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



Saturday, November 1, 2008

DICK & BILL'S HALLOWEEN--1955

We were a whole 12 years old and won 2nd prize!

JOHN LEWIS' LEWIS BROS CIRCUS--1984 #1

Fred Hoffman Photos
I understand that John Lewis did all the lettering on the equipment!
Johnny Walker had the concessions and, i beleive, was also Big Top Super.


JOHN LEWIS' LEWIS BROS CIRCUS--1984 #2



Fred Hoffman Photos
Add Image





NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS #1




NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS #2







Friday, October 31, 2008

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

WE DID IT!!!!!!!!PHILLIES WIN!!!!!!!!!!!
























UNIVERSOUL CIRCUS AD--LOS ANGELES, 2008

THE SWAMPMASTER

The Swampmaster appeared at a number of State and County Fairs this year.

WORLD SERIES TONIGHT!


Game Five of the 2008 World Series to be resumed tonight 10/29/2008 12:21 PM ETMLB
PHILADELPHIA -- Game Five of the 2008 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies will resume tonight at Citizens Bank Park, Major League Baseball announced today. First pitch is scheduled for 8:37 p.m. (ET). The Phillies will be coming to bat to start the bottom of the sixth inning with the game tied, 2-2.Game Six, if necessary, is scheduled for Thursday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

ALBANY, GA HERALD

Exchange Club Fair returns to Albany Some 17 Albany organizations will benefit from the five-day event.CATHY HIGGINS cathy.higgins@albanyherald.com ALBANY — The days have grown shorter, and the weather in the Good Life City is cooler. Sure indications that it’s time, once again, for the Exchange Club Fair. The 62nd annual event is set to open Tuesday and run through Nov. 8 at the Exchange Club Fairgrounds, located at 810 S. Westover Blvd. Opening ceremonies at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday kick off the five-day fair. Then Tuesday-Thursday, the carnival opens at 3 p.m. Friday the fun starts at 2 p.m., and on Saturday activities begin at 9 a.m. The parking lot opens an hour prior to the carnival each day. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 4 feet tall. But on Tuesday, all children are admitted for free from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Parking is free for visitors and $15 for solicitors and delivery trucks. Proceeds from the annual event will benefit 17 Albany nonprofit organizations, including Liberty House and Salvation Army. Of course, the Exchange Club Fair features a variety of midway rides. But participants can also enjoy midway entertainment each day, including the Buffalo Bill Barfield Show, Eudora’s Exotic Petting Zoo. And that’s not all. “They should expect good entertainment, good food and lots of rides,” Exchange Club Fair spokesman A.J. Nobles said in a recent telephone interview. Returning this year are the Hillside Mini Tractor Pull, as well as livestock attractions the 4-H and FFA Lamb and Beef Cattle shows. For more information, call (229) 436-8827 or visit http://www.exchangeclubfair.org/.

SOUVENIER JOINT--NORTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR

This picture appeared in the Raleigh, NC newspaper recently.

ANTIQUE CAROUSEL AT TRIMPER'S, OCEAN CITY, MD

Posted on You Tube 03/23/08 by Pat Wolfe


COLES CIRCUS-LAND, PENN-YAN, N.Y.

click on images to enlarge!



JAMES M. COLE CIRCUS ROUTE BOOK--1943 #1

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
SO THAT IT'S READABLE!

JAMES M. COLE CIRCUS ROUTE BOOK--1943 #2


JAMES M. COLE CIRCUS ROUTE BOOK--1943 #3


JAMES M. COLE CIRCUS ROUTE BOOK--1943 #4

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

GRANVILLE TRIMPER


Granville Trimper, who died early Monday at age 79,
was vice president and manager of Trimper's Rides on the Boardwalk in Ocean City. He was a member of the resort's Town Council for 18 years, a Worcester County commissioner and briefly served as interim mayor of Ocean City. (Times file photo)

Monday, October 27, 2008

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR NEWS


ROBERTS BROS CIRCUS 1987 (Fred Hoffman pics)

Lots of Flags.
In my opinion flags really help flash and dress up a show!
DOORS!

ROBERTS BROS CIRCUS 1987 (Fred Hoffman)

Here's Mrs Robert "Doris" Earl getting the office spiffed up!

ROBERTS BROS CIRCUS 1987 (Fred Hoffman)

Boy the show sure looked good!
I think the Artwork is that of Dennis Gillie!


"LISA"


ROBERTS BROS 1987 (Fred Hoffman)

Here's Ron Dykes (no relation) and Brent (Cheeko) Dewitt

Brian LaPalm and Company!



Sunday, October 26, 2008

PHILLIES WIN GAME 4--1 TO GO! (10-2)

PITCHER JOE BLANTON HITS HIS 1st HOME RUN!

NEW WIDGET

I'd like to call your attention to a new feature that I thought
might come in handy for my readers.
Over in the sidebar you'll notice a box where you can look up. area codes
I hope it comes in hany for all of you!
Dick

FROM THE MERIDIAN STAR NEWSPAPER (Oct 22, 2008)

A photo journal
By Lindsey Key
PHOTOS BY LINDSEY KEY / THE MERIDIAN STAR


A week ago I had a photo assignment for the front page. I was going to the Cole Bros. Circus. It was my first time to attend a circus! I was so excited for this assignment.
When I got there, I felt like little child standing in awe. The color, the smell and the sounds rushed over me as I walked through the gate. The feeling was amazing.
During the show I found myself watching the performance, more often than not, instead of taking the photos I needed for work. That's when I got the idea to follow the circus to Jackson. I wanted to document the excitement I felt when I went for what I thought was my first time. My mom later told me I had gone before when I was 3. How can a 3 year old remember anything about the circus? The color, smell and sounds would be the most a child that small could remember ... especially me. Then the idea completely revealed itself.
My statement was now to show what happens behind the curtains ... to get a glimpse of how these families live and travel together. I wanted to show the fantasy side of the circus — the side we all dream about as kids, the same side we remember as adults. When our memory fails us and all is left is a blur.
I hope you all enjoy the photos.
http://www.meridianstar.com/local/local_story_296175434.html

COLE BROS PICTURES IN STORY--







COLE BROS #2

Above-Mike Rice




CARSON & BARNES--BATAVIA, NY

SUNDAY MORNING MIRTH! (W.C. Fields)

Phillies Outlast Rays In Wild World Series Night, 5-4



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