LEWIS BROS #2

 

 

 

 

 

 

~~~~to be continued tomorrow!

How Cirque du Soleil scouts clowns, trapeze artists and gymnasts

From Kristie Lu Stout, CNN

Wed September 12, 2012

jumbo

The elephant in the room

 

Jumbo, the jumbo elephant
Reyna Eisenstark
from:  albany times union.com
September 15, 2012
In looking for a good elephant to write about, I started with Wikipedia’s List of Historical Elephants, and at that point I realized I would pretty much have a lifetime of material. You can start with Annabelle, known for her painting skills, and work your way down to Ziggy, named after Flo Ziegfield, whose famous confinement at the Brookfield Zoo led to protests in the early 1970s and the raising of money for his new outdoor facility.
In between, you’ve got Jumbo, the elephant P.T. Barnum bought in 1881 from the London Zoo for $10,000, despite letters of protest from 100,000 British schoolchildren to Queen Victoria, and whose skeleton is now in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History, and whose name has given us the word jumbo to mean “very large in size.”
And then there’s Mary, the only elephant known to be hanged, in Tennessee in 1916, as punishment for killing an elephant trainer. The picture of her hanging from a railcar-mounted industrial crane is as surreal and cruel as anything you could imagine.
READ MORE:
http://blog.timesunion.com/eisenstark/the-elephant-in-the-room/694/

DICK JOHNSON

 

FROM DICK JOHNSON

 

FROM DICK JOHNSON

 

 

The world behind the glamour of the circus
from:  deccanherald.com
D G Mallikarjun Shidlaghatta
Sep 15, 2012

Kamal Circus, which is now camped in Shidlaghatta with daily performances, is like a mini Indian republic. It has artistes from various parts of India - Kolkata, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Uttar Pradesh.

“This is our school, our life and livelihood. I was born in a tent and will spend my life here,” says Mohammed Farook, a trapeze artiste.

Images shown

The circus always had an aura of glamour. Children wanted to join the circus after seeing the feats of people and animals. Children of the past generation loved reading stories by Enid Blyton such as Circus Days Again, A Circus Adventure, about the adventures of a number of children who travel along with the circus over a season.

But what is not generally transparent is the life of the circus artistes behind the glamour. There have been occasional films such as Kamal Hasan’s Tamil film Apoorva Sahodarangal (dubbed as Appu Raja in Hindi) in which one of the dual roles of Kamal Hasan is that of a dwarf clown. Raj Kapoor’s Mera Naam Joker is a film about a clown who must make his audience laugh at the cost of his own sorrows.

Distant journey

Suman Tamang and Surabi Samanth, who perform acrobatics with their rubber-like bodies, hail from Assam. Trapeze artiste Mohammed Farook is from West Bengal, while bike stunt artiste Ramzan is from Gujarat.

Ashik, who rides the bike in the ‘well of death’ (a wooden globe) is from Tadepalligundam of West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh.  The man behind this circus, is its owner Ramannappa, who hails from Mulbagal of Kolar district.

Like nomads they go from place to place, pitching their tent for a month in one place. There is a tent for each family which serves as a place for cooking, devotion, sleeping, water storage and watching television.

‘Support artistes’

The animals which entertain in the circus including dogs, horses, camels and goats also live among the artistes. Their day-to-day needs are taken care of by their owners. They send money to their families in home town.

Circus owner Ramanappa says that we are a family of 50 persons in the circus. “Although we come from different parts of the country, we are like one big family,” he adds.

 

YOU'VE GOT CLOWNS!

 

China’s Shandong Circus Troupe Stars in Cirque du Soleil’s DRALION
from:  asianweek.com
By AsianWeek Staff
September 14, 2012
China’s Shandong Circus Troupe will be performing in Cirque du Soleil’s DRALION opening at the Stockton Arena on Wednesday, October 17. There are 25 performers (six girls and 19 boys) from China’s troupe in the show. Here’s a sneak peak at some of the acts:

Derived from Chinese acrobatic tradition, the Hoop Diving act takes on a tribal flavor from the African-influenced music to which it is performed. Ten male artists dive and throw themselves like arrows through small wooden hoops. The hoops are stacked on top of each other; some are stationary while others rotate. Photo courtesy of http://www.cirquedusoleil.com

