Buckles Blog: From Dave Price

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Buckles: A 1912 Sun Bros route book popped up on eBay. See the "Cheerful Gardiner" listed among performers.

Buckles said...: I remember reading a Billboard review of the show from those days, in which Cheerful was described as outstanding, up and coming, etc.
Sun Bros. only had two elephants "Alice" and "Etta".; 27 July, 2011 06:37
johnny said...: I see also Jack Klipple, Austin King, morales family and believe Blanch Reed would later be a wife of Gardner. Plus alot of other names that would be on later shows. Wonderful Buckles. Looks like Gardner was not bashful and enjoyed projecting himself and his abikities. Not like most elephant guys of those days. he had a fabulous career. How did the Cheerful name comeabout? johnny; 27 July, 2011 09:23
johnny said...: Mrs. Charles Brady listed. Must have been married to old time showman-prop boss Charlie Brady. johnny; 27 July, 2011 09:25
Roger Smith said...: One obscure account I read long ago claimed that Gardner (the spelling therein) was an exceptionally "dour Scot", who never laughed, seldom spoke unless it was to elephants, and refused to cracked a smile. Thus the nickname Cheerful.; 27 July, 2011 16:48

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