Posted By thecircusblog on October 10, 2011
Gil Gray show 1941 photo of the El Riad Shrine circus committee, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I believe the frog is Penny Parker. Penny did a contortion act and clowned. The frog costume was another bit that he did. There is a complete category on him that you will find very interesting.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 10, 2011
On the back of this photo it says, Gil Gray circus 1952.
Thanks Benny.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 10, 2011
Pictured here is trainer Ted Ball and Murph. Ted worked for Ralph Helfer’s “Nature Haven”. It was located just north of Los Angeles and was the main competition for Jungleland in Thousand Oaks. Both animal compounds had numerous exotic animals and domesticated ones as well. There was always a healthy rivalry between the two for motion picture and television work.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 10, 2011
A matinee in Atoka, Oklahoma. Doc Capell didn’t carry too many wild animals on his circus. His spec was rather weak, so when given the opportunity he would invite the local 4H or the Future Farmers Associations to come the circus. It made for a nice spec as you see here with a young men and their calves and goats. The kids loved it, so did their parents and the city fathers always invited Doc Capell back.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 3, 2011
In 2006 Bill Capell and I went to visit a small sponsored circus at a park in Scottsdale, AZ. What I mean by sponsored is that it was a group of people that were only interested in the art form of the circus and not so much the actual performing.
The gentleman with the African elephant to my right is a trainer from Mexico, His name escapes me at this time. The show itself was only out for a few months and only played major cities throughout the USA, where ever sponsorship was available for them.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 3, 2011
Sept 4, 1984
A friend of mine was sitting on his front porch and much to his dismay, as he put it, herds of animals and people were passing by. He ran and got his camera to prove to himself and other people that he was not going crazy. He told me he had discovered that Ringling Bros, Barnum and Bailey were in town and that the show had chosen his street as a safer route to get to the circus arena where they were showing.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 3, 2011
My friend said, ” I could not believe my eyes.” He told me that he had never been to a circus, not even as a kid. A few days later he bought tickets for his whole family… All because of that diverted parade.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 3, 2011
A great act and great people. This photo was given to Dorothy Carson.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 3, 2011
Now why didn’t I have an act like this? No food, no water, no clean up… and when the act is over, you put it in a suit case. The little creature’s true name is Marionette.
