Keller’s Killers ?
Posted By thecircusblog on January 27, 2009
I believe this is young Keller, but I’m not sure. Perhaps someone can verify this…….This person has been verified by Mr. Bill Strong…..SEE COMMENTS BLOW.
A must read comment from Lisa Scam horn Palmer
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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
4 Responses to “Keller’s Killers ?”
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This is Bill Skamihorn(sp?) he worked under the name Bill Horn. Bill was a cage boy for Keller, & took over the act after Keller’s death.
George Keller died of a heart attack while working the act on the “Texas Dates”, in Corpus Cristy, Tex.
Hi Ivan,
I would love to have lonks to all the circus sites, there is just one problem. I don’t know how to do it. My friends think because I have the blog, I am a computer whiz, actually I’m a dummy on the “Infernal machine”
I remember getting an email from you quite some time ago, I don’t remember if I answered or not. Sometimes I get busy with the blog & the store & forget things. I need your email address so I can send some Henry scans.. I also want you to know if you see anything on “Yesterday’s Towns” you would like to use, you are welcome to it.
Best Wishes, Stay Healthy.
Bill
In special respects to our late friend, Bill Strong, I pose a question I trust one of our historians can answer. I was never on the Texas Dates, but did visit them all. In those days–late 60s, early 70s, they were Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. What year or years was Corpus Christi a Texas Date? And someone also needs to remind me when the coveted Texas Dates broke up as such. Many thanks.
Hello Mr. Henry:
The above picture IS one of my Uncle Bill Scamihorn’s publicity pictures. Please note Mr. Strong almost (but not quite) spelled our last name correct. Bill Scamihorn (aka Bill Horn) was my father’s (Elmer Leon Scamihorn) brother. Uncle Bill gave me several of his publicity photos, including this one, which I have passed on to one of his great nephew’s (my brother Marvin’s, son, Stephen Scamihorn). I am the youngest of seven and lived in the southeast coast, so I didn’t meet Uncle Bill until the early 1990’s. He was well into retirement in southern California, but, was still very proud of being George Keller’s assistant & understudy. Mr. Keller mentions Bill Scamihorn in his book: “Here Keller, Train This!”. After Mr. Keller’s passing, Uncle Bill not only fell in love with the big cats, but also with Mr. Keller’s widow, Ginny Keller. She, too, performed in the circus. They married and continued with the circus until 18 of 21 of the big cats were killed in a terrible truck accident in the Appalachian mountains of TN, sometime in the 1970’s. After a year of grief, Bill Scamihorn went to work for the Academy Awards, erecting background sets. The love Uncle Bill & Aunt Ginny had for the big cats, the circus & for each other was evident until the final curtain call with the Lord. They never had any children of their own. Hope this is helpful.
May God Bless Everyone;
Lisa Scamihorn Palmer