Shrine Circus a Thanksgiving tradition

Tim Hunt The Times
George Carden talks about his many years in the circus business as the Orak Shrine Circus arrives and unloads Tuesday at the Hammond Civic Center. The George Carden International Circus stages the Orak Shrine Circus, which begins today.

By Jeff Burton Wednesday, November 24, 2010
www.nwtimes.com
HAMMOND, INDIANA, One by one, trailers full of tigers, ponies, acrobats and jugglers from the George Carden International Circus pulled into the Hammond Civic Center parking lot Tuesday afternoon, ready for what has become a Thanksgiving tradition.
"I've been here every Thanksgiving since 1980," Carden said. "We always end our season in Hammond."
Carden and his crew of more than 80 will kick off five days of performances today in the annual Orak Shrine Circus.
A "circus man" since age 6, when his mother married into the business, Carden has been performing for 52 years. He said the Hammond Civic Center is one of the smallest venues for his circus, but also one of his favorites.

Lights and wires sit on the floor as the Orak Shrine Circus is set up Tuesday at the Hammond Civic Center.

"It's like a big top, the way it's shaped. It's so unique," Carden said. "Every seat's a ringside seat in the Hammond Civic Center. They don't build new buildings like the Hammond Civic Center."
Carden said the circus will feature three rings of continual entertainment on the Civic Center floor.
A portion of the circus proceeds benefit the Shriners' various philanthropic activities, such as the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Tim Hunt The Times
A tiger waits in its cage Tuesday as workers unload and set up the Orak Shrine Circus in the Hammond Civic Center.
Fresh off a stop in Belton, Texas, Carden's wife Alexandra said the crew works almost year-round. After 11 shows in Hammond, they troupe will take three weeks off before beginning a string of performances at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas.

While circuses have been performing in Hammond for decades, first at the demolished Masonic Temple in the city's downtown district and now at the Civic Center, Alexandra Carden said this year's event will feature a never-before-seen balancing act performed by a Chinese acrobat.
Daniel Rodriguez unloads a couple of ponies Tuesday for the George Carden International Circus, which puts on the annual Orak Shrine Circus at the Hammond Civic Center.

FROM NEW ORLEANS

Shrine Circus! -- Good Morning New Orleans -- 11/24/10

Fairgoers display appetite for fried
Food tops list of favorites at 2010 fair, survey shows
Saturday, November 27, 2010 09:08 PM
By Kathy Lynn Gray
The Columbus Dispatch

All things fried and fattening topped the popularity chart at the Ohio State Fair this year.
A close second: mooing cows, squealing pigs and whinnying horses.
With food No. 1 and livestock No. 2, amusement rides came in a distant third when fairgoers ranked their favorites for survey takers as they exited the fairgrounds this past summer.
That's no surprise to fair spokeswoman Christina Leeds. "Coming to the fair always goes back to food," Leeds said. "It's a unique selling point for us."

The survey, the first since 2003, involved interviews with more than 300 visitors exiting the main gate on eight days of the 12-day fair. Twenty-five percent were younger than 35; 31percent were 55 or older. Fifty-fivepercent had a household income of $60,000 or more, and three out of five lived in central Ohio.
Slightly more than half - 52 percent - said food was their favorite part of the fair, closely followed by livestock, which 43 percent chose. Just 21 percent chose rides, followed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources park at 13 percent and commercial exhibits and shopping at 11 percent. Participants were allowed to choose as many as three favorites.
And what foods were fairgoers looking for?
Fried mostly, according to the "food finder" application they could use on their mobile phones for the first time this year.
Of the 9,022 searches to find food on the grounds during the fair, 1,290 used the keyword fried, a review found. Bacon was a distant second with 456 searches, followed by deep, corn and cheese.
Fair favorites of fries and funnel (for funnel cake) had fewer searches, perhaps because they're so common at fair stands.

Jim Tucker, president and chief executive officer of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions, said animals, food and rides are usually the top favorites among fairgoers everywhere.

"Probably animals are the most popular thing now, I think, because in urban areas young children are so far removed from farm life," he said. "They see more zoo animals than they do farm animals."

