The Singing Cowboy

Posted By on April 20, 2010

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If ever there was a circus fan most definitely Tex Ritter was it!  He is with Jimmy Golfs mother in this picture. Jimmy was the drummer with the Siebrand circus. Tex just happened to be doing one of his song promotionals at a music store. Jimmy and his mother were at the store buying sheet music for the circus organist Don Ray.  When Tex discovered there was a circus in town…. his promotion ended. Tex Ritter was not only a great western singer but he was a pretty fair actor as well. I remember his song called “The Deck Of Cards”. For those that are not familiar with this song it told a story of a cowboy that didn’t have a Bible…only a deck of cards and as he went though the cards each one reminded him of a passage from the Bible.

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The Wrigley Mansion … Phoenix, Arizona

Posted By on April 20, 2010

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That’s right the Wrigley Gum People. Photo taken in 1949. This mansion now is surrounded by hundreds of homes and resorts.

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Arizona State Fair

Posted By on April 20, 2010

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The Arizona State Fair front gate is no longer in use because the street it faces is McDowell,  a heavily traveled street. This photo was taken in  the fall of 1949. In the 30’s 40’s and early 1950’s it had horse racing and a few years later…. auto racing.  But it is best known for being an agricultural fair.

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The Dope Show

Posted By on April 20, 2010

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In the 1950’s addiction was just as worrisome as it is now. This show was met with some distain. but more over it had a big impact on the common public. The charge was 25 cents, stay as long as you like.

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The Dope Show

Posted By on April 20, 2010

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This show got more interest form police and city officials than anything on the midway. No matter where we played they knew it was coming and they  made it a point to visit this show. As you can see the painting and language was very much in your face as well as being very suggestive. There were towns that asked for certain things to be covered.

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The Dope Show

Posted By on April 20, 2010

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The space this show took was over 90 feet in length. Inside it was a que line walk around. The back of each semi opened up forming the side, and turning it into an awning and from that a back side wall. The show consisted of graphic morgue photos of people that died from an over dose of narcotics. Also under several glass cases there were different types of paraphernalia used by those who were addicted. The Dope Show made it’s point and maybe it did help some. The show only lasted two seasons with the Siebrand circus and carnival most likely because it was a shocker and somehow the truth is uncomfortable.

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Old Circus Posters

Posted By on April 18, 2010

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      There was a lot of hard work restoring this posters. I still have more to work on.

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Capell Bros

Posted By on April 18, 2010

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The Truman Home

Posted By on April 18, 2010

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The man that lived in this home was a true circus fan.  His name was Harry S. Truman. The home is located in Independence , Mo.

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The Quackenbushes

Posted By on April 18, 2010

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Ma had a talent for taking a non-funny joke that all in the audience knew and disliked ….and in her unique way she could twist it into her own. It became hilarious, of coarse Pa was the brunt of it.  They could do a complete show all by themselves.

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