Buckles Blog

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Cole Bros. Circus 1946 #1

Scan000010681, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Here are a couple of Harry Quillen photos, my dad wrote on the back of this one, "Pasadena, Cal. taken from Suicide Bridge.".

Cole Bros. Circus 1946 #2

Scan000010684, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Friday, January 04, 2008

George Conklin (From Old Whitey)

ColeConk, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Here's an 1873 W W Cole ad showing "Prof Conklin" in the lions' cage. Note the wording says "Open in the Street" which must mean you are correct that he appeared in the cage in parade. I realize that this somewhat contradicts the dates listed earlier regarding when he left Pogey and went with Cole. I believe this was the first year the Cole show was on rails and no doubt there are other aspects of this which will be sent in.

Whitey

"Fritz" in parade

SAVE0966, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

This picture taken in Scotland in 1899.

"Fritz" (From Wayne Jackson)

B.B.C.1903.001 - Copy, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Buckles

The attached photo shows the tusks of one of the three bulls that Barnum took to Europe on his tour, not sure which one this might have been? Somewhere in my library I remember reading about the three bulls and about Fritz being shot in France, most likely because he was just too much to handle (possibly in musth)? That may also be the reason for the second bull’s death, the third bull was dumped over board before they landed back in the U.S., possibly for the same reason?
Wayne

From Bob Cline

If this helps any, I have the following information listed.

NICK - Stoke on Trent, England Nov.12, 1898.

FRITZ - Tours, France June 11, 1902

MANDARIN - Nov.8, 1902 near New York Harbor as they returned from Europe.

Bob

From Buckles

"Don Pedro" was executed in Liverpool 5/15/98 meaning that none of the four adult males with the show, made it back to the states. For some reason, the method of choice in those days was strangulation. I have a newspaper account giving the exact details of this elephants death, it began by stating that with the exception of the reporter and the Veterinarian all parties were excluded. After several stakes were driven on each side, two nooses were placed around his neck and tied off in each direction, the rope to his left included a pully block. The article concluded by saying as only the British can "A group of canvasmen took hold of the rope and at the command "Gentlemen walk away with it!" the beast struggled briefly and suddenly dropped and within four minutes the Veterinarian pronounced life extinct."

George Conklin #2

Scan000010667, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

These next five 1895 pictures come from two lenghty 1920-21 Saturday Evening Post articles.
Mr. Conklin was with the Barnum Show for over twenty years alternating as boss elephant man or menagerie superintendent. When these pictures were taken he was serving as both.

George Conklin #3

Scan000010666, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

George Conklin and "Fritz".
Notice how high the side wall has been raised to allow the cages to be spotted on their return from parade.

George Conklin #4

Scan000010683, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

This picture included in the SEP article. Mr. Conklin might have even done this in the street parade.

George Conklin #5

Scan000010682, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

"Some of Conklin's charges"

These two young tuskers would be "Pilate" and "Chief"
Buckles

George Conklin #6

Scan000010681 - Copy, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

"George Conklin and his baby elephant coming down the stairs of St, Vincent's Hospital in 1908."

George Conklin- Died in Brodgeport , Conn. 2/25/24.

1870-74 John O'Brien Circus...........1875-86 W.W. Cole............Barnum & Bailey 1887-07

Barnum & Bailey (Corral menagerie)

Scan000010684 - Copy, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

This undated picture included in the SEP article.

"Fritz" (From Raffaele de Ritis)

fritz, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Fritz, the Barnum and Bailey stuffed elephant.
His reflection from the window of Art Museum in Tours, France.

"After 106 years and two World Wars, he still survives"
Buckles

Thursday, January 03, 2008

The Greatest Show on Earth 1948

Scan000010667, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

I was 13 when I saw this show and remember it as tho it were yesterday.
The whistle blew, the band played and as the animals began to fill the three steel arenas a voice commanded, "Ladies and Gentlemen! John Ringling North welcomes you to the 65th Edition of the Greatest Show on Earth!"

