The 1981 Beatty show guys lamented a bad set-up of the 4-pole Side Show/Menagerie top on a muddy lot. I told them of the 9-pole HW top, and they couldn't believe it. They had no idea of the scope of the old rail shows. I provided a photo of this top, and they wondered why it was needed. I said, "See that man's name on these trucks--Clyde Beatty? That top was needed primarily to house the cage wagons for his mixed act of 30 to 40 cats. That was circus in the '30s." Lo, they were sore amazed, but the 1981 top still was a struggle for these latter-day showmen.
3 comments:
Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus very large 9 pole meg tent and what wonders were in it.
Harry in Texas
From left: Snake King,Chubby Guilfoyle, Beatty and John Helliot. Allow for some misspelling.
The 1981 Beatty show guys lamented a bad set-up of the 4-pole Side Show/Menagerie top on a muddy lot. I told them of the 9-pole HW top, and they couldn't believe it. They had no idea of the scope of the old rail shows. I provided a photo of this top, and they wondered why it was needed. I said, "See that man's name on these trucks--Clyde Beatty? That top was needed primarily to house the cage wagons for his mixed act of 30 to 40 cats. That was circus in the '30s." Lo, they were sore amazed, but the 1981 top still was a struggle for these latter-day showmen.
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