Phil and Bonnie
Posted By thecircusblog on August 30, 2013
Photo taken in 1947, Chicago, Ill on the Ringling show. From left to right is Philip Chanez Bonta, then Bonnie Bonta. The other three performers are Jannetje H. Touw, Hendrics Hilsing and Neeltje Von Soolingen. Bonta was the stage name for Philip and Bonnie. Their son Don legally changed his name to Philips in the 1960’s. Thanks to Diana Philips the daughter of Don and Carol Philips , I have these photos.
A must read comment from Carol Philips.
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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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Don’s name change actuallly came from
Ernie Young, who booked talent for a lot of fairs. In fact, Don’s earliest publicity photos (he looks like he was about twelve or thirteen years old in them) identify him as Phil Bonta, Jr. Ernie Young called Phil, Sr one day and told him that “we have to change the kid’s name.” – said there was too much confusion from the fair boards when he was selling acts as to whether they were getting a perch act or a unicyle-juggling act. Ernie asked Phil what name he wanted, but Phil couldn’t come up with anything on such short notice. So Ernie said “Okay, we’ll take the Philip and turn it into Philips, and let’s see- Don goes good with Philips, so we’ll book him as Don Philips.” Thus Don grew up with that name and is what he identified with. The only time he ever used his birth name was when he was drafted into the Army (and even then he was with an entertainment division and in the shows used “Don Philips), and he used his birth name again when we were married.
Shoirtly after our marriage we were buying a business and the legality of two names created a problem.So then we had the name Don Philips legalized.