Last night after an incredible amount of conversation and about 10 minutes into the show, the opening act was a dog chasing a frisbee.
NUF CED

Barnum & Bailey in Europe #1

Scan000010654, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Here are some more European post cards that someone might again translate for us.
This was a five year tour, showing in England 1898 and '99, Germany in 1900, Austro-Hungary in in 1901 and France in 1902.

Barnum & Bailey in Europe #2

Scan000010655, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The tusker is "Fritz" and at left is George N. "Abby" Bates who was with the Barnum Show for 25 years, including the Jumbo years.
The 1895 Route Book has three Georges working the elephant display:
Ring 1- George Conklin
Ring 2- George Beattie
Ring 3- George Bates

Barnum & Bailey in Europe #3

Scan000010656, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Only picture I have of an elephant stepping up into a railroad car from the ground. Either a very low car or a whopping big elephant.

Barnum & Bailey in Europe #4

Scan000010665, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Barnum & Bailey in Europe #5

Scan000010666, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Barnum & Bailey in Europe #6

Scan000010663, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Center ring act being presented by William "Elephant Bill" Newman.
He first appears in the "P.T. Barnum's New and Greatest Show on Earth" Route Book in 1877:
Page 6- Felix MacDonald, Supt. of Menagerie and elephants
Wm. Newman and Chas. Schule............Elephant Drivers

No further record after the European Tour.

Barnum & Bailey in Europe #7

Scan000010664, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The recent debate about the first female clowns hired by Feld may have
suggested to some that they were the first female clowns in the
circus. As many know, others preceded them such as Amelia (Mrs.
Felix) Adler and Rose Hanlon in the last decades of the under-canvas
Ringling era but it goes back even further.

Miss Evetta Matthews, a European clown promoted in this 1895 poster as
the only female clown, was featured by Barnum & Bailey in both 1895
and 1896. In 1895, she appeared with the Meers Sisters equestrian
act, also making their American debut. The second poster, from 1896,
shows two female clowns but the route book does not identify any
Matthews' sister. The hyped ringmaster Miss Millie Dunbar, who was
probably related to one of the men in the Dunbar aerial trio on the
show, is listed in the season route book only as a charioteer driver
and calliope player. In 1896, two men are identified as ringmasters
but the only ringmistress is Nellie Reed.

The role of women, who had long enjoyed a more egalitarian status in
the circus than in mainstream culture, was increasingly featured in
the circus of the 1890s as this and other posters and press articles
of the era demonstrate. While the women's movement had been
progressing for a number of decades, it was in 1893 that Colorado
became the first state to adopt an amendment granting women the right
to vote followed by Utah and Idaho in 1896. The astute Mr. Bailey and
his press department capitalized on these contemporary social trends
during years when it was attention-getting.

Dick Flint
Baltimore

B&B lady clown 1895

B&B lady clown 1895, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

From Jimmy Hall

DSC00408, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Jan 1, 2008
Happy New year to all.
Having a great time. Wish you were here.
On our way back from Montreal,stopped in Buffalo, NY. Saw Eggroll ,he was showing at the Erie County Fairgrounds for a six week Christmas show gig. Also went over to visit Charley Gray in "Canadia " what a great place.
Had to shut down last night. A car slid sideways in front of me on the exit ramp to the Flying J. Backed into a snowdrift. Tore off mud flap while parking. Tepa's playing the ole " I wonder what would of happened if I'd have done that" ? card.
I have a few photo's of the Cirque Des Fetes (what ever that means) show we just did; opened Christmas day 07 for a 4 day run, will send you some in the next day or so,
Wishing your tribe all well.
Jimmy

From Dave Orr

Hello Friends!

Just a reminder that Circus Sarasota will once again be hosting a performance for all Circus Folks and their families on Thursday January 31^st. This is a free performance and we hope you will join us for our all new Show “Soaring to New Heights”. Also, as always all patrons will receive $5.00 off all tickets at all performances with our discount coupon available at many local stores and in the newspapers. (This offer is not valid in the grandstand seating.)

