Tusko
Posted By thecircusblog on March 6, 2009
This is Tusko, one of many great circus elephants. Photo taken on the Al G. Barnes circus 1930’s. He was considered a great attraction during his time.
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Terrel Jacobs
Posted By thecircusblog on March 5, 2009
This photo taken in the early or mid 1930’s on Ringling or Al G. Barnes. Terrel looks very comfortable here with this full arena. The big cat trainers of the circus had a very special talent….they could read their cats. Constant care, close relations and the trainer always being the pride leader were necessary ingredients for a good cat act. But there are still are problems within the groups that can cause trouble…. females in heat and males trying to dominant other males. I remember one time a new prop hand set the arena wall seats out of order. Nobody noticed the problem until the cats came in and it was mayhem for a few minutes. Pat Anthony was the act, he ran them out of the arena fixed the seats and we ran them back in. Never saw the prop hand again.
The Lindens
Posted By thecircusblog on March 5, 2009
Dave and Nancy Linden took their talent everywhere. The last time I heard from them they had just finished doing half-time performances with the Globetrotters. As I sit here and write about my fellow performers, it saddens me that in many cases we lose track of each other which is a shame because when you come right down to it, all we have left of the old circus is each other. I am sorry to say that some of the public doesn’t understand us especially those in the media and politics as they use the word “circus” in a derrogatory manner. It is heard often and it infuriates me! I am sure if they spent one season with a circus, that their opinion would positive rather than negative.
The Lindens
Posted By admin on March 5, 2009
Dave Linden performing during half time show with the Harlem Globetrotters. Notice in this picture he is leaning over getting ready for a one arm handstand. David was accomplished in hand balancing. He did every trick in the book including a one finger stand. I have only known three performers able to do a perfect one finger stand….The Great Barton, Danny Du Val, and David Linden. Perhaps there are others….if you know of any, please make a comment on thecircusblog and send photo thanks …..Ivan
Linden Clowning
Posted By thecircusblog on March 5, 2009
It makes no difference where we do the act ……circus arena or shopping center. Everybody loves a plate spinning act , it does excite the audience doesn’t it? Dave Linden did a good job of waiting until the plate was just about going to fall before he would start the spin again. This was an act that I always liked to follow because it warmed up the audience. There was however a problem with all the broken dishes….I had to make sure that the prop men would clean up the ring before bringing the chimps out. I had the same problem with magic acts and their left over food from the guillotine trick. The chimps would start eating instead of performing.
Mr. B and Dolly
Posted By thecircusblog on March 5, 2009
The Coleman family, Ben LauraLee and Gayla, as Dolly. This child was a knockout performer. The act started out looking like it might be a magic act. She appeared from the box in photo and went right into an acrobatic adajio routine with her father. I remember well the other performers on the show would watch this little girl perform which was always a compliment to another performer.
Twinkles
Posted By thecircusblog on March 3, 2009
Many years ago I got a letter from Timothy Neal Tegge, stage name Twinkles. I was putting together a show when I got this photo of him. I wrote back expressing my interest in using him but sadly never heard back………well that’s show biz. His clown make-up was original and exceptional. One of the things that I was taught by some of the old-time circus clowns, that a true professional clown that did “white face” would always wear white make-up on the front and back of their necks. Those that did not were considered a first of May and was told so by the old-timers. Twinkles was not a first of May.
Mingo & Friends
Posted By thecircusblog on March 3, 2009
Mingo is second from the right in his pink polka dot clown wardrobe. I have known Mingo all of my life. Most circus performers knew Mingo as a true circus trooper. The clown on the left is Willie the Tramp Clown. I believe this photo was taken on the Gatti Charles Circus in the mid 1960’s. I remember Mingo as a sweet and gentle person who would do anything in the world to help a fellow circus performer. I never heard him speak ill of anyone. May God bless him… Help me to remember the names of the two lady clowns on either side of Mingo.
I have the names now thanks to Jackie Knupp. See Comment below.
The Volvos
Posted By thecircusblog on March 1, 2009
Here are the Wazzans doing their comedy ladder act. The name Volvos is a stage name. This photo was from 1981. Most circus families do two acts… some more . The reason for this is you can get more show dates with two than with only one. My acquaintance with Antar goes back many years starting when I took over a Moroccan troupe called “The Sons of Morocco” ……a tumbling and human pyramid act. Some of the members of the troup were Tafala, Mohammed, Moulie, Mershannie, Osinie, Swarie and Mershani. They called me Abdula which means “slave of God.” I was the bottom man in the act. My family & I sponsored them for two years and then they went out on their own.
The Wazzans
Posted By thecircusblog on March 1, 2009
Kief Halik Sahby….Antar I just discovered your pictures and was happy when I did. The last we spoke was in 1981. I was producing the entertainment for the National Date Festival. This picture is of the trampoline act. This looks like a finish trick and it is quite different because of the shoulder held balance pole being used on the trampoline. Notice the high somersault. I believe this is an original trick.
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