Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
CIRQUE PINDER CHRISTMAS SHOW--PARIS
Pictures of Cirque Pinder's Holiday Show in Paris.The Show ran from November 'til January 14th.
LIPIZZANER STALLION SHOW--TAMPA--
Sunday, January 17, 2010 2:00 PM Sunday, January 17, 2010 6:00 PM St Pete Times Forum, Tampa Ticket Prices: $22.50, $24.50 & $29.50
The “World Famous” Lipizzaner Stallions proudly presents their 40th anniversary presentation of the “Dancing White Stallions”! Over the years, more than twenty-six million people throughoutNorth and South America, Europe, Australia and Hawaii have seen this internationally acclaimed spectacle. The Lipizzaner Stallion has galloped boldly out of the pages of over 425 years of history and are now preserved as an equestrian work of art, performing a unique equine ballet that has no rival. Harkening back to a time when the horse was a symbol of grace and majesty, the Lipizzaner Stallions are truly a great experience to be enjoyed by the entire family!
The “World Famous” Lipizzaner Stallions proudly presents their 40th anniversary presentation of the “Dancing White Stallions”! Over the years, more than twenty-six million people throughoutNorth and South America, Europe, Australia and Hawaii have seen this internationally acclaimed spectacle. The Lipizzaner Stallion has galloped boldly out of the pages of over 425 years of history and are now preserved as an equestrian work of art, performing a unique equine ballet that has no rival. Harkening back to a time when the horse was a symbol of grace and majesty, the Lipizzaner Stallions are truly a great experience to be enjoyed by the entire family!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
FROM MIKE NAUGHTON:
Very Sad News about an already sad situation.Doris, one of the Golden Carlos Twins was killed in an auto accident last month. While her sister Karen was driving, Doris' passenger dooropened and while attempting to reach and close the door she was pulled from vehicle. The Golden Carlos Twins were a top act in their day, notably Circus Vargas and several major Shrine dates here in the USA.Unfortunately in recent years they have worked as street performers and passing the hat.The youtube link shows the twins performing outside a restaurant.
Showfolks of Sarasota has set up a fund to accept donations for Karen. La Norma Fox has been a very close friend of the twins and will be assisted by Aureila Nock in collecting and documenting the donations.
If you would like to assist, please send your donation, payable to Showfolks of Sarasota (please indicate "Carlos Twins Fund") and send to:PO Box 1476, Sarasota, Florida 34230. Online donations can be made at showfolksclub.com, please indicate "Carlos Twins Fund" in the special instructions box.
For those of you who know the Carlos Twins you can appreciate the tremendous struggle with this situation.
Thank you.
Mike Naughton
I RECENTLY FOUND THIS ARTICLE IN A SASKATOON NEWSPAPER
Fred Logan (from Buckles Blog, 2006) 
Circus Pages Elephant Act.please click on the following pages to read!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
DID YOU KNOW???????????????
Circus Hippo runs amok in the Detroit River
The Detroit Daily Free Press of June 13, 1863 advertised Geo. F. Bailey & Co.’s Grand Circus, Sands’ Nathan’s & Co.’s Circus with a gigantic hippo, elite equestrians, lots of acts and horses. Performances were scheduled for Mon.-Tues. 2 and 7:30pm on June 27-28. Admission cost 25cents for children under 12, everyone else cost 50 cents. The grand procession (parade) was scheduled for 11am was to include a horse-drawn hippo in his cage.
The Detroit Daily Free Press of June 13, 1863 advertised Geo. F. Bailey & Co.’s Grand Circus, Sands’ Nathan’s & Co.’s Circus with a gigantic hippo, elite equestrians, lots of acts and horses. Performances were scheduled for Mon.-Tues. 2 and 7:30pm on June 27-28. Admission cost 25cents for children under 12, everyone else cost 50 cents. The grand procession (parade) was scheduled for 11am was to include a horse-drawn hippo in his cage.
The Fearless Greggs, daredevils from at least 1905 to 1912 defied logic and gravity with their thrilling automobiles-passing-in-the-air stunt. Fed and Joe Gregg, Howard Smith, Eddie Bouten, and Charlie Hall were from Grand Rapids and Ludington. Troupe members kept getting injured or killed when the car passing over landed on the car beneath.
