Tuesday, December 01, 2015

Carson & Barnes #6


7 comments:

Chic Silber said...


The Wizard of Wonder

(Nice paint job)

BOBBY'S LITL BRO. said...

He never did any of the real painting. It was done most of the time by my brother Buck who worked them a lot and my sister Roseann. Bobby was good at playing the point !!!

Roger Smith said...

This is as slender as I've ever seen Bobby.

Patricia said...

The zebra and baby giraffe looked great in the Medieval Spec that year; Bobby enjoyed the "Merlin" role.

I recall one day when he freaked out a bunch of kids on the midway just before spec. Bobby said, "I am the Great Merlin- master magician. Watch as I turn camel doo into an edible snack. Alakazam!" He then reached down, grabbed a handful from the grass and popped them in his mouth. Of course he had planted Milk Duds there just moments before. The kids thought it was great. Me, not so much...

And following them in the photo, straight from Camelot on the beautiful buckskin, is Princess Sweatzalot. Those velour dresses were pretty, but they weighed about 45 lbs., and when it was 95 degrees in the summer (and about 103 in the tent)
heat stroke was a daily concern!

Richard Reynolds said...

What year was this?

Patricia said...

Well, I would think 1988. This is likely a Jimmy Cole photo too, he might know for sure.

Richard Reynolds said...

This same photo was on the blog in 2006. Jimmy Cole commented as follows: This 1983 photo was taken on Carson & Barnes in Talmadge OH. The Circus Historical Society was having it's annual convention, and there were over 200 members sitting together in the front reserves during this show.

When their hero and fellow CHS member, Bobby Gibbs passed by in spec, (zebra & giraffe in hand),all 200+ CHS members immediately arose to their feet to give Bobby Gibbs a well deserved standing ovation!

Bobby was deeply moved by the gesture......so was the zebra and giraffe.

I have never before or since seen a zebra or a giraffe do the "capriole". This spectacular "airs above the ground" was followed by a rapid exit around the track, to the back door,... with Bobby holding on!

Bobby Gibbs was a dear friend, sadly missed by those of us who were fortunate enough to have known him.