DUQUOIN, IL FAIR

FACES ON THE SHOW TRAIL----(BOB COX)

FLYING PAGES, LYNDONVILLE, VT FAIR PART 1 (R J REYNOLDS)

Glad to hear you are on the mend. Hope things continue well for you.

Last Friday I attended the Caledonia County Fair in Lyndonville, VT where the feature free attractions was the Flying Pages and Vicenta Pages' White Tigers.

Both were GREAT!

Here are a few photos of both acts. RJ Reynolds

FLYING PAGES, LYNDONVILLE, VT FAIR PART 2 (R J REYNOLDS)

RUSSIAN CIRCUS STAR PASSES

Circus Actress Tamara Shatirova Passes Away in Moscow

31.08.2010
Tamara Shatirova - a well-known circus performer, gymnast, trainer, and director of the Moscow circus Raduga - has died in Moscow at the age of 68.

"I had to perform in a variety of stadiums. Sometimes, when equipment was being fixed under the ceiling, I prayed so that it would not fall. And once my trapeze was hung up on a gibbet of the building crane", - Tamara Shatirova shared in the interviews.

After her trauma in 1970 Tamara Shatirova shifted into animal training and became the world’s first trainer of hamadryads.

Along with being the head of the Raduga Circus, Tamara Shatirova was constantly engaged in search of new talents and actively promoted them, involving them in performances in all sort of circus events, the scenarios for which she wrote herself.

LEWIS & CLARK CIRCUS NEWS......

Lewis and Clark Circus comes to Wellston, Ohio Monday

Published: Sunday, August 29, 2010

The Lewis and Clark Circus will be coming to the Jackson County Fairgrounds on Monday, Aug. 30 and Tuesday, Aug. 31, with shows both days at 5 and 7:30 p.m.
According to their website, the Lewis and Clark Circus is a European-style family circus with trapeze artists, acrobats, clowns, and liberty animal acts. The show will also feature camels, llamas, horses, and Bengal tigers. A petting zoo and camel/pony rides will be available one hour prior to each show, along with face painting and rides on a giant slide.
Tickets can be purchased in advance: $10 for adults and free for children 14 and under. At the door, tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children. To purchase tickets or to find out more about the Lewis and Clark Circus, visit their website at www.lewisandclarkcircus.com.
http://www.timesjournal.com/articles/2010/08/29/news/doc4c784c0ea4a4b689486930.txt

MARYLAND STATE FAIR

SNAKE SHOW IN SYRACUSE............

At the New York State Fair, giant snakes and rats make their way from FLA

Published: Friday, August 27, 2010

Syracuse, NY -- The Sposato family from Baldwinsville took the $1 plunge and visited the Giant River Rat Alive and The Giant Snake Alive at the New York State Fair today.
"The whole family meets up at the fair every year,'' said Dan Sposato as they speeded through the sideshow.

It was a special event. The exhibit came up from Florida in a 1,340-mile journey, said exhibitor Pete Kolozsy of Ocala, Fla.
"My wife Athena said there was no way we were going to give up Syracuse this year, even though I had plenty of work to do at home,'' said Kolozsy. "She said we have to play Syracuse because it was so great last year."
The rats and boas are real. And real big.
Kolozsy said the animals are well cared for. The rats, which really look rather tame compared to the drawing of them on the outside of the exhibit, stay in a trailer that the Kolozsys occasionally use for camping.
"Those boas are what are killing the alligators in Florida,'' said Kolozsy, who takes his show to 15 U.S. fairs every year.

FROM AUSTRAILIA..............

Circus comes to town

28th August 2010

LENNON Brothers Circus is delighted with the roll-up for the start of its latest series of performances in Ipswich.
The 117-year-old family-owned circus had their first night on Thursday at Ipswich Showground.
After their opening night, circus manager Cheryl Lennon said it was a case of so far, so good.
“Thursday night was very good. Thursdays are difficult anywhere but we were more than happy with the crowd,” Ms Lennon said. “They were very responsive and we got a lot of signatures for our petition which was very pleasing too.”
Circus patrons have been asked to sign a petition opposing the ban on animal circuses.
Last year Ipswich City Council became the first Queensland council to ban circuses with exotic animals on council land.
“The people of Ipswich should be allowed to make up with their own minds; not have the council telling them what to do. We are not cruel to animals,” Ms Lennon said.
The circus is on tonight, next Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with matinees today, tomorrow and next Saturday and Sunday with human and animal acts including the trapeze, wheel of death, camels, clowns, a contortionist and tightrope walker.

