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Monday, May 9, 2011
Georgia State Fair creates memories for adults and children
By LINDA S. MORRIS - lmorris@macon.com
GRANT BLANKENSHIP/THE TELEGRAPH Macon, GA 05/08/11 Cash is exchanged for admission to the State Fair in Central City Park in Macon Sunday. Sunday was the final day for the fair.
Going to the 156th Georgia State Fair on Mother’s Day seemed like a great idea to Kim Jackson of Round Oak.
Jackson was keeping watch over her 2½-year-old son Nicholas, as he reached to pet a dog that had just performed in a Frisbee-catching show Sunday afternoon at Central City Park.
“We thought we would bring him out and have some fun,” Jackson said. “He loves to be outside, he likes the rides and he loves the dogs.”
Nicholas’ father and grandparents also came to the fair.
“Anytime I get to spend time with this one (pointing to Nicholas), it’s a great day,” said the boy’s grandmother Barbara Jackson, also of Round Oak.
Both Barbara and Kim Jackson said they have fond memories of coming to the fair when they were younger.
“We always brought our children on the first night,” Barbara Jackson said.
“I’ve enjoyed my Mother’s Day,” Kim Jackson said.
GRANT BLANKENSHIP/THE TELEGRAPH Kids drive miniature bumper boats Sunday at the Georgia State Fair in Central City Park in Macon. Sunday was the final day for the fair.
Adults who went to fairs as children are taken back in time as soon as they walk through the gates. The smell of corn dogs, cotton candy, funnel cakes and stuffed pizza greet everyone. Then the barkers call out trying to lure people to take a chance to win one of the prizes hanging from their tents. The music coming from the horse carousel seems to be playing the same tune from years ago.
This is the second year that the Georgia State Fair has been held in the spring after it was moved from the fall since it was close to the date of the Georgia National Fair in Perry.
The Georgia State Fair was begun in 1855 and has been operated by the Exchange Club of Macon since 1942. The fair is a fundraiser for the club to support local non-profit organizations.Read more: http://www.macon.com/2011/05/09/1553914/georgia-state-fair-creates-memories.html#ixzz1LqnyMqYd
Adults who went to fairs as children are taken back in time as soon as they walk through the gates. The smell of corn dogs, cotton candy, funnel cakes and stuffed pizza greet everyone. Then the barkers call out trying to lure people to take a chance to win one of the prizes hanging from their tents. The music coming from the horse carousel seems to be playing the same tune from years ago.
This is the second year that the Georgia State Fair has been held in the spring after it was moved from the fall since it was close to the date of the Georgia National Fair in Perry.
The Georgia State Fair was begun in 1855 and has been operated by the Exchange Club of Macon since 1942. The fair is a fundraiser for the club to support local non-profit organizations.Read more: http://www.macon.com/2011/05/09/1553914/georgia-state-fair-creates-memories.html#ixzz1LqnyMqYd
Shrine Circus coming to town
May. 8, 2011 Written byJosh O’Leary
Iowa City Press-Citizen
The Johnson County 4-H Fairgrounds see their share of enormous livestock each summer, but nothing that compares to the larger-than-life animals set to take center stage there today and Tuesday.The Shrine Circus is wheeling into town this week, bringing five Asian elephants — including 6.5-ton Bo, who is said to be able to throw a football and hit a baseball — and a team of seven Siberian tigers.Five semis and a cavalcade of RVs, the modern day circus train, was set to arrive Sunday night in Iowa City to set up the three rings for four shows in two days.“It’s kind of like a moving city,” spokeswoman Amanda Tackett said of the circus, which performs nearly 500 shows a year across the country.Tackett calls the production a “cruelty-free circus,” saying the animals, which are born and raised into the show, share a unique bond with their trainers.
