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

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SAVE THE DATES



Saturday, October 11, 2008

APPLE SCRAPPLE FESTIVAL

Scrapple Sculpture Contest!
Lot of Scrapple Sandwiches!
All day today in Bridgeville, DE.


CLYDE BEATTY - COLE BROS 1988

THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN IN LEVITTOWN, PA.

CLYDE BEATTY - COLE BROS 1988

Bill and I chatting with Shelia Frazier Sheffield


CLYDE BEATTY - COLE BROS 1988


"FLAG'S UP!"
COOKHOUSE

CLYDE BEATTY-COLE BROS--1988




Friday, October 10, 2008

PHILLIES TAKE 2nd GAME!

GO PHILLIES!

HAGENBECK-WALLACE CIRCUS


I got these out of the book that I describe below.
Don't forget if you click on these they will enlarge so that you can read the captions on them.




Here's something else I came upon last night.This publication was copyrighted in 1983 by Elli Schroder and Art "Doc" Miller in 1983.The print quality is not the greatest but I''ll try t0 post some of it's contents the next few days.Bill and I met Doc Miller when we were kids and had dinner with him one day in Salisbury.He could really tell some tales. He told Bill that Bill knew more about the old shows than he, Doc, had forgotten!





WORLD BROS CIRCUS--1937 #1

I really don't have much info on this show. I found these pictures buried in an album of Bill's last night. Would appreciate any comments on these to fill us in on this show.

WORLD BROS CIRCUS--1937 #2


WORLD BROS CIRCUS--1937 #3


Thursday, October 9, 2008

APPLE- SCRAPPLE FESTIVAL-Bridgeville, DE



Just thought I'd show you what kind of crowds the Apple-Scrapple Draws.
And later this month they have the Punkin' Chunkin' festival!
And does it draw and also gets national attention.

APPLE-SCRAPPLE FESTIVAL

THIS WEEKEND IN BRIDGEVILLE, DE.
OPENS--FRIDAY- 4 PM
SATURDAY--ALL DAY
SHERWOOD AMUSEMENTS ON THE MIDWAY

Click on Post Title to go to Festival Website


HUNT'S CIRCUS #1

These are the last of the photos from the book "Mr. Circus", the story of Charles T. Hunt, Sr. by John Cloutman, circa 1954



HUNT'S CIRCUS #2



Click on each one to enlarge.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

WIS TV REPORT-SC STATE FAIR

South Carolina State Fair-WIS TV

South Carolina State Fair (The State newspaper 10/7)

At the S.C. State Fair: If you fry it, they will buy itGiant turkey legs, fried dough, cotton candy and polish sausage will play heavily on the minds and tongues of visitors to the South Carolina State Fair. It's an event that has long ignited the taste buds of fair patrons, and as the 139th annual fair opens today in Columbia.

D. B. WHARTON CIRCUS POSTER

Dave Wharton's neice, Beth Charles, happened to stumble across the blog the other day.
She has this poster in her office and thought I'd like to see it.
It was nice hearing from her and she's trying to find some pictures of the show for me to post.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS-1993

In 1993 Bill and I stayed up north, in Salisbury, to help Mr & Mrs Taylor with a spot in the newly opened Farmers Market in Fruitland, Md. We had three or four kid rides and a popcorn joint right inside the Market.
We opened just before Thanksgiving and were supposed to stay thru the Holidays.
It turned out not to be a wise decision!
So We closed out there about a week before Christmas and headed south to Richmond to spend the Holidays with our Mom.
Don't forget if you click on the pictures it will enlarge them so that you can read any copy.

SARASOTA 1994

This picture was taken at the 1994 Sarasota Circus Parade.
Starting from the Left Circus Fan and Carnival owner Larry Snyder, Terry Gross carnical owner from Bloomsburg, Bill Dykes, surprise visitor from Syracuse Don Kowles, a great friend who used to visit the Cole All-Star Circus and Dick Dykes.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Monday, October 6, 2008

Dick & Bill's Birthday

In the top picture that's Me and our friend Wayne Chambers, whose birthday was also in May.
And, I beleive the owner's of the campground in Delmar, Md.
Of course that's Bill on the left and Me on the right.
We were playing the Delmar Shopping center, just a few blocks away.

TAYLOR'S AMUSEMENTS--(Easton, Md)


DYKES BROS

The above pic was taken on a very hot day in Preston, Md.
That's Donna, our Goldfish game manager helping with getting the stock ready for that evenings business at the Preston Fireman's Carnival.
Also the little girl that's helping is Cliff Taylor's daughter Elizabeth.

This picture had to have been at the Delmarva Chicken Festival about 1989 0r 90.

How I can tell is the Goldfish Game doesn't have it's nice sign yet and this was the first year we were with Taylor's Amusments. The Delmarva Chicken Festival was helf in a different town each year. This one happens to be in our Home town at the old mall parking lot. The Wicomico County Fair that's in the pictures below was held right across the street in the Civic Center parking lot a few years later.


WICOMICO COUNTY FAIR-1992



While We had our games we played the Local Fair in our Hometown, Salisbury with Taylor's Amusements.
These shots were in 1992.
That's me in the top one, Goldfish Games in the middle and in the bottom Bill's Winner Every Time Inflate Game and the Goldfish on the right.
I hate to say this but the fair was a "Blank" the few times we played it.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

PHILLIES BEAT BREWERS!

CIRCUS TICKETS #1

These are what were called UPC tickets, usually sold by telephone promoters.
Of course these are PRESS passes.
This type ticket was given to employees
They had a nickname for them which I can't remember (Senior Moment) right now.
But maybe David Orr could help me out on this.

CIRCUS TICKETS #2



SUNDAY MORNING MIRTH

W C Fields "The Bank Dick# 1940



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