Tuesday, June 02, 2015

Clyde Beatty #3


5 comments:

Harry Kingston said...

Mr Circus himself and the greatest of the great and what a classic pose.
Gone but not forgotten.
Harry in Texas

Bob Momyer said...

And he was a nice guy. He was very pleasant to us kids who wanted to bcome part of his world.
Bob

Unknown said...

My Dad knew Clyde from the twenties on and he used to stay at our house from time to time. He was a great guy and fun to be around. The first circus I went to was his. He carried me in. Too bad I do not remember that moment.

One time I picked up some revolvers that he had worked on at a gun shop in Allentown. I walked up the main street with these two babies under my arm. It was my twenty minutes of fame. Later we delivered them to him in Reading.

I also remember Roger being with Clyde at the house for dinner. Who would know we would still be talking about Beatty all these years later.

Harry Kingston said...

Robert,
You Dad is also still remembered for all those great photos he took and we purchased from him will live on too.
I only got to see Beatty a few times in my younger years.
But memories of him in that cage fighting for his life and that gun shooting and whip cracking, I will take to my grave.
Setting on the edge of seat at the circus with all that action,WOW.
I did get to meet the man that took over for Beatty and it was Red Hartman and we got to know each other real well.
He said Harry I want to give you something and they were two of Beatty's guns.
I have a letter signed from Red telling about the guns.
Red told me one day McClosky came in and said here is your replacement, Dave Hoover.
There were many trainers after Beatty and they did this and that but they never got in a cage with 40 lions and tigers and Mr. showmanship himself.
Beatty sold his act to his audience and dressed the part to perfection.
Robert we always enjoy your comments on buckles great circus blog.
As a camera collector what kind of a camera did Bob use taking all those great photos and I know it was not a Kodak box brownie.
Harry in Texas

Roger Smith said...

This is how I best remember him. He just came out of his Airstream, on the way past his cage trucks. He jackpotted with fans, friends, and showfolks alongside his tunnel until his announcement, and was available for autographs, snapshots, and handshakes with everyone who wanted to meet him.