Thursday, August 31, 2006

Clyde Beatty- Cole Bros. Circus 1961


This aerial shot taken by Eddie Motta, July 5, 1961 in New Bedford, Mass.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

ITS NICE TO SEE CBBB PHOTO. IAM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN WITH IT OFF AND ON THRU THE YEARS. I ALWAYS REFERRED TO IT AS THE LAST CIRCUS FROM THE DAYS OF FLOTO,HW,JOHN ROBINSON,COLE,ETC. OBVIOUSLY ALL THAT HAS CHANGED. OVER THE YEARS JIMMY COLE HAS BEEN A PART OF OUR FAMILY HISTORY, BOTH AS A GAZOONIE AND RESIDENT PHOTOGRAPHER. BUT HE REMAINS A WONDERFUL FRIEND OF THE FAMILY. HE LAST WORKED FOR ME AT RBBB CIRCUS WORLD AND THEN GOT SMART AND BECAME A ORLANDO CITY GOV. EMPLOYEE. HE HAS A GREAT RE-TIREMENT PENSION WHILE I AM SITTING HERE HOLDING THE BAG.

Anonymous said...

p.s. WE DID PLAY THE MACY PARADE AGAIN A FEW YEARS LATER BOOKED IN BY A LOVABLE NEW YORK AGENT, ROSE ADAIR. THE WHOLE EPISODE WAS DIRECTED BY WALTER MILLER FAMED DIRECTOR OF RBBB HIGHLIGHTS, ACADEMY AWARDS,OLYMPICS,ETC. MUSICAL DIRECTOR WAS NBC MUSICAL DIRECTOR MILTON DELUGG. PRETTY FAST COMPANY FOR AN OLD SHOWBUM.

Anonymous said...

This is a tight lot--not like the one we had in New Bedford my first year over there, in 1964. That is likely the Atlantic Ocean in the top background. The Water Wagon is seen at top center--the little stubby-looking truck. Note L to R, at center, 77 and 78 trucks backed up to each other, containing Mr. Beatty's cats, and their tunnel you partly see from these trucks heading into the Big Top. At R of the pony sweep, that first trailer looks like Mr. Beatty's Airstream. As we know, he got a new white Cadillac every year, and a new Airstream every other year, because Mr. Mercurio, his lawyer, wrangled for him the best contract in the business in those days.

Thank you, Eddie Motta, for this classic lot scene.

Anonymous said...

GREAT BLOG SITE, I WAS A CANDY BUTCHER ON THE CRISTIANI WALLACE SHOW AT THE TIME BUT WENT OVER ON THE BEATTY SHOW IN '63.
BUCKLES I'VE GOT SOME INTERESTING PHOTOS I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW CAN I EMAIL THEM TO YOU?
I LIVE NEAR PUEBLA, MEXICO NOW... DID YOU KNOW THAT'S WHERE THE BEATTY SHOW SOLD "BEE AND GYP" TO AFRICAM VILLAGE? DROP ME AN EMAIL ADRESS AND I'LL SEND YOU SOME PICS.

Buckles said...

BUCKLESW@tampabay.rr.com.

Anonymous said...

Wonder how far out of town you have to go these days to find a lot this size, at least in the NE. cc

Unknown said...

Great photo. I have a Clyde Beatty-
Cole Bros poster with date tag that says New Bedford, Friday June 19-21. Any idea what year this was? Wondering if there’s an archive or site to access historic circus routes/dates. Know about circushistory.org but doesn’t seem to have much CBCB routes... ~Nick (nickvisscher@gmail.com)