Thursday, January 04, 2018

#12 More!

Our first year on the Ringling Show came as a sudden development and Smokey Jones took "Anna May" until the dates we had booked were honored.
For some reason he billed her as "Tonzo" and I'm embarrassed to admit I forget who his Elephant Empress was!
I'll ask my wife when she makes her Morning Appearance!

6 comments:

BARBARA WOODCOCK said...

My husband got his shows a little mixed up. It was the Polack Circus, that we were going on and Dobritch was going to sue us if we didn't finish out our contracts. So Smokey finished up the dates until we could put Anna May into the Polack herd. Trudy Wilson helped out with the three act. Then when the act was disbanded Smokey took Anna May out solo. He did ( Around The World in 80 Days, on tour.) Then I don't recall what he did until we were able to put her into the act. And as Buckles said we can't say who the girl is????....Barbara....

Buckles said...

You Dare countermand The Word Of The Almighty Kahn!!!

Billie Lou Henderson said...

I'll say one more and then give it a rest as they say. Attended a Circus Fans' Dinner in Baraboo years ago. Helen Biletti was there also. Smokey gave each of us an elephant bracelet. He may have made them himself. I know he made miniature bull hooks. Harold Barns was at the dinner. We sang a song together (privately) from the play, "Ten Nights in the Barroom" both of us having been in the play in our youth.

Paul Gutheil said...

Miss Billie Lou, Thank you so much for your wonderful and enjoyed contributions on The Blog.

Chic Silber said...


Careful there "King Kahn"

The Queen has spoken

Roger Smith said...

Smokey amazed many with his artwork. His bullhook handles and hand-made whips were legendary. I have three of them Smokey gave to Parley Baer. He also folded a dollar bill into an origami elephant for Kim Baer.