The Johnson County 4-H Fairgrounds see their share of enormous livestock each summer, but nothing that compares to the larger-than-life animals set to take center stage there today and Tuesday.The Shrine Circus is wheeling into town this week, bringing five Asian elephants — including 6.5-ton Bo, who is said to be able to throw a football and hit a baseball — and a team of seven Siberian tigers.Five semis and a cavalcade of RVs, the modern day circus train, was set to arrive Sunday night in Iowa City to set up the three rings for four shows in two days.“It’s kind of like a moving city,” spokeswoman Amanda Tackett said of the circus, which performs nearly 500 shows a year across the country.Tackett calls the production a “cruelty-free circus,” saying the animals, which are born and raised into the show, share a unique bond with their trainers.
Elephant trainer Larry Carden, whose family has operated the circus for decades, said the animals are the true stars of the show, and they enjoy living the lifestyle of entertainers.“They enjoy being around people; they enjoy the attention,” Carden said. “It’s just like your dog at home, they enjoy the love and the bonding.”Carden, 30, has been touring with the circus for 15 years, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
He is one of the 70 to 80 members of the company, which features performers from around the world.“It’s a great life,” Carden said. “It might sound tough every day, but you get in a routine, just like someone who gets up 6:30 or 7 in the morning, and that’s a grind, too. We have a lot more fun than a regular job.
”In addition to the elephants and tigers, the two-legged performers are just as impressive, Tackett said.“This is a completely fresh show,” she said. “We have a bunch of new acrobats, aerialists. These people are elite athletes and gymnasts.
”Proceeds from the event benefit El Kahir Shrine of Cedar Rapids, a philanthropic organization that supports the Shriner network of children’s hospitals.
Montreal’s Cirque Eloize a ‘never-ending onslaught’ of action
By Jim Sullivan
Monday, May 9, 2011
from: bostonherald.com
Cirque Eloize is a Montreal-based troupe that formed out of the same “contemporary circus” scene that launched the world famous Cirque du Soleil.
But Cirque Eloize is different. Unlike the better-known Cirque du Soleil, which performs mostly in tents, this theatrical circus favors a traditional stage.And “iD,” the Cirque Elozie production coming to the Wang Theatre Tuesday through Sunday, is a techno-electronic music-fueled foray into the world of urban dance.
“The idea was to create a show in a future city, similar to ‘Sin City’ or ‘The Spirit,’ said dancer Christian “Sancho” Garmatter. “Something that’s out of a comic book and brought to the stage... and to have this work with video projections and have all these characters in these two gangs.”
Those two gangs nod toward “Romeo and Juliet” and “West Side Story.” The show encompasses 12 circus disciplines, with performers using the trampowall to bounce from trampoline to wall. There is also stilt walking, rope skipping, balancing acts, pole acrobatics, juggling and bicycle stunts in a never-ending onslaught.
“I always like to find something unique,” said Jeannot Painchaud, Eloize’s artistic director, “like a duet with a b-boy and a contortionist, or a roller skater doing a ballet with an aerial silk lady. It’s two different languages and when you put that together it brings you to some other place.”
Garmatter, 28, spent three years in Las Vegas with Cirque du Soleil doing the Beatles show, “LOVE.” With Cirque Eloize, he performs one of the centerpiece acts, as the b-boy dancer in tandem with contortionist Emi Vauthey.
“I’m onstage basically the whole show,” Garmatter said. “As a dancer you’re really active. There’s a lot of supporting scenes and working with the circus artists in their pieces. They call the show ‘iD’ ’cause we want to show the identity of the artists. Each one brings his own skills and it’s part of a game. Sometimes, in my head, I feel like a street fighter.”
Is there real danger in “iD”?
“This is a difficult question,” Painchaud said. “There’s always an element of danger in a circus show. It’s like doing high-level sports. There’s always the risk of breaking your body. But we work with professional people and we train.”
“The people in the audience,” he added, “are at the edge of their seats.”
But Cirque Eloize is different. Unlike the better-known Cirque du Soleil, which performs mostly in tents, this theatrical circus favors a traditional stage.And “iD,” the Cirque Elozie production coming to the Wang Theatre Tuesday through Sunday, is a techno-electronic music-fueled foray into the world of urban dance.
