Tom Mix Circus Cowboy

Posted By on June 30, 2010

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Special cowboy movie stars such as Tom Mix often appeared with many of our great circuses and would spend several weeks on the road with them until it came time to shoot another western. Tom was one of many along with Tim McCoy. Ken Maynard, Duncan Reynaldo …. to name a few that were featured in the circus program.  Maxine Penny,  the cowgirl on the horse was a trick rider in the show, most likely in the after show.  Photo taken in Patterson, NJ.  June 20,1931.

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Clyde Beatty at Show Time

Posted By on June 30, 2010

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A fast shot just before an afternoon performance.  Photo taken on the Hagenbeck and Wallace Circus, 1931.

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Vaudeville Contract

Posted By on June 26, 2010

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Years ago this was one of the best forms of communication between agent and performer. These western union telegrams were as good as any contract. As a matter of fact this was your contract. This is a telegram that came from Bert Levey to the Quackenbushes, a well known agent that booked the A circuit. Many was the time my parents would receive a telegram similar to this one advising them of where the next gig was. For the most part money was never written in, Bert was a fair agent and you always got your money.

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Lillian Deskin #1

Posted By on June 26, 2010

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A graceful young lady that had a show business dream.   Her ambition was to become a performer of the arts and she succeeded.

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Lillian Deskin #2

Posted By on June 26, 2010

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Lillian created her own dance academy in Tacoma, WA  in the 1920’s. She excelled in piano and other instruments but she loved comedy. In 1928 she teamed up with Eddie Page and built an act called Ma and Pa Quackenbush. They toured the country doing fairs, nightclubs, vaudeville and now and again a circus or two. Their act grew in popularity and was in demand.

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Lillian Deskin #3

Posted By on June 26, 2010

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Ma Quackenbush made a song and dance routine come alive…..so much so it made you part of the act.

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Lillian Deskin and Eddie Page #4

Posted By on June 26, 2010

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Old style comedy that made you laugh till you hurt. Their one liners were current and to the point, with just a touch of light blue innuendo. The Quackenbush humor allowed you to use the theater of your own mind.

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Lillian and Eddie Ma & Pa Quackenbush #5

Posted By on June 26, 2010

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They had to be one of the funniest comedy teams I have ever seen and they never had to use fowl language to get a laugh. As you turn though later the pages of this blog there will be a few more photos of  Ma and Pa. Phoenix State Fair 1949 0r 1950.

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Frank Buck

Posted By on June 14, 2010

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Frank Buck was an animal man and a animal importer. He got the nickname “Bring-um back alive Buck”.  Hollywood film studios felt that Frank Buck and Clyde Beatty had strong enough names to be put both of them on the silver screen. They were right. Clyde Beatty had a longer run in the movie than Buck. There is no question that the studios made a lot of money off these movie serials.

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Frank Buck

Posted By on June 14, 2010

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“Jungle Menace”… 1937.   This is a still publicity shot. The motion picture serial was shot by Columbia Studio. Buck wasn’t much of an actor but the movies were fun to watch.

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