Sunday, August 29, 2010

From Chic Silber


GORILLA, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.


Hi Buckles

I was kidding Bill Powell about his gorilla costume yesterday

offering that it might have come from Phillip Morris

Sure enough his costume company in Charlotte still exists

and here is their photo of a synthetic version of the getup

I guess some things don't change much

Chic

16 comments:

Bill Karlton said...

Chic,

You seemed surprised that Morris Costumes is still in business. Today, Phil Morris probably has the largest wholesale costume business in the world. You should see his catalog - the size of a phone book.

And by the way, Lou Foldes was the juggler in the 1945 "Carousel"

Bill Karlton

P.S.
Always enjoy your comments

Chic Silber said...

Thanks Bill it's just that I

hadn't heard anything regarding

Phillip or his shop in 25 years

Just shows that I'm out of the

loop & assumed it was gone

Is Phil still running it

The old major N Y costume shops

are long gone & they have been

replaced by several smaller but

excellent detail shops

Chic Silber said...

Now I'm expecting someone to tell

me that Johhny Canole is still

selling cars & trucks in Altoona

or that Judge Leland Enzor is

still taking care of vehicle

registrations in Andalusia

FRANK CURRY said...

HIYA CHIC,
All Phil's family works at the huge main headquarters and he is definitely the final word.

I talked to him last week.

Best time to reach him is at night.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Johnny Canole is still selling trailers and everyone in the circus business has Alabama license tags.

Chic Silber said...

"Those were the days my friend"

"We thought they'd never end"

Obviously some didn't

Chic Silber said...

Thanks Frank

Didn't Phil start out as an

Illusionist before he had the shop

Bill Karlton said...

Chic,
Phil Morris did magic in his own "Ghost Shows" which he toured for many years, but gorilla suits had a major impact on his career.
I think it was 1968, when he and I went to Florida to deliver a suit he manufactured to the Royal American carnival which was building a "Girl to Gorilla" show. We then went to Sarasota, where Phil worked out a deal to furnish shows for Bill English's promotions. Phil then needed wardrobe for these shows, so we went to see Max Weldy, where Phil bought a lot of used Ringling costumes. (I even bought a few myself). With these costumes and his manufacturing of ape suits during the "Girl to Gorilla" show boom, he had the nucleus for building the hugely successful Morris Costume Company.

Bill Karlton

Anonymous said...

The car lot remains but the contents have changed considerably. Just knowing people remember him 30+ years after his death is impressive to me.

Chic Silber said...

Johnny Canole was very kind & he

helped many folks & shows with all

kinds of transportation needs

which explains to me why he is

remembered by some of us elders

Wade G. Burck said...

Chic,
Back in the mid 70's it seemed like every trailer/pickup on the lot was about 50/50, half Canole financed and half Sharp.
Wade Burck

Anonymous said...

Chic, we also still have Southern Imports here in Houston.

Chic Silber said...

Thanks mous but who's the WE

Please sign your name

You can without signing up

I'm sure many of us would like

to know who all the anonies are

Anonymous said...

The subject of old costume shops came up and the Houston Chronicle did a nice story this last Saturday (10/23/10)about Milton Frost(age 95)and his son Micky(70) still running Southern Imports in Houston,Tx. Southern Imports has been in business from about 1915 and Milton started to work there in 1938. Milton broke his hip last year and has to use a walker, but still enjoys going to work.
p.j.

Anonymous said...

I am Johnny Canole's granddaughter. I was one of the youngest and did not know him in the same way as my older sisters. It is really nice to know he was a good man who was respected by those he did buisness with. My mother is also amazed by the comments I have shared with her. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I had just 'googled' my late grandfather, John Henry Canole and was surprized to find this recent exchange. I have been searching the basement and am planning to make a donation of some of his artifacts to the Showman's Club and Museum in Gibsonton, Fla.

signed, the youngest grandchild, Paul