Don Philips
Posted By thecircusblog on August 29, 2011
I need to write a little story about this fellow. Way back in the 1950’s his family and mine were on the Siebrand Bros Circus and, of course, he and I became good friends. The show would stay a week in each town, and during the week days the show would open at 6p.m., giving us plenty of free time…WRONG……
Every day in the early mornings our fathers had us each practicing our own acts. His was unicycle and juggling and spinning balls. Mine was the rolling globe and juggling and a new trick incline and steps. To break the monotony, we started double juggling and I’ve got to tell you, we got good – so much so that we wanted to put our own act together.
It did not come to pass because Pete Siebrand said he had enough acts for this season; maybe next season. That did not dampen our double juggling. We just got all the better at it. As the season went on, I noticed that Punkin, his nick name, was developing into a master unicyclist and juggler, combined with his usual gift for ball spinning on his fingers and being able to place one on top of the other…and even a third ball. I knew in my heart that he would become a great performer.
Punkin loved to mimic movie actors. My favorite that I would ask him to do over and over again was Lionel Barrymore’s Dr. Kildare. There was a scene where Dr. Kildare told the assistant doctor to do a certain medical function. Now, with his humor he changed the lines just a tad, and in the voice of Mr. Barrymore said, “I thought I told you to remove that mans spectacle’s, NOT his Tes”….well, you can figure out the rest of the spelling. This always hit my funny bone and I could not help but laugh my self silly.
We had great times together those few short seasons, but my memories of my friend Don”Punkin” Philips,”carry on. My father once told me that you could count your true friends only on one hand and, if you got lucky, you might have five. My friend “Punkin” was one of the five.
About the author
thecircusblog
My name is Ivan M. Henry and I am the 4th generation of a circus/show business dynasty. I hope you enjoy the blog.Comments
3 Responses to “Don Philips”
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What a nice tribute – thank you Ivan. The stories abound – there are so many that it is sometimes hard to remember them all, and this is one that you reminded me of. Don certainly was a polished performer, but probably his real talent was comedy. one which he must have inherited from his father; another very funny man. When Don passed away and we were making funeral arrangements the girls and I were very disappointed in the choice of memorial cards we were provided. They just were not Don. So we spent one long night designing a personalized one and we put as the title line “A Legacy of Laughter”, for that is truly what Don left to us.
you dont need to post this I just wanted to thank you for the story you wrote about my dad Don Philips thanks so much mom showed it to me yesterday and it brought a tear to my eye I miss him everyday
I am writing as book about circus performers killed during their performances. Currently, I am researching the death of Belinda Jean Neff Conner, a trapeze artist, killed in 1991 while with the Shrine Circus in Michigan. I know that her husband, David Conner (sometimes spelled Conners or Connor), was a juggler who was last known to be performing with Don Philips somewhere in Nebraska, but I cannot find any contact information on him, (Conner). I would like to interview Mr. Conner and/or any other next-of-kin of Belinda Conner, for the book. If you can provide any contact information, it would be much appreciated.
Nicholas Cain
EMail: RVN197273@GMail.com