RICHMOND, INDIANA.....

OUT OF OUR PAST:

Under the sweltering Big TopAudience members said there were pick pockets; people were faintingThe Greatest Show on Earth ... was not so great in Richmond in 1872.

P.T. Barnum's Great Traveling World's Fair -- The Greatest Show on Earth -- was more than Wayne County residents could bear.Ads in three local newspapers promised: "... a Chaste and Refined Circus of Performers, Seven Superior Shows for One price, under Six Colossal Tents; Curiosities from All Parts of the Earth, Rare Wild Animals; wild cannibals, black rhinoceros, Babylonian lions, freaks of nature -- a lady born without arms, General Tom Thumb, a sleeping beauty, a kaffre snake charmer -- plus equestrians, acrobats, knights, heralds, Arabs, Turks, Tartars, Greeks, Germans, bareback riders and aerialists!"It deemed itself "absolutely without parallel the greatest spectacle in the history of the world!" All of Wayne County Phineas Taylor Barnum, the most renowned showman of his time, relied on colorful advertising and publicity to create spectacular anticipation. He had skyrocketed midget Charles Sherman Stratton, a.k.a. Gen. Tom Thumb, to international stardom while touring Europe.

Barnum’s Great Traveling World’s Fair attracted residents from all over Wayne County. But once under the Big Top, audience members had to face the oppressive heat and thieves. (Supplied photo)

Barnum used gimmickry to produce a spectacular effect. After his circus came to Richmond on July 15, 1872, the Richmond Daily Independent reported, "People from the countryside came pouring into town. The streets and sidewalks were crowded with humanity... A colored man living 17 miles north of the city walked that distance to see Barnum's show. When asked why he did not come by wagon, he replied that he was afraid there might be an accident and he was determined to see the show, so he preferred to trust to the only manner of locomotion that had never yet failed him. His feet."The paper added, "The heat was oppressive, making it next to impossible to breathe. Several persons fainted under the big top and had to be carried out... One German lady who had never attended a show paid her half dollar and received her ticket. She was much pleased with what she saw, until having occasion to feel in her pocket, she discovered she had been robbed of five dollars. She is now of the opinion that such shows are a humbug."The Richmond Daily Independent's ultimate critique: "The exhibition was very good, but nothing like what the advertising had led the people to expect. The immense crowd attracted reveals what printers' ink will do, when judiciously pressed and promising more than could be delivered."

P.T. Barnum, pictured above with Sherman Stratton, a.k.a Gen. Tom Thumb, said he made Thumb an international star while touring in Europe. (Supplied photo)

THE AUTHOR ....
Out of Our Past

Steve Martin

from: http://www.pal-item.com/article/20100712/NEWS13/7120310

ASHLAND CITY, TN....

Side Show at Ashland City, TN Fair.

The caption read College Students earning education money.

I just wonder if this could be Logan Jacot's Show?
(Photo by "Sue")

TAYLOR & SONS CARNIVAL....

The Taylor & Sons Carnival, sponsored by the Smyrna-Clayton, DE July 4th Association, was one of the highlights of the Independence Day celebration at the Smyrna Municipal Park. The carnival was in town from July 1-5.
.Lauren Barkley zooms down the Super Slide at the carnival July 5 at the Smyrna Municipal Park.

Clowns Entertain Barnum Museum With $10,000 Gift

(July 6) -- Clowns have a special way of either making people laugh or scaring the bejeezus out of them. But on Monday there was nothing but smiles at the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, Conn., when a pair of circus performers showed up with a $10,000 gift.

The Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, Conn., received a $10,000 donation from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey in honor of P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday.

The money was presented by Feld Entertainment, producers of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, in honor of P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday Monday.The funds are intended to support the continued preservation of the famed showman's curiosities, ephemera and various artifacts. Among the pieces on display at the museum are a letter penned by the showman to Mark Twain, miniature carriages belonging to Tom Thumb and fellow performer Commodore Nutt, a 1,000-square-foot, 3/4-inch scale model of a five-ring circus, and an authentic 4,000-year-old Egyptian mummy.
"Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is P.T. Barnum's living legacy; however, it also is vital to support the collections of one of this country's most celebrated citizens," said Nicole Feld, executive vice president of Feld Entertainment and producer of Ringling Bros.
The gift is especially timely since a tornado struck the museum late last month.

A re-creation of the library from Barnum's first Bridgeport mansion, Iranistan, resides on the museum's first floor. Iranistan was destroyed by fire in 1857.
"Like all good museums, we had an emergency plan, but it's all about responding to warnings, and there were no warnings," Kathy Maher, executive director and curator of the Barnum Museum, told AOL News. "No one was prepared because it was so immediate."
As a result, there was no time to move or cover exhibits, and when windows were blown out, debris flew in and covered numerous parts of the collection.
"It was nothing catastrophic, just a lot of tedious restoration work to have done," said Kay Page Greaser, publicist for the Barnum Museum. "It only impacted the first floor, which is about P.T. Barnum's life and legacy and features some of the more special pieces of the collection."
Despite the museum's ongoing efforts to repair the damage, it plans to celebrate Barnum's birthday with cake and live entertainment this afternoon, as well as performances by the gift-giving clowns from Ringling Bros.
And that's just how Barnum would've wanted it, considering the way the impresario bounced back after several devastating fires to his museums and his Bridgeport home.

