Posted By thecircusblog on September 3, 2008
The Henry Boys from left to right: Arthur, Todd, Robert, Glenn & Cliff. There is one sister and her name was Bertha she was the oldest. This photo taken in 1920, on their father’s circus. J.E.Henry’s Big Show. I also want to mention Max Craig, he was like a brother to the Henry boys. Max was raised on the Henry circus.
Posted By thecircusblog on September 3, 2008
Blaco takes Anita for a ride. In the early 1950’s my mother thought it would be unusual to train small dog’s for her act. She was right…they were a big hit on the tv shows such as Spade Cooley and Ina Rae Hutton.
Posted By thecircusblog on September 3, 2008
Rita performing a back bend. Toni Madison had the only performing chihuahuas in the business at that time. My Mother used the stag name Toni Madison because there were to many Henry’s with dog act’s and the booking agents were always confused about who and what dog act they wanted.
Posted By thecircusblog on September 3, 2008
Rita was one of three performing chihuahuas in Toni Madison’s act. My Mother made all of the wardrobe for the dogs.
Posted By thecircusblog on September 2, 2008
My Dad bought a location house bus from Hal Roach Studios. It once belonged to Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. It was used while shooting their movies. It had everything we needed while we were on the road, however Dad did build a few extras. He put a hitch on it to pull a small trailer. Dad put a hitch on everything, he always said “if you can’t pull with it it’s isn’t worth a damn.”
Posted By thecircusblog on September 2, 2008
In the early 1950’s Toni Madison and her dogs performed on many TV shows such as The Spade Cooley Show, The Ina Ray Hutton Show, Western Verities, The Red Skeleton Show and the Pinky Lee Show. Movies included Vagabond King and several Walt Disney movies to name a few. The list continue on, My Mother was considered of having the top dog in the 1950’s though the mid 1960’s.
Posted By thecircusblog on September 2, 2008
Mom saved many of her dogs from the dog catcher. She trained them and put them into her circus act. Later she became a famous act on TV and in motion pictures. She changed her name to Toni Madison and her act became known as “Toni Madison and her Wonder Dogs”. Photo taken on the 101 wild West & Circus 1945.
Posted By thecircusblog on September 2, 2008
This is a picture of my mother performing with her dogs, my father is in the background assisting. Notice the military costume that my father is wearing. In those days it was customary that all animal trainers wore military type costumes. They were always announced as “Captain …………”
