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Downtown Searcy Arkansas Van Atkins and other stores. Parade!

By Barbara S. Duncan

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

April 16, 2011 09:45 AM

In keeping with my popular blog about a parade in downtown Searcy Arkansas, I found another parade picture. It has elephants! It almost makes me want to visit the zoo and see those giant animals again.

It also shows a part of our town that has changed so much in the last few years. It was taken near the Van Atkins store. Some of our newer blog readers may not remember these business locations. Some of the smaller names on stores may need to be supplied by Searcy Sleuths.

Note the advertisement on one elephant for White County Motor Company and it also gives a date, 1961! I guess elephant advertising was paid by the merchants.

I'm supplying a "today" picture for comparison. Where'd the chimneys go?

Elephants in downtown Searcy AR

Downtown Searcy AR

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Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Hi Barbara. How are you doing today? I hope super swell. That is so cool the elephants from 1961. Can you imagine the permits they might have to do today to pull that off for a parade? Prior to entering the circus in downtown Dallas they have an elephant march but that is the only place I remember one. The trunks and tails are together of course. You are the treasure trove of finding those photos from the past.

Apr 16, 2011 11:15 AM

Steven L. Smith

King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA

Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Barbara,

Based on the elephants going through town with the circus parade I would have thought way earlier than 1961, like 30's.

Apr 16, 2011 12:37 PM

Don Thompson

Donthomp Associates - Sunnyvale, CA

Never saw a elephant parade in Searcy. Of course, Paula and I were long gone by 1961.

Good to be back on the Internet after 52 hours without power as a result of Friday's storm.

Apr 16, 2011 12:46 PM

Barbara S. Duncan

RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR

GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Gary, I was wondering whether they still do elephants in the parades. When the circus came to town they used to do the elephants.....I think! Now the liability would be great with bold little children perhaps trying to climb on top of one!

Steven, I was surprised to find a date on the picture based on the sign. They had to have been advertising 1961 cars!

Don, I know you were in a real snit when you were deprived of internet for 52 hours! I would have been too. Perhaps this was a one-time deal with elephants in downtown Searcy.

Lynda, I loved the picture too.

Apr 17, 2011 01:26 AM

Barbara S. Duncan

RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR

GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Look at the man on the right with his protruding tummy. He was ahead of his time. Too many guys (and girls) look like that today but they don't wear the pants around the waste. They wear them UNDER the belly. LOL

Apr 17, 2011 01:28 AM

Anonymous

Debbie Wantulok

ELEPHANTS in the streets of SEARCY!

Talk about a traffic jam!

Good Pictures! I enjoyed them.

Apr 17, 2011 01:16 PM

#7

Steven L. Smith

King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA

Bellingham WA Home Inspector

I wonder if anything like that EVER happens anymore. Pretty amazing and atmospheric for that time.

Apr 17, 2011 03:47 PM

Barbara S. Duncan

RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR

GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Debbie, your Luke would have enjoyed that parade, wouldn't he?

Steven, I think I'd even go out to see an elephant parade now. It had to have been a circus in town.

Apr 18, 2011 12:52 AM

Luke Jones

Garver - Little Rock, AR

This Luke would have enjoyed that parade, too.

I can't tell from the picture if the streets were still brick in 1961. Also, I've always thought that "Seacy Professional Center" signage is some of the worst in town!

Apr 19, 2011 04:38 AM

Luke Jones

Garver - Little Rock, AR

By the way, if you're going to blog about the old His House building, you should do it soon - I hear it is due to be torn down. I bet that building has some history to it.

Apr 19, 2011 04:41 AM

Barbara S. Duncan

RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR

GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Luke, I did snap a picture of the His House building with the idea of doing a blog. I figured it would go down pretty quickly. I liked your interview with our historical oracle in the paper today.

Apr 19, 2011 06:11 AM

Anonymous

Ludean Kidd

I enjoyed reading your article, too, Luke. I enjoy reading and hearing about my home town. Thanks to you and Barbara for the memories.

Apr 19, 2011 08:44 AM

#13

Steven L. Smith

King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA

Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Years ago, when I was in radio, I participated in an elephant race. You rode on these elephants that raced, not all that fast. But you did not want to get stepped on or fall off.

Apr 19, 2011 04:14 PM

Barbara S. Duncan

RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR

GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Ludean, thank YOU for reading and participating!

Steven, falling off in an elephant race would be close to fatal!! I wish we had a picture of you on top of that elephant.

Apr 20, 2011 01:18 PM

Steven L. Smith

King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA

Bellingham WA Home Inspector

I would rather ride an elephant than a squirrel however.

Apr 20, 2011 04:59 PM

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