HUMAN CANNON BALLS

Here are two completely different Cannons, the Sells-floto I'm guessing is 1929, which is when Gil & Lil Wilson were on that show. It is too bad we don't have a photo of it being fired as it is a very interesting prop. I believe Willy Wilno was the Cannon Ball. The other photo is obviously one of the Zacchinis, in fact Hugo identified his father Edmundo kneeling in front. The reason he is kneeling is because in those days he used a dynamite plunger to fire the cannon. The Zacchinis came to the USA in 1929, and from the style of the truck that looks close. The Cannon Ball is most likely one of his brothers.

WATERBURY CONN. 1952

I'm not sure if this is a Hamid-Morton outdoor date, or a fair, this is Howard & Wanda Belle. If you can see the rigging in the right side background, I would say it was the, first "Wheel" Act that I remember, it was sort of the same principal, but was propelled by a Motorcycle. I seem to remember the name being The Wilsons,(no relation).

HAMID-MORTON CIRCUS 1955

This is Bob Atterbury's High Wire Act with Bob, his wife Vernice, & Penny Wilson doing Iron Jaw underneath. I'm sure David Orr will recognize the location as Jaffa Temple, in Altoona PA. They used to take the Chandelier down for Airplane Acts, and they looked great in that dome. People who know the size of that building won't believe we did it for Howard Suesz one year with the Kimris Act, the Pharoahs Cradle, Larry Ruhl's Hanging Perch, Roselle's High Wire, & Palacio's Flying Act.

MINEOLA FAIR

Let's back up just a little bit to 1954 and stop by the Mineola Long Island Fair, where George A. Hamid is putting on one of his fabulous Grandstand Reviews, here are The Honey Girls, Tumbling Act.

HAMID-MORTON CIRCUS 1963

Now we take a 35 year leap into the future, the Elephant display was Al Vidbel in the center ring with Bombay, Delhi, & Siam, in one end ring was Linda Wilson with Joyce, and this is Donna Wilson in the other end with Sherma.

FRANK PHILLIPS

While we're here on Downie Bros. in 1928, here is a nice shot of Elephant Trainer Frank Phillips. The other guy used to play for The House of David baseball team, but he kept tripping over his beard when running the bases, at first he rigged up a bicycle similar to this rig, but they said you can't ride a bike around the bases. So after being released he joined Downie Bros. Circus, but they said you can't "ride" a bike in a Clown "walk" around, so he came up with this. And, if you believe that story, I know where you buy a bridge real cheap.

ELEPHANT LEAPS

John Herriot remarked that Billy Pape was the world's greatest Elephant Leaper, here is some paper from the 1928 Downie Bros Circus. I know shows have been known to exagerate a little, but if he leaped half of these animals he's welcome to the title.

SHORT JUMP INTO THE PAST

We're going to go back to 1938 for this one, Terrell Jacobs & Jess Adkins, found themselves with a surplus of equipment after framing Cole Bros., so they put out another, smaller show, titled Robbins Bros. This is the class portrait of that show, starring Cowboy Movie Star Hoot Gibson. I like the scene on top of the wagon, sure looks like a Poker game to me. Pat Cashin, do you recognize anyone here?

BUMPSY ANTHONY

Bumpsy was one of a kind, he was on the Hamid Show for awhile. He and Dime did a surveyer gag where Dime would stand in the ring with a prop surveyer's transient, and Bumpsy would take a roll of toilet paper into the seats and have someone hold the end. Then Dime would direct him through the seats, and I'm sure you know where this is going. Once they had the whole section covered Dime and Bumpsy would just walk off the floor. I can see the building people allowing that now.

HAMID-MORTON 1954

This was one of the classiest, and best Hand Balancing Acts I can remember, Franklin & Astrid, all the boys were crazy about Astrid, but Johnny Yong won her heart.

HAMID-MORTON CIRCUS 1954

This is Bea Konyot, when she was working in Alberto Zoppe's Riding Act.

