Circus draws a crowd in Houma
Albert Bucannon, show manager, selling animal food atthe petting zoo
Cara BaylesStaff Writer
Published: Tuesday, October 25, 2011
A camel, a tiny pony and several goats munched on the grass in front of the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center Monday, ignoring the cars that slowed along Barrow Street to stare at them. Lewis and Clark Circus As crowds gathered for the 5 p.m. show of the Lewis & Clark Circus, the animals were part of a different kind of spectacle, offering rides, featured in the petting zoo and starring in the show.
During the circus season, which lasts from March through November, the traveling performers make appearances in much of the South and as far north as New Jersey.
During the circus season, which lasts from March through November, the traveling performers make appearances in much of the South and as far north as New Jersey.
Long Line at the Ticket OfficeLewis & Clark first came to Houma in 2007 and has visited every other year since then, making this its third visit.
Bob Childress, the circus' owner, has worked in the industry for 25 years. He said the decision to stop in Houma is one of convenience.
“When we plan our route, we line up towns in a row, and it was just a good stop for us,” Childress said as his camel, Lawrence, nuzzled him. “We get to meet a lot of different kinds of people, from Cajuns to the Yankees.”
Maria Ayala, a Lewis & Clark animal trainer and Chatham native, said one-ring circuses like theirs are at a disadvantage. Commuting by trailer and paying for gas can get expensive, and a flat tire can break the bank, she said.
The small size of the traveling show also means the staff of fewer than 30 performers double up on duties.
Ayala, a former trapeze artist, trains animals and also sells goods during the show. Her oldest son, Jose Jr., performs the Rola Bola, an impressive act that involves balancing on several wheels stacked on top of another. But that morning, she said, he helped clean up after the animals.read more:http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20111025/ARTICLES/111029696
Bob Childress, the circus' owner, has worked in the industry for 25 years. He said the decision to stop in Houma is one of convenience.
“When we plan our route, we line up towns in a row, and it was just a good stop for us,” Childress said as his camel, Lawrence, nuzzled him. “We get to meet a lot of different kinds of people, from Cajuns to the Yankees.”
Maria Ayala, a Lewis & Clark animal trainer and Chatham native, said one-ring circuses like theirs are at a disadvantage. Commuting by trailer and paying for gas can get expensive, and a flat tire can break the bank, she said.
The small size of the traveling show also means the staff of fewer than 30 performers double up on duties.
Ayala, a former trapeze artist, trains animals and also sells goods during the show. Her oldest son, Jose Jr., performs the Rola Bola, an impressive act that involves balancing on several wheels stacked on top of another. But that morning, she said, he helped clean up after the animals.read more:http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20111025/ARTICLES/111029696
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