Sunday, January 12, 2014

"Lydia" #1 (To Chic)


This is a continuation of yesterday's picture of "Lydia".
After skipping around the ring with Barbara on her leg, the trick concluded with this hind leg stand.


Posted by Buckles at 1/12/2014 05:45:00 AM

9 comments:

Chic Silber said...


Many thanks Buckles how long was

she with you & was she at C W

12 January, 2014 08:55
Chic Silber said...


Likely 2 of the Nocks poles was

this a Shrine date

12 January, 2014 09:06
Chic Silber said...


Were there only ever 2 of the big

"W" tubs that are now lamposts

12 January, 2014 09:09
Buckles said...

This was taken at the Detroit Shrine date about 1992.
After my father's death in 1963 we got "Anna May"(which is all I wanted) and D.R. took the other two.

12 January, 2014 11:08
Roger Smith said...

We had Empresses, thankfully, who lent the ring plenty of flash. Among the best, Gee Gee, Pom Pom, and Peggy MacDonald come to mind. Memorable as they are, Barbara elevated the role to another class. To study this photo, one would believe her formative years included the study of ballet. Flash and style are anticipated with professionals, while Barbara blended her natural grace and elegance with stunning beauty to place the Empress title in a solo spotlight of her own.

12 January, 2014 16:18
BARBARA WOODCOCK said...

Thank you Roger. You are the first one to notice that I was on point. Yes I started dance early, & all my career I would take classes. Even after I no longer could perform, I would go and take what they called relaxation dance. This was for people that could no longer do all out dance. But still wanted to keep doing some sort of dance. I did this in N.Y. City. I also went to art school. These were things I could do that did not hurt my back. I can no longer do any of these things. But "Thank God" for the computer and I-Pads,& Smart phones and Smart T.V.s It doesn't take the place of performing, or dance. It goes without saying that I MISS it something terrible. I loved performing more than life itself. I know so many of you out there know what I am talking about. And I was so lucky to be able to do what I loved so much..........Barbara......

12 January, 2014 20:53
BARBARA WOODCOCK said...

Chick to put the story straight on the three Miller & Woodcock elephants. There were three that Col. was buying from D.M. Then Fanny died from lock jaw. So Col. paid her off to D.M. Buckles Grandmother had left her home in Hot Springs, Ark. to Buckles. So Babe sold the home and bought "Sadie". When we split up the Miller & Woodcock elephants we owned half of two elephant. So we traded "Lydia" to D.M. (back then "Lydia" was a fantastic mount elephant.) She would through me up to the top of the merry go round in one movement as she was mounting "Anna May" to a standing position. It was a tough mount. Babe's home was not paid off so we sold "Sadie" to D.M. and paid Babe's home off. And we got "Anna May'. We owned half of the two elephants, so that is how we ended up with "Anna May"......Barbara......

12 January, 2014 21:52
BARBARA WOODCOCK said...

Chick, you have ask about our bull tubs with the "W" on them. We finished the season before we went to Mexico with Carson & Barns. It had rained a lot Buckles had me doing the "Anna May" act on the show, the conditions were a mess for the teeterboard. Well to make a long story longer. The last bull tub sunk so deep in the mud, that A.M. couldn't push it out or pull it out with a harness. So it was left there in Hugo, Okla. It was talked about that at a later date it would be gotten out of the mud. But The mud hardened and I really don't know what ever happened to it. I would love to have it. That was the first money that I put into the act. I had saved my pay, from the Woodcock's and the next went for costumes. When Buckles ordered the bull tubs made he wanted them taller. He said later that they made them taller than he had told them. BUT I DON'T BUY THAT! They were really tough to mount. And many times in the act I had to jump up on them.......Barbara.....

12 January, 2014 23:10
Billie Lou Henderson said...

Barbara, you said the magic word, "performing". Both you and Peggy started out as performers on the stage. It never leaves.
When we Hendersons became involved with the Theatre Museum in Iowa I was once asked if I had been an actress. I replied that I never considered myself an actress (even though we had all been in an occasional play). I was a performer.
I also know that you miss it. The last time I got to do a song and dance specialty was at the Museum during the Old Threshers Reunion in 2010.
By the way I'll be 86 in March.
Billie

13 January, 2014 11:18

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