Thousands attend opening weekend of state fair

The Ferris wheel lights up the night sky Saturday evening at the STate Fair of Louisiana. / Henrietta Wildsmith/ The Times

Written byLoresha Wilson

from: shreveporttimes.com

Oct. 31, 2011

Trinity Shoats climbed onto the Power at the Louisiana State Fair on Sunday to be strapped in the harness before zooming 150 feet into the air.
Despite a yell as she headed downward, she down played the scare factor."It was all right," said Shoats, of Minden. "It's a little high — and then you have to come down. That's the bad part."

Shoats was among thousands who attended Louisiana State Fair during its opening weekend.Rain and cool temperatures during the first few days put a damper on attendance. However, sunny skies Saturday and Sunday drew big crowds.

General Manager Chris Giordano said with 3,000 plus fairgoers on Saturday alone, the carnival might be on par with its usual first-two-day numbers.Official crowd estimates will not be released until after an audit, he said."Last year we had perfect weather for the opening, so it's definitely slightly down," Giordano said."We're expecting over 400,000 people during the run of the fair and I'm very optimistic going into the second week."We have plenty of time to make up the grounds for the rain and cool temperatures.

"The 105th annual State Fair of Louisiana opened on Thursday and continues through Nov. 13.

The fairgrounds is lined with more than 200 vendors and more than 60 carnival rides. New this year is the Giant Ferris Wheel. Other rides include the Freak Out and the Sea Dragon.

Free entertainment remains a strong part of the fair, with a large number of competitors in the livestock arena."A lot of people come into the fair and are interested in the carnival, but there are a lot of things you don't have to pay for," Giordano said. "We have the Hollywood Racing Pigs, the Rockit Robot, the Bubble Show and Kids Town America.

People are really enjoying it.

"Some visitors just come for the food."We come out every year to eat," said Shreveporter Shirley Harris. "You can eat a corn dog at home but it just doesn't taste like the ones you get at the fair."The food menu at the fair also includes deep fried Kool-Aid, Krispy Krème Donut Burgers, fried watermelon and Rocky Mountain oysters.

Liyan' s Foot-juggling.



Uploaded by gxlilie on Oct 30, 2011
Liyan is the chinese good female magician, but good acrobat as well.

Russian circus performer sets new Guinness record
Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Moscow: A Russian animal trainer has set a new Guinessrecord, standing on two horses running side by side, whilehis two women assistants stood one on top of another on hisshoulders.
Edgard Zapashny set the record Monday. He and his assistants formed an acrobatic 4.5-metre-tall human column.
Zapashny created the risky acrobatic act with his brother Askold especially for the Guinness Records. The two have been polishing the act for almost two years.
This is the second Guinness record set by the Zapasnhy brothers. In 2006, Askold Zapashny rode on the back of a lion as the big cat jumped from a two-metre-high wheel to another over a distance of almost three metres.

THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN

From The Liberal Southwest Daily Times

Monday, 31 October 2011

Kids enjoy pony rides prior to Saturday’s circus at the National Guard Armory.

A fire eater gets a lot of distance on this particular attempt Saturday afternoon at a big top circus at the National Guard Armory. The circus is scheduled to be in Guymon, Okla., Wednesday. The performer also juggled many torches as part of his act.

L&T photos/Robert Pierce

FRANZEN BROS CIRCUS

1992

FROM JIM ELLIOTT

PART 3

PONIES OF AMERICA

(ONE OF THE FINEST TRAINED LIBERTY ACTS I HAVE EVER WITNESSED)

FRANZEN BROS CIRCUS

1992

FROM JIM ELLIOTT

PART 4

Sideshow king recalls heyday

JAY CONNER/staff

Gibsonton's Ward Hall talks about life as a sideshow promoter with film producer Leslie Zemeckis.

Paul Catala

By TBO.COM

Published: October 31, 2011

GIBSONTON -- Although the curtain has mostly closed on the era of circus midway "freak shows," the memories of some who lived the life are being preserved through books and film documentaries.
And Los Angeles-based film producer-director Leslie Zemeckis is spending two months interviewing and filming those who lived during the midway show heydays for her second feature documentary, "The Hilton Sisters: A Story of Two Sisters, Together Always."
The film, about sideshow and Vaudeville stars Violet and Daisy Hilton, who were conjoined twins, is being shot around the United States at locations known for carnival and midway activity.
Zemeckis and videographer Jon Dunham spent about two hours Wednesday interviewing renowned sideshow promoter Gibsonton's Ward Hall for the film.
Zemeckis, wife of "Forrest Gump" director Robert Zemeckis, sat with Ward, 81, reeling in recollections of his years promoting sideshows and acts.