Tom Thumb, pictured here stepping into his carriage, got his stage name from P.T. Barnum.

"This generous contribution will help us continue to preserve Barnum's legacy," Maher said, "and allow us to ensure that the most precious parts of the collection are accessible to the public for many years to come.
"The quote that embodies P.T. Barnum's spirit is, 'The noblest art is that of making others happy,' and I am confident he would be very happy with this gift," she added.
The donation was the culmination of a weekend filled with events around New York City hosted by Feld Entertainment to celebrate Barnum's milestone year.

RUNAWAY GIANT CROCODILE...

Cops Hunt Runaway Crocodile

Published : Sunday, 11 Jul 2010

(NewsCore) - A crocodile's break for freedom from a reptile show proved short-lived Saturday when it was cornered at a building site in Frankfurt's financial district, German police said.
Acting on a tip from a terrified motorist, police discovered the 10 foot (three meter) long crocodile and safely returned it to its owners.
The animal had not gotten far, officers said. The reptile show has been underway just next door to where it was found.
Only 10 days ago another runaway crocodile -- this time from a small traveling circus -- was captured in the small town of Gross-Rohrheim, just south of Frankfurt in central Germany.
(This article is provided by NewsCore, which aggregates news from around News Corporation.)

CIRCUS JUVENTAS....

Teen flies high with the circus

Olivia Rasmussen, 16, of Orono, keeps in shape through performing and learning at Circus Juventas.
By SHEILA ELDRED, Star Tribune
July 11, 2010
OPENING ACT In fifth grade, my whole class came to a show at Circus Juventas (youth circus). They announced anyone could sign up, and five of us started doing it. I got to say, "I'm part of the circus." I thought that was really awesome.
LETTING GO In that first class we did Spanish webs, juggling, tumbling, silks, low-wire and multiple and triple trapezes. I liked the aerial aspect. I used to be terrified of heights. The first time I was trying to fall off backwards from the bungee trapeze, I was just standing there. It was all in my head -- if I think too much, I can't let go. One of my friends said, "Think about jelly beans." I thought about it and it helped me relax and laugh, and I actually did let go that class.
THE ROUTINE Now I'm here five days a week, usually from 4 or 5 p.m. until 9:15. My favorite classes are silks, triangle trapeze and aerial hammock. All the things I do are aerial.

read more at:http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/98199269.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ

CIRCUS JUVENTAS
Coming up: A production of "Sawdust," a salute to the origins of the modern-day circus.
When: July 29-Aug. 15
Where: Circus Juventas, 1270 Montreal Av., St. Paul.
Tickets: Available through Ticketworks at http://www.ticket/ works.com or 612-343-3390 or by calling Circus Juventas: 651-699-8229.
Cost: Adults $15-$25; ages 10 and under and 65 and older $12.50 to $25.
Website: http://www.circus/ juventas.org

FROM ANDERSON, SOUTH CAROLINA....

Anderson's Max Truzzi spent much of his life performing in the circus with his most famous role as Jay Jay Happy Clown. He now performs for charities and collects donations for Meals on Wheels.

Anderson resident spent a life under the big top

By Charmaine Smith-Miles

Anderson Independent Mail July 11, 2010

ANDERSON — Max Truzzi used to get into trouble when he’d try to climb the ropes behind the curtains on the stage. He didn’t know why, but he was a boy who liked to climb.
Heights weren’t a problem for him.
Trees were his favorite playgrounds. Then one day, when he was 8, his mother, Sonya Truzzi, took him to a neighbor’s house in Florida. There, children his age were climbing a rope suspended 12 feet to 15 feet in the air. He was amazed.
“I thought that looked like fun so I climbed up on the rope with them,” Truzzi said.
This was the beginning of a 41-year career with the circus — the Ringling Brothers Circus, the Hanaford Circus, the Clyde Beaty Circus and the Moscow Circus. Truzzi was a tightrope walker.
It was all work he loved.
“It was in my blood,” Truzzi said. “The families all had kids who did something — some kind of act.”
This was Truzzi’s place.read more at:http://www.independentmail.com/news/2010/jul/11/anderson-resident-spent-life-under-big-top/

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE -

Attack on Toledo keeper rekindles debate on zoo elephants

Sunday July 11 2010
TOLEDO (MCT) - The Toledo Zoo's star elephant, "Baby Louie," isn't quite so cute these days.
Since the 7-year-old African pachyderm attacked and critically injured his trainer, Don RedFox, on July 1, zoo employees have been keeping their distance, attending to him only from behind a protective barrier.
Zoo officials and experts have been puzzling over the attack, trying to understand why it happened.
"I think it was just a fluke at this particular time," Alan Roocroft, an international expert on elephants, said last week after an initial assessment of the issue. He said it didn't appear that the 4,000-pound animal intended to seriously harm RedFox, who had worked with the animal since its birth.read more at:http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2010/07/11/front/iq_1025086.txt

NEW PBS CIRCUS SPECIAL TO AIR THIS FALL!

