Harry Ross & His Dog Pal
Posted By thecircusblog on September 5, 2008
Harry began working in vaudeville with a hand balancing chair and table act. It wasn’t until later that he started doing the same act only as a clown. He created a lot of comedy in this act….people loved him. For those who knew him, his favorite expression was “you believe that, don’t cha?”……..May God bless Rossie.
Please read the great comment made by Scott.
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
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THE CHICKEN GAG
Harry Ross: “I’m gonna take this chicken home and cook me a turkey dinner!”
(apologies for the “colorful” topic)
Hi Ivan,
I got a big kick out of your stories and photos, so I want to share a story with you. In 1973, I was a 19 year old first of May Clown, on the George Matthews Great London Circus.
Harry, Sparky and I were at the tailgate of his Rambler, spotted next to you and right by the back door. We were waiting for our music cue and the chicken gag was up any minute. There was a small wire-fenced-in area that Harry always set up for his Chinese chickens. He had two Chinese chickens, to keep each other company, but as I remember, we only used one in the gag. Somehow, the conversation turns to the chicken poop scattered on the ground.
So here we go. Harry baits me, pointing out that each and every tiny firm turd ball from his exotic chickens looks exactly the same; they all have a perfectly formed black outside ring and a pure white button spot nestled in the middle. Now I am no expert on these things but I do have to tell you that this two-tone-Chinese-chicken-poop actually is quite unusual.
Clown to clown, Rossie looks me square in the eyes with his giant-off-center-black-nose in the middle of his white face, that was oddly the complete striking opposite of what we were just looking at on the ground.
“YOU KNOW WHAT THAT *WHITE DOT* IN THE CENTER IS, DON’T ‘CHA?”
Always wanting to learn a new interesting fact or hear a new jackpot from the Boss Clown, I think about what natural wonder could make them churn out these carbon copies and make my most serious educated guess, “I have no idea, could it be calcium?”
“NAAAAAWWWW,”
Harry waits for a three count and says,
…THAT’S CHICKEN SHIT TOO!”
Wonderful memories,
Scott
(“You believe that, don’t cha?”)