THE BALLOON MAN

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Nottingham Goose Fair From the Air 2011

Uploaded by FunFairsUK on Nov 8, 2011
A Photo Montage of the annual Nottingham Goose Fair 2011 taken from both Mellors and DeKonings Big Wheels.

Life in the circus a dream for Elgin man

Kyle Barker puts on makeup before the Ringling Brothers Circus at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont on Friday. Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

By Mike Danahey mdanahey@stmedianetwork.com

Updated: November 9, 2011 2:30AM
Kyle Barker says that the last two years of his life have been an amazing ride — and in his case, you can take him quite literally.
In November 2009, Barker packed his bags in Streamwood headed to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. After performing his first shows as a clown with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, he hit the road with the troupe, travelling across the continent and living out of a train to entertain millions in the process.
“We’ve probably played for about 8 million people in about 76 cities,” Barker said.
He currently is back in the area with the Red Tour production, “Fully Charged.” The show plays Allstate through Sunday, then rolls along to the United Center in Chicago from Nov. 16 through Nov. 27.
Barker, 29, recently had his contract renewed for another season. He’s so enjoyed the work that he’s learning about various aspects of The Greatest Show on Earth — from public relations to chaining in equipment to be taken to the next stop — in the hopes of making the circus a lifelong career.
“This has been a great way to see what the world has to offer,” he said.READ MORE:http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/8667395-418/life-in-the-circus-a-dream-for-elgin-man.html

Mixing magic, comedy

Circus background launched Chipper Lowell's career

Comedian and magician Chipper Lowell will give two performances Nov. 12 at the Civic Centre in downtown Manitowoc. / Submitted

Written bySuzanne Weiss, Herald Times Reporter

MANITOWOC — Growing up, Chipper Lowell became acquainted with his neighbors in an unusual fashion.
They called police because they thought his mother was committing suicide in the backyard of their home, he recalled in a recent phone interview from Los Angeles, where he lives.
Lowell, you see, was born into a circus family. His father was a professional clown with Ringling Bros. during the 1950s, while his mother performed aerial acts such as Iron Jaw, where she suspended herself several stories above the crowd holding on only by her teeth.
“Whenever we were off the road, we had an A-frame aerial rigging in the backyard and my mother would go out and hang by her teeth every day to strengthen her neck and jaw and shoulder muscles,” Lowell said. “One day the neighbors called the police because they thought my mother was hanging herself. That’s how we became friends with all the neighbors.”
The energetic redhead will present “The Chipper Experience: Where Comedy and Magic Collide!” at 3 and 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Capitol Civic Centre, 913 S. Eighth St. This is the second of four events in the Capitol’s Family Series, which is geared to all ages.READ MORE:http://manitowochub.htrnews.com/article/20111103/MAN05/111107026/1358/MAN0101/Circus-background-launched-Chipper-Lowell-s-career?odyssey=nav%7Chead

UniverSoul Circus, GCS Clown For Book Donations

Written by WFMY News 2

Nov 8, 2011

High Point, NC-- Some students and staff got to clown around Tuesday morning, but the fun was really about learning.
The UniverSoul Circus and Guilford County Schools (GCS) are encouraging circus-goers to bring books when attending the UniverSoul Circus.
The circus is at the Greensboro Coliseum, starting on November 9-13.All books will be donated to the Two Million Books campaign, which is part of the district's literacy initiative outlined in the strategic plan. In 2010, GCS challenged students to read one million books to raise awareness about the importance of literacy. GCS students exceeded this goal and read 1,973,262 books during the year. For 2011, the next challenge in the district's literacy initiative was for students to read two million books and for the community to donate one million books to schools this year.
"We are excited that the UniverSoul Circus recognizes the importance of literacy in our community and is partnering with us to support the Two Million Books campaign," said Lisa Gardner, coordinator of Guilford Parent Academy, Partnerships & Community Relations for GCS.
In addition to the book drive, 7.5 percent of group ticket sales will be donated to Two Million Books. The UniverSoul Circus also donated 250 tickets to students at Allen Jay Elementary, and held a special sneak peak for Fairview Elementary students Tuesday.
UniverSoul Circus is a combination of circus arts, theater and music that spans genres including Pop, Classic R&B, Latin, Hip Hop, Jazz and Gospel.
Guilford County Schools

Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars

Mon, November 21, 2011

From: www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com

Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars will appear in Cape Coral Monday, Nov. 21, through Wednesday, Nov. 23, hosted by city of Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department, and in Bonita Springs on Thursday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 27.

