Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Unknown Shrine Circus--1952



Wonderful footage from an obviously Shrine Circus filmed in 1952. The worst performing situation in the world is an outdoor show. Which does nothing but make acts look bad. It's a shame when a producer subjects artist's to something like this. None the less, there is some great footage at 2:12 of the great Walter Klausers bears with his daughter Herta Klauser Cuneo. Does anyone know the elephant act at 1:35? How about the high school rider at 1:08 John Milton? Do you know who it is? Can anybody identify any of the other acts for us?

Courtesy of Mike Naughton

2 comments:

  1. My first guess is the Polack Show but maybe Gil Gray. Col. Herriott would know. The big risley act is the Seven Ashtons. About 3:00 a little bit of an acrobatic looked like the Jim Wong Troupe, a regular with Gil Gray. Was the dog act Sonny Moore, or at least one of the Moore acts? The big flying act was the nine Ward-Bell Flyers. Just a guess on the elephants, Slivers Madison and the MGM elephants?

    I'll return to see if I'm even close.

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  2. Jim,
    We have a winner!!! Damn your good!!! Give that man a cigar.

    From Herta Cuneo:

    The Polack Show
    Albert Ostermeier on the Horse.
    Lola Dobritch on the wire.
    Sonny Moores Dogs.
    Babetts Aerial Act.
    Joe and Slivers Madison MGM Elephants.
    Ashtons Riley act.
    Ward Bell Flyers

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