Number 23 June 7,1982

JEANETTE SOLERingmistress with Sole Bros. Circus

Australia

The Circus Report Page 3

A Rare Dayby GUS TAUAFERRO

On Aug. 26,1945, the Cote Bros. Circustrain pulled into the railroad yards at DesMoines, Iowa* to unload for a show date.At the same time the Ringling-Bamum

show train pulled into the yards and wasspotted alongside the Cole Bros. Circus fora feed and water stop.

On the far side of the yards, the RoyalAmerican Shows train was passing thru en-route to their next engagement.

BOB WELZ is appearing with the ice showat Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif,during the summer season.

BOB EMERICO, is presently with theAmericana Combined Shows in the PacificNorthwest area. He recently visited withJOHN EADS, magic shop operator, andKARL and SHEILA WINN in Medford.Ore.

OTLINiApr. 25 - Zimbabwe, Africa • Carole van

Zeeland, of Kaukauna, Wise., was injuredby a charging male elephant while on a sa-fari tour of animal reserves.The elephant charged their van and Mrs,

van Zeeland ran and hid behind a tree. Theelephant tore up the tree, grabbed her in itstrunk, swung her in the air and then tramp-led her. She suffered crushed ribs, a collap-sed lung, a damaged pelvis, a broken fermur,a dislocated neck vertebrae and a gashed armHospital officials report she "is recoveringwell."The hunter, Paddy Curtis, who led the sa-

fari tour, had his license suspended fortwo years because he did not have his rifleready when the elephant charged the firsttime. After the attack he got his rifle andkilled the animal with six shots.

BATES BROS. INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS- WANTS IMMEDIATELY -

AERIAL - ANIMAL - GROUND ACTS - VARIETY ACTSMUSICIANS - SHOW GIRLS

- Send Photos and Price in First Letter -

BATES BROS. SHOW PRODUCTIONS, INC.Richard W. Bates, President

P. O. Box 18 Squamish, BC, Canada VON - 3GO

6 0 4 - 8 9 2 -9851 or 604 - 898 - 3991- 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pacific Standard Time -

- NO C O L L E C T C A L L S PLEASE -

ALSO W A N T BOOKING AGENTS, PHONE ROOMM A N A G E R S A N D P H O N E M E N WITH D A Y ROOMAND NIGHT ROOM EXPERIENCE.

Page 4

SHOW DATESAahmes Shrine CircusJune 5-6 Pleasanton, Ca.

Beany-Cole CircusMay 31-June 1 Freehold,

NJ.June 2-3 Valhalla. NY

4-6 Milford, Conn.7-8 Dan bury

9-11 Waterbury12-13 New Britain

Big Apple CircusJune 5-13 Quern, NY

Carson & Bamei CircusMay 30 St. Louis, Ma

31 FestusJun 1 O'Fallon

2 Cahokia3 Bethalto4 Gillespie5 Jacksonville

Circus KnieJun 4-17 Rosentalanlage,

Switz

Circus VargasMay 28-31 Concord, Ca.Jun 1-3 Cupertino

4-7 San Bruno8-9 Santa Rosa

10-13 San Jose

Coronas CircusJun 8-11 St. Louis, Mo.

Dunn Buggy's Suitcase Cir.Jun 12 Ninety-Six, SC

Franzen Bros. CircusJun 7 Johnsburg, III.

8 Antioch9 Gumey

lOWaterford.Wsc11 Palmyra12 Delavan13 Oconomowoc

Garden Bros. CircusJun 9-10 South Bend.lnd

Ford Bros. CircusMay 24 Malad City, Idaho

25 Soda Springs26Arco27 Shelley28 St. Anthony29 Rupert30 Jackpot, Nev.31 Weiser, Idaho

Jun 1 Cascade2 Kooskia3 Potlatch

4-5 Pinehurct6 Spirit Lake7 Bonners Ferry

Hamid-Morton CircusJun 11-13 Lindenhurst.L-l

Hoxie Bros. CircusJun 4 Greensburg, Ind.

5 Connersville6 Springfield, Oh.7 Yellow Sprint?8 Tipp City9 Covington

10 Delphos11 Wapokoneta12 Findlay13 Ypsilanti

Intl All Star CircusJun 7 Danville, HI.

8 Champaign9 Decatur

No Elephant CircusJun 12 Ossening, NY

13 Brooklyn

Pickle Family CircusJun 12-13 Santa Cruz, Ca.

Ringling-Bamum - BlueJun 8-20 Philadelphia,Pa

Ringling-Bamum- RedJun 9-13 Syracuse, NY

June?, 1982^—^—-

Roberts Bros. CircusJun 1 Huokstown, Pa.

2 Ellsworth3 Everson4 Grindstone5 No. Versailles6 Pleasant Unity7 Crabtree8 Murrysville9 Sewickly

lOWarrendale11 Fred on ia12 Rimersburg

Royal Hanneford CircusJun 10 Dimondale, Mich

TNT & Royal OlympicJun 1-5 Columbia, SC

- • -OTHER DATES--•

Burr's FunoramaJun 7-12 Nashua, NY

James H. Drew ExpositionJun7-12Bluef ie!d,W.Va.

Elliott Amusement Co.Jun 8-13 Hamtramok.Mch

Great WallendasJun 8-11 St. Louis, Mo.

Royal American ShowsJun 11-27 Davenport, I a.

Scon's Medicine ShowJun 7 Abilene, Kans.

