 Max Gruber (1877-1939) brought his act to the US in 1908 to play vaudeville but later appeared as well with the Herbert Kline carnival (1911), Buffalo Bill, and center ring on Tom Mix (1936-37). His act first featured Minnie the elephant, (acquired in 1899), a horse, and a Shetland pony. This earlier act is seen in photos 1-3 posted by Buckles on Sunday. While appearing with a Mexican winter circus in 1919-20, he sold the act to the show and stayed on as their animal trainer. Probably during the winter of 1925-26 Gruber acquired Minnie II, a three-year-old elephant, but she soon died. Then came Little Eva, another three-year-old elephant, who was joined by Topsy, a two-year-old zebra, and Ringo, a Great Dane, to create the "Oddities of the Jungle" act. The act moved in a custom-built moving van built about 1927 by Fitzjohn, a bus body manufacturer, on a chassis likely made by REO (both were Michigan companies near where Gruber lived). This truck was shown in Buckles photo #4 posted Sunday. Eva would make frequent PR appearances including pedaling her huge tricycle down the main street of the towns they visited. Gruber retired in 1938 and sold the act to Bud E. Anderson of Emporia, Kansas. While in Norway in 1896, Max married Adele Bono Gruber (1874-1944) whose own career began as an equestrienne at the age 6 in her father’s Italian circus. They had two sons, Max Alfred (1898-1952) born in Germany and Alfred (1903-?) born in England. For most of their years in the US, the Grubers lived in an actor's colony near Muskegon, Michigan, where other vaudeville performers had settled, including Buster Keaton's parents. Dick Flint  |
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
From Richard Flint
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7 comments:
Now we know where Bud Anderson got the trycycle. Have seen photos of that with MacDonald as trainer-inventor. He was great but its still interesting to read between the lines. I had already entioned ab out Anderson gettin Eva. Thanks. Johnnny
I do believe Mac broke some younge elephants to ride the bike. Have to keep it honest. tanglefoot
It occured to me that later Mac had a trycycle built and trained Baby Mac to ride it presented at the time by Pom Pm. Johnny
Does anyone know anything about a carnival or ride unit using the " Max Gruber Shows" title during late twenties and early thiidies in the W.Va ,Ohio,Western Pa. area. I have a few photos of my Father's "African Dip " that have that tile on back ?????
The name of the carnival was Gruberg with a letter G at the end. Max had a carnival under variations of his own name from the late 1920s to about 1950. He was one of the brothers of Rubin Gruberg, owner of the more famous Rubin & Cherry carnival. Max also was a kiddie ride manufacturer and a pioneer in kiddie parks.
Dick Flint
Baltimore
Max Gruber got a couple of reviews in some 1919 Billboards I was recently reading when he played two vaudeville theatres in Chicago. On Oct 18 the “Showmen’s Bible” stated he had the closing spot on the bill and got three curtain calls: “Capt. Max Gruber and Mlle. Adelin have an animal act of unusual merit and one that had no trouble in holding practically the entire house in a hard spot. An elephant, horse, pony and dog perform many clever feats and reflect much credit on their trainer for the excellence of their work and the snappy manner in which it is performed.” Later, at another Chicago theatre, Billyboy reported on Nov 1 that Gruber again closed the show: “An Oriental animal spectacle. A top notch animal act, built around a remarkably trained elephant and a handsome horse, well dressed and staged.” Gruber’s act, “interesting and artistic throughout,” ran between 10 and 12 minutes.
Dick Flint
Baltimore
I am looking for information about the Tricycle that Eva rode. they were made in Muskegon by the Central Wheel Co. Can anyone help with the Cental Wheel Co. information?
ead at muskegonheritage dot org
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