This act requires great strength and flexibility. Displaying impressive control, the artist balances on canes of various heights, slowly executing a series of astounding figures while maintaining a delicate equilibrium. Photo courtesy of http://www.cirquedusoleil.com

The diabolo, or Chinese yo-yo, is a children’s game which involves holding two sticks linked by a string while sliding, juggling and tossing a wooden spool. With increasingly difficult maneuvers, the artists attempt to outdo each other in dexterity and ingenuity. Photo courtesy of http://www.cirquedusoleil.com

 

 

A blend of traditional Chinese dragon and lion dances takes on new scope when reimagined by Cirque du Soleil. In a dynamic and energetic tumbling sequence, the artists perform acrobatic moves while balancing on large wooden balls as the dralion characters surround them with a spirited dance. Photo courtesy of http://www.cirquedusoleil.com


Circus Smile

Uploaded by Acircussmile on Oct 29, 2011

Let us make you SMILE!

National Circus of China comes to Livermore, Berkeley

CIRQUE CHINOIS The Chinese national circus, Cirque Chinois, with its world-renowned acrobats, comes to the Bankhead Theater on Friday.
By Randy McMullen
Contra Costa Times
09/14/2012
The world-renowned Cirque Chinois, the National Circus of the People's Republic of China, is helping the East Bay fall arts season get off to a flying start.

The circus opens the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center's fall season on Sept. 14, before moving to Cal Performances at UC Berkeley for performances on Sept. 15 and 16.

The renowned troupe is known to engage in eye-popping feats of acrobatics, juggling, juggling, contortion, and airborn theatrics.

The Sept. 14 show at Livermore's Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., is at 7:30 p.m., and is currently listed as sold out. Contact 925-373-6800 or www.mylvpac.com to check for any late ticket releases.

Cirque Chinois performs 8 p.m. Sept. 15 and 3 p.m. Sept. 16 at Zellerbach Hall Bancroft Way and Telegraph Avenue on the UC Berkeley campus. Tickets are $22-$52; contact 510-642-9988 or www.calperformances.org.

 



Circo Victor Hugo Cardinali - Leoes Brancos

Published on Sep 14, 2012 by goncaloteixeiradiniz

Crias de Leão Branco nascidas no Circo Victor Hugo Cardinali!

Primeiros treinos das crias com Victor Hugo Cardinali Júnior!

Dog act that won 'America's Got Talent' performed with Circus Flora

 

Father and son Nicolas (left) and Richard Olate with two of their star dogs, Lilly and Loca. Olate Dogs won Season 7 of "America's Got Talent."

(Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
 BY GAIL PENNINGTON • Post-Dispatch Television Critic
from: stltoday.com
Sept. 16, 2012
Olate Dogs, the performing-canine act that won Season 7 of "America's Got Talent" Thursday night on NBC, performed in St. Louis with Circus Flora in June and again in December.

"Richard Olate, his family and his dogs come to Circus Flora from Chile, where Olate discovered his talent as an animal trainer with an abundance of stray dogs," Circus Flora said at the time.

Olate Dogs were chosen winners over a human comedian, Tom Cotter. Judge Sharon Osbourne, who is leaving the show after this season, was a big champion of the dogs throughout the season; after their win, she handed out hugs all around.

Olate Dogs won $1 million (awarded as an annuity) and a headlining show in Las Vegas.

Circus raises tent Thursday in Jackson

 

The big top makes a return to Northampton County next week. Walker Brothers Circus will have two shows at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center.
from: rrdailyherald.com
by Jacqueline Hough
September 14, 2012
JACKSON, NC— The big top makes a return to Northampton County next week.

Walker Brothers Circus will have two shows at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center.

“It gives the family fun and excitement,” said Judy Collier, executive director of the Northampton County Chamber of Commerce, which is sponsoring the event.

Advance tickets are $12 for adults age 15 and older, which includes two tickets for children ages 2 to 14. Cost is $15 at the door for adults age 15 and older, which includes two tickets for children.

Collier said it is a good deal for parents.

Concessions featuring hot dogs, snow cones, cotton candy and soft drinks will be for sale.

