THE BALLOON MAN

Monday, January 30, 2012

NANCY & LARRY SNYDER VISIT---

#1 & 2 LEIBLE'S GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY CIRCUS

CIRCUS PAGES IN DADE CITY, FL

A morning under the Big Top. Learning, laughter, and fun.
Mayor Joe E. Vega & Port Isabel City Commission would like for you to come out February 13 and experience the 2012 edition of the Kelly Miller Circus at the Laguna Madre Park as we fill your day with an exciting learning adventure. The journey begins as we pull onto the Circus grounds at 7:30 a.m. and begin the transformation into an educational wonderland.
As the hustle and bustle of Circus life envelopes the grounds, you become lost in the unloading of equipment and animals. The giant elephants help raise the Circus Big Top and free guided tours are given to let everyone take part in the excitement. The huge creatures are so fascinating to watch. Many people have spent the entire day enjoying their playful antics. You can observe the elephants as they play together in their “elephant pen” unchained! The silly games they play will delight and amaze you.
The elephants are awesome but don’t forget the rest of our Circus family. Our horses, camels, llamas, ponies, and miniature Sicilian donkeys are equally enjoyable. They perform for you, along with the other amazing acrobats and aerialists from around the world, in the two main Big Top Circus performances.
The friendly personnel in the Animal Department will be glad to answer any questions you may have about the Circus animals on display. What better way to learn about the animals than by having a live example in front of you to observe and to ask questions about?
If you have ever wondered what a camel’s foot looks like, or how much an elephant eats, come out and see for yourself. The fun will be there for everyone, and what you learn you can take home for free.
Tickets are on sale now, $10.00 when purchased in advance from the Museums of Port Isabel, City of Port Isabel, Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce, Port Isabel Library and the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce. We hope to see you at the Circus! Showtimes: February 13, 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.

State Fair took odd ride to bankruptcy court

from: virginiabusiness.com

January 28, 2012

by Robert Powell

Like a Ferris wheel, the stock market continually goes up and down. State Fair of Virginia officials say it is in bankruptcy court today because lenders forced it to get out at the bottom of the ride.The State Fair of Virginia Inc. (SFVA), the fair’s nonprofit parent company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection in early December after failing to reach agreement with lenders on restructuring its debt. The bankruptcy stems from the $85 million in debt it accumulated in moving the fair in 2009 from its longtime home in Henrico County to Meadow Farm in Caroline County. SFVA used tax-exempt bonds, taxable bonds and loans to buy the property and build facilities for the new fairgrounds. Those debts were to be repaid using money earned from a $42 million investment portfolio. Today, that portfolio is worth less than half that amount, in part because SFVA was forced to sell its investments in March 2009 after a gut-wrenching plunge in the stock market.“We sold a week after the market hit bottom,” says Curry Roberts, the president of SFVA.But before we dig into the numbers, let’s look at why the fairgrounds now are in Caroline, 21 miles from their former home.read more:http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/opinion/article/state-fair-took-odd-ride-to-bankruptcy-court/316496/

Shrine Circus leaves town

Uploaded by wane on Jan 29, 2012
After performing shows since Thursday, the Mizpah Shrine Circus left Fort Wayne on Sunday.

1933

Abused lion rescued from circus given sanctuary in Northeast Alabama

Kazuma, a 14-year-old African lion, recently arrived at Tigers for Tomorrow at Untamed Mountain, a reserve in Attalla, Ala. Photo by Tim Barber.