As for food, Tucker said fairgoers want something fun and novel. This year, they stood in long lines at the Kentucky State Fair for a calorie bomb: A hamburger patty encased in Krispy Kreme doughnuts and then fried.
"It was a hit," Tucker said.
Andy Klotz, public relations manager for the Indiana State Fair, said the "doughnut burger" also was a huge success at that fair in August.
Klotz said the Indiana fair surveys fairgoers each year as they leave, and the top reasons people say they've come are the food, exhibits and animals.

What don't fairgoers like? Nothing, said 43 percent of those questioned after the Ohio State Fair. Attractions came under fire by 15 percent of those questioned, while 11 percent mentioned cost, 10 percent said weather, and 8 percent said the amount of walking involved.
Weather is always a complaint, whether it's blazing hot or sloshy and rainy, Tucker said. "The three most important things to remember about a fair are weather, weather and weather."

kgray@dispatch.com

CIRCUS VIDEOS

Circus comes to Galveston
Bo, a 23-year-old Asian elephant, opens his mouth for a drink while receiving a shower from his trainer, Larry Carden, on Tuesday afternoon at Moody Gardens in Galveston. The El Mina Shrine Circus will be in town for three days.
Mustafa, a 4-year-old lion, reacts playfully to a nuzzle from Nana, a 3-year-old tiger Tuesday afternoon at Moody Gardens in Galveston. The El Mina Shrine Circus, featuring 20 acts in three rings, will be in town for three days
Daredevil Marilyn Espana rigs the Cyclone, an aerial motorcycle acrobatic platform, on Tuesday afternoon at the Moody Gardens Convention Center in Galveston. The El Mina Shrine Circus, featuring 20 acts in three rings, will be in town for three days.

Last chance to see the circus
By Angela Taylor
The Daily News
Published November 26, 2010

Today is the last day to get the “hottest ticket in town” for the annual El Mina Shrine Circus.

Show times are at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. today at the Moody Gardens Convention Center, 7 Hope Blvd., in Galveston.

The show features performers from 15 countries, and it’ll also give audience members a chance to go into the ring before and after the circus — and during intermission — to meet the stars, ride ponies and elephants, and take photographs.

Tickets are $12 for children 12 and younger, and $16 for adults. Facility fees may apply. Tickets are available 11/2 hours before each show. Visit www.galvestoncircus.com.

Hadi Shrine Circus

Reported by: Josh Breslow
With the blow of a whistle, the 77th Annual Hadi Shrine Circus is underway in Evansville.
Families pack the seats at Roberts Stadium on Thanksgiving day, watching in amazement, as performers take to the sky and animals roam the stage.

"It's very much an Evansville and Tri-State tradition," said Brian Ball with the Hadi Shrine Circus. "We've actually seen third and fourth generation coming back, seeing the circus. Great grandparents, bringing great grand kids."

The circus first performed in downtown Evansville back in 1933. It was a much smaller show, with the performance held outside. The circus moved around a little as it grew and in 1957, the act took the stage at Roberts Stadium.

"It's been a great venue for us. The city has made accommodations for us to be here each and every year," said Ball.

But this will be the last year the circus will swing through Roberts Stadium. Next year, it will move on to Evansville's new downtown arena. The shriners say they've been working through the logistics with the city, and so far, it seems everything at the new venue will work out just fine. But there are still some issues that need to be figured out and the shriners will work on those as a later time. For now, they're focused on making sure their last show at Roberts Stadium is one people will remember for years to come.

"We're gonna go out with a bang. I can guarantee you that," said Ball.

Show Times:
Thanksgiving Day - 2:00pm, 7:00pm
Friday, Nov. 26 - 9:30am, 2:00pm, 7:00pm
Saturday, Nov. 27 - 9:30am, 2:00pm, 7:00pm
Sunday, November 28 - 3:00pm

FROM AUSTRALIA

Narre Warren South's Brady runs away with the circus

Brady and Stephanie Wills.
by Sam Landsberger
BRADY Wills grew up a talented gymnast and was destined for glory at national level.

But at 16 the Narre Warren South resident traded in his sporting outfits for circus tights and is now on the cusp of graduating from the National Institute of Circus Arts.

Wills, 22, dreams of opening a circus company of his own and travelling Australia. And he hasn’t looked back since making the switch in 2004.

“When I was 16 I got bored of gymnastics and wanted to find something new to do, so I tried circus,” he said.

“I did that because it had so many similar aspects to (gymnastics) but was different enough at the same time.”

“I loved it straight away because I could have so much fun with it and be a bit more comical, whereas gymnastics is much more serious.”

