SCENES FROM--


1949

 

Lou Costello with Clyde Beatty

Abbott & Costello with Clyde Beatty

CLYDE BEATTY

 

 

TRAILER

Horrible Brooklyn Heights Snobs Rant Against Hot Dog Vendor

 

A hot dog vendor serving "disgusting food" to "disgusting people"
By Ben Yakas in Food
from: gothamist.com
June 24, 2012
Unless you've been listening to too much Insane Clown Posse, we can't really see what problem anyone would have with hot dogs. And as long as they're not fighting each other over turf, we don't see why anyone would have a problem with a hot dog vendor. And yet, Brooklyn Heights residents refused to allow one vendor to sling dogs on Montague Street—and they took to Brooklyn Heights Blog to complain: "Disgusting food, served by disgusting people to disgusting people," said Heights Guy.
The vendor set up on Montague Street near the promenade at 10:30 a.m. last Saturday—and angry locals flooded the cops with calls. By that afternoon, an officer had given him a ticket and made him leave. “He was a nice young man trying to make a living, but in this neighborhood everything is a protest," one resident who watched it unfold told the Post. “He said something like, ‘Well, this is life.’ He packed up his belongings and left.”
You can get an idea of why they shooed him away in their rantings on the blog: "This is a lot of bull I have worked very hard to be able to afford to live on Montague Terrace and i do not need a hot dog vendor out side my window so he can make a few bucks," wrote someone named Gerry. "When and if this slob comes back I wil have him ejected - again by the NYPD he has no legal permit and he never will." Willow St. Neighbor agreed: "What next? A big top? Circus animals? Clowns? Cotton Candy?...Is there no peace for neighborhood residents who work long, hard hours?" Because no one in any other part of the city living where hot dog vendors park could POSSIBLY work long, hard hours as well.
PromGirl argued: "Ours is a quiet residential neighborhood. This is not the place to live for people looking for 'street life. Residential streets are not zoned for commerce." But not everyone was slinging vitriol—others such as Mr. Crusty defended the vendor, and castigated the complainers for their "snobbish attack:"
The length of Montague street is a commercial street as well and the main means of access to the Promenade which belongs to everyone, residents and non residents alike despite what some on here might believe. And yes living in NY might mean that you paid several million dollars for your home and have to put up with a food cart a block away. Deal with it. Or not. No one is forced to live anywhere. We all make our choices. You can not make BH some private enclave divorced from city life.
Chuck Taylor, who wrote the initial post welcoming the vendor to the neighborhood, also came to his defense: “People need to step back and realize nobody owns a New York City neighborhood,” Taylor told the Post. “It is to be shared by all who call it home and all who visit. If something so minuscule as a hot dog vendor raises the ire of the neighborhood, that’s what I’d call snobbery.”

Special Report: How are fairs surviving?

 

East Peoria Times-Courier
Jun 24, 2012
East Peoria, Ill. —
Illinois has cut funding to county and 4-H fairs over the past five years. GateHouse Media's Western Illinois Division has produced an in-depth look at fair funding across 11 counties, including Tazewell. See how your fair is coping with less money in the June 27 edition of the East Peoria Times-Courier.
Tazewell 4-H Fair and Junior Show in Mineral Springs Park in Pekin July 30-Aug. 1

 

Dingley uproar over Lennon circus animals

 

Animal passion: Protesters outside Lennon Brothers Circus at the weekend. Picture: Ted Kloszynski
from:  greaterdandeongweekly.com.au
BY CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
25 Jun, 2012
PROTESTER S descended on a touring circus in Dingley Village on Saturday, calling for an end to its use of animals.
By the start of the Lennon Brothers Circus season on private land last Thursday, Kingston Council had already received 404 written complaints, mostly from overseas.
Neighbouring council Greater Dandenong has used its local laws to ban animal circuses, which have been criticised by the RSPCA for their harsh treatment of wild animals.
Kingston has no such bans in place. Last Thursday, the council inspected the circus to check it complied with building regulations.
On Saturday, Justice for Australian Circus Animals demonstrators dressed as lions draped in chains and inside cages and distributed flyers to circus spectators.
Member Stephanie Dyer said the group was against the circus's "undignified" treatment of wild animals such as monkeys and lions.
Having seen the circus recently, Ms Dyer said the lions "slink into the ring" like they "didn't want to be there" to do "pitiful" tricks.
Other "demeaning" acts included a camel trained to walk on its knees, sitting alpacas and camels jumped by ponies and miniature donkeys, and a monkey riding on the back of a pony.
"In its natural environment the lion wouldn't perform, the monkey wouldn't sit on a pony...the camel act should be reported to the RSPCA."
RSPCA state president Hugh Wirth said a monkey was "one of the worst animals you can put in such a situation - it's quite wrong".
The RSPCA was opposed to "the use of wild animals in any form for human entertainment", Dr Wirth said.
"Wild animals' behavioural instincts aren't required by the circus. They undergo fairly harsh training methods that you wouldn't condone for a dog. They aren't trained with care and reward. It's a punishment system."
He said the RSPCA usually advertised in a local area where an animal circus was performing to discourage patrons and was lobbying for harsh regulations on animal circuses.

