Whirling Circus The Big Circus 1959
Posted By thecircusblog on November 30, 2012
This is a Hagenbeck & Wallace circus cargo wagon. Louie Goebel bought a great many of them as well as a few Al G. Barnes wagons. The wagon in this photo along with others was rented from Mr. Goebel for the movie called “The Big Circus”. It was not uncommon for these wagons to be repainted for other circus movies etc. Every major motion picture studio throughout 40’s, 50’s and 60’s shot a circus movie and most were very good circus movies and one could enjoy the story. Today…..most are garbage.
Thanks Janice and Randy for your help with the circus blog.
Again Randy I want to thank you for your kind second comment.
I believe Arkie Scott worked Babe in this movie.
Richard Leonard how well I remember your family at Jungleland. Your farther was a master circus painter. Thank you for your comment.
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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WOW! Ivan, You really connected the dots on this one. What a great chunk of Circus/Movie History. Even though I was only 4 years old at the time this was released I had the pleasure of knowing and working with everybody you credited. Those were the ‘Good Old Days’ .Thank You for allowing me to be a small part of your Docue/Blog. Thecircusblog is a one of a kind network for those of us that remember back when.
I received the following input from Richard from Ventura CA
Richard Leonard
One of the Wagons used in the Production of “The Big Circus”–My father Leonard and I painted them. I got to do the wheels. It was work in the hot Conejo Sun–when I got sunburned and tried to get out of it–my father laughed and got me a hat–I had to keep working. I was paid–three dollars a day!
The clown, in that dreadful Hollywood movie makeup, is Oscar-winner Red Buttons. The story had him filling in when another clown, played by Peter Lorre, passed out drunk. We do see some of our friends in this picture, which almost makes it worthwhile, but alas, producer Irwin Allen fell to the tired Hollywood pitfall of the jinx plot. As Tinseltown sees it, some top performer or staffer is forever skulking about, trying to wreck the show. This one has us suspecting the Ringmaster, well-played by Vincent Price, but our villain proves to be the bland and boring flying act catcher, David Nelson. Just 5 years earlier, Clyde Beatty’s last feature film, RING OF FEAR, also attracts us with great shots of people we knew, but brings us disappointment once again with the jinx plot. This time, it was indeed the Ringmaster, portrayed by my late friend Sean McClory. Truth be told, McClory was the actual lead in this picture, and aside from veterans Pat O’Brien and Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez, was the standout actor. Beatty suffered through a mere handful of lines, and in spite of his top billing, was all but ignored for screen time as a star.