Tuesday, May 24, 2011

RBBB 1943 #2


RBBBTENT7, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

To the unaware, Robert Ringling presented an old time street parade for spec, the movies were also big on nostalgia during the war years.
These pictures were taken by Bob Good who was in luck that day, the callioipe looks to be fired up.
Buckles

Posted by Buckles at 5/24/2011 06:24:00 AM

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bob Good's photos are great !

Paul Gutheil

24 May, 2011 11:26
Richard Reynolds said...

I saw this 1943 show in Atlanta and well recall that the Two Jesters steam calliope was not fired up when it rolled around.

It was under steam, however, when I saw the 1941 show. It was paintd white with gold trim and came around the track in the Old King Cole-Mother Goose spec.

That was only the 2nd time I ever saw a steam calliope in operation, the other being the Robbins Bros. street paade here in 1938.

The Two Jesters was also in the 1942 spec but I do not recall it. Joe Bradbury also saw that show in Atlanta and recalled that it circled the track playing "Auld Lang Syne."

24 May, 2011 13:27
Roger Smith said...

Bob Good was a great photographer and a true gentleman, welcomed on every lot by all showfolks. He was a close personal friend to Clyde Beatty for more than 40 years. When we played his home town of Allentown, PA, in '64, it was a Sunday matinee-only. The Goods invited the Beattys over for a sumptuous dinner, and being Beatty's new assistant and driver, I was invited to sit down with them. It was a most memorable afternoon, and I treasure the correspondence I had with Mr. Good afterward. My friend, Bob, Jr., who contributes here, is the worthy heir to his father's love of circus.

24 May, 2011 19:20
Harry Kingston said...

Bob Good had that photographer eye when to snap the shutter and get the best photo.
I know us fans cherish Bob's photos we have in our collections.
Great days of the circus captured by Bob.
Harry in Texas

25 May, 2011 09:27
GaryHill said...

Who had the cage act in the background??

25 May, 2011 20:57
Roger Smith said...

GARY: It's a Court arena--identified by the arches atop each section, and the broad "X" cross braces at the bottoms. Exactly which act was shown then may be in the RB program. Court's trainers included Damoo Dhotre, Joseph Walsh, and Willie Storey. One trainer, a German, was plucked out of the dressing top by the FBI, and interned for the duration of WW II--possibly Fritz Schultz?

26 May, 2011 01:44
Philip Astley said...

Roger, This arena in the background contains Court's last mixed group. You can identify it by the big wheel prop - Court called it the Big Drum - in the cage. Depending which month and town the act by then contained nine tigers and five male lions. It was alternately shown by Harry Kovar and Robert Tate. I wonder what happened to Robert Tate. He seems to have only been around that season. The centre ring was dark and the other ring contained the mixed panther act presented by May Kovar, alternating with Willie Storey.

The Kovar act was changed later in the season for the original Kovar act, which was presented by Joe Walsh. This act contained eight male lions, two polar bears, two black bears and two Great Dane dogs.

I am currently researching a book on Alfred Court and his trainers. Any comments are appreciated.

Jim Clubb

26 May, 2011 12:33

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