HAMID-MORTON BALLET & CLOWN ALLEY

It's hard to believe this is over 50 years ago, all of the Clowns are gone but most of these Aerial lovelies are still with us. L to R kneeling are, Elsbeth Cosmo, Joannie Valentine, Bertha Nonnenmacher Campisi, Helen Amandis, Terry (Nachamkin) Abbot, Gracie Hanneford. Standing are, Joyce (Bridenbach) Canestrelli, Eva (CORONA) Williams, (?) Georgetti, Gabby De Koe, Jimmy Davidson, Margo Dekoe, (?) Georgetti, Slim Collins, Annie Edleson, & Joyce Vidbel. Clowns bottom to top, Dime Wilson, Connie Wilson, Ray Cosmo, the clown on the top right is unknown. My apology to Bertha for the wrong last name, and Thank You "anoymous"!!!!

DREI AUSLANDERS

Literally translated into English, Three Outlanders,(foreigners). This is in the Krone Compound in Munich, Pat White was working one of the Winter Programs with a Jim Clubb Chipperfield Mixed Act, Trudy had worked the January Program with the Hawthorn Gold Tiger Act, and waiting there in Quarters for the Summer Season to start, and Patricia was there taking over the Krone Elephants.

KRONE ELEPHANTS

These are two of Krone Elephant Herd, which I believe numbered 11 at that time, they are being worked here by long time Krone Trainer Vanda Bidani. It was his father who introduced the Head Carry on RBBB in 1928.

KRONE TRUCK FLEET

This is the Krone Transport fleet lined up along the front fence, at this time they only had two semis, one was used to haul the horses to the train, the other hauled the ponies overland. All of the trailers there have front wheels and are pulled with a ring hitch, and no wiggle wagons either they pull straight as an arrow at 65-70 mph. I always considered the jumps short but not for these drivers,with only about 14 trucks and and almost 100 wagons, they make as many as 7 trips per jump.

KRONE BREAKFAST CLUB

Last night was movie night so I missed the plane to Munich, but we did get there in time for this get together. L to R are Suzanne Chipperfield, Patricia Zerbini, Pat White, Trudy Strong, Mary Chipperfield, (in gray), and Gillian Dieck. Can anyone guess what these ladies have in common.

DOWNIE BROS LIGHT CROWD

Maybe everyone is in the side show. This is a nice view down the midway but it sure looks like a tight lot.

FATHER & SON CLOWNS

Here is Gil Wilson with a very young Dime. Dime was born in 1913 so if you are better than I am at guessing kids' ages you can put an approximate date on this.

PAUL JEROME ?

This is the clown identified to me as Paul Jerome. Notice the dog collar, & padlock, something that Dime adopted years later when he changed from whiteface to tramp.

MISTERY CLOWN

This Clown pops up quite often in the family albums, I have a photo somewhere of him down on one knee, kissing Lil Wilson's hand, which led me to think it might be Gil in a different character, but that would be completely contrary to all the others pictures I've seen of him.

BARNEY BROS CIRCUS 1935

We'll slide back in time another 5 years, to 1935 on Barney Bros. and see another side of Dime Wilson, besides clowning, he loved his Snake Show and had one for many years. I remember when, instead of getting rid of his alligators in the Fall and getting more in the Spring, he used to keep them in the dressing room shower on the Shrine Dates.

THE FIRE HOUSE GANG

We'll back up a little bit to the early 1940's but I'm not sure of the exact year. This was always one of my favorite gags. Here are Gene Randow, Dime Wilson, unknown, Kinko, Jack Klipple(?), and I believe Mickey McDonald.

POLLACK BROS 1949

Now we make a short jump forward 20 years to one of the great indoor & outdoor shows, the prestigious Polack Bros. Circus. This is Dime Wilson, Kinko, Ed Raymond, unknown, Dennis Stevens & Gene Randow.

