"Im No Angel" #3

Scan11055, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

"I'm No Angel" #4

Scan11056, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

"I'm No Angel" #5

Scan11058, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

"I'm No Angel" #6

Scan11060, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Child actor Baby Leroy.

From John Whitfield

Cozetta Cristiani died yesterday. Do not have any details as of this writing. Norma Cristiani told me that details are pending.

From Jenny Wallenda

FRIDAY EIGHT A M JULIAN ARNOSI PASSED AWAY AT HOME.AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH DEMENTIA JULIAN CAME TO THIS COUNTRY IN 1955 WITH THE SEGURA ACROBATIC ACT TO RINGLING HE WAS THE CATCHER IN THE ACT, AFTER RINGLING CLOSED THAT YEAR IN 1956 THE ACT WENT TO CLYDE BEATTY CIRCUS WERE HE MET MIREILLE THERON IN 1958 THEY GOT MARRIED AND HE STAYED WITH THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE FOR EVER. IN MEMORY DONATIONS MAY BE GIVEN TO T I D E W E L L H O S PIC E THANK YOU MIREILLE ARNOSI HE WILL BE LAID TO REST AT PALMES IN SARASOTA.DATE STILL PENDING. THANK YOU MIREILLE ARNOSI

George Washington "Pop Corn" Hall

Scan11047, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Owner of the Col. Geo. W. Hall Wild Animal Shows out of Evansville, Wisconsin. Remembered as the man who introduced brick pop corn in a circus tent hence the nick name. "I might add that Mr. Hall was no relation to William P. Hall of Lancaster, Missouri." Buckles

George W. Hall Circus 1900 #1

Scan11053, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Written on the back is: "G.W. Hall circus wagon with a tapir painted on the side in their parade at Evansville, Wisconsin 1900."

George W. Hall Circus 1900 #2

MAIL0177, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. George Jr. and Frank Hall with their newest attraction "Pearl". In 1904 two "Lucky Boys" Jerry Mugivan and Bert Bowers, fielded their first circus out of Kansas City on 10 rented cars and was called "The Great Van Amburg Show." Their menagerie consisted of one lion, two wolves and some wild life. Later in the season George Hall Jr. joined the show with his side show that included "Pearl" and other performing animals. Hall stayed most of the season and the Van Amburg Show survived, even showing a nice profit. Mugivan and Bowers were off and running.

George W. Hall Circus 1914

Scan11052, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. What a great picture of an overland show enroute. "Pearl" would be in her upper teens by this time and a pretty nice looking elephant. I enjoy picking out the props that are piled into the wagon. Almost 100 years have passed and little has changed.

Wintermute & Hall Circus 1916 #1

Scan11051, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Frank E. Hall and "Pearl".

Wintermute & Hall Circus 1916 #2

Scan11050, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. "Pearl" with Zella Wintermute (Mrs. Frank Hall). "Pearl" died the following season with a smaller Hall overland show called Rice Bros. Circus." Buckles

Russell Hall #1

Scan11049, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. This 1904 picture of Russell Hall (son of George W. Hall Jr.) as he would have appeared in the side show leased to Mugivan and Bowers.. Aside from the added drama, I don't know why he would be dressed in little girls clothes.

Russell Hall #2

Scan11048, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Russell Hall, at right, owned the only one-man circus in the world. He did the entire performance consisting of both domestic and wild animals. His show had a menage horse, a trained bear, dogs, ponies, monkeys, sheep, pigs and goats. This 1941 picture was taken in Macon, Georgia and includes his elephant "Tena" purchased from Charlie Sparks (Downie Bros. Circus) the year before. At the onset of the war Mr. Hall was drafted into the Army and he was compelled to sell his elephant which he did to the Kelly-Miller Show. The first group of elephants I ever worked was on the Texas dates in 1956. D.R was short a herd worker and I presented an act in an end ring that included this elephant "Tena" and two more "Margaret" and "Elsie". And in spite of everything I did, it went OK. Buckles

Good News!