The Walker Brothers Circus has come to Jackson three times in the past, but Collier said this show will feature new acts. They include an aerialist, acrobatics, magic, comedy and more.

“It is great for the kids,” Collier said. “I hope citizens will take advantage of going to the circus.”

James E Strates Carnival Train

2012

Published on Sep 13, 2012 by Shermanta

After leaving the New York State Fair, NS 048 came southbound with NS 2627 & 6752 to the NS Buffalo Line to Harrisburg, PA, then continued westbound on the NS Lurgan Branch to Danville, VA.

 

Wineka column: Corky Powers is king of the midway


Corky Powers busily helps drivers position rides in the proper location. Powers Great American Midways is setting up for the Cabarrus County Fair at the Cabarrus Arena this week. After the fair is over, Powers will be packing up and heading North to Rowan County for the Rowan County Fair which opens on September 17.
Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.
By Mark Wineka
from:  salisburypost.com
Thursday, September 13, 2012
CONCORD - Corky Powers is the mayor, the man, the boss.
 His walkie-talkie is always crackling at him with familiar voices, wanting him to make a decision or asking him what to do next.
 Powers thrives on this stress of being pulled in every direction. He's a master of logistics and as good a weatherman as any farmer.
 Chugging back and forth across the fairgrounds in his Kubota utility cart, Powers builds his midway one ride, food trailer and game vendor at a time.
 But Les "Corky" Powers would rather talk about family - how his wife, their four children, the kids' spouses, six grandchildren, nieces and nephews are involved in Powers Great American Midways.

 

Corky Powers busily helps drivers position rides in the proper location. Powers Great American Midways is setting up for the Cabarrus County Fair at the Cabarrus Arena this week. After the fair is over, Powers will be packing up and heading North to Rowan County for the Rowan County Fair which opens on September 17.
Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.
In all, 19 family members live this demanding carnival life.
"It's a passion for us," Corky says. "You either love it or you leave it."
This week, Powers Great American Midways is set up at the Cabarrus County Fair. When the fair closes Saturday night, the escape-from-reality midway Powers created will be torn down, loaded and trucked to the Rowan County Fairgrounds.
Starting Sunday, the crews who work for Powers will unload, build and position much of the same equipment again for the Rowan County Fair's opening Monday night.
They'll know where rides go because Corky Powers or his son Eddie will have marked the spots on the ground with lines of orange spray paint.
Corky Powers started in this business 32 years ago with three rides.
Now he has 58 rides, 350 people on the payroll, a fleet of 50 trucks, an expansive year-round shop and multi-million-dollar insurance coverage.

Workers with Powers Great American Midways are busy setting up rides and food vendor trailers for the Cabarrus County Fair at the Cabarrus Arena this week. After the fair is over, Powers will be packing up and heading North to Rowan County for the Rowan County Fair which opens on September 17.

Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.
Powers also is the midway operator for the N.C. State Fair, one of the best state fairs in the country. In each of the past two years, the State Fair has drawn more than a million people during its run in October.
For that event - his biggest - Powers brings in other operators and creates four different midways with a total of 110 rides, not counting the food concessions, games and sideshows, for which Powers essentially acts as landlord.
Powers uses some of the county fairs in North Carolina, such as those in Cabarrus and Rowan counties, as stepping stones toward the State Fair in Raleigh.
"It takes them all," Powers says of putting together a year of events, including this fall season in North Carolina. "It's all about logistics, too,"
Though it may seem small compared to the State Fair in Raleigh or the Great Allentown Fair in Pennsylvania, the Rowan County Fair will still have 30-plus rides, Powers adds.
Overall, Powers' Rochester, N.Y.-based operation goes to carnivals and fairs in seven states from New York to North Carolina.
read more:
http://www.salisburypost.com/News/091312-Corky-Powers-and-Midway