1980s Clyde Beatty Circus Poster Designed by Jerry Booker, Framed

Description

Up for sale is this wonderful piece of circus history, a poster design from 1956 by circus artist Jerry Booker, … more Up for sale is this wonderful piece of circus history, a poster design from 1956 by circus artist Jerry Booker, which he had reproduced in a limited number in 1980 to raise funds for a planned circus museum.

We couldn't find out too much about Jerry Booker, but we did find out about the origin of this poster, and a handful of others, in the following quote from Jerry in "The Circus Report" for March 24, 1980: "In the spring of 1956 Bill Moore, knowing my interest in Clyde's success, requested I design and execute several types of finished black and white sketches for possible use as posters. Clyde's need for my art ended when the show abruptly closed. Because there was no commitment, Clyde returned my original art unused. Since then this art has been hanging on my office walls where many circus fans, performers, and friends have seen them. With the renewed interest in the late Clyde Beatty among the circus fans the world over, I have been asked to make prints of this art available in memory of this outstanding performer. It is my desire to release a limited number of the entire series for the purpose of keeping the name Clyde Beatty historically great. I don't know yet how serious the plans are for the Beatty Museum at Bainbridge. Ohio, by Dave Price, but I would like to help. Museums need financial support and perhaps some way the sale of these prints {if they go successfully) could help here."

Signed and dated 1956 in the image by Jerry Booker, this rendering of Beatty and his menagerie is framed in black wood with an overall size of 24 3/8" x 20 3/8". The poster is in very good condition. The frame has scuffs and some chipping, as pictured, but the graphics? Superb! A fitting homage to the "World's greatest death-defying wild animal trainer of all time", not to mention a bid for immortality for Primba, Nero, Sleika and Caesar! less