Story by Ben Benton

From: timesfreepress.com

Saturday, January 28th, 2012
ATTALLA, Ala. — Kazuma, a 14-year-old male African lion saved from a life of abuse in a problematic Guatemalan circus, found a new home this month at Tigers for Tomorrow at Untamed Mountain.
Susan Steffens-McCauley, executive director of the facility about an hour and a half south of Chattanooga, says the already 300-pound Kazuma is steadily gaining weight since he arrived about two weeks ago.
Undeterred by downpours on Thursday, Kazuma was smacking around a large, red plastic bobbin toy while Steffens-McCauley’s husband, Wilbur McCauley, slipped the furry king of the jungle small bites of food through the 10-foot high chain link fence and scratched his chin.
Kazuma exulted in the attention like a quarter-ton Alabama barn cat.
“He’s doing quite well; we’ve had him about two weeks now,” Steffens-McCauley said as the big cat stretched and watched his new human friends approach.
“What are you doing, Zuma?” she shouted to the lion who immediately recognized his name with a glance but didn’t stop playing with his new toys.
She first got a call from Guatemala in July about an abused lion and his need for a home, she said. A fundraising campaign from the first week in November to the end of the year generated the money and in-kind help to get Kazuma to his new home.
“It just became this huge community effort; DeKalb Co-op up the road gave us all the wood for his jungle gym, James & Co. [Antique Lumber] gave us all the wood for his den-box, Stephens Pipe & Steel Inc. donated every piece of steel and fence for his cage, which was about $10,000,” she said.
Students at nearby Crossville Elementary School raised over $1,200 and adopted Kazuma as their new mascot, she said.
Crossville Elementary officials said a program Steffens-McCauley and crew put on at the K-5 school generated the money.
“We charged $2 admission for the program,” Assistant Principal Tony Bright said. “All the money we took in we donated to the preserve.”
Bright predicted the preserve and the school’s link to it through Kazuma would benefit students for years to come.read more: http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jan/28/abused-lion-rescued-circus-given-sanctuary-northea/

Big top tales

JOHN HAWKINS/Fairfax NZPRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Juggler Fever Pitch works on his juggling tricks.

From:southland-times stuff.co.nz

30/01/2012

We all feel like running away to the circus sometimes. GWYNETH HYNDMAN talks to the people who did, and changed their lives forever.
Three years ago, Pascal Haering was 31 years old, with a master's degree in physics from the University of Basel, Switzerland.
He had a three-bedroomed apartment in Zurich and a comfortable job as a key account manager in electronic sensor sales – not exactly the perfect time in life to join the circus.
"I had always juggled," he says, during a break from setting up the tent for this weekend's Circus Aotearoa performance at the Gala St reserve in Invercargill, as an explanation for his escape.
"I had done youth circus and then went to Hungarian circus school. I went to summer camps for circus.
"It was something I always loved and I had lived reasonably in Zurich up until then. So I had money saved up for circus school and I just went."
A Google search resulted in his enrolment at the Christchurch Polytechnic-based circus school, Circo Arts. It was far from his homeland, he says, but his parents were surprisingly relaxed about their son running off to join the circus below the equator at the peak of his career.
"Of course they were a bit critical at first," he remembers.
Now 34, Haering says he wasn't sure what he was doing either.
"It was such a change. I didn't know what it was really about, but they just told me in the end, `Whatever makes you happy'."
On a sunny day, being outside and juggling barefoot on the grass definitely beats a nine-hour office day in a suit in the city.
"I am happy with this."
One of 10 core performers with Circus Aotearoa, Haering's education at the Christchurch circus school was cut short after last year's earthquakes. read more at:http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/culture/6289644/Big-top-tales

Monster Truck - Grave Digger and Monster Mutt driver interviews

Uploaded by AttractionsMagazine on Jan 27, 2012
Monster Truck interview with Dennis Anderson, driver of Grave Digger and Candice Jolly, driver of Monster Mutt Dalmation in the Monster Jam circuit. This was shot during their show in Orlando in January 2011. Interviews by Samantha Sanders.

Elephant release 'CL' audio

From: IndiaGlitz.com

[Monday, January 30, 2012]

The crazy thought of director of caliber Kavitha Lankesh in association with Red FM to release the audio of 'Crazy Loka' at Gemini Circus from an elephant before the 5 pm show was successful.

Unveiling the audio CD placard first and a Russian ring dance to treat the invitees were organized before an elephant came and lifted the CD bag from its trunk. There was applauding even from the spectators who had gathered for the next show of Gemini Circus.

Feeling pride for such crazy thought the director of the film Kavitha Lankesh disclosed that the film is ready for release soon. She declined to answer the question whether Galabe...song featuring Ramya has been completed or not. According to sources the Galabe Galabe...song was shot featuring Ramya at Mysore Lamps.

On behalf of the Confident Group Ms Sumana stated that the film 'Crazy Loka' is made at a cost of Rs.6 crores. Music director Manikanth Khadri was extremely happy for such publicity for the film.

Lahari Recording Velu was happy for release of his audio at Gemini Circus. He remembered 'Mera Naam Joker' of doyen of Hindi cinema Raj Kapoor on this occasion.

