Friday, March 07, 2014

Lady Trainers #9


4 comments:

Chic Silber said...


Possibly Sylvia Zerbini but not

sure from this image

Roger Smith said...

This is the last Beatty cage, bought from Dave Hoover by Hubert Castle, who proceeded to make wholesale alterations. He dismantled the sections, removed the original frames, claiming they were too thick and obscured the audience's view. I pointed out the audience had no trouble seeing Clyde Beatty continue his legend in that cage. The worst of Hubert's errors was refusing to paint it. The bare aluminum bars severely reflected the lights causing a glare about the cage that our concession guys working the seats told me made it a strain to see the act. I advised him of etching compound that will prepare aluminum for painting, but he wouldn't hear of it. Note in this picture the spreader above the door does not match those in the adjoining sections. Thankfully, one item Hubert didn't touch was the door. I worked in this cage for 2 seasons, and always thanked Mr. Beatty each time I entered his door. I hope the Zerbinis had the same sense of respect for whose cage this was. Harry From Texas told me it is now falling into ruin, laying exposed and neglected on a concrete slab in Florida, tragically having come into the possession of the Felds.

Unknown said...

Chic, I believe this is Sylvia's sister Patti. A hardworking showgal.

Chic Silber said...


Yup Erik you'r absolutely right

I've known her family from back

when she was a tot & before

her 2 sisters were born