Tex Orton #1
Posted By thecircusblog on February 6, 2012
It has been over 65 years since I have seen the Ortons. This photo brought back old memories. This photo was taken in the early 1950’s and at that time the Ortons were working fairs and the Tom Pack Circus, I understand. Tex and his family were on the 101 Ranch Wild West Circus in 1945 and part of 1946. Even as a kid I realized just how good his act was. His skill with whips, ropes. throwing knifes, as well as a rifle marksmen may have made him the best in his time. His wife worked in the act as well as his son and his mother but their names fail me. If you go to categories under 101 Ranch, you will fine numerous photos of the 101. It was a complete show filled with circus and western acts, each in their own right top entertainment. The old 101 back in the early 1900’s presented historical events. In the new version of 1945 it leaned a little more circus but kept that old west flavor. It was a good show and I have often wondered why it only lasted two seasons.
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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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Tex Orton’s son name is Robert Morgan Floyd a.k.a Little Tex
Hello to thecircusblog-
I was very fortunate to have grown up a half block from Ocean View Amusement Park in Norfolk, VA. during the 60s and 70s. Raised by my grandmother who was a 30 year employee at the park, I would spend entire days there; it was a kids dream. In 1965, the park owners added an ‘Indian Village’ attraction, consisting of a stockade fort with teepees and other Indian related structures. Tex Orton and his family were the performers there for 2 seasons and they put on an hourly show featuring his knife throwing and shooting skills. My grandmother was the ticket seller for this new attraction as well as manning the souvenir stand (my job was removing the “Made In Japan” tags from the Indian merchandise sold there) and I soon became very good friends with the Ortons. I remember them as being very kind people and Tex especially took a liking to me and never tired of me pestering him. I was in total awe of his rifle skills and the trick where he split a bullet on an exposed knife blade, putting out candles on either side of the blade, never failed to amaze me. (Yes, I admit I was a bit disappointed when I learned how the trick was done years later.)
I would sometimes see their show a half-dozen times or more a day. I remember watching Tex throw knives at his daughter Alice as she spun around on the wooden board. She would often toss me the ping pong ball that Tex had just pierced with an arrow as it sat on a bottle for a souvenir. The Western craze of the late 50s, early-60s, had faded remarkably by this time and the attraction was not a success. There were often no patrons for the hourly shows and Tex and the family would spend the down time in their double-wide trailer in the rear of the stockade. Due to low attendance, the village was reduced to weekend openings only and Alice was forced to take a position as a ride cashier during the week. It was a rough job; stuck in a sweltering little booth for 10-12 hours a day. One of my many small jobs at the park was running change to the ticket booths on busy days and I remember her always looking so sad when I saw her. She was a totally different person when performing however; so vibrant.
Tex’s wife was there as well but did not perform. I believe her name was Evelyn but could be mistaken. Sadly, Tex passed away here around ’67 or ’68 and I remember my grandmother and I going to see his wife in their trailer. Later, when my grandmother had to leave to open her booth at another ride, I stayed behind and Evelyn showed me several picture albums of the family featuring their showbiz career. I also attended his funeral.
I think of those fun years often and the people who populated them and will always remember the Orton family as very kind folks.
After further review, I now recall Tex Orton’s wife’s name was Grace, not Evelyn as I stated above.
This is my grandfather. I wanted to correct you my grandmothers name was grace. She was a performer in her own right. She was a tight rope walker but couldnt perform anymore as a result of my father Robert Floyd messing up her equilibrium.