9 Hays10 Holdrege, Nebr.11 Hastings12 York13 Broken Bow

Dieter TassoJun 13-19 Frankenmuth,

Mich

Tip Top ShowsJun 9-13 Sheboygan, Wsc

i he Circus Report Page 5

SHOW DATES- M A G I C - - -

Harry AlbackerJun 7-12 Reading, Pa.

Annual Magic PicnicJun 13 Layafette, Ind.

Michael's Magic CircusMay 29 Fairmont, III.

30 Clinton, Ind.31 Atwood

Jun 1 Ridge Farm, 111.2 Arthur3 Newman4 Oakland5 Cat!in6 Oakwood

7-8 Villa Grove

Pf. Miller-Magic Time USAJun 13 Monoca, Pa.

Cole Bros,by GUS TAUAFERRO

Some of the Dept, heads with Cole Bros,Circus for the season of 1942 were:

Front Door, Movies. Burkhart, Cecile LaBell, Dan Mettell, Sheak and Red Roberson.Tax Box, Frank Orman; Red Wagon, Bob-

bie DeLochte and Lome Russell; Time Kee-per, Herbert Leemany; General Agent. JakeNewman; Advance Car, Vem Williams andPress Staff, Ora Parks, Harry Chipman, Em-mitt Sims. Foster Bell, C. S. Primrose andNorman Carroll.Contracting Agents, William Lester and P.

Branson; 24 Hour Man, Al Hoffman andKarl Kaudson; Purchasing Agent, ArthurSturmak; Mail Man, Horace Laird; SideShow, Arthur Hoffman; Electrical Dept.,Louis Scott and Raymond Miles; SleepingCars Head Porter, Jack Bursliem; Legal DeptJoe Haworth and Bill Kellogg.

Cook House. Frank (Mitt) Carl and ElmerVoris; Train, Jack Biggers and 2 Gun White

(Continued on Next Page)

The Ringling-Barnum Circus train is shown here as it passed through Orange, Va.,early this year. Traffic in both directions was stopped until the long train, carryingpersonnel, animals and equipment was cleared through the city. The photo has beentaken from the Orange County Review, dated May 6,1982.

Page 6June?, 1982

COLE BROS. (Continued)Warn; Carpenter Shop. Charlie Lucky, FredWalker and Bill Zastrow; Harness DepL,Waxie Dyke; Amplifying System, WalterRice; Wardrobe Dept., Josephine McFarlinand Katie Lucky; Ushers, Joe Kuta andBill Hill; Lot Supt., Fred (Cap) Seymoreand Curley Stewart.

Big Top Canvas, Charlie Young and BigHenry; Baggage Stock, Dutch Warner. Bloo-mer English, Buck Schuler; Barber Shop,Dan Mittal; Big Show Tickets, Dutch Wise,Yellow Burnett, Leo Gindlesparcer, EddyGrady, Stanley Dawson, (also Fred Logangot his start in the business under DutchWise, selling reserve seat tickets).

Menagerie, Arkie Scott, Ted White andBill Woodcock; Ring Stock. Malicom (Ala-bama) Campbell; National Advertising, Richard Scatterday; Banner Collector, Billy Grif-finn (who is in the office on Hoxie Bros.);Big Show Announcer, Harry Thomas; BigShow Band, Vic Bobbins; Side Show Band,P. G. Lowery.

The wife of George Humes (Bumpsy An-thony) died peacefully in her sleep on May23rd at their home in Florida. She was 75and had been ill for the past several weeks.

Special Partyby NORMA CRISTIANI

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Trippe hosted a weekendparty for friends, show agents and sponsorsand other folks connected with the businessThe event, held at their Texas estate, featur-ed pony rides for the kids, cotton candy anda display of some 2000 balloons over theswimming poolTents were set up for the Bar-B-Que and

bar, and a dance floor and band were alsoset-up.

Among the guests were: Mr. and Mrs.James Dolan, of San Miguel, Mexico, orig-inal owners of James Bros. Circus; Sid KeU-ner, of Old Time Vaudeville, just back froma cruise on the Love Boat with Tony Martinand Cyd Charisee, Clara Stevens, former owner of Stevens Bros. Circus and widow of thelate Little Bob Stevens.

Patrick Joseph Plunkett with his wife. Conchie and son Don; Peggy and Mickey John-son; Kay Rtddley; Mr. and Mrs. Contev andfamily; G. E. Oliver; James and Loretta Wit-ten; Robert "Smokey" Jones; Bobby Cox;Mr. Davenport; Billie and Jim Plunkett andKathleen Stevens Davis.

Bob Trippe had the stage show Clown-around with Gene Kelley which operatedfor a few weeks sometime ago. That showis now in the planning stages again and isexpected to be back on the road soon.

PageS

I Rememberby BILL WOTSCH

I remember when Clyde Beatty and his catact appeared on the stage of the PalaceTheatre in Cleveland, Ohio, in the middle1930'$.Some of us kids would go in before the

prices changed at 1 p.m. We'd watch themovie from the back rows, then when theacts started we would move up closer tothe front. What kid wanted to miss ClydeBeany in the cage with his cats?

It was great. The stage lights on, us kids insoft seats and Clyde Beatty up there in frontof us dressed in white, with his white hat, awhip and chair. Shots would be fired andechoed through the theatre. The cats wouldgo through their routines and when the actwas over Clyde Beatty would step out of thearena, smile and bow, amid the cheers of theaudience.The cats were kept downstairs in a tunnel

that was backstage. Going down a ramp, wecould walk by the stage entrance and lookdown to see the cats in their cages.

