Hal Silvers AKA Hubert Castle
Posted By thecircusblog on August 31, 2008
This is a picture of Hal Silvers who was a tight wire performer on my grandfather’s circus,” Henry Bros”. He later changed his name to Hubert Castle. In the 1960’s he started the Hubert Castle International Circus. How ever his real last name was Smith. Hal is his true first name, He thought Smith just wasn’t strong enough for a circus performer. He may have been right. This photos date is in the early 1930.
About the author
thecircusblog
My name is Ivan M. Henry and I am the 4th generation of a circus/show business dynasty. I hope you enjoy the blog.Comments
14 Responses to “Hal Silvers AKA Hubert Castle”
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Hal Silvers, aka Hubert Castle (real name James Albert Hal Smith) was my Great-Grandfather (we called him Grandad). I’m constantly looking for things to collect that I don’t already have from family concerning Grandad, his circus, and travels. While visiting my Granbun (who is Grandad’s widow) for her 97th birthday a week ago, we were reminiscing about Grandad’s career. My husband was doing some internet searching on his phone while we were talking and came across this page. The picture looked like Grandad, but I had never heard of him using the name Silvers. I showed Grandbun the picture and asked if that was Grandad, and she excitedly said “Yes!” We asked her about the name Silvers and she said he indeed used that name before he started using Hubert Castle. Thanks for posting another photo I can add to my collection!
Ami Burkhalter
Cypress, TX
Hubert castle was my grandfathers brother. I had forgotten that he had also used Silvers. My family has always spoken highly of him, and I remember he was a lot of fun to be around.
Brad Stockholm
Henryetta, Ok
Hubert Castle and his wife Mary were my ‘Uncle Hal and Aunt Mary’. My Dad, Ivan, was Hal’s brother…there were 6 brothers in all. I have a photo my Mom took in the 40’s when she and my Dad visited Uncle Hal at the circus where he was performing. I have several other family photos I will happily share with grandchildren and great grandchildren, if desired… mostly candid family reunion photos.
In case anyone’s interested, I’ve got an original Cole Bros. Hubert Castle poster up on ebay beginning 12/28/12.
The ebay address is
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221171147642?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
Hello, I have an old circus poster from Hubert Castle International Circus dated Sept 15, 16 17 sometime in the 1960’s. The Circus was sponsored by the Minot N.D. Shrine Club here in my hometown and I remember going to the circus every year as a child but I can’t remember what years Hubert Castle was performing and was wondering exactly what year its from and if it has collectable value? Thank you for any information anyone has I can be reached at wserdahl@yahoo.com. Best regards Wes
Hubert Castle was my Grandfather. I love to contact those in this blog that are related to him.
Geoff Smith San Antonio TX
If anyone is interested, I have just posted a clip of Hubert Castle on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/cpcDWfH5alM
The clip comes from old home movies of Max Kittson from The Maxwells comic acrobatic duo.
Ami, Brad and Carole…we are all relatives. Hal was my great Uncle, his wife my Aunt Bunny (Mary) was my grandmother’s sister (Betty Tanner-Tracy). I would love to connect with all of you. My email address is kebug@aol.com
Hal was my husbands great uncle. His grandfather was Hal’s brother Leon, who performed as the clown “Quick Silver”.
Uncle Hal was one of my grandfather’s brothers, my grandfather being Paul Samuel Smith who died in April 2009 of heart failure. Paul was the father of my mother, Martha. As a child, I remember that my dad had offered to keep one of uncle Hal’s baby elephants for a spell while he was busy with the show. I thought it was great, but it only lasted for about 2 weeks because my mom won that battle. The fact that we had an elephant for 2 weeks is a story I enjoy telling to this day.
Darla Whisenant
I just obtained a 1971 international circus poster from the Canadian national exhibition
Produced by Hubert castle
I can forward pics if u like
My husband and I are purchasing a home here at 1960 Peavy Road in Dallas. We were told that Circus people had owned the 2 acre lot and I am wondering if this is the same Castle Family. When I googled the address it just said “Castle International Circus”. I would love to have any information about the property if anyone knows anything. Thanks!
Thank you for the response, Ivan. I added a link to the photos of the home at Peavy we just purchased. This was the Winter home for Hubert and he would train his animals here in the off season. Of course, the pool was added about 7 years ago and there is a small house off to the side that might have been some type of barn or something back in the day. There are still some of the old concrete edges to the feeding troughs for the animals. If anyone has pictures of the home/property back in the day, we would love to see them. Thanks:) http://apps2.shoot2sell.net/gallery/1960-peavy-rd-dallas-tx/