R.B.B&B
Posted By thecircusblog on March 20, 2013
Photo taken in 1934 or 1935. Notice the height of the side wall. The seat stringer jacks had to be about 12 foot high.
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Hollywood Lion Motor Drome
Posted By thecircusblog on March 13, 2013
This motor drome was owned by Harry J. De Bock, Cleveland, Ohio. Motor dromes were most likely the most popular show on fair and amusement park midways. Throughout the 1930’s and into the the late 1950s’ motor dromes were a common attraction. I saw a performance at the Pomona Fair, southern Calif. in 1959. In this photo the cyclist is gathering a tip. They would bally for about 15 minutes doing stunts. The motorcycle is running haft throttle on roller bearings which allowed the performer to balance. The performance area is a round arena having solid wooden walls seen in the background.The cyclists would ride the walls horizontally at full speed while doing their different stunts. The audience walked up an outside stairway and at the top they stood on a gangway looking down into the barrel like arena. At times the cyclist would ride to the very top of the arena wall, just a foot or two from where they stood. I guarantee it put a fright in you.
Hollywood Lion Motor Drome
Posted By thecircusblog on March 13, 2013
They carried a lion on their show to help build a tip. No tricks just for show. I want to thank Tammy Wright for the photos of her grandfather Harry J. De Bock.
George Matthew’s Great London Circus
Posted By thecircusblog on March 13, 2013
Sid Kellner was the owner of the show. He took the first names of his two sons George and Matthew to title the name of the circus. Many years before Great London Sid had The James Bros Circus. Dad and I worked our acts with Sid’s show on and off for many seasons. Never had to worry……he was and is still a stand up person. I spoke with him a few days ago, and he is still as sharp as a tack……………. at 91 years old.
George Matthew’s Great London Circus
Posted By thecircusblog on March 13, 2013
Cuyahoga Co. was our closing spot in 1975 and opened there in 1976.
George Matthews Great London Circus
Posted By thecircusblog on March 13, 2013
Sid Kellner had these monogramed cloth patches made for show jackets and for the prop man’s coveralls. I got this from John Polacsek. along with the coupon and the 1976 route. John stopped off at our home in late Feb. He had been in San Diego, Calif, for the CFA meeting. We spent a few hours cutting up circus jack pots. Then off he went on his way back home in Michigan.
The Great Fussner
Posted By thecircusblog on March 13, 2013
This was a very unique rolling globe act using a 30 foot spy-roll tower. Fussner would walk the globe downwards and of course, with a few exciting moments thrown in for the audience. Fussner was strictly an outdoor act because of his equipment. He did present his act on the front of some circus midways, such as Henry Bros Circus in the early 1930’s….but mainly fairs and other types of outdoor events.
Polack Bros Circus 1968
Posted By thecircusblog on March 13, 2013
Javier “Peluza” Esparza and Tobie of Henry’s Chimps. This photo was a newspaper shot used for a show write up and later put into the Polack Bros program. After each trick that Tobie did, he would style in this manner to milk the audience. It got so that he understood that the more bows he took the more applause he got. There were many times that Tobie would upstage with a bow the other chimps while they were doing their tricks. It became a nuisance but the audience loved it. The style was copied from Al Jolson.
Al Jolson
Posted By thecircusblog on March 13, 2013
Al Jolson milked the audience with this style and so did Tobie.
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