“The idea was to create a show in a future city, similar to ‘Sin City’ or ‘The Spirit,’ said dancer Christian “Sancho” Garmatter. “Something that’s out of a comic book and brought to the stage... and to have this work with video projections and have all these characters in these two gangs.”
Those two gangs nod toward “Romeo and Juliet” and “West Side Story.” The show encompasses 12 circus disciplines, with performers using the trampowall to bounce from trampoline to wall. There is also stilt walking, rope skipping, balancing acts, pole acrobatics, juggling and bicycle stunts in a never-ending onslaught.
“I always like to find something unique,” said Jeannot Painchaud, Eloize’s artistic director, “like a duet with a b-boy and a contortionist, or a roller skater doing a ballet with an aerial silk lady. It’s two different languages and when you put that together it brings you to some other place.”
Garmatter, 28, spent three years in Las Vegas with Cirque du Soleil doing the Beatles show, “LOVE.” With Cirque Eloize, he performs one of the centerpiece acts, as the b-boy dancer in tandem with contortionist Emi Vauthey.
“I’m onstage basically the whole show,” Garmatter said. “As a dancer you’re really active. There’s a lot of supporting scenes and working with the circus artists in their pieces. They call the show ‘iD’ ’cause we want to show the identity of the artists. Each one brings his own skills and it’s part of a game. Sometimes, in my head, I feel like a street fighter.”
Is there real danger in “iD”?
“This is a difficult question,” Painchaud said. “There’s always an element of danger in a circus show. It’s like doing high-level sports. There’s always the risk of breaking your body. But we work with professional people and we train.”
“The people in the audience,” he added, “are at the edge of their seats.”
Video: Amusement Rides at the Dixon, CA May Fair
The 2011 Dixon May Fair offered more than 20 different carnival rides for fairgoers. Dixon Patch decided to ride them all and find the best.
By Jeremy Ogul May 8, 2011
No festival is complete without amusement rides, and the Dixon May Fair has dozens to choose from. Rides designed for younger children are located near the middle of the fairgrounds. The "big kid" rides are located on the southern end of the fairgrounds. Ride tickets are $1 each, with each ride costing 3 to 5 tickets. All-day passes are available for $29.
After scoping out the options, I settled on a few rides that looked scary and exhilarating. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to ride the Zipper or the Ferris wheel, since there was a "no single riders rule" -- I'll know not to come by myself next time. I did, however, bring my camera and made a video of the experience!
Warning: This video might make you dizzy!
The 2011 Dixon May Fair offered more than 20 different carnival rides for fairgoers. Dixon Patch decided to ride them all and find the best.
By Jeremy Ogul May 8, 2011
No festival is complete without amusement rides, and the Dixon May Fair has dozens to choose from. Rides designed for younger children are located near the middle of the fairgrounds. The "big kid" rides are located on the southern end of the fairgrounds. Ride tickets are $1 each, with each ride costing 3 to 5 tickets. All-day passes are available for $29.
After scoping out the options, I settled on a few rides that looked scary and exhilarating. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to ride the Zipper or the Ferris wheel, since there was a "no single riders rule" -- I'll know not to come by myself next time. I did, however, bring my camera and made a video of the experience!
Warning: This video might make you dizzy!
