I recall seeing this act with Trevor when visiting RBBB a few times. Agood rel circus type cat act to be sure and very capably presented in that mode by Mr. Bale. Would note that he was a versatile circus-showman and with family with bicycle, horse acts, great individual aerial acts and as a ringmaster. Quite a guy.
A nice series of photos from Trevors early 50s RB,B&B Steel Cage Era I've been wanting to see for quite some time - thanks for bring this about Sue !
A Clevor Versatile International Showman who I found in his presence was very enthusiastic & entertaining to be around , while always vividly groomed & Dressed to suit the situation .
Mr. Bale was a great guy who seemed to remember everyone he ever met. I met him when he was on Ringling in the late '50s with the tiger act and I was in college. Years later we worked together on the Hunt Circus and he actually remembered the first time we met. He was always my idea of a real showman in and out of the ring. Bob Momyer
I first met Elvin Bale when he was perfectly executing his heel-and-toe trapeze on Uncle Sid Kellner's James Bros., in '69. I had met his father several times, and told Elvin of my admiration for his tiger work. The first thing I noted about Elvin was how he beamed with pride and smiled when he said the first two words, "My father..."
The steel arena, I'm talking about the real thing, was heard from on RBBB into the early '60s, when I visited, and Bale was still there working tigers. Two sections had been hinged together. Stood up, they opened out like a book, the finished ring referred to as Art Concello's "bible cage". During set-up, this arrangement facilitated the boys in that one open hinged section could be left standing until another could be attached. The idea was to cut handling arena sections in half. This concept worked fine on flat concrete floors, but would have presented the foreseeable problems in the cornfields of the hinterlands.
The first time I saw Mr. Bale was at the Connie Mack baseball stadium in Philadelphia. His act consisted of all tigers plus one male lion named Tonto who he claimed to be 25 years old. Later I believe the act was sold to Mexico. Wasn't he also Ringmaster for a while? Bob Momyer
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I recall seeing this act with Trevor when visiting RBBB a few times. Agood rel circus type cat act to be sure and very capably presented in that mode by Mr. Bale. Would note that he was a versatile circus-showman and with family with bicycle, horse acts, great individual aerial acts and as a ringmaster. Quite a guy.
A nice series of photos from Trevors early 50s RB,B&B Steel Cage Era I've been wanting to see for quite some time -
thanks for bring this about Sue !
A Clevor Versatile International Showman who I found in his presence was very enthusiastic & entertaining to be around , while always vividly groomed & Dressed to suit the situation .
Mr. Bale was a great guy who seemed to remember everyone he ever met. I met him when he was on Ringling in the late '50s with the tiger act and I was in college. Years later we worked together on the Hunt Circus and he actually remembered the first time we met. He was always my idea of a real showman in and out of the ring.
Bob Momyer
Col E T (Edwin Trevor) but known by
Tommy to his family & close friends
Originally from Denmark but lived
& worked in England where he met &
married Irene (Reenie)
I first met Elvin Bale when he was perfectly executing his heel-and-toe trapeze on Uncle Sid Kellner's James Bros., in '69. I had met his father several times, and told Elvin of my admiration for his tiger work. The first thing I noted about Elvin was how he beamed with pride and smiled when he said the first two words, "My father..."
The steel arena, I'm talking about the real thing, was heard from on RBBB into the early '60s, when I visited, and Bale was still there working tigers. Two sections had been hinged together. Stood up, they opened out like a book, the finished ring referred to as Art Concello's "bible cage". During set-up, this arrangement facilitated the boys in that one open hinged section could be left standing until another could be attached. The idea was to cut handling arena sections in half. This concept worked fine on flat concrete floors, but would have presented the foreseeable problems in the cornfields of the hinterlands.
The first time I saw Mr. Bale was at the Connie Mack baseball stadium in Philadelphia. His act consisted of all tigers plus one male lion named Tonto who he claimed to be 25 years old. Later I believe the act was sold to Mexico. Wasn't he also Ringmaster for a while?
Bob Momyer
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