Dog & Pony Show
Posted By thecircusblog on June 14, 2015
Something from the past…….. an old photo of a circus performer. Can you help me with the information about this picture?
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The Wire Walker
Posted By thecircusblog on June 14, 2015
If anyone has a poster of Hubert Castle, I would have interest in buying it.
Hubert Castle #2
Posted By thecircusblog on June 14, 2015
Hubert Castle… as I knew him on his circus in 1966. He got his start on my grandfather’s show, J.E. Henry Bros Big Show in the mid 1920’s. I do have a photo of him at that time. It is in the category, J.E. Henry 1800 to 1900. At that time with Henry Bros his name was Hal Smith. Later he changed it to Hal Silvers because it looked and sounded better, as he became a headliner on the larger circuses. Hubert or Hal was indeed one fine performer..Without question in his time one of the best wire acts of it’s kind. When I knew him he spoke very little about his past maybe because he had his hands full with his show. We mostly played Shrine dates. I might add, that he had a strong show and was serious competition to the other circuses.
Hubert Castle #3
Posted By thecircusblog on June 14, 2015
Hubert surely knew how to promote himself. He told me that one of his hidden secrets was that he would have liked to be an actor. This came out in a conversation we had concerning my career in acting when I was not on the road. I still was performing with the chimp act which really was my ambition. Hubert indeed had the looks and the talent to become an actor, but I think that he knew that his calling was the circus………. He was successful no doubt about it.
Mel Koontz
Posted By thecircusblog on June 14, 2015
Mel had constant control over his cats. The braking period started at about two months old. He would carry the cubs in his arms and hand fed and watered them. He in essence was there mother, even to the point of reprimanding as a mother lion would. As they matured there was a built in respect and a caring that they had for him. Of course not all the lions that he raised were acceptable for movie work. Playing had to look ferocious. When thing got out of hand however, his method in reprimanding could and would stop any aggressiveness. He did say that there was a time or two when he got nailed in his neck and arms. I and others only saw what Mel wanted you to see when he trained. If you had a question about his training, he would be very open with you. Last time that I saw Mel was in 1959, at Jungleland Thousand Oaks,Calif. Jackie was his best Lion, and was also the MGM Lion.
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