Henry and John Pollies owned circuses and carnivals from at least 1910-1930s. John Pollie worked as a concessionaire with games of chance in carnivals, 1930s-1960s. Their business and personal life is wonderfully documented in the Papers of John C. Pollie, 1910-1969, and undated in 17.5 cubic ft. (in 36 boxes) in the Clarke Historical Library. It is the only collection of a carnival man’s papers in existence in a public institution. It documents circus, carnival, especially the 19-teens when there was a period of much change in carnivals, the Great Depression, the history of people in MI and Grand Rapids, personal relationships with friends and a loving family and business relationships with circus and carnival people. 
Henry J. Pollie (1872-1937) was the son of John C. and Maude Pollie, who emigrated from the Netherlands to Grand Rapids in 1880. As a young man, Henry lived in TX. Henry, often called Jorge, was a concessionaire and showman. Shows Henry owned or co-owned, as documented in the collection, include:Zeidman and Pollie Shows (Walter Zeidman and Henry J. Pollie) 1910-Nov. 1937J. Harry Six Shows, 1931Pollie’s Shows, 1932 (Henry and John C. Pollie)Pollie & Scully, 1934 (Henry and Mr. Scully)Pollie and Berger Exposition and Wild Animal Circus, 1935-1937? (Henry and Louis J. Berger)Pollie & Berger Shows, 1935-Jan. 1936 (This is probably the same show as above, minus the wild animals.)
from the Clarke County (Michigan) Historical Museum
THE "FLYING MELZORAS"
CLICK ON ITEM TO ENLARGE!from the Clarke County Historical Society online collection
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
SOMETHING DIFFERENT---
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Hank Snow had an under canvas show on tour for many years. He was know as the Canadian Ranger.
Hank Snow had an under canvas show on tour for many years. He was know as the Canadian Ranger.
DID YOU KNOW??????????
The 2010 Gibtown Bike Fest kicks off January 12 through January 17, 2010 at the IISA Club Grounds in Gibsonton, Florida. Bike Fest features live entertainment, stunt shows, food and beverage vendors, and merchandise vendors. Come on down and let us entertain you, and don't forget to bring your bike! Parking is available for over 10,000 bikes (and cars).
2010 BIKEFEST SCHEDULE: www.gibtownbikefest.com
2010 BIKEFEST SCHEDULE: www.gibtownbikefest.com
Fruitcake
Yes, circus is responsible for the spread of fruitcake as a holiday gift in the U.S.
The Collin Street Bakery of Corsicana, Texas, was established in 1896 by master baker, Gus Weidmann, and his partner, Tom McElwee. They also operated a fancy hotel where many famous guests stayed, including John Ringling. Mr. McElwee gave the guests fruitcakes. The circus people liked them and requested some be shipped to their friends all over the country. This led to establishment of the bakery’s mail order business. Today the bakery is world famous and ships fruitcakes to 196 countries.
SHOWMAN'S CIRCUS PART 2 (From Scott Bundy)
Could that possibly be Brian Franzen's Elephants?
"ALL OUT AND OVER!"
SHOWMAN'S CIRCUS, GIBSONTON, FL, SATURDAY JANUARY 9th (From Scott Bundy)
The Annual Showman's Circus, with proceeds going to local charities,took place Saturday in a COLD Gibsonton, Fl.
Blog Reporter Scott Bundy was on hand and took these shots.
I understand turnout was light because of the weather.
Johnnie Walker's Walker Bros. Circus provided most of the physical
equipment for the show.
Close to my heart the "Garbage Joint"
Chuck Scholabaum's Circus Concert BandReady to start the show.
The Ring is set!
The Dykes Sisters Unicycles
The Ring is set!
Lee Stevens, Ringmaster
The Dykes Sisters Unicycles 
Dick, took some pics tonight at the IISA Circus at Gibtown, some came out ok. Was 36 degrees in the tent with no heat it was very cold! Three shows today 1,4,7.
The tent was donated by Walker Bros. Circus. Feel free to use any of them on your blog if you would like. Lee Stevens was the ring master. Scott Bundy
More pictures to come tomorrow!