Wills, and his elder sister Stephanie, will next month graduate from the NICA with a showpiece performance they have been crafting for three years.

The show, which runs from December 1 to 11 at the National Circus Centre in Prahran, is staged to highlight Australia’s top circus talent before they explode on to the world stage.

FROM MIKE NAUGHTON:

All December West Palm Beach Celebrates “Circus Holiday”

Nov 23, 2010 - Community Events, Waterfront
When: VARIOUS DECEMBER HOLIDAY MAJOR EVENTS, SEE DATES BELOW
Where: WEST PALM BEACH WATERFRONT AND CLEMATIS STREET
A UNIQUE MONTH LONG HOLIDAY CELEBRATING THE CIRCUS
Special tree lighting, free vintage circus exhibition, free concert, even a rare FREE preview performance of
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® A Magical Holiday Spectacular!
23 November 2010
In December, the new West Palm Beach Waterfront is the Magical place to be. Beginning on December 2, Clematis Street will transform into a magical circus themed holiday venue as shop owners decorate their windows with colorful animals and props and the street magically illuminates with thousands of overhead lights which lead to the largest live Christmas tree in the county located on the Waterfront.
Then, beginning on December 9th, the free holiday circus exhibition opens at the Waterfront Pavilion. Inside, a first of its kind exhibit featuring the pageantry and showmanship of “The greatest show on earth” as vintage props and costumes are on display from decades of performances of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® circus.
December 17th, before you go shopping or to dinner, bring your family and join your friends for a major event sure to put you in the holiday spirit…a RARE FREE preview performance of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® A Magical Holiday Spectacular! This sampling of acts and animals from the holiday show includes magicians, acrobatic and kung fu performances, even Santa arriving on in a train of elephants. Immediately following the show, grab your hot chocolate and watch two classics on a giant movie screen, the “Grinch” cartoon and “Miracle on 34th street”. All under the lights on the Waterfront!
The holiday festivities culminate on Sunday, December 19th as “Still Surfin’-Beach Boys Tribute Band “plays a mix of classic holiday tunes and summer classics.

Circus troupe reaching out to hard-hit locals

Mark AdamsWed, Nov 24, 2010
Circus Vargas will spread some holiday cheer to families affected by the recession as it brings big-top entertainment to the Valley beginning Thursday.
The circus troupe is giving away 1,000 tickets to unemployed Las Vegans and their children for its 4 p.m. show at the Rio hotel-casino on Thanksgiving Day. Circus Vargas President Nelson Quiroga says the company wanted to show its appreciation for 40-plus years of fan support.
Those interested in the free tickets are asked to bring an unemployment pay stub or layoff notice to the Rio box office at least one hour before Thursday’s show. As many as two adult and two child general admission tickets may be redeemed per party.
Circus Vargas will perform 10 other shows Thursday through Monday

Lions await trip to US refuges

A lioness looks through its cage at a provisory shelter in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010. British organization Animal Defenders International, ADI, will send twelve female and five male lions that were recovered from circuses along Bolivia, to wild life refuges in the U.S. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) (Juan Karita - AP)

The Associated Press
Wednesday, November 24, 2010; 3:55 PM

SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia -- The last of Bolivia's rescued circus lions - 12 females and five males - are now in the hands of animal rights activists, who say the big cats will be sent to wildlife refuges in the United States.

An Associated Press photographer visited the lions on Wednesday.

The felines, though still caged, were under the care of Animal Defenders International. ADI obtained them from circuses that gave them up in compliance with a pioneering Bolivian law that took effect in July prohibiting the use of all animals, domestic and wild, in circuses.

In May, ADI sent four lions to a sanctuary in California. In September, a baboon was sent to a primate center in Britain.

ADI is feeding the lions red meat and vitamin supplements - a big improvement from the chicken parts they received as circus animals - and covering veterinarian and other costs.

ADI spokeswoman Karla Velez told the AP that the organization is evaluating various offers from refuges in the U.S. to take the 17 lions. She said no date has been set for their departure.

Lions sit inside a cage at a provisory shelter in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010. British organization Animal Defenders International, ADI, will send twelve female and five male lions that were recovered from circuses along Bolivia, to wild life refuges in the U.S. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) (Juan Karita - AP)

Hadi Shrine Circus set-up is a three-ring job
Stadium transformation made by experienced hands with fond memories

JASON CLARK / Courier & Press
ABOVE: Crews continued Wednesday to prepare Roberts Stadium for the start of the 78th Hadi Shrine Circus. This is expected to be the last Shrine Circus performance in the stadium, as work on the Downtown arena continues.