We really got a bargain in those days

June 7, 1982

Band Featureby GEORGE LEHMANN

The Old Mapleton Circus Band of Oconn-mowoc. Wise., opened the parade season inreal style. The band rode the old circus bandwagon in the parade culminating the threeday Syttende Mai celebration in Stoughton,Wise. This is a yearly event in commemora-tion of the signing of the Norwegian Consti-tution. The band played with the usual gus-to, rendering many old time circus tunes.From the driver's seat it sounded like weare going to have a super parade season.

We would like all of you circus fans whoenjoy good old time circus music to "get inon the fun". Enjoy an old time circus par-ade at home.

For just $8.00 you can have this album toenjoy at your leisure. Play it alone, at a par-ty, one of your tent meetings, or whatever.

Forward check to:Robert Ludwig, ManagerOld Mapleton Circus Band38050 N Street MontereyOconomowoc, Wise. 53006

Page 12

The Mecca Shrineby CHRIS AUDIBERT

On May 14-15, the Mecca Shrine sponsor-ed Hamid-Morton Circus which played atthe Community Center in White Plains. NY.

The program featured: Marcan's Lions (2)with 11 tigers (1 being white), plus 6 Cuneotigers for a total of 19 cats in the arena; theWeldons. single traps; Davide's Ladder; Dub-sky, spinning plates; Clowns with cannon(car shades of Ernie Wiswell); Gorilla act;Winky Blinky Light Pitch; Oubsky's Leo-pard act; Susan's Afghans; Clowns and thesharpshooter; The Lunas flyers; Intermis-sion.

Eddie and Julie Ventura, iron jaw; Zoppe'sMonkeys; Sir Harry, one finger stand; Wel-dons, balancing; Cuneo's elephants (4) withJohn and Laura Walker.John and Mary Ruth Merriott stopped to

visit with daughter Laura enroute to theirown date with the Big Apple Circus. Alsovisiting was David Orr, of Bridgeport. Conn.Show had 3/4 houses at both shows thiswriter caught.

On May 15th, after catching the M & MCircus the writer drove up to Hartford tocatch the Ringling Red Unit.

On May 16th, the Great American Circusplayed Patterson, NJ, giving two perform-ances, 1:30 and 4 p.m.Their program featured: Spec; Dave Up-

ton and cougar on leash; Billy Martin andSherry, rola bola; Lu Wong, hair hang; BookPitch; Pony and Dogs; Clowns with teles-cope and slapstick; Balancing; Yum Yum,contortion; Peanut Pitch; Dogs; Gorilla act;Intermission with elephant rides.Palomino Ponies with Egard, Jr., Ballet

June 7,1982

girls on swinging ladders; Clowns with thesharpshooter gag; Balloon Pitch; Pretty Boyriden by Egart. Jr.. dressage; 3 elephants;Oscar in a cloud swing.All seats are general admission with 9 high

blues; top is blue and white, an 80 with three40's; 3 elephants on show, Bonnie, Jessie and...; two elephants used for rides out frontand also inside the big top before and duringthe show.

Band consists of organs and drums mount-ed in trailer; a 3/4 house at both shows. Theside show did good business, as did the ponyride on the midway.

ActsActs appearing in the Col. Howe's Travel-

ing Circus Extravaganza, at Knotts BerryFarm, in Southern California, this summerare:Tarra, the roller skating elephant; Mdme.

Sally (Ashton), single trapeze; Dougie Ash-ton, Australia's funniest clown; The Vick-inas-Aguilar Troupe, risley/teeterboard; theHowe's Circus Gypsies, singer/dancer/acro-bats; and Col. Howe's Circus Concert Bandof 5 pieces.

GLORIA BUCHAL (52), died in Australiaon April 23,1982. She was a former acro-bat with the Seven Ashtons Risley Act. Shewas the wife of Joe Buchal, mother of Jim-my and Dougie Buchal, and a sister of Ne-ville, Mickey, Hoody, Dingie, Goldie, Ruvaand a twin sister of Dougie Ashton.

The Circus Report Page 13

Circus Notesby ART "DOC"MILLER

\ was on the Beany lot for a short time inGainesville, Fla. The show is painted up niceand makes a neat apparance. A bad wind hitthe town, but the show had plenty of know-how in the big top canvas dept, so no trou-ble was experienced.

On the lot I learned about a circus thatonce gillied in the Pittsburgh area with trol-ley system's little box cars. Those interur-ban lines covered most of the east back inthe era before 1920. How about someonerecalling their grand pappy telling aboutthis show • A special thanks to Harry Rawlsfor hearing about this show years ago.

Rumor also floats around that Knoxville,Tenn., keeps a few old circus wagons foruse in local parades. These are no doubtfrom the Witt Wagon Works, once wellknown to wagon shows for their shell band-wagons. But beware! That's a strange town,if you plan to visit the world's fair there, beon your guard.

I, in all innocence, once broke a circusjump there and was immediately grabbed,whisked away in the paddy wagon to theclink, my billfold snatched, mugged, finger-printed and no phone call allowed. Seemsthey thought I was Willie Button, the fa-mous bank robber. I was released in themorning, but very shy on my amount offolding money.

