Elephant Posters #6

scan0067, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Chic Silber

NZQUAKE2, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hi Buckles Saw on last night's news that a major earthquake hit the South Island of New Zealand I believe Henry Schroer said that's where he lived It would be great to hear from him to know how he is doing & if he had any serious damage Thanks Chic

From Josip Marcan

Circo Americano, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Hi Buckles! Here is a picture of the Circo Americano (Enis Togni). When I was playing with them in 1992 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. I took this picture from the space needle next to the Circus that was placed on the pier. Best Regards, Josip Marcan

NY State Fair #1 (From Don Kowell)

DSC06496, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Buckles, I had several emails from your readers asking to see a few more shots from our display here at this years NY State Fair. These photos feature a 3/4" scale model circus built by the late Wallace Bushey from Syracuse NY, now exhibited and restored by his son Jim Bushey. This show is based on typical shows of the 1920's. Mr Bushey built this circus between 1950 and 1970. Most unique is the fact that everything is prototype and packs in the wagons. The detail is fantastic and its all scratch built. This is one of 15 circus displays in our exhibit hall. Enjoy, Don Kowell

NY State Fair #2

DSC06807, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

NY State Fair #3

DSC06801, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

NY State Fair #4

DSC06802, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

NY State Fair #5

P1011741, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

NY State Fair #6

DSC06830, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

NY State Fair #7

P1011748, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

NY State Fair #8

P1011769, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

NY State Faair #9

DSC06832, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

NY State Fair #10

100_8967, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Vol. 51 South Shore Concert Band!

Scan13095, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Chic Silber #1

BFKEITH3, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. The 1st National Tour of "Wicked" that played Tampa last spring (for it's 3rd time) has just opened in Boston for 7 weeks in the "Opera House" (also for the 3rd time) I had opportunity to work on a couple of operas for the famous director Sarah Caldwell when she hired me as her technical director in the mid 80s The attached is the history of that famous building & a window card heralding the original opening as well as the stage manager's performance report The box marked Technical Notes is my 1st concern Our 2nd National tour is currently in Minneapolis If it weren't for dumb luck I'd have no luck at all Chic "Chic, I could lift neither the Boston Theater info nor the Wicked Performance Review, they must be blocked. Shannon is coming by this afternoon and will take my computer outside and blast out all the dust, cob webs, bread crumbs and roach butts with a power washer. While here I will ask him to add these two items." Buckles

From Chic Silber #2

GODOT1, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. In the "famous tramps" department I remembered that about a year ago in a Broadway revival of Beckett's "Waiting For Godot" Nathan Lane & Bill Irwin along with John Goodman played tramp characters They are all accomplished clowns although only Bill Irwin actually graduated "Clown College" Chic

From Chic Silber #3

GODOT2, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Chic Silber #4

1501C, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. This clock was a Christmas gift from Irvin likely to have been early 80s but I"m sure some historian will correct me This is in my N Y office along with much other show stuff both theater & circus Chic "I have the "Leaping Tiger Mirror", "The Polar Bear Towels", "The Desk Clock" and "The Gunther Portrait". Buckles

From Jerry Digney

demile%20BOOK%20color%20invite%20FINAL9_1, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Buckles #1

Scan13095, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Great Ladies of the American Stage!

From Buckles #2

Scan13101, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Buckles #3

Scan13098, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Buckles #4

Scan13097, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Buckles #5

Scan13096, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Red Hartman (From Bill Powell)

1745759882_eb3aae5bc3, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Since my original comments sort of started what now appears to the longest comment string in the history of Buckles Blog I am compelled to comment further on Red if only to get admission into the Guinness book of world records for most hashed over commentary. I worked with Red Hartman for 3 years when he was with Bucky and my mom. He was married, or living with an Italian lady named Pauline. She was much younger than Red and I recall they lived in the "crummy" directly behind the diesel cab that pulled the elephant truck. It was one of those extended boxes behind the cab. She had a little girl from a previous relationship and they seemed to be somewhat happy.....at least from what I could discern. To be honest he had good days and bad days but I recall that he was a good-hearted old show guy and would do anything for you. He liked my mom and they got along pretty well so by default I was "ok" with him. Red was pretty fun to be around with all his stories and antics. One winter Bucky asked Red to train, or co train, a mixed cat act. So we start collecting tigers and lions and have training sessions every day on Haymarket Road outside of Dallas. Training cats never appealed to me as the thought being close to something that could eat me was somewhat scary. Thus, my interest level in helping reflected my caution. The training seemed to be coming along pretty well. All the cats took their seats, there was a barrel roll and a sit up and lay down. Bucky even draped a young tiger over his shoulders and walked around the arena. One day Bucky asked Red to train a bouncing tiger like Beatty used to do with the big male lion. Red resisted and said it was not such a good idea. He informed Bucky that lions bounce and tigers do not bounce. Bucky insisted that you could teach a tiger to bounce. Red showed Bucky the technique on a lion and stepped out of the way. Bucky stepped in the cage all macho and tried the same thing with a tiger. The next thing we saw was the pissed off tiger chasing Bucky up the side of the arena cage. Bucky made it over the side but emerged bloody and had a few scars to show for it. Red sat in the corner smoking a cigarette and shaking his head watching the whole scene unfold. That seemed to put a cooling effect on Bucky's desire to produce a mixed cage act. The effort was ill fated and I do not recall that it ever made it out of winterquarters. The cats were later sold or traded away and I was relieved to have 8 less animals to feed and clean up after. Hence, ever since I have referred to the act as "ill fated" as it never got off the ground. I rest my case Bill Powell

