Posted By thecircusblog on January 13, 2011
Gil looks on as a child is being paid a tribute. The Shriner’s are known for their great work with the crippled children’s hospital. For years they have contributed money made from the different shrine circuses all over the country and thousands of kids have been helped. May God bless the Shriner’s for their wonderful work and contributions. In this photo are the El Rias Shriner’s.
Posted By thecircusblog on January 13, 2011
Billy Burke poses on what I believe to be a Christmas float.
Posted By thecircusblog on January 4, 2011
How well I remember Abe and that old sock billy club! There was a mystery about him ….in all of the years that I had worked with him I really never knew him on a personal basis….he was just there on the show working with the other clowns. I never saw him with a car or trailer and after a performance he would disappear. I was told that he was in World War I at the tender age of 16 and had lost an eye. It was very obvious that he had a glass eye to replace the one he lost. You could notice that there were many fractures in it and one day I asked him about his eye because of my concern. Abe said “oh it fell out some time ago landing on the cement sidewalk………. it don’t bother me looking though the cracks”…… he had me. That was the end of the questions. If you had to speak about something he would garble back at you then hit you with the sock billy club. It was not meant in a bad way, there wasn’t a mean bone in his body….most likely he was just shy. I just thought, I never saw him out of makeup. I guess I could not recognise him without makeup. Now that is odd…..I only know Abe Goldstein by his makeup. Read comment made by Casey Gibbs.
Posted By thecircusblog on January 4, 2011
Tiny “Galla Shawn” Gallagher is one of the best……….. and a one of a kind. She did a stunning head balancing trapeze act. Yes it is true………… there were others in our business who may have been just as good, but when Tiny came into the arena and then climbed to the lofty reaches of the trap bar…. she owed it. Her very presence captured the audience.
Posted By thecircusblog on January 4, 2011
In this photo with Gil is his sister Doris. Photo was taken just a few weeks before his passing away.
Posted By thecircusblog on January 4, 2011
Swan tableau band wagon, with no band that I can see, used in the Disney spec. Photo from the Gil Gray collection.
Posted By thecircusblog on January 4, 2011
This lady knows how to ride and manage a horse. Look how well she sits in the saddle and with a straight back. A great photo, also from the Gil Gray circus collection.
Posted By thecircusblog on January 4, 2011
Whoever he is…. he sure is enjoying himself with Dolly Dumbo…. Gil Gray’s frist elephant.