Most any show has a multitude of humor-ous happenings if only remembered by someone with it The late Ken Couchman up inNew York State orginially trouped forashort time, with a wagon show.

Because he was here, there and everywhereto see that the show went up like clockworkdifferent workingmen were furious at thisconstant over-seeing. So they hit upon theidea of bringing up a suitable topic soon aseveryone was seated in the cook house."Say," remarked someone, "did you see

that cage wagon back there in the weeds bythat old bam?"

"Yea, I saw it. Wonder what show it wasoff of?"

By this time Ken's ears had picked up theconversation and immediately he wanted toknow just where they noticed the wagon."Oh, back there five, six miles, it was off

to the side a bit and looked like it was aban-doned."

Gulping down his coffee. Ken would hitchup his buggy and away he would go to findthe wagon. This scheme carried on as longas the short lived show existed. Ken neverfound the wagon, seats or poles, he was sentto look for, but he always came back, nearlylate for the matinee, with a generous heapof horse blankets he had bought along theway.

Marguerite Clark, an early rival to MaryPickford, was perhaps the first movie starto appear in a circus themed movie. Thiswas filmed around New York and the showused a small topand carried two bulls, onea small tusker. Perhaps this was one ofCharley Hunt's first tenters? (The film was"Still Waters").

Gladys Walton, one of Universal'* earlieststars, made several circus films, in At G.Barnes quarters. They were filmed during

(Continued on Next Page}

Page 14

CIRCUS NOTES (Continued)

1971 thru 1921, as Ms, Walton, still active,recently wrote me.

As a youth, Wallace Berry joined out on acircus as a bull man. With salary a whoppingbig $4.00 a week, Wallace soon felt that allthe glamour of the circus was very much ov-er-rated.

Around 1921. the Barnes advance car car-ried a nifty kid item that to my knowledgehas not been seen or used since. It was a fol-ded cardboard gun which oppped when youquickly gave it a downward yank. Seems likethe wording ran something like: "It's a bigbang of a show, etc." Then passed out free,today it could easily be sold for two-bits assomething extra special.

Back when I was knee-high to a grass hop-per, I delivered newspapers to home owners.The paper (the original one of the now giantGannett chain) sold for 15c a week, out ofwhich I retained Sc.Well, my grandfathergifted me with a Brownie camera and I spent35c for a roll of film, all of which was usedto photograph some outstanding billboardsof the Barnes show. When I returned to thedrug store to pick up the finished pictures,I was given a stem lecture by the druggist onhow a fool and his money were soon parted.

He had opened my envelope and taken anadvance gander at my pictures. I often won-der what that nose-trouble druggist wouldsay today if those beautiful pictures stillexisted and at an astonishing value.

June 1, 1982

Girl Clownsby AMANDA KA TE THOMAS

Insteadof the standard ten females in theRBBB Clown College class of sixty studentsthis year, there were only eight, (although

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all eight finished, whereas a number of themale students did not make it to the end).All three of the female downs on the red

unit were replaced by only two femaleclowns. This means there are tv/o femaleclowns in an alley of over 25 clowns. Thereduction in the number of female clownson the blue unit was even more startling astheir number was cut in half from four lastyear to now only two this year.

I, as an admirer and believer in the effec-tiveness and the joyfulness of the femaleclown, believe that this is a sorrowful trend... a trend which I hope you can bring topeople's attention in your magazine.

The Circus Report Page 15

Wondercadeby ART "Doc"MILLER

Folks, you ain't seen nothin' yet! Wait un-til you catch the great big Wondercade ex-travaganza.

For years it was Col. Swain's 3 Car RR tentshow, then along came Ricton, Barnum ofthe sticks, surpassed in time by that whop-per of a tent show, Bilroy's Comedians (90people, mostly girls).

Now, believe no false announcements tothe contrary, it's Hall & Christ giantic Won-dercade. It's so huge it requires the entireequipment needed for the once popular KingBros. Circus.

Folks, if you, with a sigh, think wistfullyof the old days of vaudeville, stop fretting,Wondercade is a conglomeration of vaude-ville (with plenty of elaborate and new ideasin illusions by that silent and clever Mystic,Huston, from I believe • • er-r-r-r Australia.)There is one bevy of smartly gowned dam-

sels that know how to sing and dance, thereare even some high kicking routines. Wow!

Novelty acts that could have pleased au-diences at the old Palace in New York, nerveshattering tight and slack wire dancing, evensome fancy aerial antics by a clever blondelooker from the Balkans in Europe.

But, this isn't all by any means, there areOriental and comedy numbers, even a fastmoving routine by dainty "Sassafrass" thecute baby elephant Col. Hall brings out hisvent dummy which sure startled the smallestmoppets in the well filled top.

Last but by no means least, is a dandy or-chestra, schooled in show world know-how,which did their part to make this show areal honest to gosh Wondercade.

By all means catch this show, even if youmust drive a hundred miles. You'll be gladyou did. Bring your camera, that huge twostory high front entrance is well worth pho-tographing. The show is a great credit tothese hard working fellows.

CorrectionThere was a mistake in the advertisement

for The Great Wallendas which appeared inThe Circus Report on May 24th (Page 9).

It is the 1983 season that this famed actwill be with the Hubert Castle Circus.

