HOWDY, MY NAME IS BILL STRONG, I'LL BE YOUR "24 HOUR MAN", ROUTING YOU INTO THE PAST TO SEE WHAT THE CIRCUS WAS IN DAYS GONE BY. IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, AND MISS WHAT IT USED TO BE, THEN COME ON ALONG AS WE GO DOWN THE ROAD FOLLOWING THE ARROWS BACKWARDS, TO "YESTERDAY'S TOWNS"! IF YOU HAVE CIRCUS RELATED PICTURES YOU WOULD LIKE POSTED, SEND THEM TO,,,,yesterday1@verizon.net,,,,AND WE WILL TRY TO FIT THEM IN. "24 HOUR MAN" WILL HAVE THE FINAL DECISION ON POSTING.
Three years at CWM made me a real traditionalist, and I keep remembering Bob Parkinson saying, "I want the people to see what the circus used to be, not what it is today. That's what this site is about!
I don't usually run two quizzes in a row, but when I found this picture from the New York Herald Tribune, dated April 10, 1946, I couldn't resist.
It was taken the day after their wedding.
We all knew them well,,,, and loved them dearly!
posted by 24-HOUR-MAN | 5:19 PM
7 Comments:
Their wedding day was April 9, 1946, at The Little Church Around the Corner, in Manhattan. The groom had returned from the Army Air Corps as a Captain, after service in the Pacific. He had 7 battle stars and a Presidential Citation. The bride was a great star born to true circus aristocracy. I can name them, but 24-Hour Man asked me not to for a day or two, to see who else guesses right. Come on, you guys.
I have met cousins but not the couple themselves. How did they meet?? cc
Parley and Ernestine Baer
Good shot Wade, right on the money!!!!
cc: Hopefully Roger can fill that in for us.
One thing for sure,we all know, "the rest of the story"!
I wonder how many people said, "she's Circus, & he's not, it will never last".
Same thing they said about Mary and Lee (The Marilees) LOL
In truth, Parley had an early circus background. Beginning in 1936, he was writing publicity for Al. G. Barnes. He did so for Polack and Ringling over the seasons, and many recall working shows Parley produced, doubling up as Ringmaster/Announcer. We have on tape a promotional radio spot of his for RBBB, explaining the role of Ringmaster,and another of him interviewing Emmett Kelly. And we have a photo of him working the Mabel Stark tigers. During the time he was associated with Ringling, he met Ernestine Clarke. During his WW II service they kept up a continuous correspondence of love letters, and as Bill's photo shows, were married upon his return to civilian life. They were married for 54 years. On Parley's 86th birthday, August 5, 2000, he was holding Ernestine's hand at the moment of her passing. Parley suffered a second stroke on November 11, 2002. Surrounded by ten of us, family and friends, he died on November 22, at Motion Picture Hospital, in Woodland Hills.
I have wonderful memories of Parley Barley and Ernestine Baer.
They where the nices peoples and good friends for many years. their two daugther's where great girls and got along great with my childrens of same ages.
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