MEANWHILE 77 YEARS BACK

70 years forward, then 77 years back, isn't it just like the Circus to make a jump, and then jump back past where you were before. Here is the 1929 Sells-Floto Clown Alley again with two additions, the two clowns down front. I have been told the tramp clown is Paul Jerome, I have quite a few photos of the guy in the Bumpsy type make up but not a clue who he is.

70 YEARS LATER AND 2000 MILES AWAY

Here we are back on Circus Krone just as the elephants are arriving on that mountain top after a long walk from the train.

NEW ELEPHANT TRUCK

When Patricia convinced the show to go to trucks it ended the elephant walks, it also ended the promotional value, but was much better for the elephants as it got them to the lot and unloaded much sooner. The trucks were designed by Patricia, except that they are typical of European semis with a single axle tractor and triple axle trailer. I never noticed if the trailer wheels turned like many over there do.

ELEPHANT PICTURES ON CIRCUS KRONE

If Patricia managed to talk them into Elephant Rides, it was after we left in 1999, here is Brian French ready to take one of the elephants for pictures at intermission. This was new too.

CLOWNS THREE HIGH

We're going to jump around in time & place, and these are for the Clown lovers. Judging from it's location in the family photo album this is around 1928 or 1929, which would put it on Downie Bros. or Sells-Floto.

SPARKS SHOW 1946

I seem to remember seeing this photo somewhere in my files named and dated. That's Dime Wilson with the Trombone, and I'll let you tell me who the clown in the center is.

Trudy found the comment here from Neil Cockerline, identifying these clowns, it was dated 04/15/07, it is now 01/21/08, I need to check my archives more often.
They are, Elmer Linquist, Phil Keeler, Ernie Burch, Johnny White, Hodgini(boy), & Dime Wilson.

SELLS-FLOTO 1928

I'll probably never stop apologizing for the quality of some of these pictures, many are scans of some small snapshots. My expertise with the photo enhancing programs on this "infernal machine" are limited, so I will do the best I can. This shot was named & dated on the back.

SIX LITTLE PEOPLE

I have tried every source I can think of and have had no luck identifying this group, how about it Pat, any idea. I believe it is Downie Bros. 1928.

HUNT BROS.-HAMID-MORTON CIRCUS

Here are three of my favorites, Rudy Dockey, Bumpsy Anthony, & Dime Wilson, and from the expressions on their faces it must have been a morning show. This was at Palisades Park, N.J. in 1957, under the Hunt Bros. big top.

CIRCUS KRONE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP #1

I said we would do some "Quantum Leaping", now we go back to the future and across the sea. This is Circus Krone's backyard on a lot that was literally a leveled off mountain top. The white tent on the right is the elephant tent,left center is the exotic tent, and far on the left by the trees is the horse tent consisting of 40 box stalls. The lot was surrounded by Castle Ruins, and going into town was an adventure.

CIRCUS KRONE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP #2

Here is the town!

CIRCUS KRONE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP #3

And here is how we went to town.

MOON BROTHERS CIRCUS #1

We're slippin way back in time, to the Twenties, and the Newton Family's Moon Bros. Circus.

MOON BROTHERS CIRCUS #2

Here's another Moon Bros. photo, it only measures 4" x 2 1/4", and has really taken a beating, once again ,it is unmarked so I have no idea who is in the picture.

IDLEWILDE PARK LEGONIER PA

Idlewilde was a nice quiet place even when it was full of people. This is from a snapshot of the LaBlonde Trio (who I worked for) Aerial Bar Act rigging in the high act location. The great thing about Idlewilde was there love for and loyalty to Circus people, Bob Fisher ran the warehouse, and when we were there I drove the jeep used to supply the joints. Wally Fisher ran the Rootbeer Stand, Nellie & Bosie Dutton ran the Shooting Gallery, Neets & Roy Deisler ran the Novelties, and the last time I visited there Micky King was running the Kiddy Rides.