Financier Mahesh Kothari, distributor Basha, Sundar of Confident group, actress Harshika Poonacha and Surya were present. The key actors of 'Crazy Loka' V Ravichandran and Daisy Boppanna were not present at the audio release.

Stolen giant clown returned to circus

A promotional clown like this was stolen from the Moscow Circus

By Errol Smith

from: express-advocate-wyong,whereilive.com.au/news

30 JAN 12

A three metre inflatable promotional clown stolen on Australia Day, has been returned to The Moscow Circus.

The clown, affectionately known as Vladimir, was taken from a property at Terrigal.

The thieves climbed through a wire fence along Terrigal Drive to deflate and remove the attraction.

The theft left circus management angry who offered a reward for its return.

At the weekend, manager Greg Hall received a call from a woman who saw the clown near an unattended vehicle at Woy Woy.

She then put the clown into her car and delivered it to circus management.

Mr Hall said they were delighted and relieved.

``To some of our staff it’s like losing a member of their family,’’ he said.

The circus is based at the Mingara Club until February 5.

Friday, January 27, 2012

CIRCUS NEWS

From Mike Naughton...

Sad news...

We regret to inform you of the death of Penny Wilson Rodriguez who died this evening after a very long illness. This information came from The Wilson Family.

Joanne Wilson's email is Bigpoodles@aol.com.

The circus community will miss a very dear friend. Mike

From Bill Prickett...

LeBrone Harris (lebroneharris@gmail.com)......

has had multiple tests, and more to come, but Dr's still have not figured out what caused his blackout late last summer. His jaw has healed, permanent bridge is in, and hip and knees are in good shape. He is NOT in any pain.

Chuck Thorson (chuckthorson@man.com).....

had a heart attack 12-13-11, and had surgery to open up completely blocked main artery. He may have to have additional surgery to open up another partialy blocked artery.

Brian LaPalme joined Walker Bros Circus, 1-26-12, in Key West. He will be doing his dove magic and Ringmastering. Bill Prickett

New Mizpah Shrine Circus acts to fill Memorial ColiseumThey include a big cat act, Dobermans and flying ATVs.

The Freestyle Motor Show will perform high-flying feats on ATVs during the Mizpah Shrine Circus tonight through Sunday at Memorial Coliseum. (Courtesy photo)

from: Fort Wayne News-Sentinel.com

By Kevin Kilbane of The News-Sentinel

Thursday, January 26, 2012

The rings will be filled with new thrills for circus-lovers young and old when the Mizpah Shrine Circus returns today through Sunday to Memorial Coliseum.
Along with updated shows involving circus favorites, such as the elephants and Arabian horses, this year's shows will feature several acts new to Fort Wayne, said Larry Solheim, general manager of TZ Productions, which operates the circus.

The Nexus Troupe will perform amazing stunts using a teeterboard during the Mizpah Shrine Circus at Memorial Coliseum. (Courtesy photo)

Some of the new performers include:
•Terranova Wild Animals, a big cat act
•Neecha's Amazing Dobermans dog act
•Tandazo Family High Wire act
•Nexus Troupe teeterboard acrobatics
•Freestyle Motor Show high-flying ATVs act
People also will see a new comedy bicycle act, as well as jugglers, Piolita the clown and other performers, Solheim said.
Circus-goers also may notice enhanced music and lighting as the circus makes greater use of new technology to compete with concerts and other major live events, Solheim said

“A Passion for Circus”

Jimmy Armstrong, a midget clown, stands with an unknown clown in front of the baggage wagons.

from: abcnews.go.com

By Jeff Swartz Tiffany Hagler-Geard@THGEARD

Jan 25, 2012

As an avid circus goer, Sverre Braathen found an outlet to show off his hobby by photographing the Ringling Bros. circus throughout the Midwest in the 1940's-50's. He was born in Norway in 1895 and moved to the US in 1915 after finishing his studies. An attorney by day, Braathen was able to support his family, however he always made time in his busy schedule to follow his true passion; the circus. The people at the Milner Library at Illinois State University have put together an online archive, “A Passion for Circus,” of all his works. Here are a selection of the impressive Kodachrome slides produced by Mr. Braathen.

