Dewayne Bros Circus
Posted By thecircusblog on May 27, 2011
Mary Jo Knolls with the Ted De Wayne circus elephant. 1965
Just got the name of the elephant, Bimbo Jr. Trained by Wally Ross. Thanks Mary Jo.
Great comment from Donn J. Moyer. Must read.
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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
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Any information on the identity of the elephant?
I traveled with Ted Dewayne the summer of 1969. A very life changing experience. I remember BIMBO. He was used to help set up the big top. Bimbo had a healthy respect for Ted and when Ted would yell at him he would let out a roar and run away from him.
I learned how to juggle from Andy and made a lot of found memories during that Summer of 1969. I wish I could find a Poster from those days. If anybody knows where to find one I would love to get one.
Bob
My father had a small circus from the 1930s to the end of the 1940s. For a family history, I am trying to learn something about it. It was called the “Bob Taber Chatauqua”. He also worked on a number of bigger circuses with primary a monkey act. If anyone has any knowledge of him, I’d love to hear from you. I was unfortunately the youngest of our sons, and while my brothers worked on the circus, I never did.
Hi Bob, I found several DeWayne Curcus posters in a old attic
Your welcome to email me at : Auburnamypicker@gmail.com
Bob Watson, Bimbo was a female as was Popsie.
I also worked with the circus. Did ladder, web, worked with J.King Ross and the Hollywood Poodles, helped with the liberty act and cleanup. Everybody helped. Loved it. A forever memory!
Just came across this looking for info. on the DeWayne Circus after posting a pic of my 3 1/2 year old self feeding Bimbo popcorn on the front page of the Orange, CA paper. What a coinky-dink! 🙂
Hi;
I traveled from California (by car with my wife and 4 little kids) to Anchorage, where we had a lot of family living there at the time in 1961 with Ted DeWayne and his entourage. We were bonded through Canada and thus had to travel together. For our evening meal Ted would find a pull out big enough to accommodate “Bimbo”s” truck, and another truck with ponies etc. Ted took an old fashioned tub bath before creating a gourmet meal. He was a super chef. Capt. Maynard was the “bull man”. Ben (Meyer) DeWayne and Mike Foster who did several acts together and a couple single “O” turns, and “Peanuts” the Clown (who’s name I can’t recall) drove Ted’s pickup camper most of the time. Al Dixon who was a show painter with a bad attitude traveled also. The circus was 10 days for the Anchorage Shrine Temple (I still have a program) and other acts who rounded out the circus were the stars the “Flying Vienna’s” consisting of Del and Bab’s Graham and star of the circus was TV’s Ozzie and Harriet’s big boy Dave Nelson who had learned to be a catcher and appeared in several circus movie as such. The great Leon Fort who had worked with Karl Wallenda (his sister married Gunther Wallenda and produced Stephen Gregory Wallenda. Leon was a talented single “O” high wire walker. We became close friends and for a couple years he and his nephew Steven Wallenda partnered with my wife Nancy and myself. Aldo Cristiani had his 4 bulls and his Dalmatian dog at. Hugo Zacchini was there with his canon and Jimmy Troy “Comedy King of the Air” did a dangerous and funny single trap act. Nolly and Polly Tate helped in the clown department. I have a rundown on the show and although I remember how tired I got driving the Alcan (for the 2nd time) and Nancy and I sleeping sitting up in the car. After the Anchorage date I dropped Nancy and the 4 little kids off at home as Ted had hired me to announce his DeWayne Bros. Circus date on July 4th at Lake Isabella – Bodfish, California which was HOTTER than hades. I was glad to go home. I remember the date and travel with mixed emotions. In 1964 when Desilu Studios were producing the TV version of “The Greatest Show on Earth” which starred Jack Palence, Stu Irwin and Billy Curtis, I got a call from Jack Aldworth the associate producer asking me if I would do my fire eating act in the episode “Last of the Strongmen” which featured a young actor named Bruce Dern and a beautiful actress as the “love interest” Marianna Hill. Desilu had auditioned a bunch of fire eaters and none passed their expectations so David Nelson suggested me and I got the job. Mickey King doubled for Marianna Hill with her famous “one arm planges”. Del and Babs were gracious and provided Mickey and me lodging, each in a small cabin on the edge of their pool. Donn J. Moyer