Herman Weedon #1 (From Buckles)

Scan13095, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Selig Zoo Los Angeles Zoo

Herman Weedon #2

Scan13097, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Herman Weedon #3

Scan13098, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Herman Weedon #4

Scan13096, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Early Al G. Barnes #1

Scan13099, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Louis Roth

Early Al G. Barnes #2

Scan13100, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

From Grace Swank-Davis

Buckles, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. I found this photo in a book called "One Life" by Ernest Sharpe, printed in 1950. I don't know if you can use it or not but, I thought you might like to see it. Grace "Yes this is a well circulated picture but of particular interest to me since it includes the only picture I have of the African "Topsy" after being transferred from 4Paw-Sells to the Barnum Show. No further record of her after 1910." Buckles

From Buckles

Scan13101, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. The combined elephant herds owned by the Ringlings in 1909.

From Chris Berry

John_Robinson_OWNERS_PORTRAITS_(c_1910), originally uploaded by bucklesw1. John Robinson- Owners Portraits! (c 1910) As we mark "John Robinson Day" I would like to take the conversation in a different direction and reflect on circus printing executed in the Cincinnati area around the turn of the last century. Both this particular John Robinson one-sheet - printed by Russell-Morgan - and Ol' Whitey's program (posted below) share many of the same themes in graphics and copy. After consulting with Ol' Whitey, we both agree that despite the 1896 copyright date on the program and the similarities in graphics and copy these pieces were probably used by John Robinson into early 1900s. A couple of notes about the Russell, Morgan Company - which produced lithos in the late 1800s and early 1900s that rival the best work of the other big Cincinnati show print houses - Strobridge and Enquirer . In 1867 A. O. Russell, Robert J. Morgan, James M. Armstrong and John F. Robinson Jr. formed a partnership and purchased from the proprietors of The Cincinnati Enquirer what was then known as the Enquirer Job Printing Rooms. The new name of the firm was Russell, Morgan & Co. In 1880 Russell-Morgan began printing playing cards - and by the early 1880s was making about 1600 packs a day. Russell, Morgan and Co. became The United States Printing Company in 1891 and only three years later the playing card business was split from the Printing Company, becoming The United States Playing Card Company - with circus and theatrical posters of the era still carrying the Russell-Morgan imprint, often with "US Litho Company" above the trademark. Incidentally, the US Playing Card Co (now a part of Jarden Corporation) still prints one of it's original brands (Congress) along with its famous "Bicycle" and "Bee" brands.

From Old Whitey!

Buckles42, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Rick Pfening just reminded me that today is John Robinson Day. Happy Sept One.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #1 (From Eric Beheim)

48 RBBB 4-1fix - Copy, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #2

48 RBBB 4-2fix - Copy, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #3

48 RBBB 4-3fix - Copy, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #4

48 RBBB 4-4fix, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. A nice example of the type of candid photo that often turned up on TRU-VUE filmstrips and which now make them such valuable social records of the 1930s and 1940s.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #5

48 RBBB 4-5fix, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #6

48 RBBB 4-6fix, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. According to Joe Bradbury, the sideshow top was a 75 foot round with two forties and one thirty.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #7

48 RBBB 4-7fix, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #8

48 RBBB 4-8fix, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #9

48 RBBB 4-9fix, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #10

48 RBBB 4-10fix, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #11

48 RBBB 4-11fix, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1948 RBBB Set 4) #12

48 RBBB 4-12fix, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #13

48 RBBB 4-13fix, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #14

48 RBBB 4-14fix, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

1948 RBBB (Set 4) #15

48 RBBB 4-15fix, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.