THE BALLOON MAN: 2008-10-19

Saturday, October 25, 2008

BILL'S SCRAPBOOK #1

Here's some odds and ends from the last scrapbook that Bill kept.

Again, don't forget if you click on the post it will enlarge it so that you may read what's in the post!

BILL'S SCRAPBOOK #5

This must have been 1994 since all the items in this section of the scrapbbok are dated 1994.

Interesting Note Big Apple just opened there this week.

Friday, October 24, 2008

FROM ABC NEWS-PAUL BINDER NAMED PERSON OF THE WEEK!

IN MEMORY OF ROBERT (BOBBY) JON WAINMAN

Bobby passed away Sunday in Sarasota.

Bobby worked for Bill and I in 1985 when we managed the concessions on Great American Circus. He was a great person and we always considered him a great friend.

Condolences to his family.

There's More to Come! GO PHILLIES!

PHOTOS FROM BOB COX

Mike McNeil's Ice Cream at Knoxville

Gary McNeil at the Indy 500

One of the McNeil's Souveneir Stand at the Brickyard 400

One of the McNeil Brothers checking out the "Bad Humor" Ice Cream truck in Detroit.

ALLAN HILL'S "CIRCUS USA" 1985 #1

Fred Hoffman Pictures

Circus USA was a new show that Allan Hill framed for the 1985 season.

For the most part it was flashed real well.

While Tiny Tim was the featured attraction on the Great American that year

Circus USA featured Burt Ward, Robin in the Batman TV show.

If I remember right there was a problem with the copyrights for Batman and He couldn't wear the Robin Costume on the show. Of course this went over like a lead balloon!

This was the only year the show toured.

ALLAN HILL'S "CIRCUS USA" 1985 #2

Notice the combination Ticket Office and Concession Trailer.

I beleive Jim Ridenour was in the office but can't remeber who was show manager

or concession manager. Bill and I were over on the Great American.

Ward Hall and Chris Christ had their sideshow with it.

The show had a late opening as it was just framed.

ALLAN HILL'S "CIRCUS USA" 1985 #3

Oh My! Dirty Wheels.

You can bet Don Prevost wasn't around this show!

ALLAN HILL'S "CIRCUS USA" 1985 #4

Backside of Concession Wagon.

ALLAN HILL'S "CIRCUS USA" 1985 #5

Combination Water Wagon and Stake Driver.

Looks like time ran out before leaving winterquarters.

No paint job!

ALLAN HILL'S "CIRCUS USA" 1985 #6

Thursday, October 23, 2008

AIKEN, SC FAIR REPORT--CHANNEL 12 AUGUSTA

AIKEN, SC FAIR REPORT-Channel 10, Augusta

CABIN KIDS

This one's for my friend Howard at the Delmar Dustpan blog.

FRANZEN BROS--1986 #1 (Fred Hoffman Pics)

Franzen Bros. was a small show originally out of Wisconsin.

It's owner and star performer was Brian Franzen, a Wisconsin farmboy, who trained all the animals himself. Tigers, Horses, Elephants, you name it Wayne trained them all! And he was good at it too!

Wayne died at an early age when one of his tigers attacked him.

His Son Brian now continues the tradition of his Dad by presenting Elephants and Tigers at independent dates.

FRANZEN BROS--1986 #3

I beleive this is Okha, Wayne Franzen's first elephant.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

CATS

From the NY Daily News, Sunday.

Getting ready for the Cat Show at the Garden.

NBC Newclip Carson & Barnes-Atlanta

Not sure of the year but it has to be in the 70's or 80's.

HOXIE BROS SIDE SHOW BALLY

Roger Boyd, Jr doing the Bally on the Hoxie Bros Sideshow.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

STRATES SHOWS TRAIN PULLING INTO AUGUSTA, GA

COLE BROS CIRCUS OF THE STARS ARTICLE

THE BERNUDEZ CLOWNS OF THE COLE BROS. CIRCUS NOW ON TOUR THROUGHOUT THE U.S. by GLENN ARNETTE

UNDER THE BIG TOP AT THE COLE BROS.CIRCUS

There's an interesting article with these pictures, go to

http://www.travelroads.com/article/id_498

Maribel Precido spins around on a swinging ladder during the showgirls performance at the circus Wednesday night. The Cole Brothers Circus is the oldest and largest running circus under the big top. Running since 1884, the show appears in 110 cities in 25 states. The show continues tonight with two performances at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. and then will move on to Jackson this weekend. None / Lindsey Key

CIRCUS VIDBEL

Journal photo/ Sandor BodoClown Thomas LeMoine, of Orlando, Fla., performs with Circus Vidbel this week in downtown Providence. The circus, which includes aerialists, jugglers, horses and unicyclists, offers shows at 5 and 7:30 p.m. tonight, tomorrow and Thursday at the Bank of America Skating Center. Tickets, $10, can be purchased at the skating center or by calling (401) 331-5544. Donations to the R.I. Community Food Bank are welcome.
From the Providence Journal, September 30, 2008.

MIKE SNIDER

Here's Mike Snider.

A terriffic Clown with great wardrobe and a great producing clown!

He was with us on the Cole All-Star Circus and more recently is featured on Circus Vidbel.

Mike graduated from the Ringling Clown College, spent a few years on the Ringling Show and was also on Cyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus.

CIRCUS COLORING BOOKS

CORGI TOY BROCHURE COVER

Corgi, as most of you know, is an English Toy Manufacturer owned by Matel I might add,

that brought out a line of models of the Chipperfield's Circus in England.

Monday, October 20, 2008

INTERESTING CAROUSEL VIDEO

NORTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR AD

ARKANSAS STATE FAIR REPORT

TOBY TYLER 1985 #1

The following pictures were taken by Fred Hoffman.

I never got to see Toby Tyler Show since when they were in our neck of the woods we were busy with our own dates. But I do remember seeing their equipment alongside the roads many times. Dickie Garden was the Producer and owner and you all know the rest of the story!

TOBY TYLER CIRCUS #2

TOBY TYLER CIRCUS 1985 #2

It's hard to beleive that Big Top was new at the start of the season!

Those aren't lights! But holes in the canvas.

It must have had some "rought" treatment.

It was made by Bruno.

TOBY TYLER 1985 #3

COOKHOUSE

MR MOTTO, POTTSTOWN CIRCUS FAN

TOBY TYLER CIRCUS 1985 #4

Sunday, October 19, 2008

SUNDAY MORNING MIRTH

A MESSAGE FROM DICK-

As many of you have probably noticed most of the pictures I've been posting are primarily of equipment. The reason being is that Bill was a model builder and of course we were concessionaires so our main focus was on equipment. I would love to post more pictures of acts , not only of my friends, but everyone. So I would love it if you could send or e-mail pictures of performers especially the people that we worked with. I'll see that you get the proper credit and would appreciated it also!
Thanks, Dick

FRED, BILL & DICK '87

Here's one of my co-contributor's, Fred Hoffman, visiting Bill and I.

I'm not sure which spot it was at but I beleive it was the Norco Fire Dept's 4th of July Carnival just out side Pottstown. We played it many years with S & S Amusements.