Perhaps your readers can help me with this. I recently picked up a used
copy of "Billers Banners and Bombast: The Story of Circus Advertising" by
Charles Philip Fox (Chappie) and Tom Parkinson after reading about it on your
excellent blog.
The flyleaf has a Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey ownership plate, with
the address of 3201 New Mexico Avenue in Washington D.C. Taped on that page is
a handwritten letter from Fox, dated May 7, 1989. With his home address in
Baraboo. The letter reads:
Dear Al,
I am so sorry to hear about Felix. I know how he must be suffering as my
brother went thru the same identical problems about two years ago. He lost his
battle. It is hell on earth, really. A guy feels so helpless- I'll write
Felix.
Thank you for the Mons [I am not sure of this word, it could be Morris or
Morse] postcard. Barnum & Bailey used these tremendous billing stands all
over- What an impact they must have had on the public. They did big business
according to the records.
I hope all is well with you. I understand you will move the RB offices to
Virginia, or is it Maryland? Will the move bring the offices closer to your
home?
My best wishes, Chap
We have been told that Kenneth, Allen, Chuck and Jerry and Families will
all be in Baraboo May 29 for the dedication of our new "IRVIN FELD EXHIBIT
HALL." It should be a great day.
I am curious who Al and Felix were or are, and anything else this brings to
people's minds.
Best Regards, Tony Greiner
|
Sunday, September 14, 2014
A Chappie Fox Question?
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8 comments:
All I can ad to this is about the
New Mexico address which was the
2nd DC office after 1015 18th NW
Irvin & Shirley lived up in "The
Colanades" a few blocks from the
New Mexico office & although the
move from there was to McLean VA
It was a short jump from Potomac
MD where Kenneth lived & still
has a home although he became a
Florida resident a few years ago
Irvin had died in September 84
(I can't recall an Al)
Felix is likely Felix Salmaggi who retired from RBBB in 1983 after having been a long time advertising director. He died of cancer in early 1990. He first became associated with the Felds about 1957 in promoting grand opera every summer at the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Washington DC. His father was an opera impresario in Brooklyn and long believed in promoting popular priced Italian opera for the masses (his life is the subject of a book). “Al” could be any of several long time employees with that first name—accountant Al Sykes or promoter Al Atkinson, among some.
Attaboy Dick I should have been
able to answer that correctly as
I knew all of them (scares me)
Al is Al Atkinson who was the accounting arm of Allen Bloom and the promoters (RMDs). Al inter-acted a lot with Felix who was on the same floor that I was on and was one of the funniest guys I ever met--a real gem!; also to correct Chic; New Mexico Ave. was the 3rd DC office, the first was on Connecticut Ave., I was at 1015 18th Street--loved it!
Thanks Jerry either I forgot it
or probably never knew about it
18th street was a great location
& had the best interior setup
The late Stephanie Karpovich was
on 1 side of the elevator lobby
& Gargantua or maybe it was some
other gorilla on the other side
At least I recall the RMDs as
Regional Marketing Directors &
there also were the Stupidvisors
In those days Bob Maio was head
of Transportation & Purchasing
with Dan Kirby & Dave Titus
Dave's wife Kay became Kenneth's
secretary & Mary Dean was Irvin's
When did Suzannah Smith come up
from Texas to entertain the troops
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