GENE RANDOW and TOMMY HANNE-FO RD were on the same circus - The ArabiaTemple Shrine Circus at Houston. After notseeing each other for 20 years there was alot of ribbing and jokes going on and theywere seen together during most of the en-gagementVisitors at the circus included: Mr. and

Mrs. Joe Zoppe, Raul Prada, Ray and SlickValentine, Peter Luvas and family, alongwith John McConnell, vice president of theRoyal Hanneford Circus.Senor Rai, ringmaster for Royal Hanneford

Circus, announced the Shrine Circus at Hou-ston, except for one day when he had toleave fur a circus date at the Super Dome inNew Orleans, at which time Tommy hand-led the announcing chores.

Page 18

New Bookby GEORGE BINGAMAN

"LITTLE OL' SHOW" by Arthur "Doc" Miller. Published by Ashmur Publications, P. 0.Box 1487, Woodland Acres, Starke, Fla.

LITTLE OL' SHOW is delightful readingfor anyone who enjoys a good story. "It'san education" for fens and circus friendswho claim circus savy. It's the perfect anti-dote for all "First of May-en" whose blind-spots require eye-openers so they can viewthe backlot of tanbark and tinsel - the hardrealities, the hand-to-mouth existence of themud show troupers, the merciless catastro-phes of moving a show, the improvisationsdemanded by ruthless nature via fire, hurri-cane or flood, or by preying towners in theform of rowdy gangs, or unscrupulous poli-ticians or wary citizens weary of fly-by-nightcircus transients.

Where truth starts and fiction arujBin LOSI'll never be able to determine. Doc dedicatesthe narrative to Dorothy who helped encourage him to make 'This fictional story possi-ble." They say truth is stranger than fictionThis is a strange book because there must beloads of truth in it to wet such fictionalimagination!What a television series LOS could make, a

Perils of Pauline thriller in seven chapterparts. The author helpfully gives a summaryof each chapter at each chapter's beginning.It does not take a wise man long to see thateach chapter is a book of adventures in it-self t All this excitement is packed into 150well written pages.The book cover is an attractive, interesting

composite of circus prints, posters, tickets,passes, script and scenes. The final thirtypages are comprised solely of rare black andwhite photographs taken from the lesserknown small shows such as Great Zanger,Golden Bros., Yankee Robinson, CooperBros., Sam Dock's, Silver Bros., Ferris Cir-

June?, 1982

HELP WANTEDAssist with Elephant Ride operation atthe Louisville Zoo.Contact:

ROBERT"SMOKEY"JONESl lOOTrev i l i anWay

Louisville, Kentucky • 40213

cus, Sig Sautelle's Wagon Circus, ElmerJones 2-car Cole Bros., Lemon Bros., Fa-mous Jarvis Magical Wonders Tent Showand the Princess Olga Shows.

Art "Doc" Miller's volume is well wr i t tenin circus spiel interpreted via a helpful glos-sary. It has humor, action, fast pace. Beforeyou realize it, you have reached the end ofa captivating tale of our pioneer circus mud-ders whose ingenuity in adversity adds aheroic chapter to the story of pioneerAmericana.

The ActsThe All American Circus, which recently

completed its tour of dates in Southern Cal-ifornia, featured the following acts:Bob Moore's mongrel revue; Win! McKay

and Richard St. John, aerial display; AlanGold, lions and tigers; The Zerbinis, teeter-board; Chester Cable, foot juggling; LuckyBrothers, knock-about; The Flying Seguras,flying act; Intermission.The Zerbini's riding act; The Willettvs, bal-

ancing; Sheila Winn, slide-for-life; BuckySteele's elephants; Karl Winn's aerial motorcycle; Tim Tegge, producing clown.

John Regis served as ringmaster and Geo-rge Goulding directed the band.

Page 22

Show Actsby ALMOND KNIGHT

The Al Menah Temple Shrine Circus, pro-duced by the Olympic International CircusCorp., was presented at Nashville, Tenn.,May 6-9 and featured the following acts:Arias Bears; The Valentino Duo, areial

cradle;The Valla Duo, The Great Mike andThe Rotinis, variety acts; Clowns; Trudy'sLiberty Dalmatians; Rietta, The Goddes ofthe Galaxy, aerialist; The Kolmedys andThe Bertinis, unicycles; The Loyal-Repen-sky Troupe, riding act with Timmy Loyal;The Flying Lantonys; Clowns; The Kolme-dys and The Walten Trio, balancing; TheGreat Wallendas, high wire; Benny Williamsand elephant Anna Mae; Clowns; The Tan-gier Troupe, Arab tumbling; The Quassers,space ship aerial feature.

FOR SALE3 FEMALE LIONS1 yr. - 2 yrs. -8 yrs.

WILL BUY or TRADEMALE LIONS

1H to 3 yrs. old

ATCA, INC.Rte. 1 - Box 54

Wills Point, Texas -75169Phone: 214 - 226 - 2328

June 7.1982

NEW ADDRESSPOPCORN & ETCETERA

Tom and Maddy SinkCan be reached at the following addressand phone number:

Tom and Maddy Sink25 Northwestern Way

Hopatcong, New Jersey - 07843Phone:201-398-5690

BILL BURGER is spending some time vis-iting and sightseeing in the East before hereturns to the west coast.

BARRIE and SHEILAH SLOAN appearon stilts in the Beatty-Cole spec and theirbig heads are used several times during theshow. Barrie also appears as 'Uncle Sam'in the show's finale.

NOLLY and POLLY TATE, former circusclowns, are living at: 6820% Valmont Street,Tujunga, Calif. 91042. They'd love to hearfrom friends.

