From Bill Powell #4

Gee_Gee_Sam_Bee_1972002, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. CIRCUS IN A BOX In the years after Gee Gee and Bucky Steele married they embarked on assembling several animal acts. In the span of 4 years they acquired 6 elephants, 12 ponies, 5 bears, the existing 7 Alaskan Husky dogs, a cougar, a leopard, and a mixed cat act with 8 tigers and lions. There may also have been a goat in the mix. I guess one could say they were pioneers in "consolidation." During this time of empire building for Gee Gee and Bucky I was in my late teens and worked in the "family" enterprise. Hard work and diligence paid off with my quickly being appointed Sr. Vice President of Animal Stewardship of Steele enterprises. This esteemed position required that I rise from bed at 4 a.m. every day to begin my daily duties of "stewarding" the 40 or so animals entrusted to my care. My department included "moi" and Frenchy, a 75 year old Canadian who was deaf and could barely lift a shovel and had an aversion to soap and water. There were no other staff for the enterprise other than Red Hartman who was a "trainer" and thus left the feeding and cleaning to my staff. My pay was room and board and an education in the finer points of all things circus. During this period we trained the 6 elephants, ponies, a leapord, an elephant cougar routine, and the mixed cat act. The husky's and bears were already trained. It was an interesting time in my life as the days started well before dawn and usually ended around 10 p.m. after the evening care of 40 animals. During this time I also managed to attend and graduate from college. Bucky would sell the amalgamation of acts to anyone in need of a complete animal package. We performed with Gatti, George Michaels Great London Circus, Sam Bee, Sid Kellner and did a move for Disney. I eventually worked my way towards the front end of the animals and performed the elephant and cougar act. Bucky was quite military and had a sort of drill sergeant approach to things like motivation of his staff (me and Frenchy). After each day of working for the "family" enterprise college looked better and better in my young view of the world. In fact going to Vietnam was looking like an attractive alternative after a while. Here are a few photos from a circus called Sam Bee during this era. I think Jimmy Hall and Roger Zoppe can relate to those wonderful days on Haymarket road in Dallas, Texas. Bill Powell