Circus plans 2 performances in LIberty
May. 9, 2011
Written byPalladium-Item
Written byPalladium-Item
LIBERTY, Ind. — The Kelly Miller Circus will perform Thursday on the Union County Middle School grounds in two shows.The circus’ appearance is sponsored by the Liberty Lions Club. Shows will be at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.Tickets are $6 for children under 12 and $10 for adults if purchased before circus day. On Thursday, tickets will be $7 for children under 12 and $15 for adults. Tickets are available at Carl Sharp’s State Farm Insurance Agency, The Country Store/Design Connection and Liberty Elementary School and at College Corner Union School.At 9 a.m. Thursday, the Kelly Miller Circus will raise its “Big Top” tent using elephant power. The public is invited to watch free of charge. The circus fleet includes 25 vehicles, and the tent will seat 1,500.Clowns from the Kelly Miller Circus visited Liberty last week, greeting children at area preschools and senior citizens at Sycamore Springs Nursing Center.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
CIRCUS GATTIMARCH 10, 1996
PART 1
CIRCUS GATTI...While visiting another show in Texas, 3-10-96, I was told that Circus Gatti was showing in Belton,TX, some 50 miles away. I checked the map, jumped into my Van, arrived in Belton, found the building, and arrived 10 minutes before the second show.The equipment was packed into small area adjacant to the building. All photos Bill Prickett
Patti Gatti & Eric Braun
Alex Bradley, Ringmaster
Alex Bradley & Lalo Murillo
Emil Toca, One Man Band
Band EquipmentNEW VIDEOS
Uploaded by LaneInConn on Apr 13, 2011
Jack Cook's 1923 Ford has been misbehaving in front of circus audiences for four decades, as Jack volunteers in this interview on Piccadilly Circus on April 7, 2011, in Danbury, CT
Uploaded by ringlingbros on May 7, 2011
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will participate in Amtrak's 4th Annual National Train Day festivities at Union Station, in Washington, D.C this Saturday May 7th. Come see a Ringling Bros. model circus train, learn about Ringling Bros. history with the railroad, and get silly with hilarious clowns from The Greatest Show On Earth who actually lived and toured the United States on the mile-long Ringling Bros. circus train! Hope to see you there!
Uploaded by ringlingbros on May 4, 2011
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a mother traveling with The Greatest Show On Earth®? These mothers share their experiences with us!
Learn more about what it is like to be a mom traveling with The Greatest Show On Earth®! Greetings from the Stars of the Show!! Celebrate your mom on Mother's Day at Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey®!!
Protesters campaign outside circus
CONTROVERSIAL ... the Bobby Roberts Super Circus still uses animals.By VICKI NEWMAN from: www.shieldsgazette.comPublished on Friday 6 May 2011
PROTESTERS turned up on the opening night of a circus in South Tyneside this week vowing to maintain their campaign against the use of animals.
The People’s Voice for Animals (PVFA) staged a protest outside the entrance to the Bobby Roberts Super Circus when it opened in Whitburn on Wednesday night.
The circus, which runs until Sunday at Wheathall Farm in Mill Lane, has come under fire from activist groups who object to the use of animals in the show.
As reported in the Gazette this week, the circus now uses only domesticated horses and ponies, which appear for only nine minutes of the two-hour performance.
Protesters outside of the grounds said: “We’d just like to say we’re urging people to boycott circuses that use animals. It’s not just wild animals who suffer, it’s domesticated animals too. There are lots of circuses with all-human casts that are just as good.
“In the wild, animals would cover up to 30km a day, but they can’t do that in captivity.”
The Roberts family attracted attention last year when a video was released that showed their elephant, Anne, 59, who has since retired to Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, being beaten by one of the circus grooms.
Anne is the oldest elephant in Europe, and is reported by vets to be in excellent health.
Since then the family has received threatening e-mails, phone calls and even death threats.
The story on the Gazette’s website sparked a discussion with more than 30 comments being added to the page.
Josser Anna wrote: “When I was eight my mum hired a violin teacher who hit me. As soon as she found out, she sacked him. Does this make my mum a child abuser?
“This type of ‘logic’ many protesters seem to be using against the Roberts family – if they are animal abusers for hiring a bad groom, then my mum is a child abuser for hiring a bad teacher.”
Biggreenvanman said: “I think circus shows are a thing of the past ... if you want to see animals, book a holiday to Kenya and go and see them in their natural habitat, not in cages being carted around from place to place.
“I asked my kids if they wanted to go and they all said no. So, we’ll not be going.”
PROTESTERS turned up on the opening night of a circus in South Tyneside this week vowing to maintain their campaign against the use of animals.
The People’s Voice for Animals (PVFA) staged a protest outside the entrance to the Bobby Roberts Super Circus when it opened in Whitburn on Wednesday night.
