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The Circus Blog by Ivan M. Henry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.thecircusblog.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://www.thecircusblog.com.
Pat Anthony Vitanza
Posted By thecircusblog on July 11, 2009
I’m publishing this picture of Pat especially for his daughter, Melia Anthony Vitanza.
Thank you Melia for your comment.
Pat Anthony’s Ball Cat
Posted By thecircusblog on July 11, 2009
Pat Anthony was one of a kind. He worked hard in his act and he made it exciting to watch. I never saw him ever present a boring act….. it just wasn’t in him to do so.
Terrell Jacobs Book
Posted By thecircusblog on July 11, 2009
Terrell Jacobs created a book with about 30 pages in all. The purpose of it was to promote his animal acts. It chronicled fairs, circuses, carnivals and movies. The books were given to agents and others that had an interest in using his acts. What you see here is the cover of that book. I think it was a great idea.
Ralph Helfer
Posted By thecircusblog on July 11, 2009
Back in 1958 this man did me a favor…..I thanked him then and I thank him now. I was an actor in a movie called Magic of Sinbad, a Medhat Mandoor Production. I did four character roles and was the stunt coordinator. There was a market place scene where the script called for animals, not just a few but many different types of farm animals. As always, the director wanted them immediately. The assistant director forgot the animals for the scene. I must say that he wasn’t to popular on the set that day. Ralph Helfer came to our rescue. I gave him a call and told him our problem and within 5 hours he was at the studio with about 30 animals. He left the animals in my care and that meant no stock tenders. The market place shoot went on for 3 days. Of course the animals had to have food and water and guess who got the job? Oh but that’s not all to this story. We housed the animals in a small area behind the studio on a vacant set. Early that following morning we discovered that they had all gotten out and were everywhere on the streets of Hollywood. It took hours to round them up and we finally finished the shoot. Thanks again Ralph. He never charged the studio a dime.
A real jackot!
John Ringling North 1951
Posted By thecircusblog on July 11, 2009
John Ringling North returning from Europe 0n the S.S. Libertie, Nov 21, 1951. It is said that when Mr. North sold his circus, that it went for the sum of 50 million in gold and that it was deposited in a Swiss account in his name. If this is true, I consider him a pretty good business man.
This is one of the Posters used in the 1940’s.J.E.Henry Circus Parade
Posted By thecircusblog on July 8, 2009
This picture is of my grandfather’s circus in a circus parade. 1907 I believe that this picture has been PIRATED and sold along with other old circus photos of my grandfather. If you see Quillen in this bottom right corner it is a true photo, however in this photo someone has put their own name and a proof mark. Mr Harry Quillen was the photographer that reproduced these pictures for the Henry family in the early 1940’s. The late Harry Quillen was well known in the circus and theatrical world for his great work in photography. At this time much of his work has been stolen or sold. Bill Biggerstaff of the Circus Report was a good friend of his and can fill you in if you care to know more about this fine man. Incidentally, if you want to read present and past history of the circus, go to thecircusreport@hotmail.com
SORRY……………… THE CIRCUS REPORT HAS BEEN CHANGED.
THANKS MARGARET
Give Me a Little Kiss Right Here
Posted By thecircusblog on July 8, 2009
Jose Tomas and “TOTO” on Ringling Bros & Barnum, Baily Circus. Photo was taken in the early 1940’s. TOTO was in his traveling cage at this time. His carrying cage was specially built just for him. It was built by the Carrier Corp of Syracuse.
Tarzan The Mighty
Posted By thecircusblog on July 8, 2009
The young Melvin Koontz in this photo doubled for Frank Merrill as Tarzan. The movie was called “Tarzan The Mighty”. This movie began filming April 12,1928. The studio only shot one other movie with Merrill which was” Tarzan the Tiger.” Why…….. who’s knows he had every thing going for him. He was 6 ft, muscular and 200lbs, as well as a true athlete. He competed and won a championship on the Roman Rings. In his Tarzan movies Merrill did not wear a loin cloth as did Johnny Weissmuller. Merrill wore a Leopard skin around his hips and over his left shoulder. The lion is Jackie who was trained by Melvin Koontz specifically for motion picture work. Melvin also doubled for Victor Mature in “Demetrius and the Gladiator.” Another Tarzan was Herman Brix who later changed his name to Bruce Bennett because he was German and the second world war had started. Also there was Elmo Lincoln who was in the silent film area. I am searching now for a photo of Frank Merrill. I hopefully will find one for you to see.
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