Chipperfield Circus ( From John Evans )

We are fortunate to have a multitude of photos from some of the great British circuses being offered to us by Mr. John Evans. This is the great Chipperfield Circus. They are not dated so I'm not sure if they are all from the same year or not.

Chipperfield Circus ( From John Evans )

Chipperfield Circus ( From John Evans )

Chipperfield Circus ( From John Evans )

Chipperfield Circus ( From John Evans )

Chipperfield Circus ( From John Evans )

CBCB 1999 ( From Peter Rosa )

Here's the publicity photos that were taken of Peter and Joyce. We'll be having a bunch more Clyde Beatty-Cole photos from Peter.

CBCB 1999 ( From Peter Rosa )

Peter's wife, Joyce, was the school teacher on the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus in 1999.

CBCB 1999 ( From Peter Rosa )

Peter Rosa has graciously sent me a ton of photos from their 1999 tour on the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus. These start out at winter quarters. As most of you know this was an old fairgrounds, then the Johnny J. Jones carnival winter quarters the the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus winter quarters.

CBCB 1999 ( From Peter Rosa )

CBCB 1999 ( From Peter Rosa )

The bus that brought in the help.

CBCB 1999 ( From Peter Rosa )

CBCB 1999 ( From Peter Rosa )

Then and Now

Here's the RBBB work wagon # 20 in it's full glory on the Big One in 1949.

Then and Now

Here is RBBB # 20 at rest in the Circus Hall of Fame in Sarasota, FL. in 1963.

Then and Now

Here is RBBB # 20 fully restored at the International Circus Hall of Fame in Peru, Indiana. Note they have dual wheels all the way around on this. Way to go !

Then and Now

Here is the original RBBB # 19 in its prime.

Then and Now

Here is RBBB # 19, in retirement at the Circus Hall of Fame in Sarasota, Florida in 1963.

Then and Now

This RBBB wagon # 19, an old baggage wagon, as it was in July of 2009 at the International Circus Hall of Fame in Peru, Indiana.

Then and now

The RBBB Generator wagon was #111 in 1952 when this photo is supposed to have been taken.

Then and Now

Taken in the 1960's at the Circus Hall of Fame in Sarasota, FL.

Then and Now

Here is the Generator wagon taken in 1981 while being stored at the Royal American Shows winter quarters in Tampa, FL.

Then and now

Here is the Generator wagon taken in July 2009 in Peru, Indiana's International Circus Hall of Fame.

The Elephant Sanctuary

Elephant Sanctuary Ousts Co-Founder

Mar 22, 2010 7:25 PM EDT

By Nick Beres
HOHENWALD, Tenn. - The co-founder of the internationally-known elephant sanctuary in Hohenwald is off the job. Carol Buckley said the Board of Directors has fired her.
"This was unbelievable and shocking. I had no idea. I was broadsided," said Buckley.
Buckley co-founded the elephant sanctuary 15 years ago. The 2,700 acre compound is currently home to 15 elephants. The sanctuary's mission is to provide a safe haven for old, sick or needy elephants.
"The sanctuary is home to me," said Buckley. "It's a place I manufactured in my head, and we erected it."
Marsha Richerdson is one of the not-for-profit sanctuary's 85,000 donor members. She said she trusted Buckley and wants answers about why the co-founder, a fierce advocate for the elephants, is leaving.
"Everybody is rethinking, how they are donating and what they will donate," said Richerdson.
Dr. William Shaffner is president of the elephant sanctuary.
"The vision of the sanctuary remains intact," said Shaffner.
Shaffner said the place remains true to the mission of providing help for elephants in need.
"It's still a place for the abuse elephants to come and remain and be loved and cared for," said Shaffner. He did not give a specific reason for Buckley's departure.
Buckley said some objected to her management style.
"Many of the staff were intimidated by me. That's true," said Buckley.
Buckley admitted she can be hard on staff and the elephants always came first. Over the years, she's become very close to many of the elephants she considers to be family.
"I don't believe I could live if I don't see them again," said Buckley.
Buckley said she can only see the elephants now by appointment. The board of directors asked her to move out of the home she lives in at the sanctuary.
Board President Shaffner said they've begun an international search to find a new CEO to replace Buckley.
The elephant sanctuary is one of two such places in the country with natural habitat for endangered Asian and African elephants.

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry! Step on up to the Greatest Convention of Circus Historians anywhere on Earth. Send your registrations in now to this year's CHS Convention in Normal / Bloomington, Illinois. The town is rich in flying trapeze history and this year only adds to all of that when the Flying Trapeze is celebrated at this year's convention with an actual flying trapeze workshop, films, photos and some of the greatest performers of our time in attendance.

You'll get to see, hear, and meet such legendary performers as Tony Steele, Richie Gaona, Juan and Miquel Vasquez, and Terry Cavaretta. The leading historians of the world will be in attendance and offering many different facets of the circus to enjoy and learn about. Those speaking include Peta Tait and Jane Mullett from Australia, Walter and Dorita Estes, Fred Dahlinger Jr., Janet Davis, Cherie Valentine, Debbie Walk, Matt Wittman, Maureen Brunsdale and myself just to name a few.

Anyone can attend. You do NOT need to be a member of the CHS to attend. The registrations can be found at http://www.circushistory.org/Conference/convention.htm You won't want to miss the great auction of circus items, the Banquet with a fantastic guest speaker this year, and a trip to the Milner Library Circus Archives at Illinois State University.

Circus Hall of Fame

Taken in the 1960's. For those that don't know, this establishment is all gone. The only thing that remains are the concrete slabs.

Circus Hall of Fame

Taken in the 1960's.

Circus Hall of Fame

Taken in the 1960's.

Circus Hall of Fame

Here is a copy of the Bill of Sale from the Ringling show to the Circus Hall of Fame. The original copy is at the Circus World Museum Library. You should be able to double click it and have it enlarge enough to read it well.

Circus Hall of Fame

When the Circus Hall of Fame was sold in Sarasota, the wagons were moved over to the Royal American Shows winter quarters in Tampa. Dad and I were there in 1981 when we took these three photos.

Circus Hall of Fame

Circus Hall of Fame

Circus Hall of Fame

When the Circus Hall of Fame was created in Sarasota, it was just a few blocks down the street from the Ringling Museums. The Ringling Museums and the Circus Hall of Fame both got what they could from the Ringling surplus equipment sales. Those sales slips are still in existance in the Circus World Museum Library. While many of these had different show titles on them, they were all RBBB wagons. As you can see from these photos they weren't in real good shape to start with. By time the Peru Museum was established, these wagons were all in a terrible condition if not falling apart.

Circus Hall of Fame

Circus Hall of Fame

Circus Hall of Fame

Circus Hall of Fame

Circus Hall of Fame

Circus Hall of Fame

Here are 6 different slides that we took in 1963.

Circus Hall of Fame

Circus Hall of Fame

Circus Hall of Fame

Circus Hall of Fame

Circus Hall of Fame

Ringling Museums early 1960's

If you double click this and enlarge it, you'll notice the rear wheel is just leaning against the calliope.

Ringling Museums early 1960's

Ringling Museums early 1960's

Most of these are dated 1963.

Ringling Museums early 1960's

Ringling Museums early 1960's

Ringling Museums early 1960's