Friday, May 18, 2012

FOR THE LOVE OF DONKEYS -- PART 5


A TRIBUTE TO FRANK J. BARTHEN

Life as a donkey man required that Barthen be equal parts loving animal caretaker and outlandish carnival barker.

He said hour upon hour on the road driving to donkey ball games gave him time to think up slogans and promotions.

“The wheels were always turning,” said Kitty, Barthen’s wife of 50 years.
While Barthen was on the road for weeks at a time, Kitty was back at the ranch, raising their eight children and rounding up stray donkeys who wandered out of their pens.

On bright red burro transport trucks, Barthen billed the burro act as “Funnier Than a Circus” and “Wilder than a Rodeo.”

The trucks featured loudspeakers for Barthen and his crew to herald the arrival of his donkey show.

“I’d say `see Honey Pot – world famous comedy donkey. One of the roughest, toughest little donkeys in captivity.’ I tried to make it sound like Ringling Brothers was coming to town,” he said with a twinkle in his green eyes.

TRIBUTE CONTINUES TOMORROW -- MAY 19

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