Wachapreague kicks off 60th annual firemen's carnival

 

A couple rides the Scrambler during opening night of the 60th annual Wachapreague Firemen's Carnival on Wednesday.
JAY DIEM/THE DAILY TIMES
Written by Carol Vaughn; Staff Writer
from: delmarvanow.com
Jun. 22, 2012
WACHAPREAGUE -- The man in charge of rides at Wachapreague Volunteer Fire Company's annual carnival has belonged to the fire company for 43 years.
The carnival is a family tradition for Wachapreague VFC President and Chief Engineer Kerry Paul, who for decades has organized the cadre of volunteers needed to prepare and staff the carnival rides.
The carnival marks its 60th year in 2012, and Paul has been a part of it for much of that time.
"It's in my blood -- my father was one of the people that started the carnival," Paul said.
James Paul, who died in 1989, was Wachapreague's fire chief for many years and Paul's son also is in the fire company and works at the carnival.
Paul spoke this week about the history of two classic rides at the carnival.
Today's youngsters, as they whirl around shrieking with delight, probably don't think about the origin of the rides, which their parents likely also rode as children.
The carousel is the oldest, dating to 1921. It was built by the Herschell-Spillman Co. of North Tonawanda, N.Y., one of the leading manufacturers of carousels in America.
"I've been to the place where it was built," said Paul, adding, "They still have people come in and carve wooden horses."
The Herschell Carousel Factory Museum is located in the original Allan Herschell Co. factory complex in North Tonawanda.
Wachapreague's fire company bought the carousel in the 1970s "from a broker over on the western shore," Paul said.
By then its original wooden horses were gone, replaced by aluminum horses dating to the 1960s.
Another antique ride at Wachapreague is the pony carts, built in the 1940s or early 1950s by W.F. Mangels Co. of Coney Island, N.Y., another major player in the development of amusement parks in the United States.
Wachapreague purchased the ride, with its aluminum carts and horses, in the mid-1980s from Buckroe Beach, a once-popular Hampton amusement park that was razed in 1987.
Several other rides owned by the Wachapreague fire company -- including the airplanes and Rotowhip, both currently in storage -- also came from Buckroe Beach.
The Wachapreague carnival opened on Wednesday and continues for four weeks, through July 14. It is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 7:30-10:30 p.m. nightly.

Historic ride is open again
1921 carousel highlights annual event's 60th year



Nevaeh Riddick, left, and Jania Thomas ride the carousel during opening night at the 60th annual Wachapreague Fireman's Carnival Wednesday. The carousel is the oldest ride, dating to 1921. It was built by the Herschell-Spillman Company of North Tonawanda, N.Y., one of the leading manufacturers of carousels in America./ JAY DIEM/EASTERN SHORE NEWS
from:  delmarvanow.com
Written by Carol Vaughn, Staff Writer
Jun. 23, 2012 
WACHAPREAGUE, VA -- The man in charge of rides at Wachapreague Volunteer Fire Company's annual carnival has belonged to the fire company for 43 years.
The carnival is a family tradition for Wachapreague VFC President and Chief Engineer Kerry Paul, who for decades has organized the cadre of volunteers needed to prepare and staff the carnival rides.
The carnival marks its 60th year in 2012 and Paul has been a part of it for much of that time.
"It's in my blood -- my father was one of the people that started the carnival," Paul said. James Paul, who died in 1989, was Wachapreague's fire chief for many years and Paul's son also is in the fire company and works at the carnival.
Paul spoke this week about the history of two classic rides at the carnival.
Today's youngsters, as they whirl around shrieking with delight, probably don't think about the origin of the rides, which their parents likely also rode as children.
The carousel is the oldest, dating to 1921. It was built by the Herschell-Spillman Company of North Tonawanda, N. Y., one of the leading manufacturers of carousels in America.
"I've been to the place where it was built," said Paul, adding, "They still have people come in and carve wooden horses."
The Herschell Carousel Factory Museum is located in the original Allan Herschell Company factory complex in North Tonawanda.

