A Vanishing Breed: Back To The Drugstore
"Feld Family Buys Ringling Bros"
http://cgi.ebay.com/VTG-RINGLING-BROTHERS-BARNUM-BAILEYS-CIRCUS-POSTER-/390285127587?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5adece6fa3#ht_2918wt_811
Link Courtesy of Mike Naughton
"Many folks don't realize it, but the poster that is linked above of the 1984-1985 edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was the last show that Irvin Feld produced and Don Foote costumed together. Both of these brilliant men died in 1984. Don on Jan. 3o and Irvin on Sept. 6. Don's costume sketches are quite valuable, and are cherished by many. I sure wish I had the one's he did for me, but I gave them to someone so the costumes could be made, and they refused to give them back. I sure wish they were hanging on my wall. The poster is also the only one ever made that pictured Irvin and Kenneth Feld.
DON FOOTE Costume Designer FAN PAGE | Facebook
Don Foote was a prolific costume designer for touring entertainments such as circuses and ice shows. Raised in Rochester, New York, he went to California to study costume design at a school in Hollywood. On the advice of costume designer Edith Head, he went to New York to work on Broadway and eventually became a staff designer for Eaves costume house, which provided costumes for the stage and television. He left Eaves in 1969, when he was offered a position as the costume designer for the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, which had just been purchased by the producers Irvin Feld and Kenneth Feld. He spent the rest of his career designing costumes, props and scenery for the circus and for other entertainments operated by the Felds, such as Disney’s World on Ice, Ice Follies, Holiday on Ice, and Siegfried and Roy – in 1983 he told a reporter that he was responsible for the production of over 400 costumes per year.On his death, the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows, Inc. issued a statement saying, “His genius created beautiful and imaginative costuming that entraced a generation of entertainment audiences, and his respect for each artist fashioned creations which enhanced their performances. We have all lost a good friend and a talented associate who has left a lasting mark on American entertainment.”
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3 comments:
Dear Wade, I bought a copy of that same poster of you with the Ringlings and the Felds. Pretty heady stuff for a young guy I would imagine.
Rick Faber
Rick,
Like most things in life, at the time, not a real big deal, years later, oh man!!!!
It was a strange, strange tour. First Mr. Feld came to Marineland the summer of 1983 and signed the tiger act, then Don Foote flew up to Canada with Mel to take measurements for costumes and great plans were made for the future. Then suddenly in Jan. Don died shortly after the opening, then Mickey Anteleck, a long time Ringling performer, and a short time later Mr. Feld in Sept.(I believe there were other deaths that year) Ringling Bros. as folks knew it changed forever. Many folks who had been performing mainstays with the show left, and in 1985 for the first time the show's wintered in two different locations with the blue show going to the old Opalaka airport in Miami, and by 1993 Ringling left Venice for good.
As you may know there are a number of "different" versions of this particular poster, with cities being played listed, as well as this one that Mike sent, which I had not seen before advertising the upcoming tv special . A different one was also made in 1986 when Ringling played Bismark N. Dak. which had a banner added which said, "featuring North Dakota's own, Wade Burck" or something like that.
The printing proof, I believe is what it is called, of the poster is framed and hanging in the Feld Building at Baraboo. As I mentioned earlier, it is the only poster ever that had Irvin and Kenneth Feld pictured on it. I think that, plus the fact that it was the last show produced and costumed by icons Irvin Feld and Don Foote and as has been noted "an ending of an era" with the likes of Miguel Vasquez and the quad, as well as Mishu, and Frosty Little, who is now deceased, is what make's the poster significant. To be a part of that history and greatness Rick, yeah, heady as hell.
Wade
Wade,
When I was at RBBB Circus World in the late '70s--although we reported directly to Mattel--Irvin visited a number of times. Some of my most lasting memories are being chewed out by Mr. Feld. Several months later he visited again and after the show, I saw him come quickly in my direction with Arnold Bramow trying to keep up. Well, I braced myself. To my amazement, he praised what he had seen that day!! Kinda like Simon on American Idol--when he criticized it meant something and when he praised it meant even more! Also had the pleasure of working with Don Foote--what a great and helpful gentleman.
Rick
BTW: Your comments about Gunther are right on. I'm just happy I got to marvel at his showmanship for 2 decades. One of a kind, now and forever. But I remember seeing you on your first tour--not too shabby either!!!
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