Hall will be featured in a film about the Hilton Sisters.
The Hilton Sisters, born in 1908, were trained musicians, singers and dancers. They were "discovered" by magician Harry Houdini.
As the camera rolled, Zemeckis asked Hall about his recollections of his career as "The King of the Sideshow." He said although the days of the "Turtle Man," "Monkey Girl" and "Human Blockhead" may be gone, the interest in those who are different will remain.
"But there's something about seeing the people in person. The main thing is I believe there are other freaks out there who would love to be in the sideshow; they made a good living," he said. "It's important to document these historic facts."
"The Hilton Sisters" should be completed by fall 2012.

DPRK, Russian, Chinese performers top circus prize as festival ends in north China

Actresses from north China's Hebei provincial acrobatic troupe perform during the closing ceremony of the 13th Wuqiao International Acrobatics Art Festival of China in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, Oct. 30, 2011. More than 200 acrobats from 17 countries and regions attended the festival, which ended here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)
English.news.cn
2011-10-31
SHIJIAZHUANG, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Performers from the Democratic People' s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Russia and China won the top prize on circus as an international circus festival concluded Sunday in north China's Hebei Province.
The nine-day 13th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival (CWICF), was held in the provincial capital Shijiazhuang.
Flying Trapeze from the DPRK, Springboard from Russia, and Acrobatics on Monocycles from China were given the top prize "Golden Lion Award," with 15 others winning the "Silver Lion Award" and "Bronze Lion Award", said Bian Faji, president of the China Acrobatics Association and also chairman of the judging committee.
More than 30 performances from 17 countries and regions were staged during the festival, originated in 1987 and held every other year, according to Bian.
The CWICF, named after the birthplace of Chinese acrobatics -- Wuqiao County of Hebei, is considered one of the three most famed acrobatic competitions in the world along with the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival in Monaco and the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain (the World Festival of the Circus of Tomorrow) in France.
READ MORE AT: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-10/31/c_131220671.htm

Circus Performer Injured During Show



Updated: 10/27
Rochester, N.Y. --It's the Greatest Show on Earth, but even that show has its risks.
Fans saw that first hand when a performer fell during a stunt Wednesday night.

Representatives for the Ringling Brothers said Mirela Sucher was treated by medics and taken to the hospital.

She has since been released.

read more:
http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/circus-performer-ringling-brothers-injured/tzQ3le4Q_EepKQgK5vffGw.cspx?autoplay=1\

SUNDAY FUNNIES

FRANZEN BROS CIRCUS

1992

FROM JIM ELLIOTT

PART 1

WAYNE FRANZEN & JIM ELLIOTT

Maybe we'll be lucky and Jim will identify some of these!

FRANZEN BROS CIRCUS

1992

FROM JIM ELLIOTT

PART 2

MORE TO COME TOMORROW!

'The Night Circus' a magical debut

Posted by Sharon Galligar Chance, Las Vegas Review-Journal guest reviewer Friday, Oct. 28, 2011
"The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices on downtown posts and billboards, no mentions or advertisements in local newspapers. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not."
And so begins the fanciful story of “The Night Circus,” a fantastical extravaganza, one that opens only at night, and one that features all of its acts, performers and backgrounds in shades of black and white. But even in black and white, there are nuances of color reflected in the words of author Erin Morgenstern as she creates a beautiful story that will light the imaginations of readers.
Morgenstern tells the story of two gifted young illusionists, Celia and Marco, who are pitted against each other in a lengthy competition with vague rules. Le Cirque de Reves (the Circus of Dreams) is the battlefield, and it soon attracts a faithful following of “reveurs” (dreamers) who follow it from town to town, continent to continent.
While Celia and Marco are the focus of the story, a secondary plotline follows Bailey, a country boy who becomes linked to the circus through a childhood encounter. His memories of the circus remain with him as he grows, and his fondness for the show and its performers eventually leads to him having a key role in future events.
"The Night Circus" is full of weird and wonderful characters, including Celia’s villainous father, Hector; his rival, Alexander, the man in the gray suit; and Poppet and Widget, the amazing twins who were born on the opening night of the circus.
These are not characters you expect to identify or sympathize with, this is a show after all and they are there to entertain you just like the various tents that house visually stunning scenes: the Ice Garden, the Cloud Maze, the Labyrinth, the Wishing Tree. But you soon find yourself engrossed in the lives of these wondrous people, longing to visit the magical circus to which they are all bound.
I was totally enthralled with this much anticipated debut novel. Morgenstern proves herself to be a talented storyteller, weaving together elements of romance, mystery and fantasy while creating a whole cast of engaging characters. "The Night Circus" is a brilliant fairy tale for readers who still crave a little magic and whimsy.