The all new, 2011 edition of the “World’s Largest Circus, Under the Big Top,” continues the tradition of entertaining American families for more than a century. Advance tickets are on sale at Pets Universe, 4506 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral City Hall and the Cape Coral Youth Center at Four Freedoms Park.

You can also purchase tickets at tickets.com or by calling 1-800-332-5200.

The circus will set up at 609 Pine Island Road, across from Dollar General.

For information, call 1-800-796-5672 or visit GoToTheCircus.com

BILL PRICKETT REVISITS

THE CIRCUS ALL OF FAME

PERU, INDIANA

PART II

Metal Wagon in graveyard.

Mary Kay Dunwoody & Tom Dunwoody, Tom is CHF President and

these two are among the driving forces behind saving the CHF site & buildings.

John Fugate, RM, 1994

Another of the driving forces & current grant winner.

Part of the Tom Dunwoody display model in north barn

Eighth of an inch model of the 1994 Hagernbeck-Wallace Circus

Another view of Tom Dunwoody circus model display.

Display of American Circus Corp structure

Harold Ronk display

Hoxie Tucker Display

The Museum is open May 1 thru Oct 31, usually 12 noon to 4 pm.

Earlier by arrangements.

In the summer they feature a live circus performance several times

a day over a certain two week period in July.

I have visited this museum three times and have taken over 100 photos

of the wagons, displays, and circus performances.

I am looking to returning in July of 2012 to visit again

and also to see the Circus Parade held in the town of Peru, Indiana

and hopefully attend the banquet for inductees into

next year's Circus Hall of Fame.

Visit http://www.circushof.com/ for more information.

Bill Prickett

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Long-time Punkin Chunkin spectators become competitors

Year after year, people gather to launch pumpkins high and far at the World Championship Punkin Chunkin. For some competitors, the tradition began behind the spectator fence. (11/5/11)

Sunday, November 6, 2011

SUNDAY FUNNIES

Roger Williams for Congress - The Donkey Whisperer

Uploaded by RogerWilliamsTX on Aug 21, 2011
http://rogerforcongress.com
Roger Williams, a congressional candidate from Texas recorded this great ad. Democrats don't like it and tried to have it removed from the Texas TV station serving that congressional district. They claim it is demeaning?

Mayor, as ringmaster, declares 'Barnum Day'

Andre McClain, left, greets Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and his three-year-old son Cooper before the start of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Saturday, November 05, 2011

By Len Barcousky, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Events like the circus show the wisdom of constructing buildings like the Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said this morning.
Mayor Ravenstahl made the remark before he opened the 11 a.m. performance of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus as guest ringmaster.
Accompanied by his three-year-old son, Cooper, Mr. Ravenstahl, standing under a spotlight in the middle of the circus ring, declared Nov. 5 to be "Barnum 200 Day" in Pittsburgh. The traveling show is marking the 200th birthday of one of its founders, P.T. Barnum.
The two-year-old Consol Energy Center is home to the Pittsburgh Penguins. "But events like this, which draw so many families, show that this building is about a lot more than hockey," he said before the morning performance.
The mayor said he had memories of attending circuses with his family when he was a boy growing up in Pittsburgh. "It was exciting then, and it's still great to see all the animals and performers," he said. "I think Cooper, though, is a little scared of the clowns."
When the mayor walked out into the spotlight to be greeted by circus host Andre McClain, Cooper appeared to have gotten over his shyness. The youngster ran in small circles around them while the two men chatted.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, left, is made honorary ringmaster by Andre McClain, center. Mr. Ravenstahl's three-year-old son Cooper watches.

