THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO MY TWIN BROTHER, BILL DYKES (1943-1995). WE WERE NOT ONLY BROTHERS BUT PARTNERS IN BUSINESS AND BEST FRIENDS! AND TO ALL THE "BUTCHERS" THAT HAVE PASSED ON TO THE BIG LOT IN THE SKY!


CIRCUS NOW OPEN!

2014 Convention

SAVE THE DATES

SAVE THE DATES



Tuesday, July 6, 2010


ALLAN C. HILL'S GREAT AMERICAN CIRCUS 1985 #1

These pictures were taken during the 1985 season.
Don Prevost was show manager and his wife managed the office.
Dick & Bill Dykes started the season as concession managers.
But we left half-way through the season.

Show Office

Here's the concession wagon.
We had an excellant crew that season.
Bobby Wyman in the wagon, along with Bill.
Butchers were "Juggie" Prevost, Fast Eddie, Low Pockets,
Jose Diaz and others that came and went.
Dick Dykes, novelties with Harry Fee assistant.


Show had a strong midway with mechanical rides,
pony rides and elephant rides along with a snake pit show

Generators and Electrical

Seats

ALLAN C. HILL'S GREAT AMERICAN CIRCUS 1985 #2

Cook House

Tim Frisco had the bulls at the beginning of the season.

"Bath Time"
The Back Yard

Doris' Trained Goats

Dick Kholriser's entourage



ALLAN C. HILL'S GREAT AMERICAN CIRCUS 1985 #3

Eddie Steeples Bears


Doris Schalpacker (Excuse my spelling) & Dick Kohlriser
waiting to go on


and now comming out!


Look Out!
Here comes Eddie with the chimps!



Tiny Tim doing an interview.

"ALL OUT AND OVER!"


Monday, July 5, 2010

LAUREL, DELAWARE'S 4TH OF JULY FESIVAL #1 (FROM HOWARD DICKERSON)

These pictures were taken Saturday Night, July 3, 2010.
The midway here is that of Sherwood Amusements, an
Essex, MD based carnival.

By the way you can see Parade and Festival pictures
not shown here on Howard's web site...
a link is provided on my side bar blog lists.




Most of the games and food joints are owned by tye carnival.
Of course the Festival also consisted of local stands and exhibits.
Firworks were presented and a BIG Parade.
A real Old Fashioned 4th!








Wayne Chambers' Balloon Dart.
Wayne is an old friend, we've been on many shows together
over the years.

LAUREL DELAWARE'S 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL #2 (FROM HOWARD DICKERSON)
















LAUREL. DELAWARE'S 4th OF JULY FESTIVAL #3 (FROM HOWARD DICKERSON)















PHILADELPHIA'S 4th OF JULY CELEBRATION







HAPPY BIRTHDAY P T BARNUM!


12 Pt Barnum Quotes to Commemorate the Birthday of a Great Showman
PT Barnum was one of the greatest showmen of all time, so it's only fitting that we commemorate his birthday with a few great PT Barnum quotes. There is a lot we can learn from this legend. From entertainment to financial success, he always accomplished what he set out to do. Let us commemorate the day of his birth with these twelve insightful (if not a bit greedy at times) quotes.
1. "There's a sucker born every minute."
2. "Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant."
3. "Those who really desire to attain an independence, have only set their minds upon it, and adopt the proper means, as they do in regard to any other object which they wish to accomplish, and the thing is easily done."
4. "Without promotion something terrible happens, nothing!"
5. "Many persons are always kept poor, because they are too visionary. Every project looks to them like certain successes, and therefore they keep changing from one business to another, always in hot water, always 'under the harrow'."
6. "Engage in one kind of business only, and stick to it faithfully until you succeed, or until your experience shows that you should abandon it."
7. "Work at it, if necessary, early and late, in season and out of season, not leaving a stone unturned, and never deferring for a single hour that which can be done just as well now...Ambition, energy, industry, perseverance, are indispensable requisites for success in business."
8. "The truth is, the more kind and liberal a man is, the more generous will be the patronage bestowed upon him."
9. "Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business. Large stores, gilt signs, flaming advertisements, will all prove unavailing if you or your employees treat your patrons abruptly."
10. "Unless a man enters upon the vocation intended for him by nature, and best suited to his peculiar genius, he cannot succeed."11. "If he owned the Museum, and you had paid him for the privilege of visiting it, and he had then insulted you, there might be some reason in your resenting it, but in this instance he is the man who pays, while we receive, and you must, therefore, put up with his bad manners."
12. "Men who drive sharp bargains with their customers, acting as if they never expected to see them again, will not be mistaken. They will never see them again as customers. People don't like to pay and get kicked also."
You know, today's businesses could learn a lot from Mr. PT Barnum himself. It seems as though most of them have forgotten that the paying customer can make or break them. PT Barnum knew this. His quotes are evidence of it. Let these twelve PT Barnum quotes not only commemorate the man's birthday, but serve as a reminder to today's businesses that customer service really does matter.
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/12-pt-barnum-quotes-to-commemorate-the-birthday-of-a-great-showman-470601.html#ixzz0snfRobP6 Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

"DANBURY FAIR"


Strates fair back at Danbury mall for 10th year

Published: Friday, July 2, 2010

The James E. Strates Show has been a family tradition since 1923.

The company has set up the Danbury City Fair at the Danbury Fair mall for 10 years.
The fair is sponsored by the mall and the city of Danbury. The mall property seems appropriate considering it was the home of the long-running Great Danbury Fair, "one of the most successful fairs in New England and the country," said Strates' general manager, George Weston.
This year's fair continues through July 16. Its month-long run here is the longest on Strates' route.
The fair supports the local Police Explorers program with a $5,000 donation and gives members hands-on experience on the weekends. Hundreds of kids have been through the program during the decade the fair has been at the mall.
The fair also supports the Police Athletic League and Housing Authority families, whose children get free tickets.
"It's a win-win for everyone," said Weston. "It's a blessing for the show to sit here for 30 days,"
Regular hours at the Danbury City Fair are weekdays from 5 to 11 p.m. and weekends from noon to 11 p.m. This holiday weekend, however, the fair will be open from noon to 11 p.m. Monday.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

JULY 4th FUN IN PHILLY




JULY 4th AT THE JERSEY SHORE




JERSEY SHORE 4TH




Kiddie Ride from Michael Jackson's Never, NeverLand ranch.

Alameda County Fair Midway

The Alameda, CA County Fair —
dubbed the “Fastest Growing Fair in America” —
is happening June 23 through July 11, 2010 (closed Tuesdays).













TO VISIT OUR PAST POSTS--SCROLL DOWN THE SIDE BAR. ALSO LINKS ARE FURTHER DOWN