JOHN ZWEI FEL's model of the WhiteHouse was damaged by an anti-war groupwhen the model was recently displayed inThe Hague. Netherlands.

APRIL FOSSETT visited the Beany-ColeCircus at Exton, Pa., during a day off fromher engagement at Rocky Glen Park, in Pa.

FRANCARRO & ESTRELETA. taped asegment of the TV show "Circus" in Tor-onto just recently. The show will be airedat • part of the coming faH series.

BILL GREEN, FRANK SMITH and DONEDWARDS, all of Beatrice, Nebr., visitedthe M & M Circus when the show played atLincoln, Nebr.

DAVE TWOMEY recently had his Happy-time Circus at the Orange Show in San Ber-nardino, Calif.

LOIS WINDER, wife of Ray Winder, ofSarasota. Fla., died on May 9th in a Rich-mond, Va. hospital, after a long illness.

Page 24

Showtime Folliesby LOGAN PRITCHETT

Bill Garden's "Showtime Follies" presentsan unusually strong 1982 show.

Playing Arkansas dates a month after open-ing in Pennsylvania, the troupe has traveledthru Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts,New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Illin-ois, Missouri and Kansas. Louisiana was nextto be followed by Alabama, Georgia, Northand South Carolina, closing in Florida.The unit will shut down for the summer

and resume fall bookings, according to Wes-ley Oler, manager.Dorian Blake is the handsome, well-cos-

tumed MC and illusionist (he had six verysmart mod costume changes), ably assistedby the stunning Janice.

Florence Oler's wizardry at the organ car-ries the show, with strong assists from drum-mers, Harold Ashton (principally) and MikeAshton.

A well-done foot juggling turn by Mike Ashton and Leslie opens, followed by Blake's as-tounding illusions. Janice is produced froman empty crystal casket, followed by dovecatching in the air, dove tray, dove bag, pa-per coils from mouth, Hong Kong pigeonproduction, pigeons change to rabbit ontable, dove carousel vanish and an effectiveIndian basket.Danny Gary and Randa present a very

strong hand-balancing act (Randa workedwith a cast on her leg, and still managed tostyle beautifully).

The kids loved the knock-about Popeye-skitwith little Harold Simmons as the hero. Morgan Ashton as the mean Buto, and JackieAshton as Olive Oyl. Vidfaell's Chimps (2)

June 7,1982

are extremely talented and Jack and SharonBurke (Aj's daughter) are effective in theirpresentation. Intermission followed, withBlake's magic book pitch. Balloons and cot-ton candy were also offered.

Dorian's second magic turn opens the duohalf, with duck production from squarecircle, duck goes into Temple of Benares,disappears, reappears, followed by the sur-prising appearance therein of the beautifulJanica. They close this with the venerablesub trunk. Blake works silently, with terri-fic music accompaniment, and is a most ef-fective MC/magician who is about to be abig star.

Unbelieveable rola bola by the Kerry BrownDuo (Danny and Randa Gary) was next, fol-lowed by Burke's dogs, well-trained andcharmingly presented by Sharon, with Jackas the mean dog catcher.

The Morgan Ashton Family were strongclosers. Australia's gift to the circus, the Ashton's risley act features Jackie, Leslie andcousin Harold Simmons, air-bome on thequick feet of Harold and son, Mike. Morganestablishes direct rapport with the audienceafter every trick and is a delightful perfor-mer.All the company were warm and friendly.

Visiting in Little Rock were Bill Walters(CFA convention chairman), Charlie He-mann, Frank Caple, Charlie Roark (veterancircusman), Logan Pritchett and the Alber-to Zoppe family (just closed with LarryCarden in Baton Rouge). Zoppe was hereto discuss the upcoming Circus Italia, whichhe is producing for the 1982 CFA conven-tion in Little Rock, July 4-7. Zoppe willcontinue working the Carden dates for theseason, in addition to producing his ownindependent dates.

Page 26

Roberts Bros.by DON SANDMAN

Roberts Bros. Circus played Lorain, Ohio,for the JC's on May 17th at the fairgroundswith two performances, 6 and 8 p.m.

On entering the midway there is a ponyride, elephant ride, moon bounce, Joe My-ers novelty stand, the combined ticket wa-gon concession stand and the ElephantSkinned Dog, pit show.

On arriving at the lot circus fans were madeto feel at home and to be a part of the fam-ily. It is definitely a family show where allpitch in and help where needed.

The show as presented at Logan was as fol-lows:

Organ music as the crowd enters the tent;Joe Myers, the Royal Clown King of Heartswith a color book pitch (a young lady sellsthe books and Joe autographs them); Ring-master George Rowe then takes over themike to welcome the people to the circus.

Opening spec with all performers; Threerings of juggling with Miss Sonya, BohbyFairchild and Ian Craik; Miss LeeAnn on theRoman rings, concluding with an overheadupside down walk; Dogs in ring 1 and 3 pre-sented by Jeff Earl and Yvonne Stephens;Clown Joe Myers with his Atomic Incuba-tor; Ladders over ring 1 and 2 with Miss LeeAnn and Miss Tammy, while in the centerring Miss Sonya works on the Spanish web;Ian Craik with his military ponies in ring 1,Miss Yvonne and Frosty the Wonder Ponyin ring 3; In the center ring Bobby Fairchildwith sowrd balancing on the ladder; MissLee Ann Stephens and the aerial trapeze; a

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10 minute intermission.The second half opened with Miss Sonya

on the silver strand; Balloon pitch; Kalimar& Co., magic interlude (George Rowe); JoeMyers, clown with The Three Bears; Beriowith spinning tops; A Salute to the Spon-sors; Lisa the elephant presented by CaptJeff Earl; Christopher and Oorito, aerialcradle act.

The show is owned by Bob and Doris Earland if you ask anyone on the show theirname it will be one of the Roberts brothersor sisters, a real family event.Sorry that we had to miss seeing Bob as he

had just left to go to North Carolina for thesecond unit at the fair. Our thanks to Dorisand all the rest for a wonderful day.

A small Enquirer pictorial was well postedaround town and date sheets used with thepictorial covered a couple of store fronts.The show enjoyed two full houses here.

Show ActsThe circus-themed "Posh Bosh" of the year

held at the Terminal Tower in DowntownCleveland, Ohio, on May 15th, featured thefollowing performers.

Pat and Gwen D aviso n, juggling; Framcar-ros, juggling; Wainwrights, trampoline; Em-mett Kelly, Jr., The Tangier Troupe, tumb-ling; The Patricks, rola bola; Miss Carol, tra-peze; Fabulous Darnells, magic; Frank andEstreleta, aerial perch.There was dancing and fabulous food and

Emmett and Nancy Kelly, presented rosesto all the girts on the show.

At the circusAt the circus, 4-year-old Bob was admiring

a woman aeriatist who appeared in the spot-light wearing a plumed headdress and a flow-ing robe. Overwhelmed by the costume, Bobexclaimed, "Mom! Is she ever bee-U-tiful!"

The woman then shed her headpiece andflowing robe and approached her ladder in abrief sequined costume. Again Bob gasped."Wow!" he said. "And her insides are beau-tiful tool"- Doyle K. Getter, Milwaukee Journal

Page 28

ON THE ROAD DOWN UNDERJune 7,1982

... by SALLY ASHTON

The adventure really began when the menin short pants boarded the jumbo 747 (afterlanding in Sydney) to spray all its Australianbound passengers. After 'disinfection' wewere rushed off through immigration uponacknowledgement of the age-old Australiancircus name on our passports. "What tookyou so bloody long to get back, mate?"snorted the officials. It didn't seem like ithad been over 33 years.

Whisked over the Australian highways pastleaping kangaroos, snoozing koalas, screech-ing cockatoos and laughing kookaburras, wewere welcomed by the sight of the dark bluebig top settled on a grassy field with theSOLE BROS. CIRCUS banners waving onhigh. Somehow, show business looked dif-ferent down under - and we soon found out•that it was indeed.

Soles, the largest circus in Australia, play aweek in every town, performing once a nightat 8 p.m. On weekends there are afternoonand evening shows scheduled at 2 and 8 p.m.one matinee on Sundays and Mondays arealways off. The jumps average 7-20 kilome-tres. Life, in general, is less hurried withplenty of time for swimming, boating, fish-ing, shopping, sightseeing, bbques, parties oranother favorite Australian past time.

There were many things we had to get us-ed to: the time change, plus the fact that wewere actually standing on our heads, downunder the world, the gruff Aussie slang aswell as the giant bullfrogs that inhabited thetoilet bowls.

Then there were always the black-faced a-boriginals peeking under the sidewalls. Thecountryside and natural wildlife were unrealand enchanting at the same time. Our 3month tour with Soles sped by quickly *from Sydney up through the lush, tropicalbanana republic of New South Wales to thegorgeous (and often topless) white-sandedbeaches of Queensland's Gold Coast andSurfer's Paradise, into the thriving metro-polis of Brisbane.

JEAN and JOE PERRY, owners of SoleBros. Circus and our gracious hosts.

The circus owners, Jean and Joe (the Jac-kie Gleason of Soles) Perry, couldn't havebeen more gracious hosts. We were winedand dined and laughed 'til all hours of thenight on Joey's uproarious tales. One of thefavorites was his rendition of how Minyak,the elephant, demolished Mr. Whippy's icecream stand to make front page headlines.

(Continued on Next Page)

The Circus Report Page 29

DOWN UNDER (Continued)

Soles menagerie circumnavigates the one-ring plastic tent There are 4 elephants: Le-na, 85-yr old lead, originally from theWirth Circus, Tara, Mmyak, and baby Dol-ly • who all enjoy traveling open-air town-to-town, pulling down the trees and bush be-hind their International lorry. Three former-ly wild Australian camels (from the Northof Queensland) also perform in the showand are easily coaxed by the wooden pegsthrough their noses. In the tradition of their1850's horse-powered circus. Soles still holdan equestrian interest the 23 Appaloosa hor-ses and 2 Arab stallions that they keep graz-ing at tentside. There are also 12 ponies, 1donkey, 3 rhesus monkeys and 9 lions at lastcount.

Inside the big tent sawdust covers the ringfloor while the topside is decorated in or-ange and white stars with red stripes. Redvelvet curtains embroidered in spangle de-signs cover the back performer's entrance,topped with Sole's insignia in lights.

Bleachers and elevated chairs span the tent-sides, along with the more popular ringside

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seats.Opening fanfare commences the show (via

taped music and live drummer Dougie Bu-chal) and then amidst whistles and wolfcallssteps petite ringmistress Jeanette Sole.