#2 The elephants, dressed with their purple blankets, get ready for a production number, August 18, 1945. The Ringling Brothers have seen issues arise over the years from PETA and other activists groups for the mistreatment of their animals. The elephants in particular.

#3 Emmett Kelly against a blue sky in August 18, 1945. He and Otto Griebling were the two best clowns the show ever had.

#4 One of the shows highlight acts was “Clown with a big rope and a small dog.” Seen here is clown Charles Bell with his small dog outside the tents.

#5 The Sideshow banners line the midway. The acts of the Sideshow were used to draw crowds and featured human oddities, feats like fire eating and sword swallowing, and other unusually rare sights.

#6 Elena Gabriele, left, and Marion Seifert sitting on their horses, August 17, 1945. Gabriele’s former lover and ex-clown, Polidor, killed her with an axe some years later.

#7 A red cage gets pulled by two elephants, September 6, 1943.

#8 Natalia Tock, from Poland, wears her red Jungle Drums wardrobe as she heads to the tent, July 10, 1950. The circus is home to many immigrant families looking to get out of the hardships of their native lands.

#9 Sandy Marlowe holds a lion cub, August 30, 1952. She is the daughter of Ray and Theol Marlowe. Theol was a former Nelson Girl and the Nelson Troupe was one of the greatest risley acrobatic troupes of all time.

#10 Two girls in Changing of the Guard wardrobe and a clown. State Fair Park lot, August 17, 1945.

#11 (left to right) Evelyn Kent, Margaret Smith, Laura May Petrillo, Brenda Gorring, Gladys Rimmer, aerial ballet wardrobe. All are from England except Laura May Petrillo. July 25, 1952

All Images Credit : Special Collections at Milner Library, Illinois State University

MONACO 2012

Uploaded by SuzanaLinharesTV on Jan 21, 2012

Circus in his blood

Lorenzo Pisoni recreates a pose from his childhood days with the Pickle Family Circus, an experience poignantly described in Humor Abuse at ACT. (Photo: Chris Bennion

by Richard Dodds

from: The Bay Area Reporter

Published 01/26/2012

Lorenzo Pisoni has a couple of confessions to make at the start of Humor Abuse. "I sweat a lot," says the performer, who soon confirms that statement. He also says, "I'm not funny." But that claim should be taken with a drop of salty sweat. Pisoni certainly knows how to be funny, which he proves over and over again at ACT, but he's not funny in the way that mirth flows instinctively from his pores whenever there is an audience at hand. His father had that jolly gene, putting it to use as a founder of the Pickle Family Circus, but it did not get passed on to Lorenzo.
It's almost as if Larry Pisoni created a son who had been genetically engineered to be his straight man. That's an odd situation for a 6-year-old to find himself in, a kid who began to realize that the joyous sound of children's laughter didn't often include his own. He was too busy learning how to fall down a flight of stairs. "Don't try to protect yourself," his father would admonish after a timid attempt at tumbling the treads. "Let gravity do its job." And it eventually does, as Pisoni later performs a sketch that requires repeated examples of thump-thump-thump downward locomotion.
Pisoni narrates his story of growing up in the circus, as well as relating his father's circuitous route into circusing, with samples of his father's act along with some new routines developed with director Erica Schmidt. Lorenzo was both straight man and stooge for his father's clowning, and he had to share trunk space with a puppet replica of himself that his father would carry onto the stage on his back. The shifting light flowing through the air holes drilled into the trunk was little Lorenzo's GPS system for where he was on stage.
As Pisoni describes the odd and outlandish world of his childhood, he punctuates his comments with assurances that these events really happened. Photos projected on the curtains continually verify his version of the events.
For Larry Pisoni, clowning was very serious business, and the father-son relationship was as professional as it was personal. But Papa Pisoni could also be a prankster targeting his own son, though the plastic banana he packed in Lorenzo's lunchbox everyday grew tired for Pisoni the younger. To get dessert, father made son play a game of can you top this double-take expression, and as Pisoni plays both parts, his face turns into an accelerating shuttle of ever-widening eyes. It's hilarious, again belying Pisoni's claim that he isn't funny.
As a trained actor, he plays the truth in the absurdity, and this is how he can generate his own laughs. His showmanship is in top form in a clown sketch in which his character, complete with flippers and diving mask, tries to climb a high-dive ladder for a jump into a small bucket of water. His increasingly dispirited preparations are a comic delight, even if Pisoni says he isn't funny.
Pisoni actually lasted longer with the Pickle Family Circus than did his father, but finally the teen opted for a sedentary life with mother Peggy Snider, and enrollment in a regular SF high school. There were more circus detours as he worked his way through Vassar, but most of his post-Pickle acting has been of the traditional sort.
Pisoni concludes the show by brilliantly recreating one of his father's balloon bits, and the audience happily tags along until an ill-fated denouement. It provides a bittersweet conclusion that had been set up earlier in the show, and the title Humor Abuse takes on even more levels of meaning. Don't worry, this is an engagingly humorous show, and the only abuse is a father who wants to pass the circus baton on much too quickly – like by a decade or so.Humor Abuse will run at ACT through Feb. 5. Tickets are $10-$85. Call 749-2228 or go to www.act-sf.org.