By Garret Mathews
Evansville Courier & Press
November 24, 2010
The task requires dozens of workers, from electricians to Jason Gardner, who'll help run the special-effects lights from a corner of the arena next to the sound board.

There's Chance Kagerer, a 16-year-old high school student who hawks cotton candy.

And Gail Bailey, a member of the Order of Eastern Star, who sells concessions on the main concourse.

The money raised will support service projects such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Courier & Press followed the three-day process of this massive operation
read more at:http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/nov/24/circus-is-a-three-ring-job/

EVANSVILLE SHRINE CIRCUS SET-UP PICTURES

ROBERTS STADIUM, EVANSVILLE, INDIANA

Photo by Bob Gwaltney
Keith Bannister, is light director and assistant floor manager for the Hadi Shrine Circus and sometimes a performer. He was setting up the mirrored ball on Monday. Banister comes from a circus family and has spent everyone of his Thanksgivings in Evansville for the circus. “I grew up in this building,” say Bannister as he reminisces about the Stadium.

Photo by Bob Gwaltney
On Monday evening, Nov. 22, 2010, Jason Gardner of Evansville cleaned the mirrored ball that will hang from the center of the Hadi Shrine Circus at Roberts Stadium. For the last 10 years Gardner has worked with the circus during the time it comes to town.

Photo by Molly Bartels
Shane Hansen, an aerial rigger and performer, practices juggling the rings in preparation for the Hadi Shrine Circus at Roberts Stadium in Evansville on Tuesday, November 23, 2010. The circus begins Thanksgiving day and runs through Sunday. Hansen, like many of the performers, does several acts with his wife and daughters.

Photo by Molly Bartels
Riggers and performers set up for the Hadi Shrine Circus at Roberts Stadium in Evansville on Tuesday, November 23, 2010.

MORE SET-UP PICTURES FROM EVANSVILLE

Photo by Molly Bartels
Shane Hansen, back left, Manny Barrello, back right, Jose Ayala, front left, and Keith Bannister, front right, help hoist up the wheel of death while preparing for the Hadi Shrine Circus at Roberts Stadium in Evansville on Tuesday. Bannister, who is now the assistant floor manager and lighting director, grew up in the circus. It's been in his family for 8 generations. "It makes me sad to think that they would tear this place (Roberts Stadium) down. This is like home for me. It's tradition," he said.

Photo by Molly Bartels
Madison Hansen, 4, left, and her older sister, Olivia, 6, right, keep themselves occupied while their parents assist with the rigging for the Hadi Shrine Circus at Roberts Stadium in Evansville on Tuesday. The girls perform acts with their parents, Shane and Alecia Hansen
Photo by Jason Clark
Elephants gather up hay while eating at Roberts Stadium Wednesday before the start of the 78th Hadi Shrine Circus in Evansville.

Photo by Jason Clark
Crews continued working on Wednesday as they prepare Roberts Stadium for the start of the 78th Hadi Shrine Circus in Evansville. This is expected to be the last Hadi Shrine Circus performance in Roberts Stadium as work on the new downtown arena continues.

Photo by Jason Clark
Ashleigh Taber of Flint, Michigan twirls cotton candy on a paper stick at Roberts Stadium Wednesday as she prepares for the start of the 78th Hadi Shrine Circus in Evansville.

The 77th Hadi Shrine Circus begins its four-day run Today with 2 and 7 p.m. performances at Roberts Stadium.

Robert Pattinson & Reese Witherspoon: 'Water For Elephants' First Look!

Check out the first official images of Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson from the big-screen adaptation of Water for Elephants.

The pics are from the inside sleeve of the latest edition of Sara Gruen’s novel.

Rob plays Jacob, a young veterinarian who joins a traveling circus after the death of his parents. Soon after, he meets Reese’s character Marlena, and her animal trainer husband August (Christoph Waltz).

Water for Elephants opens in theaters everywhere on April 15, 2011!
Read more: http://justjared.buzznet.com/2010/11/24/robert-pattinson-reese-witherspoon-water-for-elephants/#ixzz16IGd29ta