|
Do you have information about the
sale and exhibition of the Bonnie
and Clyde Death Car? Will T.
Saint Louis MO. |
Will, Ruth leased the car to John Castle of
"United Shows" and when the contract went
into default, she had the car repossessed
and rented it to carnival operator Charles
Stanley. He exhibited it on the Hennies
Brothers Midways in his 1939 crime show.
Stanley used the car on his outside bally
and showed the film of the actual ambush on
the inside. After Ruth divorced her husband
Jesse, she kept the title to the car and
sold it to Stanley for $3,500. It had been
said that Charles was the original owner of
the Death Car. During the 1948 season the
car was exhibited at Coney Island amusement
park in Cincinnati, Ohio. Charles joined the
Cavalcade of Amusements at Sedalia, Mo. He
added a Dillinger Crime Car and toured with
the Gooding Amusements and Hennies Brothers
Shows. (In 1949 sideshowman Charlie Hodges
also exhibited a Bonnie and Clyde car along
with his large 10-in-l show.) In 1951
Stanley toured the Mosser Family Massacre
through theaters. Spent a short time at the
Coney Island in Cincinnati. Later joining
the Cetlin and Wilson Shows for the season.
In a 1952 Billboard he offered the Bonnie
and Clyde Death Car for sale. That same
season he retired from the road to manage
the Coney Island Park in Cincinnati and
exhibited the car until 1960. In 1968,
longtime promoter Frank Siro also had a
Bonnie and Clyde car on midways also in 1969
he toured it at Texas fairs.
In the 1960s the "original" death car was
purchased for $14,500 by showman Ted Toddy.
In October 1969, Amusement Business
reported: "Ted Toddy has won his suit for an
injunction over the use of the Bonnie and
Clyde name. Johnny and Marilyn Portemont,
owners of Johnny's United Shows, will have
to find another title for theirs!" Showmen
were warned to avoid using the title,
especially around Toddy's home in Atlanta.
Ted Toddy The car then sat in a warehouse
for years In 1971 Toddy leased his car to
the Royal American Shows. I
In 1973 the Bonnie and Clyde Death Car was
purchased by Peter Simon of the Oasis Casino
in Jean Nevada for $175.000. It was on
display at Whiskey Pete's Casino for several
years and is now on permanent display at the
Primm Hotel and Casino at Primm Nevada just
of Interstate 15 on the Nevada and
California Stateline.
Even after 70 years the legend still holds a
strange fascination.
John Robinson, Sideshow World
Image:
Kruse
Classic Auction Company Inc. Catalog from
1973 which features for Auction the Bonnie and Clyde
death car on it's cover.
For additional information about the Car
click on these links,
History
of the Warren Car (Bonnie and Clyde Death
Car
Coming Here, Don't
You Miss iI!
The Ambush Film
