Shrine Circus closes with big smiles

from: shreveporttimes.com

El Karubah Shrine Circus: 9/23/12

Written by

Shakari Briggs

 

Before the doors closed on the El Karubah Shrine Circus Sunday, people filled the CenturyLink Center one more time, ready to be mesmerized and amazed.

Patrons patiently lined up outside the center, waiting to enter the world of flying acrobats, quirky clowns, mystifying magicians, flexible dancers and animals of all kinds.

“Don’t know what to expect, but we’re excited,” said first-timers Shelby Carson and Lee Wright from Bossier City.

El Karubah has hosted the circus 66 years, providing family fun and entertainment. It is billed as the only interactive circus in the world.

foto

Daniel Raffo the tiger trainer performs at the El Karubah Shrine Circus at CenturyLink Center Sunday afternoon. / Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times

World-renowned tiger trainer Daniel Raffo, Caroline Williams and her Liberty Horses and Hernando and Marius and their act Motorcycle Madness were just some of the acts added to this year’s circus. The lineup included acts from 15 different countries, including Argentina and Germany.

“I liked the motorcycles going up the ramp,” said Shreveporters Danny Brangato and Beth Hickman, who said that for them, that was the coolest part.

“I also liked the tigers,” said Hickman, experiencing this circus for the first time. “This is the most fun I’ve ever had … I hope they come back next year.”

The circus began as a fundraising event for the El Karubah Shriners. Proceeds benefit the shrine as well as the Shrine Hospital for Children, which established its first hospital in Shreveport in 1922 and earlier this month marked its 90th anniversary.

“This is our most important fundraiser,” said Fred Gregory, El Karubah’s potentate. “It’s important because it keeps our temple open … and keeps it operating.”

He said without a Shrine there would be no hospital, “so it’s absolutely crucial to have these events. We bring the kids from our hospital here and show them the circus. (There’s) about 6,000 kids in our arena with a smile on their face and that’s what’s makes it important to us to entertain these kids and give them wholesome entertainment. Just about everyone remembers going to a circus in their childhood and it was probably a Shriner’s circus.”

The pre-party hour prior to the show gave children and their parents a chance to meet the performers, ride the horses, ponies, elephants, take a photo with a snake and get creative with face paint.

“It’s vital to have these events,” said CenturyLink’s Melinda Cooper. “We love celebrating our children. Everyone always leaves with a smile, crackerjacks in their hands and cotton candy on their fingers.”

Two huge, exotic snakes set loose in Chesterfield County

by Alix Bryan and Jon Burkett

From: wtvr.com. Richmond, Va

August 23, 2012

THE Lewis and Clark Family Circus

from: clevelandbanner.com

Sept 17, 2012

THE Lewis and Clark Family Circus is at Tri-State Exhibition Center today with camel rides, pony rides, trapeze, highwire, juggling, head balancing, perfomrng goats, hula hoops, clowns, acrobats, magic and more.

Baylee White gets a ride on Lawrence the Camel as trainer Ken Willis leads him.

 BALANCING ACT was performed by Jose Ayala at the circus.

SLITHERS THE SNAKE with trainer Pam McElaney, was one of the many attractions at the Lewis and Clark Family Circus.

SELLING BALLOONS at the Lewis and Clark Family Circus were, from left, Elizabeth Ayala and Brandon Ayala.

Read more: Cleveland Daily Banner - THE Lewis and Clark Family Circus

State Fair of Virginia kicks off Friday    

From: wtvt.com
by Erika Neddenien
September 24, 2012
CAROLINE COUNTY, Va (WTVR) – The State Fair of Virginia is slated to kick off its first year under new ownership this Friday, Sept. 28. This comes less than a year after the original owners filed for bankruptcy, forcing the entire organization to be offered up at auction.
New owner Mark Lovell, of Universal Fairs LLC, says the fair will offer all of the old favorite attractions: rides, pig races, and carnival games–but you can expect to see more of an agrarian bent at the festivities. That’s because the fair has entered into a partnership with the Virginia Farm Bureau.
“This adds an immeasurable degree of confidence and assurance that the Fair will be operated consistent with Virginia agrarian values, and that it will maintain a solid agricultural theme, while Universal Fairs brings years of experience of family entertainment to make the State Fair a great Virginia event,” a release stated when the announcement was made back in July.
The Fair will also feature several concerts. Foghat, Diamond Rio and Casey Abrams are slated to perform, among others. You can check out the full line-up and buy tickets on the fair’s website.
Gates open at the State Fair of Virginia at 2 p.m. on Friday. Admission runs $8 for kids five to 12, seniors and military members during the week, and $12 for adults. Weekend admission is a bit more: $10 for kids, seniors and military, and $15 for adults.

 

 These photos are from the fair's tweeter page
From Yesterday and this morning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rick Creasy's Shooting Gallery

Bloomsburg Fair Dedicated to Volunteers

from: wnep.com

by Renie Workman

September 22, 2012

Circus fun in big top

From: South Wales Evening Post

Saturday, September 22, 2012

WHY? This month the award-winning Russian circus troupe is bringing its most spectacular show yet to Swansea, the Babushkin Sekret. Inspired by The Twelve Chairs, a satirical novel about a treasure hunt in 1920s Russia, the sensational extravaganza involves a mammoth cast of Russia's greatest and most talented circus artistes.

