In Memory of Gunther Gebel WilliamsBorn Septemner 12, 1934
Saturday, September 13, 2008
CARSON AND BARNES
Well this is the big weekend for Carson and Barnes Circus.
They are playing San Francisco and it's going to be interesting
to see how they make out there!
They are playing San Francisco and it's going to be interesting
to see how they make out there!
ROBERTS BROS CIRCUS BOOKING BROCHURE
These brochures were primarily used in booking new dates, especially by the smaller shows.
ROYAL RANCH BOOKING BROCHURE #1
Royal Ranch Wild West Circus was out in the early to mid-'70's.Owned by Ozzie and Lila Schleentz from Colts Neck, NJ and then
Valdosta, GA.
Friday, September 12, 2008
S & S AMUSMENTS (CONT'D)
Swika's office with daughter Sandy holding Adam.Swika's merry-go-round.
What a beautiful peice!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
BEATTY-COLE PICS (Bobby Cox)
028.--Roger Boyd Jr.- putting up the sideshow...1967026.--Stake Driver... this was my alarm clock..the minute they started driving stakes I'd be out of the bunk.'67025.- Bill Hill ..popcorn joint..1967011.-- Grease Joint... Paul Fisher ran it... 1963E-MAIL FROM DPOWHITETIGER-
DICK: Like your BLOG and have recommended to others.........If possible can you add to your links the following two groups. OABA www.oaba.org Circus Fans Association circusfans.org ......These are the main groups that finically are doing something to keep animals in the industry. OABA Circus Funds and Circus Fans Association raise thousands of dollars each year. I will be sending you at various times PRESS RELEASE and news items from these two groups.....I'm very active in both and do the pushing to give...OABA spent at the past few months $3,000.00 in New York alone on the Elephant contact problem....The Carnival Members associated with OABA have given thousands of dollars and support THE OABA Circus Unit...Currently Wayne McCary, BIG-E President will raise thousands at the BIG-E for the OABA Circus Unit....These members of these groups do put out money to support the present animal issues....We need all the help that we can get...Our good friend BILLY BURR, OABA Trustee - 1990 continue to support the OABA Circus Animal Fund.David P. Orr, OABA Circus Fan Representtive CFA District Director NY, NJ, PA CFA Circus Relations / Animal Committee SPANGLES Director Volunteer Marketing Group
CONSIDER IT DONE! LINK POSTED. DICK
CONSIDER IT DONE! LINK POSTED. DICK
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
YORK FAIR from the York Dispatch
York Fair
Grizzlies delight with free show at fairBROCK PARKER -- The York DispatchArticle Last Updated: 09/08/2008 09:43:37 AM EDT
Monica Welde encourages Lucy, a grizzly bear yearling, as she tries to put a basketball into a...«1»Monica Welde didn't seem too concerned when Bruno the brown bear swung a ladder at her husband at the York Fair Sunday night.It was all part of the act.
Monica Welde's husband, Johnny Welde, is a third-generation bear trainer, and the couple has brought their grizzly and brown bear show, "Grizzly Falls," to the York Fair for the first time this year.
So when Bruno chased Johnny Welde with a ladder inside a caged ring, and Monica Welde encouraged the bear to show his teeth, it was all part of a well-rehearsed and well-secured program for fairgoers.
"He can look so ferocious, but actually he can be a real sweetheart," Monica Welde said of the bear.
Part of the reason Monica Welde, 48, and Johnny Welde, 52, are so confident that their bears are safe is because they have raised them since they were cubs, she said.
The couple has 10 bears, and many of the animals they work with are the descendants of the bears that belonged to Johnny Welde's grandfather.
The captive bears often live into their 30s, Monica Welde said, and she said over the years they have never had a safety problem with a bear at their show.
"Bears get a bad rap," said Monica Welde. "But you have to remember these are captive born. In the wild they have to be aggressive to survive. Our bears aren't looking to eat people. They are full."
What they eat: Instead of people, Monica Welde said the bears eat fruits and vegetables, hundreds of pounds of dog food, special-order bear food,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------fish and sardines.Hunger satisfied, the Weldes' bears shift their attention to entertaining. They slam basketballs, strike yoga poses, clap their hands or balance all of their girth while standing on a ball during the show.
Monica Welde said she thinks people enjoy the rapport between the bears and the trainers, and she said the bears like to put on a show.
"We've got a couple of hams," Welde said. "They all have their individual personalities."
The bears didn't disappoint Sunday night, when they filled the bleacher seats for their 8 p.m. show next to the Toyota Arena at the fair.
Katie McFarland of Mount Wolf and Amy Keller of West York said the trainers seemed to have the bears well under control, and they enjoyed the show.
Keller did admit she was "glad there was a fence" around the bears. But the bears didn't seem to bother Katie McFarland's 10-year-old daughter, Eden McFarland.
"They were cute," Eden said.
The "Grizzly Falls" bear show will have three performances a day throughout the fair. Show times on Saturdays and Sundays are 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Weekdays, show times are 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The bears are big, but the prices are not. The show is free.
