Sunday, August 30, 2015

Pit Shows #15


8 comments:

Chic Silber said...


The Abominable Showman Ward Hall

An attraction alone in his greatness

(can't remember the little guy)

Chic Silber said...


I heard that Ward had a heart attack

a short time ago but don't know how

he is doing now

Roger Smith said...

Leonard Farley enjoyed recollecting his visits to Ward's 10-In-One, where he had the privilege to once again "Shake the hand of little Pete Terhune." Pete, Ward, and associates are seen in the Jodie Foster film, CARNY.

Ole Whitey said...

Pete was with Ward for many many years- since back in the fifties for sure. Maybe before that.

Dick Flint said...

Ward had some heart issues after his return from the Circus Summit in Massachusetts mid-July. He was in the hospital for about 6 days but checked out all okay and is back home. He had a fall in the NYC train station on his return from NYC and had some stitches but was released and made the train trip back to Florida. He was unable to get a stateroom as he would have had had he made his first train so he rode in coach all the way home. Told me that was more troublesome than the fall. He's a resilient old showman! Wonder if he had some old scrip that he tried to use with Amtrak! Who remembers the old scrip books anyway? Whitey? But you were never on a rail show!

Bob Swaney said...

Wasn't Pete's nickname "Poobah"?

Paul G said...

Bob, Yes indeed, Poobah, was with Ward over 50 years. "The last living Munchkin ladies and gentlemen"

Roger Smith said...

Alas, Pete Terhune is not listed among the Munchkin actors. These were documented by MGM contracts, and received varying levels of recognition and success after 1939's THE WIZARD OF OZ hit it big. Many little people wrongfully claimed casting credits, slyly figuring non-studio people would not check them out. False claims of acting credits are quickly revealed out here, and are considered grave offenses. Lists of the true Munchkin performers are on the net. Gerald Marenghi, who worked as Jerry Maren, at 95, is the last living adult Munchkin. He no longer makes the OZ festivals, but attended a movie premiere in January.