Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Ring Of Fear #27


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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I believe the whiskered gent is Joe Applegate the canvas boss. I think George Werner came over after the RBBB tent show closed. Big John Walker told me that George was one of the key players in reframing the Beatty show when it went from rails to trucks.
Erik Jaeger

Buckles said...

As mentioned before, I trouped with Joe for a shot time in 1956 on Hagen Bros.
I had the three Cole Show elephants "Nellie", "Jenny" and "Wilma".
I took great delight taking up the center poles with "Nellie" while Joe, resembling an Ancient Mariner, would shout the commands to his men.....To Port!.....Larboard!.....Larborad!.....Avast!.....Tie it off gentlemen.....Throw off the elephant!.

Anonymous said...

Buckles,
Now you have me wondering what the youngsters refer to me as, when I deliver my charming commands such as "lets go ladies" or "over here, this is where the fish are biting". Your colorful insight is much appreciated!
Erik Jaeger

Anonymous said...

Buckles, particularly enjoyed your comment here and it got me to thinking, just how much of the day to day sounds of the Circus, such as these, have been recorded for posterity?

Paul Gutheil

Buckles said...

I saw on TV yesterday that the Company that built the ill fated Atomic Energy Plant in Japan now wants to set up a tent over the existing remains.
My first thought was, I know a guy that could do that!

Buckles said...

Applegate, with his full beard, was at his best on a windy day when he most resembled Capt. Ahab at the helm of the Pequod.

Eric said...

The whiskered gentleman later appears in a brief staged scene that will be included in the pictorial synopsis of film's story. STAY TUNED!

Dick Flint said...

Sometimes known as “Whiskers,” Applegate started with the F.J. Taylor wagon show in 1899 and also spent seasons with Buffalo Bill and Sells & Downs. In 1907 he left the circus to co-own a dramatic show with Harry Hugo for a few years but trouped as well with the Brunk and Harley Sadler rep shows. Hugo, who remained in the dramatic show business up to the time Ring of Fear was filmed, recalled Applegate as a good actor who “can still read lines with the best of them.” So, with his white beard and acting ability, it isn’t surprising to know that Applegate also played Santa Claus at Christmas in Riverside, CA, during the off-season. Applegate was with the Beatty rail show for much of its existence but gave his week’s notice at the beginning of the 1956 season. He was later with Howard Suesz’s Hagen Bros and the Cristiani shows.
Dick Flint
Baltimore