PBS July 08, 2010
http://www.pbs.org/circus: In November 2010, step inside the ring, where the stories are true and the magic is real, for an intimate look at the mystery, thrill of life and drama in the big top and on the back lot and take an unforgettable trip with the diverse characters who make up the legendary Big Apple Circus with PBS' new six-hour miniseries CIRCUS. http://www.pbs.org/circus

STEAM TRAIN PULLS CWM CARS

SUNDAY FUNNIES

ROY ROGERS AUCTION AT CHRISTIE'S

Gil Perez, right, a doorman at Christies auction house, wears an outfit and holds a guitar belonging to Roy Rogers as he stands alongside the preserved remains of Rogers' horse "Trigger" and dog "Bullet" at the New York auction house, Friday, July 9, 2010. Christie's held a preview Friday of an upcoming auction of items from the now-closed Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Mo. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
The preserved remains of Roy Rogers' horse "Trigger" and dog "Bullet" are on display at Christies auction house in New York, Friday, July 9, 2010. Christie's held a preview Friday an upcoming auction of items from the now-closed Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Mo. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

An employee of Christies auction house takes inventory of some of the belongings of movie cowboy Roy Rogers, in New York, Friday, July 9, 2010. Christie's held a preview Friday of an upcoming auction of items from the now-closed Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Mo. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Roy Rogers auction in NYC offers Trigger's remains

By EVA DOU (AP) – 1 day ago
NEW YORK — The smell of horses and hay permeated the marble-floored galleries at Christie's in Manhattan Friday as potential bidders previewed items including the preserved remains of movie cowboy Roy Rogers' famous horse Trigger.
The auction house is selling items from the now-closed Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Mo., next Wednesday and Thursday.
Unlike the fine furniture, paintings and jewelry that Christie's is famous for, the centerpiece of this auction is a stuffed and mounted horse rearing on its hind legs. It also will feature another type of horsepower — Rogers' 1964 Bonneville convertible adorned with collectible silver dollars, its door handles and gear shift replaced by silver-plated pistols.
The car is estimated to draw $100,000 to $150,000. Trigger is expected to fetch $100,000 to $200,000.
Other items for sale include: Rogers' and Evans' performance outfits; the preserved remains of Rogers' dog, Bullet; about 60 pairs of cowboy boots; the Rogers family dining table; and the Jeep "Nellybelle" from the Roy Rogers TV show.

Sunday, July 11, 2010 Weekend: Circus coming to Findlay on July 23

This 74th Carson & Barnes Circus is coming to Findlay on July 23 at the Hancock County Fairgrounds. This show features a new concept in circus presentation, which blends eight decades of circus tradition with breathtaking performances and up-close audience viewing.
The usual circus fare will also include performing ponies, horses, dogs and spectacular elephants under a big top. More human will be award-winning clown and world-renowned "King of Comedy" clown, Alex.
Families are also invited to see the set up and free zoo on the morning of the circus when more than two dozen types of domestic and exotic animals are cared for, watered and fed.
Showtimes are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on July 23. All tickets are $7 and can be picked up in the form of various coupons distributed around Findlay.

MADISON COUNTY, NY FAIR

CANTON, PA FIREMEN'S FAIR

Review Photo/JAMES LOEWENSTEIN

A vendor running one of the games Saturday at the Canton's Firemen's Fair takes a food break
Review Photo/ERIC HRIN
Annette Mickey and Nathan Hart of Gillett enjoy the merry-go-round Friday at the Canton Firemen's Fair

Canton Firemen's Fair expecting good final night

BY JAMES LOEWENSTEIN (STAFF WRITER)

July 11, 2010 CANTON - While attendance has been down this year at the Canton Volunteer Fire Department's Firemen's Fair due to the hot weather, organizers hoped to make up some of the loss in revenue on Saturday, the final evening of the fair.
"We're getting busy. It looks like we'll have a good night," Rich Bardo, president of the fire company, said early Saturday evening. "It's cooler and breezy."
Usually a total of 8,000 to 9,000 people attend the annual fair, but as of the end of Friday night, only 4,000 had attended this year, he said.
Organizers were expecting another 1,500 to 2,000 would attend on Saturday night, he said.
Bardo said his personal goal was to have the fair raise $10,000 this year, which will be used to help purchase rescue equipment for the fire company.
The most important need for the money is for high-lift air bags, which can be used to rescue someone who is trapped underneath a vehicle or heavy equipment, including equipment used in the natural gas industry, Bardo said.
While the fire company already has similar air bags, the kind the department wants to get will be much better, because they will be able to lift higher and more quickly, he said.
The fair began on Tuesday.

ST JOSEPH COUNTY, INDIANA FAIR OPENS

SOUTH BEND — Crews are wrapping up preparations for the St. Joseph County Fair. Gates open at 10 a.m. Friday for the week-long event.