WHAT'S THE BUZZ? Housed inside a big top, the spectacular production consists of a cast of 25 performers, including clowns, trapeze artists, aerial acrobats, jugglers and contortionists. The newly devised show includes the beautiful queen of Russian circus, Yana Alievia on a revolving aerial chandelier. There are also the breathtaking Stalkions, a team of three men and two girls, who perform unbelievable aerial feats on the high wire. And if all that isn't enough, the clowns Alik and Valerik will leave you laughing.

ANY HISTORY? This production was inspired by the 1928 Russian novel The Twelve Chairs by Soviet authors Ilf and Petrov. Set in Soviet Russia in 1927, a former member of Russian nobility is working as a desk clerk, that is until his grandmother reveals on her deathbed that her jewellery had been hidden from the Bolsheviks in one of the 12 chairs from the family's dining room set. Expropriated by the government after the Russian Revolution, the desk clerk tries to track down the family jewellery before the Bolsheviks.

WHAT TO TAKE? Popcorn, candy floss and other snacks are available. Don't forget to bring a camera to take some snaps of the performances. Parking costs £2.50.

LOOK OUT FOR? The Whirlwind Rubsovsm troupe who acrobatically catapult themselves high into the big top at breakneck speed and the juggling Sherbakovs are two other highlights of the show.

WHEN TO GO? The circus will be at the Recreation Ground Car Park on Mumbles Road from Wednesday until Sunday. For sat nav users the postcode is SA2 0AR.

TELL ME MORE Tickets range from as little as £11, but a ringside ticket costs £30. To buy tickets go to www.moscow statecircus.com or phone Ticketmaster on 08448440444.

Visit Richard Thomas's website at www.richardthomas.eu

The Universe of Fair

From: wtnh.com

Saturday, 22 Sep 2012

The Universe of Fair

(WTNH) -- The Durham Fair, which runs next weekend, is one of the region's most beloved fairs.

One local author and long-time volunteer, Leslie Bulion, is someone who knows the fair all too well.

Her children's book, "The Universe of Fair," is a fictional look at the Durham Fair.

Miller Sanford's parents think he is too young to explore the annual town fair alone with his best friend. Hopeful that this year they will reconsider, Miller works extra hard to be nice to his little sister Penny and her friends.

For more information on Bulion and her book, visit http://www.lesliebulion.com

Durham Fair - September 28-30th, 2012:

Take Routes 17 or 68 and follow signs to the fair.

Circus shines at CenturyLink Center #1

From: shreveporttimes.com

Sep 21, 2012

Bossier City, LA

Circus shines at CenturyLink Center #2

From: shreveporttimes.com

Sep 21, 2012

Bossier City, LA

Elephant Bath: George Hanneford, superintendent, handler and presenter cleans up an elephants behind the CenturyLink Center in Bossier city in preparation for the upcoming El Karubah Shrine Circus.

Circus comes to town

The Daily Herald - Roanoke Rapids, NC

Published on Sep 21, 2012 by The Daily Herald - Roanoke Rapids, NCAlmost 1,000 people attended the Walker Brothers Circus on Sept. 20 at the Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center in Jackson. Two 45-minute shows featured aerial, horses and clown performances.

RUSSIAN CIRCUS

Babushkin Sekret

The Moscow State Circus brings its latest & most spectacular show to date to the UK with this sensational extravaganza Babushkin Sekret.
Inspired by the legend of 'The 12 chairs', the new show takes us on an incredible journey in the company of, without a doubt the greatest circus performers on earth.
 

A Mammoth cast of Russia's greatest and most talented circus artistes, many of which have never performed in Britian, transform the most famous circus in the world, combining contemporary & classical circus in way never before witnessed.

Circus defends its use of animals
From: helmelttoday.co.uk
Sunday 23 September 2012
A circus has defended its use of animals after a campaign group urged people not to visit when the big top comes to Hemel Hempstead.
Zippos Circus, which uses four horses, two miniature horses and a flock of budgies as part of some acts, will be in Boxmoor later this month.
Animal Defenders International claims animals with travelling circuses have to endure constant transportation, live in rudimentary, temporary accommodation and endure abuse as part of training.
But Zippos spokesman Chris Barltrop said: “The animals are in purpose built transportation when the circus moves from site to site – for a good part of the year that is once a week – and the animals will probably be in a horse box for a couple of hours.
“They are put into that transportation at the last possible moment and as soon as the circus reaches its site their stable is set up and the animals are brought out.”
Zippos introduced horses to its show almost 20 years ago after consultation with circus goers and talks with welfare groups.
Mr Barltrop said animal training is a slow and careful process. “Anyone who has dealt with any animal from a white mouse upwards knows if you make friends with an animal it will respond to you and that is how it works with circus training,” he said.
Zippos Circus is in Hemel Hempstead from September 27 to October 1.

