Kathryn Kramer Pretty Bareback Riding Star with Clown Jack LeClaire
c 1945. Gelatin silver print, 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 in. (241 x 190 mm) from the Roland Butler Collection, Press Agent, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (1930s-1960s) Roland Butler Collection hand stamp on verso.
This photograph was published on Pat Cashin's website Clown Alley on Saturday, February 10, 2007 with the following notice: "The photo, used extensively by the Ringling press dept. is of Kathryn Kramer and my father, Jack LeClaire. Kathy was a fantastic tumbler and back bender being able to put her chin on her rear end bending backwards. Photo probably 1945 as that was the year they had all the girls come in bareback . . . . My father could never understand why they used that photo for a press photo. . . It was taken on a rainy day (look at the sky) . . . My father dug out this old satin clown suit, very wrinkled from being packed in the trunk, for the rainy weather. Kathy passed away several years ago. She was a very close friend always. Of course my dad has been gone since 1971".
[http://clownalley.blogspot.com/2007/02/jack-leclair.html]
An additional clarification was added on May 21, 2014: "The girl with my father Jack LeClaire was Kathryn Kramer out of NYC. This photo was taken on a rainy day and Dad and Kathryn were both in rainy day costumes. My father was always surprised as the satin outfit he wore was quite wrinkled, but the press loved the photo and it was used over and over. Jackie LeClaire"
Condition: Very good +.
Item number: 252
Price: $200.00
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