CARSON & BARNES NEWS.....

Circus comes to Southern Hills on Monday

By Earl Horlyk - ehorlyk@siouxcityjournal.com Sioux City Journal

Posted: Sunday, August 29, 2010

SIOUX CITY -- The 74th edition of Carson & Barnes Circus pitches its tent Monday and Tuesday at the Southern Hills Mall.
Literally, workers will be pitching a 144-foot by 180-foot big-top tent -- large enough to accommodate 2,200 spectators -- in the parking lot at the mall.
"It's unfortunate that very few people have ever seen a circus in its classic big-top setting, " said marketing director Mal Knopf of Carson & Barnes' impressive European-style tent, "because this is the perfect up close and personal way to see the show."
Acrobats, hula hoopers, jugglers, body contortionists and motorcyclists will share the three rings with a collection of critters that will include dogs, ponies, horses and the second largest herd of elephants in the United States.
Headlining the show will be "Alex," a world-renowned "King of (Clown) Comedy," whom Knopf said will entertain audiences with "hilarious high bound feats on the trampoline."
For Knopf, climbing on board with the Carson & Barnes Circus is quite different that his last job. He previously served as marketing director for a U.S. defense contractor.
"I used to tell people I was going to retire and join the circus," he said. "A lot of people were surprised I was serious."
But for Knopf, the last 12 years in the circus have provided him with an unusual view of life.
"It's fun watching humans, elephants and technology takes an empty space and transformed it into ... America's largest circus big top," Knopf said. "Nothing can beat watching the circus come to town."
BREAKOUT
If you go
What: 74th edition of the Carson & Barnes Circus
Where: Southern Hills Mall
When: 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Monday and Tuesday
Admission: $20 -- adults; $10 -- kids

ALLEN BROS CIRCUS (FROM BOB COX)

Dick , here's some photos of Allen Bros. Circus, I just caught them one day, a few years ago, I think it was San Antone, or maybe Devine, Texas. I forget, didnt have time to see the show, besides I was with another Circus owner at the time and his jealousy over competition was creating a green eyed monster. But I thought it was a pretty neat, clean looking show, I noticed they even had showers on the show. I presume your feeling better seeing as how you're blogging again. Bob

Nebraska State Fair to open in Grand Island

By ART HOVEY / Lincoln Journal Star

Posted: Thursday, August 26, 2010
GRAND ISLAND -- Six years ago, the Nebraska State Fair was in such sad shape in Lincoln that premium payments to winners of judged events had to be canceled.
Friday, in a huge reversal of fortune, the fair will open in its new $40 million home at Fonner Park.
Jana Kruger, state fair board member from Arlington, beamed Thursday as she watched vendors, exhibitors and clean-up crews hustle and bustle to beat the deadline of 5 p.m. Friday for the start of the 11-day event.
"I'm so excited to have people come and see the beautiful new grounds," Kruger said.
http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/article_f8cac3fe-b164-11df-ad18-001cc4c03286.html

WISCONSIN STATE FAIR

This year at the 158th Wisconsin State Fair, for instance, all the hype is about chocolate-covered bacon.

It has been a runaway hit, selling 7,000 slices -- unexpectedly -- in the first day of the fair Thursday. Teams now are working through the night to ensure that there is enough bacon for the fair with nearly 100,000 slices expected to be sold by the end of the 10-day event.

"You get a little bit of the sweet and you get a little bit of the saltiness. So you mix those two loves together and that's where chocolate bacon came from," said Jessica Deeg of The Machine Shed restaurant in Pewaukee, Wis., the maker of the treat. "It's a craze around here and it's awesome."

Oh, and in case you were wondering, yes, it is served on a stick.

So what are the top foods at this year's fairs? ABC News scoured the country and came up with our own list of top favorites. Feel free to add your favorites to the comment section below.

1. Caramel Apples

2. Belgian Waffle on a stick

3. Deep-Fried Oreo Cookies

4. Corn Dogs

5. Frozen Coffee On
6. Cotton Candy

7. Funnel Cake
8. Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

9. Deep-Fried Norwegian Banana Split

10. Open-Faced Grilled Spam Sandwich

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/top-10-state-fair-food-favorites/story?id=8279841&page=2

FRIED BEER????????????

CIRCUS DAY IN LINDEN, NJ...........

