Chico, the Cat Dept. dog, and Ned Potter, for 20+ years Hoover's top cageman. The wagon was Beatty's 78, in this shot radically coverted. The heavy door L of box was Hoover's meat cooler. In Beatty's day, this meat compartment was in front of 51 Prop Wagon. The ladder leads to the sleeper, also changed from my day, when we entered the sleeper from the saddle tanks. The door was in front, and in Hoover's era was welded shut and re-located as seen. The blue generator powered the meat locker. So this was still 78, which like most circus equipment had seen its share of alterations.
A confirming identifier for 78: Look at the blue panel behind Ned. Notice the holes still present for the rods which supported the hinged metal sidings of Beatty's cages in both 77 and 78. These hanging sections were bolted down for travel. In the mornings, George Scott spun the nuts off, and I helped him lift them up as I elevated them with the fitted poles, the bottoms of which were nestled in the holes we see. By the time I returned, for the Winter Tour of 1980, 77 was no longer a cat wagon. Hoover's act fitted on 78 alone, which was re-fitted by our genius show welder, Charlie Harris.
WHO IS THAT HANDSOME GUY??? Oh, yeah, My hubby!!! We were married in October of 1980. This year it'll be 35 (L - O - N - G) YEARS!!! LOL! And they said it would never last!!! :-) Cindy Potter
Ned started on the show in the summer of 1967, and worked for Tommy Clark on the prop crew. Hoover was in need of some steady help and asked Tommy if he had anyone on the prop crew that could handle the job and Tommy recommended Ned. He was with Hoover for 16 years, then Johnny moved him up to prop boss. Ned was an assistant manager one season, but was never good at te politics and chose to return as prop boss. Eddie was a great long-time friend and Dennis was Ned's best man at our wedding. He was the best driver the show ever had and could jocky seat wagons around the quarter poles in the top with incredible precision!! Dennis remained on the show until he passed away in the late '90's from complications from MS. Eddie moved up to Smithtown, Long Island in the mid '80s and settled with a long time girl friend. :-) Cindy
Elba was Rita's niece. I know they did a perch pole act, but was never sure how Francine was related, whether she was another niece or Rita's daughter. She went to work at Disney a season or two after I joined the Beatty Show, so I really never kept up. Dennis had MS as long as I knew him (from 1978). Their son, Dennis, Jr. was born in 1984 or 5. :-) Cindy
9 comments:
Chico, the Cat Dept. dog, and Ned Potter, for 20+ years Hoover's top cageman. The wagon was Beatty's 78, in this shot radically coverted. The heavy door L of box was Hoover's meat cooler. In Beatty's day, this meat compartment was in front of 51 Prop Wagon. The ladder leads to the sleeper, also changed from my day, when we entered the sleeper from the saddle tanks. The door was in front, and in Hoover's era was welded shut and re-located as seen. The blue generator powered the meat locker. So this was still 78, which like most circus equipment had seen its share of alterations.
Took this photo June 1977 Smithhaven Mall L.I.N.Y..
A confirming identifier for 78: Look at the blue panel behind Ned. Notice the holes still present for the rods which supported the hinged metal sidings of Beatty's cages in both 77 and 78. These hanging sections were bolted down for travel. In the mornings, George Scott spun the nuts off, and I helped him lift them up as I elevated them with the fitted poles, the bottoms of which were nestled in the holes we see. By the time I returned, for the Winter Tour of 1980, 77 was no longer a cat wagon. Hoover's act fitted on 78 alone, which was re-fitted by our genius show welder, Charlie Harris.
WHO IS THAT HANDSOME GUY???
Oh, yeah, My hubby!!!
We were married in October of 1980.
This year it'll be 35 (L - O - N - G) YEARS!!!
LOL!
And they said it would never last!!!
:-)
Cindy Potter
When did Ned start with Dave
I recall when Eddie Firlein
& Dennis Walker came up from
Hialeah to DeLand in late 65
Later on Eddie became 24 hour
man & Dennis ran the front end
grease joint with corn & floss
Ned started on the show in the summer of 1967, and worked for Tommy Clark on the prop crew. Hoover was in need of some steady help and asked Tommy if he had anyone on the prop crew that could handle the job and Tommy recommended Ned. He was with Hoover for 16 years, then Johnny moved him up to prop boss. Ned was an assistant manager one season, but was never good at te politics and chose to return as prop boss. Eddie was a great long-time friend and Dennis was Ned's best man at our wedding. He was the best driver the show ever had and could jocky seat wagons around the quarter poles in the top with incredible precision!! Dennis remained on the show until he passed away in the late '90's from complications from MS. Eddie moved up to Smithtown, Long Island in the mid '80s and settled with a long time girl friend.
:-)
Cindy
Thanks Cindy I believe Dennis
was diagnosed with MS shortly
after marrying Elba & after
their son was born
Elba was either a sister or cousin
to Rita Ferriera & they had been
doing a perch act with Francine
who was also somehow related
I believe Elba is still in DeLand
Elba was Rita's niece. I know they did a perch pole act, but was never sure how Francine was related, whether she was another niece or Rita's daughter. She went to work at Disney a season or two after I joined the Beatty Show, so I really never kept up. Dennis had MS as long as I knew him (from 1978). Their son, Dennis, Jr. was born in 1984 or 5.
:-)
Cindy
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