 

Levin Montalvo smiles as he rides one of the pony carts on opening night. The pony cart ride was originally built in the 1940s or early 1950s by W.F. Mangels Company of Coney Island, N.Y.
JAY DIEM/EASTERN SHORE NEWS
Wachapreague's fire company bought the carousel in the 1970s "from a broker over on the Western Shore," Paul said.
By then its orginal wooden horses were gone, replaced by aluminum horses dating to the 1960s.
Another antique ride at Wachapreague is the pony carts, built in the 1940s or early 1950s by W.F. Mangels Company of Coney Island, N.Y., another major player in the development of amusement parks in the United States.
Wachapreague purchased the ride, with its aluminum carts and horses, in the mid-1980s from Buckroe Beach, a once-popular Hampton amusement park that was razed in 1987.
Several other rides owned by the Wachapreague fire company -- including the airplanes and rotowhip, both currently in storage -- also came from Buckroe Beach.
The Wachapreague carnival opened on Wednesday and continues for four weeks, through July 14. It is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. nightly.

Pony Penning ranked in top 10 Va. events

 

The annual Pony Swim was chosen among top family events in Virginia. JAY DIEM/EASTERN SHORE NEWS
Written by Malissa Watterson, Staff Writer
from: delmarvanow.com
Jun. 23, 2012
CHINCOTEAGUE --In July, thousands of visitors will travel into town to witness the 87th annual Pony Swim and Auction.
The world-acclaimed event was recognized this month as one of the top 10 activities in Virginia for traveling families.
Trekaroo, a blog centered on parents taking trips with their children, posted various kid-friendly events throughout the commonwealth.
Pony Penning was listed as the eighth activity for families, beating out visits to the historic Jamestown Settlement and Colonial Williamsburg.
Assateague Island's recreational beach and lighthouse and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge were also mentioned in the Pony Penning entry.
"It never hurts to get this kind of publicity," said Suzanne Taylor, executive director of marketing and tourism for the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce.
"Chincoteague is such a great family destination I can understand why we were included," she said.
Since the 1920s, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company has held Pony Penning as a fundraiser for the company. Late July, firefighters round up the wild ponies living on nearby Assateague Island and place them in holding pens before the Pony Swim.
On the last Wednesday of July, the Saltwater Cowboys drive the ponies into Assateague Channel, where the ponies begin their trek to neighboring Chincoteague.
The following day, a portion of the herd's foals are auctioned at the carnival grounds. Proceeds from the auction are used to purchase new equipment for the company, as well as to maintain the wild herd.
Denise Bowden, spokesperson for the company, said those involved in Pony Penning pride themselves on providing on a "fun, family atmosphere."
"We hope that people who many not have had the opportunity to visit before will look at Trekaroo's site and make plans to visit," she said.
For more information on this year's Pony Swim and Auction, visit www.chincoteague.com.

Circus Vidbel keeps high-flying art alive in Rehoboth


Taunton Gazette Photo | Mike Gay.
A ninth-generation circus performer, Ringmaster Dallas Zoppe works with her trained dogs at Circus Vidbel's show in Rehoboth on June 22, 2012.
By Gerry Tuoti
Taunton Gazette Staff Reporter
from: tauntongazette.com
Posted Jun 22, 2012
Rehoboth —
Suspended high above Redway Plain, trapeze artist Susan Vidbel twisted and twirled to the cheers of the audience crowded beneath the big top.
Circus Vidbel, which has been making periodic stops in Rehoboth since 1993, held two performances Friday and will wrap up its visit with two more shows today at 1:30 and 4 p.m. A portion of ticket sales will benefit the Rehoboth Parent Teacher Student Association.
Ringmaster Dallas Zoppe wowed the children in the audience with her trained dogs. Zoppe, a ninth-generation circus performer, comes from a long line of animal trainers.
“Lions, tigers, bears, horses, all different animals,” she said.