Pat Kelly to entertain at Circus Day in Linden

Pat Kelly, youngest son of famed clown Emmett Kelly, will headline Circus Day at the Historic Linden Depot Museum, 520 N. Main St. on Saturday. (Photo provided)

August 27, 2010 LINDEN -- Circus royalty will visit Greater Lafayette this weekend.Pat Kelly, the youngest and only living son of famed clown Emmett Kelly, will headline Circus Day at the Historic Linden Depot Museum, 520 N. Main St. The event runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. It's $5, $2 for ages 13 and younger. The price includes museum admission.Circus Day will be held outside of the museum, and Kelly will be donning his dad's old Weary Willy act. The sad, silent hobo clown image was ingrained in 20th century history, and the sweeping up the spotlight bit was a Kelly original.Pat Kelly, 75, lives in Peru, Ind., where the Kelly family had roots. Lafayette also was home to the Kelly family. Emmett's parents lived in Lafayette, and Sylvia Smith, Emmett's sister, lived at 814 S. 27th St. Emmett Kelly is buried in Lafayette at Rest Haven Cemetery, west side of Sagamore Parkway, next to his mother, Mollie Huton, and Smith. Emmett Kelly's nieces Roxine Emmert and Pauline Brassie lived in Lafayette as well. Emmett Kelly Jr., who was about 10 years older than Pat Kelly, went to Oakland Elementary School and attended Jefferson High School for one year.Emmett Kelly claimed Lafayette as his home in a 1954 article in the Journal & Courier. Kelly was quoted by reporter Jack Alkire: "I haven't had a stationary home since going with the circus," he said, "but since my parents lived in Lafayette about 25 years ago and my sister lives here now, I always claim it as home."Along with Pat Kelly's antics, Circus Day will feature jugglers and Cherokee knife throwers and whip crackers. A working calliope (steam organ) will pump out that familiar circus music.Gary Vierk, board president of the Depot Museum, said the circus and trains are linked by history."The trains are how the circus moved from town to town," he added.-- Tim Brouk/
Ticket prices range from $12-85 and can be bought online or via telephone.“The biggest thing is tickets are affordable, Roman said. “So come see the show because it is like nothing in the world and it really is ‘The Greatest Show on Earth.’”

Lions, tigers and acrobats, oh my

August 26, 2010
By: Courtney Thomas

From kykernel.com

The term “Animal House” not only describes the University of Kentucky in its first week of classes, but also Rupp Arena as it hosts the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus “ZING ZANG ZOOM” FROM Aug. 27-29.“In the 140 years of business, this is the first and only Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus based on magic,” Alex Roman said, magical zingmaster and host of the show. “Be prepared to witness a nine-ton elephant disappear before your eyes, and watch as we transform a clown into Bengal tiger.“The circus this year promises to be new, innovative and exciting, while combining the thrills and fun of the circus with the mystery of magic,” said Roman.According to the Ringling Bros. website, the experience is supposed to keep you on the edge of your seat, anxious and in awe all at once.“Be prepared to gasp as people shoot out of canons and acrobats to crazy tricks,” Roman said.The circus will bring with it a variety of acrobatsand exotic animals that hope to entice viewers throughout the show.“This is truly an international affair with performers and acrobats from China, Russia, Ukraine and other countries around the world,” Roman said.“The circus brings nine Asian elephants, a dozen Bengal tigers, zebras, Arabian and Friesian horses, and other animals from around the world that are not only exotic, but also do tricks,” Roman said.The circus aims its focus on not only children, but people of all ages.“College students would love the show because it is nothing like they have ever seen before,” Roman said. “Imagine seeing Americas Got Talent live, but with better talents and exotic animals.Tickets can be purchased at Rupp Arena or Ticketmaster.com and are extremely affordable for all budgets, said Teresa Franzen, publicist of Ringling Bros. Circus.

THE STAR DRIVE-IN

Pamela Friend began her career at the Star Drive-In as a ticket runner, taking receipts from the ticket booth to her dad at the movie theater’s office. She was five years old. Now, at 58, she continues the business her parents, George and Elizabeth DeVries, began in 1950 in Montrose.The Star is the one of the state’s oldest outdoor theaters. It’s also one of the nation’s oldest, still owned and operated by the family that founded it. Four generations of the DeVries family have worked to keep the business going throughout its 60 years – even after a tornado blew down the 60-foot-tall screen in 1974. The drive-in reopened 10 days later with an 80-foot-tall screen. “Walking Tall” was the feature.
Read More at denverpost.com.