Posted By thecircusblog on September 5, 2011
Comedy duos were very popular during the 30’s & 40’s, and in the early 50’s, variety stage shows were the “in” thing for many acts. Then television became the king of entertainment. It even had an effect on radio programs and the circus. Performers from all facets of show business had to make changes in order to exist.
Posted By thecircusblog on September 5, 2011
Pictured here, left to right, are John Ringling, Pat Valdo, Program Director / Talent Agent, and Fred Baroda, Equestrian Director in 1924.
Posted By thecircusblog on September 5, 2011
Bentley Bros circus photo. His name is unknown to me. Thanks Lee for his name…… Jimmy Douglas.
Posted By thecircusblog on September 5, 2011
Gil was in his clown makeup. The actual date of this article was nowhere to be found on the ad, but it had to be in the late 1930’s or early 1940’s.
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.
Posted By thecircusblog on August 29, 2011
Another young modern Gladiator, Dick McGraw, is seen breaking in three new lions for his act at the World Jungle Compound. This took place during the ownership of Trader Horne and Billy Richards. They did their best at running the compound, but eventually it went back to Louie Goebel.
Dick was very successful with his act. Every trainer has their own style and Dick set himself apart by being cool, calm and very precise.
There is something else about this man. In my opinion, he is a Hero. He and another lion trainer by the name of Lou Reagan saved the life of Chet Juszyk. During Chet’s act, he was taken down by one of his lions and was being severely mauled. The two trainers came to Chet’s rescue.
Other trainers at World Jungle Compound were Pat Anthony (Vitanza Lions), Mable Stark (Tigers), Melvin Koonzt (Chief Trainer), Frank Phillips (Pumas and Satan Jr. Tiger), Albert Fleet (Lions), and Dick Walker (Lions).
Dick McGraw worked a mixed group of male and female lions. A short time later came Roger Smith, who also worked Lions.
Posted By thecircusblog on August 29, 2011
Lou Reagan was the other Hero who helped save the life of Chet Juszyk. Chet was working his cat act on the main stage arena when he was attacked, surprisingly enough by one of his most trusted lions. The two trainers, without thinking of their own safety, literally took the lion off Chet, but there had been significant damage done. Bill Gowan Thanks for your comment. I met lou many years ago, He indeed was a swell guy.
Posted By thecircusblog on August 29, 2011
Chet Juszyk was the second GI wild animal trainer – Pat Anthony, I believe, was the first – with his training made possible by a special act of Congress called the GI Bill.
The year Chet started working 17 male and female mixed lions was 1953. In the late 1950’s, he was still a top act at Jungleland, then owned by Jimmy Woods and Louie Goebel. My Dad had an investment in it, too.
Chet Juszyk lived many years after his near-death experience, but time takes it toll on all us, and we eventually lost Chet. I am sure he is now in the biggest of all the arenas, where all is tame and where the lions lay down with lambs.
Posted By thecircusblog on August 29, 2011
Is the ringmaster in this program Don Nordoff? I have not seen him since the Pollack show in 1967 and 68.