The circus, which runs until Sunday at Wheathall Farm in Mill Lane, has come under fire from activist groups who object to the use of animals in the show.
As reported in the Gazette this week, the circus now uses only domesticated horses and ponies, which appear for only nine minutes of the two-hour performance.
Protesters outside of the grounds said: “We’d just like to say we’re urging people to boycott circuses that use animals. It’s not just wild animals who suffer, it’s domesticated animals too. There are lots of circuses with all-human casts that are just as good.
“In the wild, animals would cover up to 30km a day, but they can’t do that in captivity.”
The Roberts family attracted attention last year when a video was released that showed their elephant, Anne, 59, who has since retired to Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, being beaten by one of the circus grooms.
Anne is the oldest elephant in Europe, and is reported by vets to be in excellent health.
Since then the family has received threatening e-mails, phone calls and even death threats.
The story on the Gazette’s website sparked a discussion with more than 30 comments being added to the page.
Josser Anna wrote: “When I was eight my mum hired a violin teacher who hit me. As soon as she found out, she sacked him. Does this make my mum a child abuser?
“This type of ‘logic’ many protesters seem to be using against the Roberts family – if they are animal abusers for hiring a bad groom, then my mum is a child abuser for hiring a bad teacher.”
Biggreenvanman said: “I think circus shows are a thing of the past ... if you want to see animals, book a holiday to Kenya and go and see them in their natural habitat, not in cages being carted around from place to place.
“I asked my kids if they wanted to go and they all said no. So, we’ll not be going.”
Celebrate Mother's Day at Morey's Piers At the Shore Today
Sunday, May 8, 2011 from: www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Free rides for moms at Morey's Piers
What Is It: It's a good day to be a mom - especially if you love roller coasters and other thrill rides. Moms get a wristband that lets them ride free all day at Mariner's Landing and Surfside Pier on the Wildwoods Boardwalk.
What To Expect: Free rides for moms on their special day is a longtime tradition at Morey's Piers. Moms just have to stop by a ticket booth or the guest-services area to get their wristbands, then enjoy the rides. Plus there's more entertainment for the guests of honor - and for all the paying customers who escort them around the piers.
Event Info: The amusement piers are open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Mariner's Landing is at Schellenger Avenue on the Wildwood Boardwalk and Surfside Pier is at 25th Avenue in North Wildwood. For more details, visit www.moreyspiers.com or call 609-522-3900.
Free rides for moms at Morey's Piers
What Is It: It's a good day to be a mom - especially if you love roller coasters and other thrill rides. Moms get a wristband that lets them ride free all day at Mariner's Landing and Surfside Pier on the Wildwoods Boardwalk.
What To Expect: Free rides for moms on their special day is a longtime tradition at Morey's Piers. Moms just have to stop by a ticket booth or the guest-services area to get their wristbands, then enjoy the rides. Plus there's more entertainment for the guests of honor - and for all the paying customers who escort them around the piers.
Event Info: The amusement piers are open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Mariner's Landing is at Schellenger Avenue on the Wildwood Boardwalk and Surfside Pier is at 25th Avenue in North Wildwood. For more details, visit www.moreyspiers.com or call 609-522-3900.
Clearfield County, PA Fair Expo II Entertainment
May 7, 2011 by Gant Team
CLEARFIELD – The slate of entertainment in front of Expo II at the Clearfield County Fair was announced on Wednesday.
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The 2011 edition of the spectacular Walker Brothers Circus is headed your way with a show jam-packed with fun and excitement for children of all ages. This year’s edition features the finest circus acts in the entertainment world. Aerialist, horses, dogs, contortionists, clowns and the biggest stars of the circus world, will all be here. In this day and age, the need for family entertainment, laughter and joy are all found in this hour-and-a-half performance. Join with millions and stand up to cheer the American way. Don’t miss America’s favorite circus when it’s in your town.
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Bring the kids and make a lasting memory at the First Bite Fishing Tank where they can learn how to handle different species of fish; learn how to handle different species of live bait; and overcome their fears of fish and bait. New this year is a small fish tank for the little kids.