Mr. Ravenstahl said he was pleased to see the Golden Triangle looking so busy on a Saturday morning with people coming into town for the Ringling Brothers performances.The mayor was asked if being a circus ringmaster was anything like dealing with Pittsburgh's often fractious city council. He declined to comment.The circus will do its final performances at 3 and 7 p.m. today and at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday.Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11309/1187838-100.stm#ixzz1csKscd12

26th Annual Punkin Chunkin Rockets Back Into Bridgeville

from WMDT TV, Salisbury, MD

Nov 04, 2011

By Julia Heller

26th Annual Punkin ChunkinBRIDGEVILLE, Del. - The rockets are firing and the pumpkins are flying - which can only mean one thing for the shore. Punkin Chunkin is back!
The 26th annual event kicked off Friday. Dozens of teams from all over come to Delaware to see whose man-made cannon or catapult can hurl pumpkins the farthest. It all wraps up on Sunday - so be sure to head out to see those pumpkins soar!

CIRCUS MAXIMUS

NORTH FLORIDA FAIR

TALLAHASSE

Far-out fare at the Volusia County Fair

By CHRIS GRAHAM, Staff writer

November 6, 2011

DELAND -- Diane Orme slapped a beef patty on the grill and added some cheese and two slices of bacon for flavor.
A few minutes later she added the finishing touch -- two Krispy Kreme doughnuts?
"It's just perfect," Orme said as she served up the creation in a Krispy Kreme paper hat.
The Volusia County Fair was in full swing this weekend as rides whirled the people who dared to get on them. But nearby dozens of vendors stole the show, satisfying the palates of the masses.
Many of the vendors served up conventional fair food, but some broke culinary barriers.
Orme, whose family owns Carousel Foods Inc., had some of the most innovative creations offered at the fair this year including the garbage burger (loaded like you've never seen), the French toast burger and the ice cream burger with pickles (recommended for pregnant women). But the real showstopper is the Krispy Kreme doughnutburger -- made famous by the late American singer-songwriter Luther Vandross.

A Krispy Kreme bacon cheese burger fresh off the grill at the Carousel Food booth at the Volusia County Fair. (N-J Peter Bauer)
The Ormes first rolled out their patented concoction at the 2009 Florida State Fair in Tampa.
"It's been going strong ever since," Orme said. "It's our top seller. People like it because it's not something you can get every day."
The gooey burger comes made to order and the sweetness of the glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts is complimented well by the grilled, juicy, beef patty.
For true connoisseurs, lettuce, tomato and onion as well as condiments are available. The burger packs about 1,000 calories, Orme said.
"When you look at it, it's not that bad," she said, noting a jumbo smoked turkey leg is about 1,700 calories. "Who watches calories at the fair anyway?"
Well in that case, if your arteries aren't clogged after polishing off the burger, people can swing to the next vendor where Chris Tisher and crew deep-fry almost any sweet treat imaginable -- even cherry Kool-Aid.

Fried Kool-Aid dough is sprinkled with sugar at Ormes Deep Fried Creations at the Volusia County Fair. (N-J Peter Bauer)

Tisher, from Louisville, Ky., said the trick is to freeze the Kool-Aid, roll it in funnel cake dough and throw in the deep fryer. He tops off the tasty treat with powdered sugar.
"It comes out like a cherry cake," he said. "Everything is warm and gooey in the center."
While vendors like Orme and Tisher offered innovative creations, several people opted for fair staples. The smell of funnel cake and polish sausage wafted in the air, drawing people like moths.
Justin and Kenna Norell of Sanford said they just couldn't resist.
"We just got here about 10 minutes ago," said Kenna Norell of Sanford as she sat at a picnic table and chomped on a Philly cheese steak sandwich and some Saratoga chips -- which are chips covered in bacon, cheese and chives.

A heaping pile of Saratoga chips, a combination of homemade and fried potatoes smothered with cheese, at the Volusia County Fair. (N-J Peter Bauer)
"She just can't get enough of it," said Justin Norell. He and his wife were making their first trip to the fair. "We'll probably be looking for something else in about 30 minutes."
Fair veteran Tom Mueller of Deltona was quick to grab a bucket of salty, vinegary fries from Fiske French Fries.
"It's the first and last place I go," said Mueller, who has been coming to the fair with his family for the past 20 years.
For most of the fair food vendors, this is the last stop of the year before packing up to recharge.
Orme said the break gives people time to think of new ideas for the next year's round of fairs.
"We've tried a Mac n' cheese burger and a mashed potato burger," Orme said. "But who knows what we'll think of next."

