Thursday, June 07, 2012

From Roger Smith #2

PETE THE PORTER, 1963

Long-time stalwart of the Clyde Beatty Circus, through the
Beatty-Cole era. He rode shotgun in 34 Wagon with Shorty
Hinkle driving, arriving early in the next town. He waved each
oncoming truck to its spot on the lot, and then roamed the
grounds all night as nightwatchman. During the day, he slept
where he could. Here at the front end of 77 Cat Wagon, is
the quintessential Pete the Porter. Bob Good Photo

Posted by Buckles at 6/07/2012 05:53:00 AM

2 comments:

Bob K said...

Roger,
Thanks so much for the photo of Pete.
The story I was told was that he joined Barnum and Bailey at age 13and became one of the porters on the train, thus the name.
One time he asked me to get something at the grocery store, but I couldn't understand what he wanted. Finally Shorty said he wanted a pound of Swiss chese, which I got for hime. He proceeded to eat the whole pound as sooon as he got it.
What a great character.
Bob Kitto

07 June, 2012 07:47
Roger Smith said...

BOB: Glad you enjoyed the photo. Let us be sure to credit Bob Good, Beatty's close friend for 40+ years, and a respected circus photographer.

Good heavens--The Ringling boys consolidated B&B in 1918 for the '19 season. That would make Pete born in circa 1905 or earlier if he joined while the shows were still seperated. Say 1904 as a guess, so when I knew him in '64, he would have been about 60.

Early in '64, John Staley left as Cookhouse Steward, and Billy McCabe took over. When Pete sat down at the Long Table, the planks would creak. He often had two loaves of bread with him. He'd take a bowl of milk from Billy, soak a handful of bread in it and consume both loaves in minutes. Certainly, he was as colorful a character as any on the lot, and very much liked and respected by Mr. Beatty.

We remember how the cat tunnel broke at the Bandstand and swung left in front of it, for the customers and Spec to pass. When time for the cat act, it was pulled back in line, and we secured it in place with rope. But not until the signal from Pete, which I can hear to this day: "Aw right! CHUTE!"

07 June, 2012 22:58

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