Henry B. Gentry

A young Henry B. Gentry, after seeing the Van Amburg Circus began training his pet colt to jump through a hoop. The family dog "old Shep" was next, training the dog to work with the colt in the improvised act. Gentry continued to train the farm animals that were available to him and soon was asked to give a performance in the towns opera house. Henry had caught the "circus bug", and would turn this humble beginning into one of the largest shows on the road. In 1885 age 17 Henry asked his three brothers to join with him and start a traveling show. Henry B. (H.B.) Gentry was the moving force among the brothers.

I had always regarded Mr. Gentry as a rather Elmer Fuddish looking circus owner from the past until I read a 1967 Pfening article in Bandwagon regarding the demise of the famous bull elephant "Snyder" in 1920 at Salina, Kansas when Gentry was the Sells-Floto manager.
Included was a lengthy letter written by Frederick Bonfils co-owner of the show who was on the lot that fateful day, of which I will include a few paragraphs.

Mr. H. H. Tammen
c/o The Denver Post
Denver, Colorado

Dear Harry,
".......I want you to remember the following: I have never seen two more loyal and brave men in my life than Henry and Frank Gentry. I would not have done what I saw them do with eyes yesterday, for all the money in the United States.
I had to absolutely prevent Henry Gentry from taking an Elephant hook and starting to subdue the furious beast. It would have been certain death for him to have attempted it.
Frank Gentry just escaped by almost a miracle. The elephant ran after him and struck at him, just grazing his back. Frank dodged and doubled and before the elephant could turn, he had gotten behind a wagon."

".......Now in seeing these things with my own eyes and seeing what Henry Gentry and Frank did, I am sure that no other two men in the world would have so repeatedly risked their very lives as these two men did yesterday.
There was not another show man on the grounds who took a chance except these two men. I can never forget such loyalty under such circumstances. I would indeed be base if I did."

Always yours,
Frederick Bonfils

William "Buckles" Woodcock Buckles Blog