West Palm Beach Auditorium and the Greenville Memorial Auditorium that Ringling continued to play after no longer continuing at OSS.
The reasons for ending the OSS relationship were that Irv was rightfully concerned that the rodeo arena dirt combined with less than ideal dressing room conditions would damage his expensive costumes.
Also, Pete Ashlock, a self-made man whose ownership of the OSS was a sideline, could NOT be convinced to accept the Ringling rental terms that he was not comfortable with.
Now, "anonymous", why not be brave and stop hiding behind that closet door? COME OUT and let us know who you are!
To Frank Curry about my Sports Stadium comments.I am guessing that you are referring to the prior years editions.Not after 1970.What other years did you assist in bringing to that place?I would guess perhaps from 1967 to 1970?
I am not being critical.I am intersted just knowing the years the GSOE played that venue.
People complained about the Sports Stadium but their were no other options in Orlando period.
Pete Aslock once told me.It doesnt matter what the place looks like That if they can make money they will play here.
From what I inderstood he had serious tax problems later in life.
He made his early fortune in the Crane Business.
After Ringling quit playing their once the Aztecas Circus did.I met Bucky Steele on that lot.
Before Elvis died they packed 8800 people in that old barn to see him in concert.Early 1977.Tickets were by mail only and if memory serves me correct twenty or twenty five bucks!!
71 would have been the second year of the 100 annv. show and on the Jack Joyce named "Rodeo Route". So true with that barn in Orlando. Yes Elvin was there. Maybe he was sick one day. I remember flu going thru us. Hugo Schmidt was really sick and others as well. Dirt floor with soft dirt for bucking stock in rodeos. Our twenty four horses in all three rings tore up and left fog-dust in the air for quite a few minutes. We were on Blue that year. Tito was not there and replaced by Flying Waynes. Dick Chipperfield was therer with leopard and then female lion act, plus Charly Barnum. Three cat acts all worked alone. Not as big as the 70 tour but still a great show. Also no zacchinni canon. Other changes as well.
I played the same bldg. the next year as a principle rider with my saddle bred horse "American Anthem" as part of the big Gary Lashinsky "wonderful world of horse" including Smaha, Skeltom, Ostermaier. Bale, Maynard-Cristiani. Pastor. You name em they were there, plus George Weedon and some twenty musicians and girl rider production on Morgan Horses. Never before and never again. Where was Chevalya, or whatever its called. What a great show. Gaylord did a parody of the lippizzaners with three white mules that was hilarious. All the great private horse acts plus eight man Lip Drill and all of tghe "AIRS".
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