MYSTERY LADY

Jumping a little further into the future, we travel to 1986 at the Detroit Shrine Circus , produced by Tarzan Zerbini. First this photo is a great example of my case against tower lights around the ring. I still say the only way to light a ring is overhead Pan Lights, (ala Paul Kay). As Joanne Anderson, Trudy Strong,& and Don Anderson enter down the back track, there is a young lady walking down the front track toward the back door. Can anyone identify her? Be honest now, don't look at the other comments till after you enter yours.
Tarzan told me one day that he got watery eyed watching these 18 horses trotting down the track.

TIME TRAVEL

Just a short trip, about 25 years into the future. This is Trudy & I doing The Kimris Act. If you've ever been to Kennywood Park you know the stage is completely surrounded by water, making set up for a rigging this large, a complete nightmare.These poles are 80' high and 60' apart, and the stage is about 80'long, the guy wires on one end have to go through the Willow tree on the right. A dirty bug infested job that fell to Trudy because the rigger & I were too heavy to trust the soft Willow limbs. The other end, and the near side guy out to anchors in the water, and the far side over the narrow part of the lagoon to the shore. The set up took 3 days.

HAGAN-WALLACE CLOWNS

This photo was taken at Daytona Beach, Florida on March 4, 1952.

HAGAN-WALLACE CLOWNS 1952

Here are the same clowns minus one. They are, Top Row, Zeke Lamonte, Reid Bebehler, Happy Davis,(missing here), & Tommy Whiteside. In the center is Lew Kish, and kneeling are Jimmy Odonnell, Gil Wilson, & Candy Dickson.

DOWNIE BROS FLEET # 43

I feel like some of these pictures might have been taken late in the season, these trucks could use a coat of paint. I'm sure some of the reason is photo quality, I have an old Kodak box camera that was here in the house when we moved in that could have been the one that took them. Not to mention, traveling conditions were a little different then.

LOTTIE YORK SOCIETY CIRCUS

I learned from John Herriott last night that the Yorks trained horses for his Uncle George on his Zellmar Bros. Circus, in 1922, he changed the name of the show to Schell Bros. in 1928. The date of this picture is unknown.

DOWNIE BROS. FLEET

Can you imagine pulling into one of today's Super Coops with something like this, I wonder how much horsepower it had under the hood. What I can't understand is, when we took over the Kimris Act, the truck that came with, it had a steel body carrying 180+ ft of 6" to 10" steel poles, hundreds of ft of cable, 2" diameter stakes, etc.-etc. and pulled an old style heavy trailer, with about 170 Horsepower. Now everyone needs 400-500 horsepower.

SARASOTA CIRCUS 1984

Jimmy Cole tells me this was taken in 1984, and since he took it I'll go with that. It was in October, so probably the Shrine date. There is something about working in Sarasota, I've seen jugglers who never drop anything, drop everything, Rope Spinners get all tangled in their ropes, and animal acts have all sorts of problems. For Trudy, working her Liberty Act, it was her worst nightmare come true when the horses blew the ring. I think every horse person in the business was there, and true to Circus Spirit they were all out there to round up the horses and were around the ring to help in case she had more problems. Circus folks are like that you know. This is Trudy with her lead horse Caballo, both dressed for her Dalmatian Dog Act.

HAMID-MORTON AERIAL BALLET

Our first stop is 1955 with the Aerial Lovelies of the Hamid-Morton Circus, how many can you name.

LEAPIN THROUGH TIME

Up to now I have tried to do this blog in a series, and a semlance of order. I find that this puts a strain on my brain, and my time, searching through files for the right picture. So I have hired Dean Stockwell with his little hand held "Time Machine", so fasten your seat belts, we're going "Quatum Leaping all over the place.

LIL WILSON & SHORTY

This is still Downie Bros 1928. Lou Regan always reffered to the Aerial Ballet as, "The Milkmaids Follies", so here is Shorty Hinkle, with two Of the Downie Bros.' Lovelies. I do not know the identity of the girl on the right, but on the left is Trudy's Grandmother Lillian (Lil) Wilson.

BILLY PAPE

This is Clown Billy Pape with his wife at that time, Conchita (Concha) Morales, who was later married to Karl Ericson.