We hope you will support Circus Sarasota’s year round community outreach efforts by joining us at this year’s performances!

Thank you for your support.

Warm Regards,

Jim Ragona

General Manager

Circus Sarasota

941-355-9335

941-355-7978 Fax

Truth in Advertising!

!cid_002101c84cdf$9578f790$0201a8c0@zellmar, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Impressed by our trip down memory lane this morning, I received this from Gee Gee.

The day has arrived!

HANDBILL 1962, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

What could be better to start off the day than this 1962 Madison Square Garden hand bill, recently received from Bill Strong. The Nicole Unit begins it's 2008-09 tour tonight at the Forum here in Tampa, we and the grandkids will be the first ones at the gate.
I thought it appropriate to show some pictures of past program covers, unfortunately programs from the last forty years are too big to fit into the scanner.

RBBB 1925

Scan000010662, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

RBBB 1933

Scan000010653, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

RBBB 1938

Scan000010654, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

RBBB 1940

Scan000010655, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

RBBB 1942

Scan000010656, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

RBBB 1945

Scan000010657, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

RBBB 1952

Scan000010658, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

RBBB 1958

Scan000010659, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

RBBB 1961

Scan000010661, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

RBBB Blue Unit 1978

Scan000010660, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

From Jim Royal

Hello Buckles,

This may not be the type of thing you want on your blog. I mention it because with the miracle of Buckles Blog, word gets out to the circus community instantaneously.

I received a call from a circus owner friend of JRNII’s in Ireland. He is anxious to find a motorcycle globe act for their upcoming season in Ireland. Interested parties can call me on 580 743 3782.

As always, we send our thanks to you for the wonderful entertaining and informative service you provide.

Best wishes for 2008,

Jim Royal

"I'll not tell Bill Biggerstaff if you promise not to." Buckles

From Dave Price #1

Buckl3, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

This is sure a nice picture from Old Whitey, good looking elephant but I don't see the ride platform anywhere.
I remember Frank Whitbeck telling my dad about the logging camps he visited while on location for MGM. He said that all the elephants wore bells and in the afternoon you could hear them from quite a distance while returning from work.
On one particular day, a big bull returned without his rider and after inquiring Frank
was told that he may have fallen off or was shaken off and if so, he may be injured or possibly dead. A search party was sent out.
Curious as to what would become of the elephant if the latter was the case, he was told that there were plenty of candidates eager to replace him but if this happened again real soon, no one was particularly interested in committing suicide.

Cole Bros. Circus 1948 #1 (From Eric Beheim)

1948 Cole-1, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

In 1948, Barr Films in Los Angeles filmed the Cole Bros. Circus unloading, setting up, and giving a performance in Pasadena, California. (Not only did they have the foresight to use color film, but they also recorded live audio of the band during the performance.) This footage was later released as an education film CIRCUS DAY, for use in elementary schools. (This was back in the days when the public schools still taught a unit about the circus. Today, they are too busy teaching little kids how to have safe sex!) The attached photos are all 16mm frame enlargements taken from the unloading in Pasadena.
Eric

"I thought these pictures would be nice to start out the new year since they are now exactly 60 years old. I will show the rest of the set later.
1948 was the last year Zack Terrell owned the show."
Buckles

Cole Bros. Circus 1948 #2

1948 Cole-2, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Cole Bros. Circus 1948 #3

1948 Cole-3, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Cole Bros. Circus 1948 #4

1948 Cole-4, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

As everyone knows these baggage horses are still wearing their harnesses from the night before so they can immediately go to work unloading the train.
Once that is done they have the rest of the day on the lot to sleep until the cycle continues the next evening.

Cole Bros. Circus 1948 #5

1948 Cole-5, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Cole Bros. Circus 1948 #6

1948 Cole-6, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Cole Bros. Circus 1948 #7

1948 Cole-7, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

The horses that pull the wagons across the flat cars are called "pull over" teams but once on the ground, they are gotten out of the way by "pull away" teams as seen above.
And if you don't believe me, ask Pete Sturgis.