Halloween Light Show 2011 - This Is Halloween
KJ92508

Uploaded by KJ92508 on Oct 22, 2011

This one is for you all that sent me lots of messages stating you wanted to see the NBC song from the movie. Oh, dont mind my girl running out of the house...I didnt notice until after I was done filming.

Sheriff PIO: Be Aware at the Fair

But fair official says fair has more law enforcement per square foot than any Charleston-area neighborhood.

By Lindsay Street
from summerville.patch.com
October 28, 2011
Summeville, SC-- While Dorchester County Sheriff PIO Maj. John Garrison warned Coastal Carolina Fair patrons to maintain vigilance, fair spokesman Joe Bolchoz said safety at the fair is higher than most neighborhoods — whether that's from tripping hazards or from hooligans.
In a short statement on keeping safe at the fair, Garrison wrote:
"People need to be aware of their surroundings and take basic safety precautions. When you park, do not leave valuables where they can be seen and lock your vehicle. Please maintain control of small children. There are so many ways for small children to get injured or lost so parents need to realize that it is their responsibility to be the parent and control where their children go and how they behave. Do not drink and drive and be respectful of others coming and going to the fair. Have fun but be responsible."
The fair hires off-duty law enforcement officers to work during the 10-day event, according to Bolchoz.
"Is the fair safe? The answer to that is yes, and I say that without reservation," Bolchoz said, adding that the fair volunteers work year-round to improve safety at the fair.
read more:http://summerville.patch.com/articles/sheriff-pio-be-aware-at-the-fair

NEW ZEALAND

from: Denzil McLaren

Circus fire raises concerns about safety of animals

from: www.timesofindia.com

Vijay SinghVijay Singh, TNN Oct 30, 2011,

MUMBAI: The fire that broke out at the New Golden Circus in Chunabhatti on Friday night due to a stray firecracker from a neighbouring slum, has brought into focus the issue of safety and well-being of performing animals.
Animal activists who had rushed to the spot near Priyadarshini Park told TOI that it was fortunate that none of the four horses and five performing dogs were injured in the fire. However, they alleged that the animals were "poorly maintained" at the circus.
Chembur-based veterinarian, Dr Deepa Katyal, who checked on the animals at the spot, said, "The horses looked weak and terrified and the five performing dogs were kept in a small enclosure. In fact, one of the female dogs is pregnant." She added that the activists gave water to the horses to quench their thirst and calm them down after the fire.
Animal welfare officer of Plant and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS), Sunish Subramanian, said: "It was the first performing night of the circus when the fire engulfed the canopy of the tent. Though no one was injured, but more care should be taken by the circus management and animal welfare authorities."
The secretary of Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA), Lt Colonel J C Khanna, said: "I have asked my inspectors to check if one of the circus dogs is pregnant and if there is any lapse in the upkeep of animals. So far, we have gathered that the circus organizers had permission from Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to run the show."
Khanna said there were no wild animals like elephants at the circus as the management did not have permission from wildlife authority. "The canopy was not fire-proof, which led to the spread of fire. My officials will visit this circus as well as Rambo Circus in Bandra for inspections and preventive checks daily."
Activist Bhavin Gathani of the Goregaon-based NGO, Karuna Parivar said, "Circuses that employ animals should not be allowed in the city, due to such fire hazards in congested environment . In 2005, several seals of Russian Circus died in a fire in Andheri."