Military Night At Circus

Photo by MCSA Damian Berg/Color guard from the tri-base area perform during the pre-show at the Ringling Brothers and Barmum and Bailey Circus military appreciation night. This is the first color guard performance out of a 90-city tour for the circus.

By MCSA Damian Berg

from: jacksonville.com/military

January 25, 2012

Navy Public Affairs Support Element East Detachment SoutheastJacksonville area service members and their families stepped under the big top for one of the” greatest show’s on earth” with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Jan. 21.“Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey military appreciation nights salute the troops and their families by providing reduced priced tickets for active duty, reserve and retired members,” said Chad Ballard, manager of Events marketing and sales domestic marketing with Feld Entertainment. “In-show tributes are our way of thanking them for their selfless service to America.”Before the show, the families headed down to the arena floor for some early entertainment and to meet some of the circus members. The children and their parents were met by clowns, acrobats and animals, tried on costumes and participated in some of the acts.Sailors, Marines and Coast Guard from the tri-base area rendered colors during the pre-show of the circus. Ballard said this is the first color guard to perform in their new show: Spirit of the Dragons. “Ringling Bros. opens every performance with the National Anthem. Traditionally, Color Guards render honors when the National Anthem is played or sung, hence, when available, we always try to incorporate this added measure of respect and tribute to our performance,” said Ballard.Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Heather Cowell from NS Mayport was a member of the Tri-base color guard and said she was honored to perform color guard duty.“It’s a huge honor. I got to be a part of the greatest show on earth,” said Cowell.Raven Jackson, 14-year-old daughter of Culinary Specialist 1st Class Terry Jackson, attended the performance with mother, and close friends was exited about this years theme.“I enjoyed the new theme this year because of the message it sent to me and other children,” said Raven. “To always have courage, heart, wisdom and strength.”This year’s theme engaged the audience in several scenarios to help “summon the dragon.”Other highlights included flying aerobatics; the history-making motocross bikes who ride eight-wide inside a 16-foot steel globe; horsemen performing amazing feats; contortionists; jugglers; strongmen and a unique group of acrobats jumping on trampolines. There were also the elephants, lions, tigers, horses and a feline and dog show.

Chinese State Circus TM present "Yin Yang"

The sensational new production "Yin Yang" from the incomparable Chinese State Circus TM - 200 years of Tradition explode in the World's greatest acrobatic circus!

The Chinese State Circus brings a taste of the orient

CHINESE STATE CIRCUS

from: www.cambridge-news.co.uk

Circuses have undergone somewhat of a Renaissance in the last few years: from the days of clowns, fat ringmasters and sorry-looking animals they've evolved into something a great deal sleeker and cooler. And few have enjoyed as much success in the 21st century than the Chinese State Circus, which rolls into town this weekend.
Drawing on Chinese traditions going back 2,000 years, yet with a modern twist, the show looks set to be a sunburst of acrobatic skill, martial arts and physical theatre designed to engage all the senses.
Yin Yang is a new show for 2012 and, as well as showcasing the physical skill of the performers, includes contrasting acts such as parasol juggling and the aerial silks which, performed in stunning costume, celebrate the delicacy and beauty of Chinese culture and tradition as well as its power and strength.
Chinese State Circus, Cambridge Corn Exchange, January 28-29. Tickets start at £17. For more information and to book, contact (01223) 357851 / www.cornex.co.uk.