Ben called and said that he would be released from the Hospital today. He added that on his morning stroll he discovered that Joe Frisco Sr. was in the next room. Jumpin' Joe and Jenny were visiting and spotted Ben as he walked by. Nothing seriously wrong with Joe the elder. Ben said it appears they wanted to get all the wrangy elephant people off to themselves. Buckles

To Rick Faber

Scan11046, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. 1954 was Hugo Schmitt's first year back with RBBB after four seasons with Mills Bros. Circus but his sole duty was to re-train and present the seven baby elephants that had been a disappointment the year before. Arky Scott was still in charge of the herd but as you could imagine, plenty of friction in the elephant department and Arky opted for Jungleland in California the following season. This is the elephant herd in 1954 in order of their seniority with the show. 1. Marcella (Imported by RBBB in 1922) 2. Modoc 3. Myrtle 4. Wallace Trilby 5. Barnes Ruth 6. Barnes Babe 7. Barnes Jewel 8. Tony 9. Josky 10. Lois 11. Mary 12. Wallace Babe 13. Wallace Ruth 14. Judy 15. Topsy 16. Kernaudi 17. Minyak 18. Mudu 19. Sabu 20. Icky 21. Emily (African) 22. Tex 23. Padmuh 24. Tara 25. Yamina 26. Rani 27. Seeta 28. Rajee I did indeed see the show this year in Chicago at the Soldier Field parking lot. Hugo worked the seven punks in the center (#22 thru #28 above) and Joe Grassi and George O'Connell presented five in each end. For some reason I can't recall how the long mount fit into the scheme of things, if the seven young elephants were on the back end, I think I would have remembered, possibly it was somewhere else in the program. Buckles

From Robert Perry

IMG_0001, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Buckles photo of my of my niece Denise & Graeme Diamond who was an accomplished Juggler with our show but have now gone in to the Restaurant business with 7 outbackjacks Restaurants steak (house) across Australia including Darwin. Robert Perry Australia

Barbara Durtche/Smokey Jones Album #1

Scan11050, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Durtche/Jones Album #2

Scan11051, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Durtche/Jones Album #3

Scan11049, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Durtche/Jones Album #4

Scan11053, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Durtche/Jones Album #5

Scan11048, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Slight error here. "Changing of the Guard" didn't appear until 1943.

Durtche/Jones Album #6

Scan11047, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Durtche/Jones Album #7

Scan11052, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Joey Ratliff

diamond tusko28, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Great set yesterday, here is one more of Diamond, Tusko and Ruth on the lot in 1928. I believe Ruth was an anchor for one of the big boys. Joey "This looks like the Washington and Hill lot in Los Angeles with the Mode O Day building in the background. Despite having already been seen in the menagerie, "Tusko" and "Mighty Tusko" made a procession around the track and were officially introduced. You may note that "Ruth" is anchoring "Tusko" by the girth rather than by her neck. When I worked for Hugo Schmitt in 1957 there were 48 elephants in the barn, 21 went on tour and were practiced daily and of the remaining 27, the young ones were exercised around the quarters in this fashion (minus all the hardware of course). When collared neck to neck, I have sometimes seen the anchor elephant get manhandled around pretty good but with this method, should the exercisee decide to bolt she becomes a somersalting elephant when she reaches the end of her leg chain and thereafter has a more prudent attitude." Buckles

Early Circus World Museum #1

Scan11045, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Baraboo, Wisconsin 1963 John M. Kelley and Bill Woodcock Sr. "The notations above and on the back of the following pictures were written by my dad." Buckles

Early Circus World Museum #2

Scan11044, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Baraboo, Wisconsin 1962

Early Circus World Museum #3

Scan11043, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Baraboo, Wisconain 1962

Early Circus World Museum #4

Scan11042, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Early Circus World Museum #5

Scan11041, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Baraboo, Wisconsin 1962

Early Circus World Museum #6

Scan11040, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Baraboo, Wisconsin 1961 Terrell Jacobs cage.