NGOs move court against Jumbo circus

from: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Nov 6, 2011

PANIPAT: Trouble for owners of Jumbo Circus, who had been hogging limelight for all the wrong reasons, is far from over as the court of CJM has admitted a petition against them by representatives of International Organisation for Animal Protection (OPIA), an NGO associated with UN department of information, and Haryana People for Animals, for cruelty against animals.
The Indian representative of the NGO, Naresh Kadyan, who moved the court on Saturday, said that the animals being used for performance purposes by the circus were being kept in pathetic conditions, without proper food and shelter and were even denied medical care as a full time veterinarian, mandatory under the performance rules, had not been appointed by the circus.
The petition stated that owners of the circus transported the animals from Rajasthan to Panipat via Rohtak without proper documentation and certificates of fitness as required by Transport of Animals Rules 2001 under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 and the Cattle Transport Rules of 1978, as amended in 2001.
The petitioners also accused the circus owners of using some exotic species of animals and birds that were covered under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species ( CITES).
As per official documents, (copies of which are in possession of TOI), the circus had registered eight elephants, 13 Horses, 36 dogs, one hippo, 15 parrots, three camels, one pelican, two donkeys, one goat, two turkeys, eight Persian cats and one emu with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). However, Kadyan said that all these animals were not with the circus which was again a violation of the rules.
The court of CJM, after listening to the petitioner's counsel, admitted the petition and fixed November 8 as the next date of hearing.
Meanwhile, AWBI has already constituted a two-member panel to inspect the animals being used by Jumbo Circus, following allegation that the animals at the circus were being subjected to cruelty and a blind hippo was being used during performances. The Haryana chief wildlife warden had also denied permission to the circus to hold shows in Panipat unless it discontinued the use of blind Hippo, named Raja, for performance.

PAWS part of cause to end cruelty to circus animals

By News-Sentinel Staff ,

Lodinews.com

Saturday, November 5, 2011
PAWS part of cause to end cruelty to circus animals By News-Sentinel Staff Lodinews.com 0 comments
Ed Stewart, of the Galt-based Performing Animal Welfare Society, was on Capitol Hill this week to launch a bill aimed at changing how animals are used in the name of entertainment in America. He was joined by renowned celebrity animal protectionist Bob Barker, actress Jorja Fox and representatives of Animal Defenders International.The Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act is a historic first for the U.S., according to a press release.
The bill aims to restrict the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling circuses, effectively bringing to an end the random cruelty and neglect associated with some circuses of this nature.
"Americans are becoming increasingly aware that circus animals suffer from violent training techniques and severe confinement," Barker said in a prepared statement.
"Big, wild animals should not be part of the traveling circus and, simply put, animal acts in circuses are antiquated and belong in the past, in a time when humans were ignorant about the needs of the other species who share our planet."
Large animals like lions and tigers spend their lives cramped in small cages, and elephants are forced to live chained by one or more legs for hours on end. In addition, traveling circuses pose a serious threat to public safety, as the keeping of wild, stressed animals in dangerously close proximity to the public is a recipe for disaster, according to PAWS.
The organization provides a sanctuary in San Andreas for large animals such as African elephants.

Circus Doc Narrated by Lexingtonian Clown Screening This Afternoon 'Circus Dreams,'

a documentary on a year in the life teens traveling with Circus Smirkus narrated by Joy Powers, a professional clown from Lexington, is screening today at Watertown's Arsenal Center for the Arts as part of Belmont World Film's Family Fest

Clowns from Circus Dreams, Credit Rebecca Richards

By Patrick Ball

Lexington, MA Patch

November 5, 2011

If any circus fans out there are still looking for something to do this afternoon, “Circus Dreams,” a documentary following a year in the life of the traveling teen peformers of Circus Smirkus, is screening at 4 p.m. over at Watertown’s Arsenal Center for the Arts as part of Belmont’s World Film’s annual Family Festival.
The film may also be attractive to some for its local connection, according to Rebecca Richards, director of the Family Festival, who noted Lexington native and Waldorf School alumn Joy Powers is a central character and narrator of Circus Dreams.
“It’s exciting to note that [Powers is] currently touring with Ringling Bros. for the second time as a professional clown, a long held dream of hers,” Richards told Lexington Patch.
The screening today of Circus Dreams will be preceded by a live performance by members of Circus Smirkus, according to Belmont Patch’s preview of this year’s Family Festival, which is called ““A Cinematic Kaleidoscope of Cats, Characters and Circus Dreams.”