All fish are returned safely to the tank.
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Bar C Ranch will be bringing a free educational petting zoo to this year’s Clearfield County Fair. The zoo features friendly domestic and exotic animals from around the world. They will also be offering dromedary camel rides for a small fee. Bar C Ranch is a family owned and operated business based in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Northern Virginia. The owners of Bar C Ranch are dedicated to sharing their knowledge of and enthusiasm for animals with people of all ages. Come out and pet, feed, and learn about their wonderful animals and take a spin on the “ships of the desert”. If you would like to learn more about Bar C Ranch and their animals you can visit them online at http://www.barcranch.org/.
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Cirque du Soleil takes 'normal' to the next level
The flamboyant costumes of the "The 'Nostalgic Old Birds' are hand-detailed with feathers, sequins, lace and colored fabrics. While the 'Nostalgic Old Birds' represent the self-indulgent old aristocracy, 'Alegria' embraces joy the new. Cirque du Soleil translated into English means "Circus of the Sun". A contemporary circus that mixes artistry with athleticism. Cirque Du Soleil's "Alegria" comes to the Colonial Life Arena May 11-15. - Kim Kim Foster-Tobin /kkfoster@thestate.comSunday, May. 08, 2011
By OTIS R. TAYLOR JR. - otaylor@thestate.com
GREENSBORO — A Cirque du Soleil performance is anything but normal, so, naturally, one would expect an abnormal backstage area. Not necessarily anything that rivals the extravagant and physically-wowing movements on stage, just something.But when we got a behind-the-scenes look at Alegria, the Cirque production that opens Wednesday at the Colonial Life Arena, the only thing that looked out of place among the rolling crates and rolling garment racks was two Toro leaf blowers. Even the shirtless, barrel-chested stump of a man who was jogging backstage didn’t seem out of place when we visited the Greensboro Coliseum in mid-April on the opening night of Alegria’s five-day run there. It was my first time seeing a Cirque production. Before the assignment, frankly, I didn’t have an interest in seeing a show. The closest I had been to Cirque was watching a “60 Minutes” profile in 2005. I do enjoy non-traditional circuses, though, particularly the productions at Spoleto Festival USA. I can only hope the shows I see this year are as entertaining as Alegria. Read more: http://www.thestate.com/2011/05/08/1807117/span-classleadininformation-spanwwwtwctixcom.html#ixzz1Ll5kRExL
Ringling circus is mostly a waste
By STeve Barnes Senior writerSaturday, May 7, 2011
ALBANY -- Rarely if ever have so many sequins and rhinestones been used in service of such an undazzling show as the current edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, performing at the Times Union Center through Sunday.
Circus press material puts the number of shiny costume adornments at 3.14 million, which works out to approximately a million glittery bits per genuine thrill during the show.
In one compelling moment, 16 acrobats, clad in blue bodysuits with long, wide orange fringe, bounce from tall towers onto and among a half-dozen trampolines. They spring and soar, jumping through hoops at times, to an almost hallucinatory effect, their parabolic arcs through the air mimicking the fireworks simultaneously shown on big screens along each side of the arena.Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Ringling-circus-is-mostly-a-waste-1369417.php#ixzz1Ll0CIXPw
ALBANY -- Rarely if ever have so many sequins and rhinestones been used in service of such an undazzling show as the current edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, performing at the Times Union Center through Sunday.
Circus press material puts the number of shiny costume adornments at 3.14 million, which works out to approximately a million glittery bits per genuine thrill during the show.
In one compelling moment, 16 acrobats, clad in blue bodysuits with long, wide orange fringe, bounce from tall towers onto and among a half-dozen trampolines. They spring and soar, jumping through hoops at times, to an almost hallucinatory effect, their parabolic arcs through the air mimicking the fireworks simultaneously shown on big screens along each side of the arena.Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Ringling-circus-is-mostly-a-waste-1369417.php#ixzz1Ll0CIXPw
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