"COCO"

Polakovs, Michael

Feb. 23, 1923 - Dec. 6, 2009
Michael "CoCo" Polakovs, of Catlettsburg, Ky., died Dec. 6, 2009.Visitation was from 6 to 8 p.m. yesterday at Neal Funeral Home, Catlettsburg. A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. today. Final rest will be at Rose Hill Cemetery, Ashland, Ky. He was the son of the late Nicolai and Valentina Novikoff Polakovs. Mike was a professional circus clown for nearly 80 years. He has entertained tens of millions as CoCo the Clown with circuses around the world. Additionally, Michael was a member of Greenhill Masonic Lodge 521.Michael leaves behind Hazel Fannin Polakovs, his loving wife of 49 years; six children, Graham Ahrhart of Sarasota, Patty Dale Dalton her husband, Perry, of Ashland, Byron Laird of Pippa Pass, Ky., Bruce Laird of Ashland, Michelle Polakovs of Catlettsburg and David Polakovs of San Francisco; five grandchildren, Mike Ahrhart, Melody Dalton Hogsten, Christopher Dalton, Stephanie Laird Maynard and Amanda Laird; five great-grandchildren, Emma Dalton, Kayla Dalton, Kayla Rice, Cole Maynard and Alex Ahrhart; and a sister, Olga Kerr of Norfolk, England.He was preceded in death by three sisters and one brother.

SUNDAY IN SARASOTA---

SATURDAY IN SARASOTA---

D.R. MILLER 1999 (FROM HEARTLAND SMITH)(

Hello Dick,
I finally found the D. R. Miller pix I promised to send you several months ago.

Here are three 1999 photos taken on a nearly 100 degree day in downtown Pontiac, Michigan about two months before he passed away.

One picture shows him with 3 Canadian circus fans,

one is a closeup and

one shows him looking into Carson & Barnes's biggest big top. As he stood there he said to me "it's too big". I think that in his condition he was feeling just a bit ovewhelmed by the size of the tent and the huge operation it represented. Keep up the good work.

I enjoy every one of your blogs. --Hart Smith

CIRCUS POSTERS

ASST'D CIRCUS POSTERS

DYKES BROS NOVELTY JOUNTS

Early '80's, Middletown, NY with Amusements of America

Great Allentown Fair, S & S Amusements (1980's)

Orlando with Strates Shows (1980's)

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATES

Dad is to be cremated.

My desire is to have a Spring burial and memorial in the New

Albany, IN National Cemetery sometime when the weather is blossoming again (May?) ...it's cold, dreary rain here right now... Please pass this along with email address to reach me:

MeowMansion@yahoo.com Michele Ridenour1742 Houston StreetNew Albany, IN 47150

No flowers, PLEASE send donations to your local animal rescue groups.

I personally rescue and snip as many as possible, and at this time care for 30 cats in my home

(Now, 31 - of course, we are adding dad's cat, Charlie).

Dear Friends,

The memorial service for my Husband, Bill Strong ( Yesterdays towns )

will be held at the Showmen's Club in Gibsonton Fl. on Dec 27, 2009 at 2:00.

It is a pot luck celebration of his life.

Thank you, Trudy

THE GOODYEAR BLIMP

Wisconsin State Fair, 1936
Wisconsin Historical Society Photo

HOW AM I GONNA STEER THIS?

Elephant Posing on International Cub Cadet

Shirley, a half-ton elephant, poses on an International Cub Cadet 122 lawn tractor with IH dealer Carl Kelton looking on. 1967

THE MERRYMOBILE

Merrymobile ice cream vending truck.

Press release caption reads: "Merrymobile - colorful ice cream vending vehicle - built by Merrymobile Co., Memphis, Tennessee. Unit is powered by International UC-60 LP-Gas engine. Twenty-one International-powered Merrymobiles have been built, with 100 more on tap 1959
Boy this would put the "Good Humor" on guard!
(Wisconsin Historical Society Web Site)

"GARBAGE" JOINTS FROM THE PAST

Novelty Joint at Wisconsin Amusement Park

Garabage Joint at the Wisconsin State Fair (1960's)
photos from Wisconsin Historical Society Web Site

JIM RIDENOUR PASSES

I am sorry to report the death of Jim Ridenour this morning at his home in Indiana.

Many details are not yet known but he died in his easy chair. His daughter called him with no luck this morning and had his neighbor check on him and she found him dead.

Jim was an active circus employee and fan and loved the circus dearly and will be remembered by many of us for his friendship with circus fans.

He served as Florida State Chairman for CFA for almost a lifetime, was a President of the Showfolks Tent #122 of CFA, and served one year as regional vice president of CFA.

Jim enjoyed the circus community both as an member of the staff of many shows and also as Florida's greatest fan.

Friends can send a card to his daughter:

Michele Ridenour

1742 Houston St.

New Albany, IN 47150

Any further details will be sent as discovered.

Pete Adams

12/7/2009

POSTCARD

"THE OLD" DAYS

#9"Spader Johnson dressed as a clown."

"Five circus performers, female and male, sit or stand astride a horse with a tent as a backdrop."

"RW Cast & Crew (possibly The Clyde Beatty Show)"

"Personnel of the old Miles Orton Circus outside a tent in their 1891-92 New Orleans' quarters."

"Personnel of the Walter L. Main show in 1904 and 1905, photographed outside a tent, include clowns, the driver of a four horse chariot, and air performers. Their contemporary, circus man Frank B. Miller, described the group as 'A bunch of real old time actors, all damn good ones...'" (1905)

-Circus Photos at Wisconsin Historical Society

Death of Local Man who Portrayed 'Coco the Clown'

Death of Local Man who Portrayed 'Coco the Clown'

BIG APPLE CIRCUS IN MACY'S CHRISTMAS PARADE 2009

MILLS BROS CIRCUS 1966 PART 2 #2 (FROM JIM ELLIOTT)

Do you recognize any of these folks?

Let us know leave a comment!

Notice the gathering of young lads on the left?

Now that's something you don't see anymore!

Curiosity!

MILLS BROS CIRCUS 1966 PART 2 #1 (FROM JIM ELLIOTT)

THE SARASOTA ELF VISITS CIRCUS SARASOTA REHEARSAL

HUGO, OK "CIRCUS CITY" CHRISTMAS PARADE

From the Circus City Museum web site