Grizzlies delight with free show at fairBROCK PARKER -- The York DispatchArticle Last Updated: 09/08/2008 09:43:37 AM EDT
Monica Welde encourages Lucy, a grizzly bear yearling, as she tries to put a basketball into a...«1»Monica Welde didn't seem too concerned when Bruno the brown bear swung a ladder at her husband at the York Fair Sunday night.It was all part of the act.
Monica Welde's husband, Johnny Welde, is a third-generation bear trainer, and the couple has brought their grizzly and brown bear show, "Grizzly Falls," to the York Fair for the first time this year.
So when Bruno chased Johnny Welde with a ladder inside a caged ring, and Monica Welde encouraged the bear to show his teeth, it was all part of a well-rehearsed and well-secured program for fairgoers.
"He can look so ferocious, but actually he can be a real sweetheart," Monica Welde said of the bear.
Part of the reason Monica Welde, 48, and Johnny Welde, 52, are so confident that their bears are safe is because they have raised them since they were cubs, she said.
The couple has 10 bears, and many of the animals they work with are the descendants of the bears that belonged to Johnny Welde's grandfather.
The captive bears often live into their 30s, Monica Welde said, and she said over the years they have never had a safety problem with a bear at their show.
"Bears get a bad rap," said Monica Welde. "But you have to remember these are captive born. In the wild they have to be aggressive to survive. Our bears aren't looking to eat people. They are full."
What they eat: Instead of people, Monica Welde said the bears eat fruits and vegetables, hundreds of pounds of dog food, special-order bear food,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------fish and sardines.Hunger satisfied, the Weldes' bears shift their attention to entertaining. They slam basketballs, strike yoga poses, clap their hands or balance all of their girth while standing on a ball during the show.
Monica Welde said she thinks people enjoy the rapport between the bears and the trainers, and she said the bears like to put on a show.
"We've got a couple of hams," Welde said. "They all have their individual personalities."
The bears didn't disappoint Sunday night, when they filled the bleacher seats for their 8 p.m. show next to the Toyota Arena at the fair.
Katie McFarland of Mount Wolf and Amy Keller of West York said the trainers seemed to have the bears well under control, and they enjoyed the show.
Keller did admit she was "glad there was a fence" around the bears. But the bears didn't seem to bother Katie McFarland's 10-year-old daughter, Eden McFarland.
"They were cute," Eden said.
The "Grizzly Falls" bear show will have three performances a day throughout the fair. Show times on Saturdays and Sundays are 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Weekdays, show times are 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The bears are big, but the prices are not. The show is free.
S & S AMUSEMENTS-1980's
Bill and I spent quite a few seasons on this show.It was a family owned show out of Peckville, PA, just north of Scranton.
We used to open the season with a circus, when possible, and then pick up Swika's
S & S Amusement for the fairs and fireman's carnivals.
The Show, was started by Stephen Swika, Sr. and his son Stephen,Jr.
The show never left Pa. It played strickly in Eatsern PA.
This set of posts will be continued later.
S & S AMUSEMENTS-1980's
At the time this was Steve's pride and joy.
A Zamperla Dumbo Ride!
Steve is quite a circus fan.
These two rides were built by the Mangels Ride Co. of Coney Island.You might say for many years these rides were a staple of any kiddleland.
Fire Engines and Boat Ride.
And there are many of them still operating on shows across America!
S & S AMUSEMENTS-1980's
Sandy Swika's Ice Cream Stand
Fellow Gibsonite Frank Carpenter and his son Frankie, Jr.Frank and his Wife always had first class games.
S & S AMUSEMENTS-1980's
The Funhouse in top picture was completely built by Steve Swika, Jr.I beleive back in the 70's.
What's amazing is it played the same route, year after year, and always turned a lot of folks.
The Dark Ride is a Pretzel Dark Ride that the Swika's purchased.
It wasn't exactly a showpiece when the acquired it.
But after Steve finished working on it it was a showpiece.
A Pretzel Dark Ride works completely on gravity to propel the cars thru the ride.
Monday, September 8, 2008
OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR
These pictures are from last year's fair.
What would a Oklahoma State Fair be without trick riders?
Or Real North American Indians.
These pictures were captured off of The Official State Fair Web site.The Midway is provided by Wade Shows. The same show that plays the Delaware State Fair in Harrington and The Michigan State Fair in Detroit.
OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR
The Oklahoma State Fair opens this Thursday and runs thru the 21st.It's probably right up there in the top 10 fairs in the country.
I couldn't resist putting the bottom picture in. Part of the flash from a novelty stand!
WELDE'S BEARS AT THE YORK FAIR
Here's John and Monica Welde presenting their Bear Act at the York Fair
I've know Johnny since he was a kid!The family was with us on Little Richard's Carnival for a few years.
They did the bear act as a free attraction and also had a game.
NICE PEOPLE!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
MCNEAL BROS AT DETROIT
I must apologize for the quality of these pictures.I saw them and couldn't resist.
They were taken at The Michigan Stae Fair this year
by a young man on the carnival warehouse website.
I just can't get over the flash of these joints!
