Gem City Shows Bainbridge GA. Oct
1954 Hall & Leonard Show
Left to Right Ward Hall -
Jan Del Rio - Diane - Frank Donnell
- Pete - Harry Leonard
In the spring of 1965 Pete (Poobah)
and I were in San Antonio, TX doing
a publicity promo for the Movie
"Puss In Boots" a children's picture
made in 1964 with Pete in the title
role, produced by K Gordon Murray
(Trans International Films).
While there we visited the Circus
Museum at the Public Library then
Leonard Farley was the curator, The
museum had a display on my late
partner Harry Leonard "Leonardo" and
myself. Leonard told me the Birnum
Bros Circus was in winter quarters
out on Mission Road, near the former
Plunket winter quarters where I
spent some time in the late 1940s.
We paid a visit to the circus winter
quarters where Dick Johnson was in
charge. We met his wife Mavis and
the kids, had dinner and a great
visit with them. In 1967 June. Dick
was with "Clark and Walters Circus"
owned by Herb Walters. Herb sold the
entire show which was booked and
billed, on the road and included
three? elephants, for a reported ten
thousand dollars, to the Silver lake
family. Dick and family did several
acts on the show which were also
done by members of the Silver lake
family, So, Johnson's were looking
for work. We were showing Marion,
Indiana, and had an ad for people in
"The Billboard". Dick called and
being not far away joined us in two
days. Dick did magic, juggling and
with Mavis, whip cracking, and
talked the inside. Daughter Sharri
did contortion and Mavis did blade
box. They were with us for many
years till they bought the freak
animal show that he later sold to
Dennis York who currently troupes.
After that first year we built
another sideshow which Dick managed
for I think, 12 years till getting
his animal show. In 1968 Chris and I
bought the home of Al Moody family
in Gibsonton and in 1969 Johnson's
bought property from Glen and Marge
Porter in Gibsonton.
Mavis still lives at that place and
Dick and June (Parsons) Johnson live
close by in Brandon. we see them
frequently.
Ward Hall