First to open is big Joe Perry, probably theonly lion trainer in the world who is actuallyallergic to his cats. Producing clown DougieBuchal entertains as the cage is pulled away,followed by the equestrian expertise of Lind-say Sole riding his Arab stallion. Silver Con-dor and cousin Lana Perry riding her Anglo-Arab, Silver King. Teeterboard acrobaticsare provided by the 7 member HungarianUrban Troupe, featuring a 4 man high bytop mounting youngster Robika Urban. TheAustralian Queen of the Air, Ella Lota, per-

DOUG ASHTON with Koala friend

forms her daring solo trapeze (in equallydaring wardrobe); Australian camels by Jo-seph Aroni;clowns Dougie Buchal and Doug-ie Ashton in the pump-up gag; aerialist Su-san-Marie Perry in a classical and innovativeweb to Rhapsody in Blue, followed by ele-phants (4) with Lindsay Sole and riders La-na Perry, Sally Ashton and Michelle Szom-bati, featuring tub routines, long mountand baby Dolly walking the plank as trainerLindsay Sole cracks his whip double-timeto the Baby Elephant Walk. Interval findsaction on the midway games, pony ridesand Dougie Buchal selling his ctown nosesouvenirs.

Second half opens with Lindsay Sole and'Mustard' the football playing pony; The

(Continued on Next Page)

Page 30

DOWN UNDER (Continued)

Michelle Duo, graceful aerial cradle by Gabor and Michelle Szombati; comedy anticsof Dougie Ashton's musical revue; perchpole by Ella and Julbert Bradford (featur-ing neck hang and one-toe hang); JungleJockeys, rhesus monkey riding ponies withLindsay Sole; comedy telescope skit byDougie and Joe Buchal; and the Flying Co-roliy closing the show with a magnificentpassing leap under black lights, a doubleforward by Gabby Urban and a triple som-ersault by 13-year old Robika Urban.

Our last 10 day spree in Brisbane was soldout every show with endless lines at the boxoffice and standing room only. Soles weregetting rave notices from Brisbane newspa-pers and television stations. They claimedthe show was the best ever, the costumingsuperb, the acts first class and the clowns,the funniest, especially the trumpet-playingclown, Dougie Ashton, was delightful.

We are proud to report that circus - the in-timate, traditional theatre on the grass, un-der the big top, sawdust, animal smell and

June 7, 1982

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all - is alive and well in Australia in 1982 -Soles IS full of soul.

The show's staff includes:Jean Perry, business, booking, box office;

Joe Perry, owner, overseer, lion trainer, en-tertainment; Paul Templeman, promotions;Lindsay Sole, general manager, animal train-er extraordinaire; Jeanette Sole, ringmistress;Susan Perry, aerial chief; Joe Buchal, eques-trian director; Dougie Buchal, producingclown, drummer; Lana Perry, wardrobe mis-tress; Stuart Gill, big top boss, blue room;Kim Anderson, musical coordinator; Knock-er, head electrician; Michelle Szombati,front door, ringside seating.

MARK YOUNG, winner of the 1982 Out-standing Sailor Circus Senior Award, andBRENT KWENSKI, winner of the JohnSullivan Award, of Sarasota's Sailor Circus,hope to become full-time pros in the circusworld.

The Circus Report Page 31

At Las VegasbyBILL BIRCH FIELD

"Magic is manipulating with your hands;with illusions you manipulate the mind!"

I can say without fear of contradictionthat "Beyond Belief" is the greatest magicshow ever produced and likely the greatestever to be produced. This « it, magic hatreached it's absolute pinnacle.!

Imagine the possibilities of allowing twofabulous illusionists and two legendary pro-ducers turned free with $3,000,000 and aterrific 1200 seat showroom to do as theypleased."Beyond Belief is the result. The entire

theatre has been reconstructed to adapt tothis truly amazing show.

Many of the classic illusions are perform-ed with great finese by Siegfried & Roy andtheir company of wonderworkers.This show in Las Vegas is the only one do-

ing great business. The night I was there itwas packed ($26.00 minimum which in-cludes two cocktails).

Here is a partial list of illusions: CrystalCabinet, Double Flash Appearance, Produc-tion of a horse, Roy levitates, Burning Alive,Hindu Basket, Shooting a Cat from Cannon,Aga Levitation, Ashra Levitation, Thin Mo-del Sawing, Substitution Trunk, Man toLion, Vanish of an elephant. Production oftiger in fire, Double Hangman's illusion.Stretching a Girl, Motorcycle illusion.

Special effects included: Criss Cross Las-ars, Lasar Battle, Laser Tunnel, Fiber Op-tics, Chaser Lights (thousands). Dry Ice,Chemical Fog, Mirrored Ball, and beautifullighting by my friend Ken Billington.

All these effects are performed with thefamous Siegfried & Roy flare and all havea spectacular surprise finish.

Also in the show are a division of the KingCharles Troupe (comedy basketball on uni-cycles), and The Hsiun Family (martial arts

stunts). There are also 31 male and femaledancers in the show (some topless).

Beyond Belief is produced by Irvin andKenneth Feld, Choreographed by Crandal!Diehl, Music Direction, Jerry Bilik, Cos-tumes, Don Foote, Lighting, Ken Billington.Scenes designed by William Beilin and theAl Aljaroz Orchestra.

ENRICO WALLENDA did a skywalk billedas a "Wild Animal Walk" about 40 feet abovethe tiger exhibit at the Columbus, Ohio, Zooon May 15th, to promote interest in the zoo.