Cole Bros Circus
Posted By thecircusblog on May 21, 2010
This old photo is of the Cole Bros Steam Calliope. I place the year at 1936 or 1935. This photo was salvaged from a junk box at a book store.
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Clyde Beatty POSTER
Posted By thecircusblog on May 21, 2010
This was one of many posters of Clyde Beatty that was not an actual photo of him. The date is around the early to mid 1930’s and is totallly hand artistry.
Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus
Posted By thecircusblog on May 21, 2010
This is my find along with other great circus memorabilia. I went to this antique shop and found some old Billboards, and this poster that was used in the early to mid 1960’s. I only paid about 20 dollars for the books , show photos and two posters.
Dave Hoover #1
Posted By thecircusblog on May 21, 2010
Dave Hoover doing a remarkable job in filling the shoes of Clyde Beatty. After the death of Clyde Beatty in 1965, the show was without their feature and star act. The very capable Dave Hoover took over in 1966. If my memory serves me correctly the last time I saw Dave was some time in the late 1950’s or early 1960’s, I believe it was on the Carson and Barnes show. I do remember that he had a stunning cat act. 2-312,Up date I am not sure where I saw Dave before the Beatty show…… I will keep researching,
Please read comment.
Dave Hoover #2
Posted By thecircusblog on May 21, 2010
Dave Hoover performing on the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus. This photo I believe was taken in 1966, His first season with the show.
Stretching Out The Big Top
Posted By thecircusblog on May 21, 2010
How well I remember this job…. it seems like it was just yesterday. All circuses that have a big top have a crew of men that do nothing but set up the circus tent. Every so often we would have to split the tent crew to send them to the next town to drive stakes and ready the center poles for the big top. The reason for this usually was because of an overnight jump and three shows that next day, it saved a lot of time. When we did split the crew the performers would pitch in to help get the show up……….Foot note, Most lager shows carried extra poles and stakes and some a second top good for one day stands or a blow down. We were playing Atlanta ,Georgia and fell short on help. Every one on the show pitch in to get the show up. It was very noticeable to the town folks standing near by watching us that we were in trouble, some one yieldout hay there do you all need some help, with a quick replay of yes about 50 townees volunteered and worked with us until was up for the first performance. Thank yous were handed out and so were tickets for the helpers and their families………….. Sid Kellner’s Great London Circus, spring 1975. The photo above is a lucky find, It was in a junk bin in a used book store. Cole Bros Circus some time in the early to mid 1960’s. I also got a Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Poster as well.
Lacing The Big Top Canvas
Posted By thecircusblog on May 21, 2010
Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus early to mid 1960’s. Lacing up the canvas is not as easy as one would think as the gramet holes and lacing rope loops have to match up or you will have to start all over again. Notice the man at the first center pole, who is tying off all of the laced sections to the bail ring. A heavy rope pully block is attached to it and at the top of the center pole. When the tail end of the rope is pulled the tent rises, this is called pulling the peaks. All this tent canvas you see here is in sections. Between each center pole the canvas is laced left and right of the pole as well. This man is lacing the end of the tent.This circus tent has 12 sections, It looks like it has 50 foot middles by 120 wide with 90 foot round ends, which is where this man is working.
Pulling the Peaks
Posted By thecircusblog on May 21, 2010
Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus in the mid 1960’s. This is the old fashioned way to pull the peaks of a big top amd I believe maybe the best way. It’s tradition and easier with an elephant then to use a motorized vehicle. Elephants have been the most important part of the circus from the very beginning. They were and still are on many shows used as workers and performers. I remember many times that we could not pull off a lot because of the deep mud after a bad rain. We would harness up the elephants and with ease they pulled the trucks and trailers off the lot to hard ground or pavement. In 1975 we played the Illinois state fair in the grandstand with Side Kellner’s Great London Circus. It had rained most of the time. The carnival had it’s share of problems too. On the back half of their midway was soft ground that turned to mud. Ward Hall and his partner C.M. Chris had a sideshow on the back of the carnival midway. They were in the mud on tear down night. Ward knew of the circus, and he also knew we had elephants. It didn’t take him long to ask for help and of course we obliged. We hooked up to the tractor and pulled it and semi into the clear. Ward said it is just like the old days stating this fact from on top of the elephant back that he rode to the circus area. We also helped the carnival people out too that had the same problem.
Pulling Up the Quarters
Posted By thecircusblog on May 21, 2010
After the tent on the center poles are pulled half way up they start sliding up the quarter poles to help take some of the weight off the canvas. When all the quarter poles are in their correct position, then the main block and falls on the center poles are pulled to the top or peak of the center pole. Believe it or not it is quite easy to put up a big top once you’ve done it for 10 or 20 years. This photo was also a find in an antique store. Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus mid 1960’s.
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