Friday, November 23, 2018

FOR ROGER SMITH


9 comments:

Chic Silber said...


Here's Herbie Weber jumping

through his big paper hoop

that Roger mentioned under

Hoops #10 on Wednesday

Roger Smith said...

This is like I just saw them yesterday. Chata was an Escalante, growing up mostly on the Barnes show. She and Herbie had Herbie, Jr., whom I last saw at Parley Baer's funeral, on November 29, 2002. He was then an art professor at a college in Riverside, the Weber's long-time home base.

Charles Hanson said...

I recall seeing them on the old Beatty Show....Enjoyed all their acts, but remember Chata doing the swing over or loop over trapeze the best. She really sold that act vocally before she made the full loop over....Good memories....

Roger Smith said...

I used to cringe, thinking that wire was going to snap Chata in a most indelicate manner.

CHARLES: Chata, and--remind me here--I believe it was Elba Walker, who went up above Rings 1 & 3, on the revolving bar, to which they were attached by their well-strapped footwear. They either were 1st or 2nd display, as the end rings then featured Jimmy Douglas with dogs and maybe Paddlefoot with an elephant. These served as warm-up turns just before Beatty worked his cage.

Chic Silber said...


I recall Aerials 1&3 working

right after Beatty to allow

the arena being sloughed

Elba & Rita worked 1 of them

I don't recall the other end

Perhaps a cradle routine

Later on it was Ron & Mitzi

Charles Hanson said...

ROGER....Always enjoy your comments, however, I remember as Chic said...Elba & Rita working while the cat arena was being sloughed. Regardless, it is all wonderful memories that we likely will never see again.....

Charles Hanson said...

ROGER: Went back and read your comment again...Chata and another performer (maybe Elba Walker) as you said did work rings 1 and three on the looping trapeze. Believe you are correct as in Display 1 or 2 but it was Elba and Rita who did the hanging perch act while arena was being sloughed.

Charles Hanson said...

As I recall, Elba and Rita worked their hanging perch act over the hippodrome track as the arena was being sloughed....Rigging was hung close to the performers entrance....They did not work in Rings 1 or 2 for that aerial turn. Time sometimes dims the memory but that is the way I remember it.

Chic Silber said...


Kenny has the BEST memory of all

I'll check with him tomorrow

(but I'd bet about Aerials 1&3)