The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-04-29
-In- NezC Y0rk
BY PAUL HARRTsON

New York Gilt, gaiety and glitter-bands, bangles and bugles trim tights and gaudy uniforms -tinsel and trappings-those are what circuses are made of. The Greatest Show on Earth proved 1t the other night at Madison Square Garden with its last rehearsal be- fore the seasons opening.
 For it wasn't a dress rehearsal. and whats a circus without a ring master resplendent in evening clothes and clowns in giddy grotes- queries? Can you imagine Exc and Iko, "the fungus-haired men from Mars. in neatly pressed suits and with ollegiately-cocked felt hats on their fuzzy pates? Or Koban. "the man who walks on his head" complaining because his fancy new shoes were too tight?
 And maybe you've thought that aerialists wear scanty costumes for afeater freedom of action. They don't. On this night the Flying Co., donas, the Rooneys and the Pow els went through their dizzying acts dressed in ordinary trousers and sweaters; and, in the case of the women gymnasts, in bathing suits and pajamas.
 All very disillusioning, 1t was. But colorful because of its very in congruity. .... The Great Con Col leano, dancing dandy of the tight wire, twirled a tattered rain coat instead of a silk-and-brocade cape. On the wire he stood revealed in old khaki pants, with a long tear in one leg of them. But Colleano pranced and postured--and accom- plished his famous forward somer- sault Only Clyde Beatty, the big lion-and-tiger man fresh from Hollywood appeared in formal cos tune. And that, he explained, was solely because the beasts were used to seeing him that way. :. The liv- ing-statue tableaus brought howl from visiting newspaper men "Lo" or some other poor Indian was por- trayed by an overalled roustabout with a cigar clenched in his teeth., And the girl who now dons glitter ing wings and filmy robe to sym- belize ''The Spirit of Flight" turn- ed out to be a polo-coated happer perched on the shoulders of an acrobat in a greasy bathrobe.
 Beasts Jittery
 Down below in the labyrinthine maze of the Gardens basement things were quieter, but uneasy. Gagged beasts, sleek and sassy from winter quarters, paced their smaller cages. .... Horses were jittery with excitement. Ele- phants swayed and stuffed and their keeprs were vigilant, with ly-sharpened bul-hoks ready.
 Busiest of all the behind-the- scenes people was Mrs Phyllis Nell son, who, now, after a career of Broadway musical comedy and working under the big top, is ward robe mistress of the circus. She bosses nearly 50 dressmakers and tailors, creates and keep in order the 1,70O-odd costumes worn by the performers, and even makes the panties and hats and such for the animals. Several people assist her with stepladders and steel tapes when she takes the measur of an elephant.
 "Mister John" Missing
 The circus folk will tell you that there's just one thing wrong with the show this year. Mister John" meaning old John Rfngling-1s still i'll in Florida and for the first tune III anyDOuy TcCOllcCSAOA AAN mt get here for rehearsals and opening night. ,
 There never was anyone like Mister John to whip show into shape, and the veterans don't feel quite right about starting the sea- son without him. He had quick eye, and always noticed when any thing was amiss, such as a split-sec ond of afaulty timing on the part of an aerialist. He always mention cd mistakes, too, but never offered praise. Silence from Mister John was an accolade.
 However, everyone is doing his best for the shows new general manager, MT Sam Gumpertz. They know that Ringing and Gumpertz were intimate friends for many years, and that Mister John per- sonally selected him as his success sor. The new. executive, besides owning several theaters, is the big gest sideshow man Coney Island ever had. He operates Dreamland Park at Coney and one of his re- cent stunts was the importing from Africa of whole Sumali village 1uifb 7Q uafivea p T. BArnum