Sunday, August 24, 2014

From Paul Gutheil #2


           WILKES-BARRE A FEW YEARS BEFORE BRUNON, "THE RAGE IN THE
CAGE" TOOK OVER PRESENTING.

Posted by Buckles at 8/24/2014 05:57:00 AM

13 comments:

Chic Silber said...


Janek Perz who lost Bunny Bartok

long ago & Ada who had lost Klaus

have become a comfortable pair

24 August, 2014 09:41
Mike Naughton said...

Having worked the Kingston Armory, also know as the Wilkes-Barre (PA) Shrine date, I vote it one of the worse buildings for a circus.

Anyone else want to share their memories of challenging buildings?

It's a slow Sunday and I am dealing with a ruptured disc. Surgery to be scheduled.

24 August, 2014 13:15
Chic Silber said...


Yup Mike the Cumberland County

Arena in Fayetteville NC for sure

Of course our own hometown dump

here in Sarasota is Robart's &

it's hardly worth mentioning

Much as folks complained about

the Venice Arena the show could

look pretty good squeezed in it

Although the small building in

Portland ME was OK to show in

that steep incline out the back

door led to some runaway wagons

& spec floats (outside storage)

Sorry about your back Mike

24 August, 2014 15:24
Paul Gutheil said...

Mike: I certainly agree with you on that and a very close second, if not first, is the South Mountain arena in (W?) Orange, NJ.
I can remember animal trainers complaining that their animals couldn't hear/understand the commands as the acoustics were so pathetic. The lighting in both places was terrible as well.
All good for wishes for your upcoming surgery.

24 August, 2014 17:47
Wade G. Burck said...

Medina Temple is where God banishes ner do well performers to spend eternity..........

Wade Burck

24 August, 2014 19:23
Chic Silber said...


Is that the joint up in Harlem

Wade I am grateful not to know it

I'm not sure if it's still there

24 August, 2014 22:54
Roger Smith said...

MIKE: Me, too, with the surgery. Not a disc, but trying to head off spinal cord damage. Good wishes for your success.

Buildings, yes, indeed. Castle played some lulus--right, Jimmy Hall?

Victoria, BC-- The domed ceiling was like an eggshell. No girders. Aerialists had to use outdoor riggings, and still no decent rails to guy out. Salem, Oregon--Johnny Luxem's wheel lacked 2 inches from scraping the ceiling. He had to work what he could inside the wheel. The flying act was so low, Raymond and Debbie Valentine's toes almost tangled in the net. Chamberlain, SD--a tiny building for a one-night stand. It's outside ramp was so steep, the arena sections slid off the cart and careened down across the street and into a bar ditch. And those hockey rinks in British Columbia--they all refused to melt their ice for us, so they covered it with railroad ties and we all got splinters in our boots. Ah, for one more season.

25 August, 2014 19:49
Chic Silber said...



Your mention of ice Roger reminds

me of when the Rangers were in

the playoffs & we had to chop

holes while playing that fun game

of finding the threaded inserts

26 August, 2014 00:21
Chic Silber said...


I guess the list of worst arenas

could go on & on but Grand Rapids

with the dirt floor & low roof

comes to mind (maybe long gone)

26 August, 2014 09:48
BOBBY'S LITL BRO. said...

I did the 1st Canadian tour with Castle and your right Roger there were some barns up there. The 2nd year he had the new prop truck built and i talked him in to doing the 10 high trailer so we could make some of those Zamboni doors up there.

26 August, 2014 14:37
Roger Smith said...

Another gem was the new (in '73) building in Brandon, Manitoba. Corky Plunkett drove the prop truck around for loading, but got blocked in, and had to back it out through doors at one end, between concrete support columns, and along narrow passageways. The backing, pulling up, gear-grinding and re-backing had Corky ready to cut his throat. Joe Zoppe provided the cool head that helped Corky finally inch the truck out of the maze of the basement onto the ramp of freedom.

27 August, 2014 20:02
Mike Naughton said...

Yes, Paul I agree with you about the South Mountain Arena in Morristown. I played it for Don Francisco in the early - mid 70s.
At one time it was a 9 day stand. Early morning schools during the week and evening shows at night.. And a 5 pack for the weekend.
It was the early days of my life in show business and I slept in the dressing room to save money.

If I recall the animal acts had to park outside.

Don always had a strong show in that building with many 3 ring displays.

28 August, 2014 14:15
Mike Naughton said...

The South Mountain Arena is in West Orange, NJ, not Morristown as I posted.
Thanks for reminding me Paul.

28 August, 2014 22:19

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)