I hope to have a report from Gibsonton tomorrow

FROM TAMPA'S TV13 01/09/09

This appeared yesterday morning on Tampa's TV13

On this one they got the information right!

BEST FRIENDS! (CBS Video)

Watch CBS Videos Online

Traveling Sideshow: Shocked and Amazed Pt 6

FROM TV 13 TAMPA BAY--TRUDY STRONG

This is a promo for the Showfolks Circus tomorrow in Gibtown

Of course at the end the reporter messes it up!

AUTOMOBILE STUNT SHOWS

For many years every county and state fair featured stunt shows in front

of the grandstand. There are still a few left .

Just another part of Americana that's fading out of existance!

Thrill Show Flashback: Meet the Hurricane Hell Drivers!

Don't forget to click on picture to enlarge

so that it may be readable!

GIBTOWN SHOWFOLKS CIRCUS--SATURDAY!

Aerialists like Simone Dykes, 17, will perform at the International Independent Showmen's Association Charity Circus Jan. 10 at the Showmen's Club in Riverview. Other performers will include performing elephants, horse, goats and pigs, daredevils, clowns and a magician. Tribune file photo
Ken Suarez, a reporter with WTVT Fox 13, practices a routine with Garth the Wonder Horse in the Showmen's Club parking lot. Suarez is scheduled to appear as guest ringmaster Jan. 10 at the International Independent Showmen's Association Charity Circus Jan. 10 at the Showmen's Club in Riverview. Tribune photo by LOIS KINDLE

Charity Circus 2009By: southshore_staff Pete the Clown, ringmaster Ward Hall and Garth the Wonder Horse will appear Jan. 10 at the Independent International Showmens Association Club in Riverview. Tribune photo by LOIS KINDLE

The Circus, 1870-1950 (Taschen Books)

The Greatest Show on Earth! The history and legacy of the circus. September 2008

AMAZON.COM

I received an e-mail from Amazon.com this morning.

Thought someone out there would be interested. The Circus: 1870-1950 [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)by Noel Daniel (Editor)
List Price: $200.00 Price: $126.00

During its heyday one hundred years ago, the American circus was the largest show-biz industry the world had ever seen. From the mid-1800s to mid-1900s, traveling American circuses performed for audiences of up to 14,000 per show, employed as many as 1,600 men and women, and crisscrossed the country on 20,000 miles of railroad in one season alone. The spectacle of death-defying daredevils, strapping super-heroes and scantily-clad starlets, fearless animal trainers, and startling freaks gripped the American imagination, outshining theater, vaudeville, comedy, and minstrel shows of its day, and ultimately paved the way for film and television to take root in the modern era. Long before the Beat generation made "on the road" expeditions popular, the circus personified the experience and offered many young Americans the dream of adventure, reinvention, and excitement. Organized into nine thematic chapters, the book sheds new light on circus history, from a behind-the-scenes look at life on the move, to the freedoms enjoyed by early female performers, to the innovative production skills that demanded as much know-how as a modern-day film production. For the first time ever, contemporary readers can now experience the legend of the American circus in full effect. The book's broad subject matter, riveting images, and diverse visual material will appeal both to the circus aficionado and those who have never before been to circus.

Some illustrations from the book are below.

JOHNNY J. JONES EXPOSITION

1920's

MISC. PHOTOS FROM THE 1920'S

I tripped on these photos last night while surfing.

Thought you might find them interesting. Elephant Dentist, FUTZ gets a tooth pulled.
Somewhere around Washington 1925, December

" Circus Baby"

I beleive this was labled as being in the mid-20's.

The children belong to a politician.

SHOCKED & AMAZED PART 5

CETLIN & WILSON SHOWS (1950's) cont'd

Here is the rest of the collection on Cetlin & Wilson Shows from the 1950's at the Reading, PA Fair. I have had more comments on these posts than anything I've had on any others!

Thanks to those that did post a comment it just helps show Me that all this is worth it!

So "ON WITH THE SHOW!"

Note: You may also want to check out Bob Cline's Sawdust & Spangles blog for more

on Cetlin & Wilson Shows.

I have a link posted inn my Blog List a little further down the sidebar on the blog.

CETLIN & WILSON SHOWS (1950's) cont'd

CETLIN & WILSON SHOWS (1950's) cont'd

Notice the Young Lady in the forground with the Porky Hat with her name sewn on it!

HOT ITEM BACK THEN!

CETLIN & WILSON SHOWS (1950's) CONT'D

SHOCKED & AMAZED PART 4

CETLIN & WILSON SHOWS (1950'S) #1

Thanks to Fred Hoffman for these excellant pictures of one of America's

last Railroad Shows. The pictures were taken by well know Fan and Model Builder

Harold Moore

They were all shot at the Reading, PA Fair during the 1950's.

Fred got these from Mr Moore's widow.

Fred also says that these sre without a doubt the finest set of photos of this

show that he has ever seen.

And I have to agree with him on that.

More photos will follow tomorrow from this same album!

CETLIN & WILSON SHOWS (1950's) #2

CETLIN & WILSON SHOWS (1950's) #3

SHOWMAN'S CIRCUS

DON'T MISS IT!

SHOWFOLKS CIRCUS!

THIS SATURDAY

AT THE IISA GROUNDS.

BENEFITS LOCAL CHARITIES

contact club for showtimes

SHOCKED & AMAZED PART 2

OLD TOY SWORD

My Friend Doug Ford, from Gibtown, gave us this old sword that was used on Novelty Joints probably back in the 40's & 50's.

It's made of metal and in this day and age you probably couldn't sell it.

I also beleive it was probably manufactured in Japan.

FOR PETE STURGIS ("The Baraboobian")

Pete here's what you were asking me about!

Sorry it took so long.

THE INFAMOUS TWEETY BIRDSome folks referred to these as "Whirly Birds"

I used them for many years as a come in and Ice Breaker item.

I worked them my self in the seats. Always demonstrated it on a Long Stick

That way I could bring it right down in front of the little kiddies faces!

Some Guys used a bird whistle to demonstrate them but for some reason

I was never able to get one to work, I think it was Me caused I could never whistle!

Always sold it for a Dollar and handed out more than I care to remember!

I would always try out two of three of them to find the best singer and put that one on the long stick.

These aren't available anymore, unless your lucky to find a jobber that might have some left from years ago.

A lot of Novelty Guys didn't like them beacaue all you could get for them back then was a $1.00 bill. But I found that they were could on come in because then the folks weren't afraid to come up against the Novelty Joint during intermission.

The last circus I worked them on was Roberts Bros in 1995.

P.S. The bird's tail has to be curled in opposite directions to make it sing!