Early Circus World Museum #7

Scan11039, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Baraboo, Wisconsin 1961 Cole Bros.- 101 Ranch Baggage Wagon

Early Circus World Museum #8

Scan11038, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Baraboo, Wisconsin 1961 Corner carvings from Terrell Jacobs cage.

Early Circus World Museum #9

Scan11037, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Baraboo, Wisconsin 1960 "Bertha"

Ben Williams and family (From Paul Gutheil)

ben williams and family, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. BUCKLES: SO GLAD EVERYTHING WENT WELL AND THOUGHT I'D SEND YOU A PHOTO OF THE WILLIAMS FAMILY I TOOK ON THE LOT IN SHELBURNE, VT A FEW YEARS BACK. ALL BEST TO ALL AND BEN, AS ALWAYS, WE'RE WITH YOU AND FOR YOU...MORE PHOTOS TO COME, PAUL

Al G. Barnes Tuskers #1

Scan11022, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. The Mighty "Tusko" was purchased by Mr. Barnes from the M.L. Clark Overland Show in 1921 and was immediately a sensational feature.

Al G. Barnes Tuskers #2

Scan11023, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Clyde "Highpockets" Baudendistl riding "Tusko" who now leads the herd in the daily street parade.

Al G. Barnes Tuskers #3

Scan11035, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. "Tusko" became so difficult to handle that in 1924 he was left in quarters. The two males leading the herd in this parade photo are "Vance" and "Barney" Astride the horse is elephant boss Red McKay.

Al G. Barnes Tuskers #4

Scan11032, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. "Tusko" in the Barnes Quarters.

Al G. Barnes Tuskers #5

Scan11033, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. "Tusko" back on the road after shattering his tusks in his pen at winter quarters.

Al G. Barnes Tuskers #6

Scan11025, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Bloomer English and "Tusko" making the march from the cars to the lot. The chain in front is to pull him ahead in case he should balk and the drag chain is attached to a following elephant. This seems like a harsh existence but the public of the day thought otherwise paid a lot of money to witness this.

Al G. Barnes Tuskers #7

Scan11036, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Added to the Barnes Show in 1928 was another spectacular male "Black Diamond". Purchased from the Wilson's Greater Shows and seen here with E.W. Jackson.

Al G. Barnes Tuskers #8

Scan11024, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. To the unaware, these two males were easily distinguished by the bale ring on "Tusko"s" ivory and the flat bar on "Diamond".

Al G. Barnes Tuskers #9

Scan11031, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. My mother touched up this photo of the old gentleman grazing on the lot.

Al G. Barnes Tuskers #10

Scan11034, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. I got to know Slim Lewis pretty well from my Polack Show days when we would play Seattle. During our first meeting he spent a lot of time talking about "Tusko" and when he arrived at the moment of his unexpected death, he broke down in tears. At the time I thought it odd that he would be so deeply affected thirty years after the fact but as time passes by and thinking of all the great elephants I have known, I understand him a lot better.

Everything went well!

By the time we got there the operation was already in progress and afterward the Doctor said that it went well. Sounds like Ben got a complete overhaul and should be good for another 10,000 miles. Aside from having a catheter protruding from his heart, he looks pretty good.. Ben says to thank you all. Buckles

Things are in motion!

Just got a call from Ben and to my surprise, he sounded the same as always. He explained that there had been a cancellation that moves his operation up to this afternoon. We are on our way to the Hospital right away. Thanks to everyone for your kind words and blessings. Buckles

Turmoil in our household today!

Ben has been ill for over a week and last night Darlene called from our local Hospital where she had taken him earlier in the evening. By the time we arrived, they were in the process of moving him to a larger Hospital in Brandon fifteen miles away where he was immediately placed in Intensive Care. The last word we received is that Heart Surgery is likely. Buckles

Memphis Zoo #1 (undated)

Scan11017, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Memphis Zoo #2

Scan11015, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Memphis Zoo #3

Scan11019, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Memphis Zoo #4

Scan11016, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Memphis Zoo #5

Scan11021, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Memphis Zoo #6

Scan11014, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Memphis Zoo #7

Scan11018, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Memphis Zoo #8

Scan11020, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.