 Said to have been imported around the turn of the Century by Walter L. Main. They specialized by performing the Barber Shop, Dinner Table and Base Ball numbers. When the Main Show was sold in 1905 the elephants were retained by a Staff Member George Power. |
Tuesday, August 09, 2016
#1 Powers Elephants
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As some may know, over the years Jack Benny and Bob Hope fondly mentioned the Powers elephants on their shows.
Bob Hope's early days in Vaudeville was booked by Gus Sun (1868-1959 Toledo Ohio). Gus, who started out as a juggler would later have his own show on the road (Sun Bros. Circus ). Gus Sun's Booking company would book many circus acts on the vaudeville circuits for many years. One of Bob Hope's last visits on the Tonight Show was his speaking of Gus Sun and his early days in Vaudeville. p.j.
In 1912, a rural Ohio boy of 9 stood transfixed by the lions and tigers, and especially the depiction of the trainer, on a Sun Bros. Circus poster. He never forgot the moment. In time, another such poster became available to him from a local store window. Its possession made him something of a hero to his school pals, who helped him produce a try at a neighborhood circus performance. The thrill gave him a beginning that he held onto for life. He joined out in 1921 on Howe's Great London, and on the payslip, scrawled the name Clyde Beatty.
When Gus Sun died, Bob Hope had been a major star for years. He postponed a performance to attend Sun's funeral, an act seen as genuine class by a star who never forgot who helped get him started.
George Powers has a GREAT-Grandson, by the name of James Danton, who is a unit manager for Wade Shows. Jimmy's mother was Powers GRANDAUGHTER . Her name was Marge.
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