Taunton Gazette Photo | Mike Gay.
 Susan Vidbel, owner of the circus, performs a new aerial act at Circus Vidbel's show in Rehoboth on June 22, 2012.
The performances in Rehoboth feature horses, clowns, aerialists and acrobats. The circus is held at Redway Plain on Route 44 near Bay State Road and Danforth Street. Tickets are $12 at the door or $9 in advance. Tickets were available in advance at Chartley Country Store, Viveiros Insurance and the Newman YMCA in Seekonk.
 Dick Georgia, who helped sponsor the show in 1993 to celebrate Rehoboth’s 350th anniversary, said he’s always found the circus intriguing. Many years ago, his father, he said, left a job as a funeral director to do marketing work for a circus

 

Taunton Gazette Photo | Mike Gay.
From left, Theresa Dextraze and her children Aaron, 6, Nathan, 4, and Gwendolyn, 3, cool off with snow cones under the big top at Circus Vidbel's show in Rehoboth on June 22, 2012.
“It’s always been an interest of mine,” he said.
Zoppe, the animal trainer and ringmaster, said she loves life under the big top.
“I’ve been doing this all my life,” she said. “I’ve been all over the world. I performed in Japan with Ringling Brothers. I was in a circus in Malaysia, Canada.”
Performing in the circus keeps Zoppe, a resident of Sarasota, Fla., on the road for nearly 10 months out of the year.
“I love traveling and meeting new people,” she said. “It’s an incredible life. It’s an amazing work of art that’s dying off. It is an exceptionally fun life, though.”
Read more: http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/x1446659999/Circus-Vidbel-keeps-high-flying-art-alive-in-Rehoboth#ixzz1ygm7D8HC

Steel Pier, Atlantic City, Grand Opening - June 22, 2012

Published on Jun 23, 2012 by AtlanticCityWeekly

Steel Pier, Atlantic City, Celebrates Their Grand Opening with a celebrity chef. Video Editing: Christine Steiner. Video Produced by Lew Steiner, Publisher of Atlantic City Weekly & ACWeekly.com.

The fair life is a fun life

 

Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy
West Coast Amusements crew supervisor Brian Mann works on a flat tire on the Sooper Jet ride at the Hometown Fair at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds on Friday.
Published on June 22, 2012
from- mytimes.sk.ca
by Lisa Goudy 
June 22, 2012
The appeal of fun, sun and travel was what motivated Brian Mann to get a job at the fair at age 19.
Now, almost 30 years later, Mann loves his career with West Coast Amusements more than he did when he started.
“We used to get a hard time everywhere we went, but now people are starting to appreciate us and knowing that we’re there for them. You know, we’re here just to let the people have fun,” said Mann, who was born and raised in Comox, B.C. “It was smaller back then. Now we’re bigger. (It’s better) with the technology, the way the rides have evolved.”
Friday was the first day of the Hometown Fair in Moose Jaw at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds. The fair continues until Sunday. The fair is open from 9 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. The midway is operational from noon to midnight on Saturday and from noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Mann is crew supervisor. He said he deals with maintenance, helps with set-up and trains other people on proper ride procedures. In the winter, he said, he paints the West Coast Amusement trucks and many of the rides. He said his favourite part of the job is travelling and meeting new people.
“For six months we travel. For six months we work in our shop,” said Mann. “It’s just an all-year round thing for me.”

Officials Using Tighter Security for Fairs

from: wset.com

Jun 22, 2012

Circus to Perform in Rhinelander Friday Night Only

 

from: wjfw.com
06/22/2012
Rhinelander - Drivers on Highway 17 near Rhinelander will see something today that wasn't there yesterday... a circus.
It's in the parking lot of the Rhinelander Ice Arena. The Family Fun circus travels the country throughout the year and is in Rhinelander for tonight only.
Ring Leader Jairo Ojeda says his circus is traditional. "I think it's better than the bigger shows because the bigger shows, they have the big venues and the seats are way back in the nosebleed section. Here the seats are about 20 feet from the ring, all the animals are close, the acrobats are daredevils. So we're going to give you a really good show," says Ojeda.
This old fashioned show has aerialists, jugglers, acrobats, liberty horses, a human cannon ball, and of course, clowns
"My parents started it about ten years ago. It's me, my wife and my brothers and sisters. And we have my uncle that's also a clown so the family is all together here," says Ojeda.
The show starts tonight at 7:30. Tickets are $15 for adults-- that includes two kids for free.

The Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus came to Forks Township in 1962 - Almanac June 23, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
By Pete Brekus | The Express-Times
from:  lehighvalleylive.com
50 years ago today
1962: Lions and tigers and bears, oh my: The Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. circus gave two performances at the Forks Township Fire Co. on Route 115. "A two-mile cavalcade of circus equipment and personnel arrived before dawn. About 600 people laid out the tent plot. Entertainment was headed by Clyde Beatty and his group of trained lions and tigers; La Norma, an aerialist known as 'Denmark's Goddess of Balanced Flight;' the Genoas flying trapeze artists; Barton, a man who stands on his forefinger; and the Jordans and Victors novelty aerial acrobats. An added attraction was Capt. Astronaut, a 'double-flight human cannonball.' Troy Donahue, star of TV show 'Surfside 6,' took in the show grounds as part of a personal-appearance visit in Allentown."

DO PORTUGAL CIRCUS

Uploaded by damian587 on Aug 26, 2010

ESPECTACULOS

 Meriden: ‘I might as well join the circus’

 

Christopher Zajac
"I think I'll join the circus'
Josh Dummitt, of Meriden, powders his face as he readies his make-up Friday morning in Waterbury at the site of the Cole Bros. Circus, June 22, 2012. Dummitt auditioned for a clown role for Cole Bros. Circus after he saw the circus in town a year ago.
June 22, 2012
by Richie Rathsack
WATERBURY — Many children dream of running off to join the circus after seeing the show and the caravan come through town. Josh Dummit actually went through with it.
Growing up on North Colony Street in Meriden, he had gained a bit of neighborhood notoriety from walking around on stilts and juggling. On Monday, he will make his hometown debut as Meatball the Clown when the Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars sets up downtown.
“They came through town two years ago and I thought, ‘I might as well join the circus,’ ” Dummit said Friday while the crew was setting up for the weekend in Waterbury.
Last year when the circus came through town, he approached Cole Bros. about performing, he said. In middle school and high school, he was in show band and did a little theater, learning to juggle and walk on stilts as a hobby. Staff interviewed him and talked about possible ways he could perform, such as being a clown, and told him they would give him a call if they needed him.
The next day, as he worked his day job at a Macy’s warehouse, Dummit got the call, saying he should join up with the group in Cromwell. He’s been on the Cole Bros. traveling show ever since.
read more:
http://www.myrecordjournal.com/meriden/article_9d0b3372-bce4-11e1-9176-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=story

National circus musicians group will meet at Ski Liberty in July
from:  gettysburgtimes.com
June 23, 2012
Windjammers Unlimited Inc., a national organization of circus music performers, will hold its annual gathering in Gettysburg from July 16-21. The event will attract approximately 250 musicians from around the world and culminate with a public performance on Saturday, July 21, at the Gettysburg Area High School. 

State Fair Meadowlands brings lions, tigers... and sharks

 

Philip Peters is bringing his shark show to the State Fair Meadowlands this year.
June 22, 2012
By Jaime Lutz/The Star-Ledger
from:  The Star-Ledger--NJ.com
Most state fairs are famous for their livestock shows. In New Jersey, expect a different kind of animal.
Sharks are the newest addition to State Fair Meadowlands, the 17-day festival starting Friday in East Rutherford. In one part of the fair, you can watch a man swim and even perform tricks with the toothy predators. In another, you can experience sharks yourself -- marinated, grilled and on a stick.
It gives "shark bite" a whole new meaning.
"Shark is really tender -- an awesome, awesome cut of meat," says Cameron Murray, adding that the blacktip shark he sells has a mild fishy flavor.
Then again, Murray is no stranger to unusual meat -- the Southerner also will be selling alligator at his stand. Look for "Chester's Gators and Taters."
"We get a lot of northerners down in North Carolina who eat it and they love it," says Murray, who is coming to State Fair Meadowlands for the first time this year. Kebabs run from $5 to $6.
But the big attraction for "Jaws" fans might be free: a live show in which daredevil Philip Peters swims with sharks.
These aren't tiny, harmless sharks either.
read more:
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/06/state_fair_meadowlands_brings.html