Sunday, August 28, 2016

#2 H-W


Posted by Buckles at 8/28/2016 08:21:00 AM

2 comments:

Jim Alexander said...

Bert Nelson and Rasputin's daughter. I believe Mr. Nelson became a successful businessman on the west coast. Madam Rasputin was a female version of Blackaman, the animal hypnotist.

28 August, 2016 14:56
Roger Smith said...

Bert signed this photo for me, and noted they are in Peru, Indiana Winterquarters for Hagenbeck-Wallace, in 1935. Bert was there taking over the act Clyde Beatty left behind over his dispute with Ringling manager Sam Gumpertz. Bert was too much a gentleman to mention that Ms. Rasputin's wild animal career was rather short-lived. Upon his return from WW II, Bert retired from the circus, settled in Fontana, California, and excelled in real estate. He died of a massive heart attack in Ventura, in 1975.

29 August, 2016 18:44

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