This week in Michigan history:

Runaway elephant is shot and killed in Lansing

 

Little Rajjee was spooked at a circus, then thundered through a department store, tipped a car and trampled a person.
Lansing State Journal file photo
By Zizti Meyer

From: freep.com
September 23, 2012
A circus elephant broke loose in Lansing on Sept. 26, 1963. Local police shot it dead.
Despite the elephant's presence in Michigan's capital, there was no word on its political affiliation.
Little Rajjee broke away, thundered through a busy Arlan's Department Store and numerous backyards and tipped a car on its side, along the way trampling one person, according to the Lansing State Journal. The 16-year-old elephant, who had gotten a clothesline filled with fresh wash stuck in her halter during the melee, was felled by eight deer-rifle shots in a driveway near Everett High School, as witnesses shouted, "Murderers! Murderers!"
The 3,000-pound Ringling Bros. alumna had been spooked during her King Circus performance at the South Logan Shopping Center. The head trainer, who wasn't with her at the time, hypothesized that the elephant, who never had given him trouble before, probably had wanted sweets from the store and that the police sirens and lights, coupled with yelling from bystanders, upset her.
During her 2-mile rampage through the south Lansing neighborhood, hundreds began following her on foot and by bike and car.
The handler working with Little Rajjee right before she broke away wept over her giant corpse in the street.
The elephant's remains were taken to the Michigan State University veterinary pathology department for study.

Last Day at the Gwinnett Fair: Sunday, Sept. 23

Today is the last day of the Gwinnett County Fair!

 

The sight that greets visitors as they walk through the gates.Credit Raven Nichols
From: norcross.patch.com
By Raven Nichols

Sept 23, 2012
It's your last chance to ride the rides, eat some funnel cake and check out the animals. Today is the last day of the Gwinnett County Fair at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds.
Here's the schedule and hours of operation:
Sunday, Sept. 23
9:00 AM--Sunday School (In the barn)
9:30 AM--Swine Show
10:00AM--Dairy Goat Show
2:00PM 4:00PM & 6:00PM---Nojoes Clown Circus
Ozseeker The Clown
Exhibit Hall - 1:00 PM til 9:00 PM
Carnival - 1:00 PM til 10:00 PM

Beilue: Fair crew calls road home


Roberto Rodriguez / Amarillo Globe-News -
Crabtree Amusements employee James Wright gives Stacy Yglecias a few pointers before playing his game at the Amarillo Tri-State Fair & Rodeo.

from: amarillo.com
By: JON MARK BEILUE
September 20, 2012
James Wright sat on the edge of his booth around 5:30 p.m. on a warm, calm Tuesday. He waited for his work night to begin. His face wore the worn look of fatigue.
“Been a long year,” he said.
Another night in another town in another state. Step right up, bounce this miniature basketball off the backboard and into the goal — just like this — and win a stuffed prize.
“You gotta hook it up just like Kobe Bryant,” he told a prospective customer. “You got give it a finger roll. ... Ewww, almost.”
 

Roberto Rodriguez / Amarillo Globe-News -
Crabtree Amusements employee Mark Hower hands David Wilson a ball before he play a game at the Amarillo Tri-State Fair & Rodeo.
Eight tents away, Mark Hower had the old traditional milk bottles set up, with the guitars and sports jerseys hanging as tempting treats. He stared and waited like he does most every night. You look tired, I said.
“Hey, it’s just part of the job,” he said.
It’s a different way to make a living, no doubt about that. What would you call these fair gypsies? Barkers, vendors, carnies? Wright called himself a “showman.”
You know them when you see them, in their blue knit shirts operating the rides and running the game booths. This week, they’re at the Amarillo Tri-State Fair & Rodeo. Next week and the week after that and the week after that, who knows?
“You know, I’m not sure where we’ll be,” Hower said. “We split up and I know we get together the first week of October in Waco. That’s a big one.”
read more:
http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2012-09-20/beilue-fair-crew-calls-road-home

OK STATE FAIR

An evening at the fair.
from: newsok.com
Posted by bryan terry
on September 22, 2012
The 2012 Oklahoma State Fair is coming to an end this Sunday. I’ve always enjoyed taking photos at the fair, but due to my schedule I don’t get to cover it often. Earlier this week I decided to drop by and spend the evening there after a couple earlier assignments. Here are a few photos.
A ride spins patrons around after sunset at the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, September 19, 2012. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

A crowd lines up for tickets after sunset at the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, September 19, 2012. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

A ride spins patrons around after sunset at the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, September 19, 2012. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Visitors to the Oklahoma State Fair enjoy a ride after sunset in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, September 19, 2012. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Patrons are lowered down after a ride at the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, September 19, 2012. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Children race down a slide after sunset in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, September 19, 2012. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Patrons to the Oklahoma State Fair go for a spin on a ride after sunset at the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, September 19, 2012. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

 

A ride spins patrons around after sunset at the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, September 19, 2012. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman