I expected to make a living by playing drums with a band. I was wrong. You cannot make a living playing drums in Sarasota, Florida, because that’s where everybody goes in the winter in show business. And I played one job at Lido Beach. I played with a band that… Read More
In my early teens, I became a drummer. Played drums in my high school band, and gradually was invited to join small groups because there were a number of smaller groups playing for dancing around my hometown. Eventually I got a job with a circus. I know now that the… Read More
And I remembered that forever. (laughs) But then ultimately you got involved with the circus?… Read More
Yes. (chuckles) Now from that, ultimately, after a period of time, you got involved with the circus, but how did you get involved with the circus?… Read More
Well, I was… The first circus I went to was in my hometown. And the one thing I remember, outstanding memory, was seeing a man slide down a wire on his head, a 100 foot wire from its peak on the top of a pole and slide down the wire… Read More
Oh, I was probably three or four years old. Told my mother that this man slid down the wire on his head, and he wore a helmet, like a football helmet with a groove in it. Read More
Anoles is a primarily aquatic lizard, and I found in the years following my mother’s death, one or two years later, I found an interest in Anoles lizards among a man who originally, I believe, had belonged to the National Society in Washington. He was operating a supply firm for… Read More
Well, that was after the death of my mother. She died when I was 10 years old, and we had moved previous to her death, and I sold salamanders, at about the same age, 11 or so, I found at a lake that we had in my first 10 years. Read More
So you were a young businessman. Read More
When you were growing up, as a youngster, what kind of connections with animals did you have growing up?… Read More
I heard you used to sell salamanders?… Read More
I’m Frank Thompson. I was born in Bennington, Vermont. Read More
What’s the month? What’s your birthday?… Read More
Oh (chuckles), my birthday is July 15th, 1928. Read More
Thank you for taking me to China. Read More
That it’s a profession that attracts people who are really dedicated to what they do. I mean, and you really create a bond. I mean, what I’ve missed is I always knew if I ever got stranded somewhere, you know, a plane didn’t take off, I would just call the… Read More
I don’t wanna be remembered. You know, it’s not about me. It’s about, everybody has something to contribute. So I’ve done my bit. It’s on to the next generation. Thank you, Bess Frank. Thank you, Mark Rosenthal. For your interview. Read More
That doesn’t happen anymore, ’cause nobody knows who Bess Frank is anymore. (laughs) But that’s fine. (chuckles) I just have my relatives on speed dial. (laughing) And how would you like to be remembered?… Read More
Having that span of years, what do you know about the profession that you devoted so many years of your life to?… Read More
What do you know about that, you’ve given all of those years, a major portion of your professional career to one profession. Read More