FROM BOB COX.....

So you think that because you live on the 3rd floor of an apartment building you cant be burglarized???.....................

Here’s my morning exercise partner and I out on our jog…Ø I always take life with a grain of salt, plus a slice of lemon, and a shot of tequila
check my blog at: http://mexicomystic.wordpress.com

FROM BOB COX....

San Antonio Pics

Dick, hope you are recuperating OK.

Drink Tequila to diminish any pain.

Heres some photos of the Fiesta Parade in San Antonio.

Bob

CHESTERFIELD COUNT VA, FAIR (RICHMOND, VA TIMES - DISPATCH_

Credit: MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH

Madison Hamilton and her mother Jessi Hamilton enjoy riding Clyde, the camel on opening day of the Chesterfield County Fair.
Animals, circus, rides mark opening of Chesterfield fair

By Zachary Reid TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

August 28, 2010 Chesterfield, Va. --

Knowing a good opportunity when she sees one, Madison Hamilton happily set aside her dream and tried something new yesterday.
With her mother Jessi in tow on opening day of the 97th annual Chesterfield County Fair, 4-year-old Madison climbed atop Clyde and took her first camel ride.
"That was fun," she said moments after fill-in camel walker and Eudora Farms Animal Show manager Randy Keene helped her down.
"She's braver than I am," her mother said.
Smiling wide and chatting up a storm, Madison said the ride was really cool, but she wasn't giving up her true love: "I want a horse," she said.
Full-fledged horses were about the only thing in short supply as the fair opened yesterday. It will run through Sept. 4 at the fairgrounds on Courthouse Road.
The fair features fun and excitement old and new. There's the usual midway full of rides and tents packed with farm animals. Spicing it up this year are the Eudora Farms traveling collection of exotic animals and the Star Family Circus and Thrill Show.
The circus drew a standing-room-only crowd for its first show, with the Lovely Miss Streya handing out balloons to children and Oscar "King of the Sky" Garcia cheating death on the Space Wheel, among other acts.
"It just scares me looking at it," Stella Mayton said as she watched Garcia walk the outer edge of the wheel as it spun far above the ground. Her granddaughter, Kaydie VanLandingham, kept watch as Garcia played jump rope with a bullwhip inside the wheel.
"But I can't help but watch," Mayton said.
John and Patsy Johnson of Chesterfield were the first people in the gates when the fair opened at 4 p.m. They didn't have a particular sight in mind but they weren't about to miss a minute of action.
"We've been coming for years," said John Johnson. "We used to come for the rides, but we kind of got out of the riding stage once we passed 60. Now we're just looking around."
For the sheer fun of just looking, the exotic animal farm seemed to be the destination of choice.
Its collection of 55 creatures included a baby zebra, a yak named Zack and furry critters of many sizes.
The most playful of the group was Harley, an African Serval cat.
"It's just like a big ol' housecat," said Keene's son, Tommy, a former bullrider. "If you're not careful in there, he'll take a swipe. He just likes to play."

100 YEARS AGO, EVERETT, WASHINGTON

When the circus came to Everett ... in 1910
By Debra Smith, Herald Writer

Saturday,August 28, 2010

EVERETT — Thousands of families are expected to line up in downtown today to watch a traveling circus billed as “The Greatest Show on Earth.”
So, too, did folks who lived here 100 years ago.
Historian David Dilgard unearthed a playbill for Barnum & Bailey's visit to Everett on Aug. 17, 1910.
A century ago, Everett was a frontier town, a clearing in a dense wilderness populated mainly with loggers and laborers.
The circus playbill is a window into what entertained Everett residents then and how much — or maybe how little — things have changed.
Back then, the circus chugged its way through the wilderness to Everett on the train, all the animals and gear packed into 85 double-length railroad cars. The playbill boasted the Barnum & Bailey operation had 1,280 people, 700 horses and “100 cages and dens of wild animals.”
Newspaper accounts from The Everett Daily Herald also list camels, open cages of lions, tigers, and the only baby giraffe born in America at the time. There was also a “manlike” bicycle-riding chimpanzee named Charley and bareback riding seals.
Top-billed attractions included Jupiter the Balloon Horse, which the reporter described as “a beautiful Arabian Stallion” that stands on a platform attached to a balloon and floats to the top of the tent dome. At the top, Roman candles bordering the platform were ignited around the horse. Amid it all, “Jupiter stands as though cut from marble,” the reporter wrote.
The circus also claimed to have 60 of the greatest riders in the world, 60 acrobats and 50 clowns.
One featured act included a man called Desperado who leapt from the top of the trapeze onto an elevated ramp.
Dilgard, who was tickled to share the find, said the circus set up its big tent at what used to be Robbins Park, the local baseball field. The grandstand backed onto Hewitt Avenue in the spot today occupied by Lowe's Home Improvement store.
Newspaper accounts describe the hubbub the traveling menagerie made when it wheeled into town.
Circus workers quickly transformed Robbins Park early on the morning of Aug. 17, 1910, into a city of white tents with streaming banners.
The reporter noted that there were many homes in the city where “the boys were either late to breakfast or did not show up for the meal.”
At 10 a.m., the circus paraded through town, drawing large crowds of families who wanted to see a display that included three herds of elephants, two Roman racing chariots, military floats and its own mounted heralds and trumpeters.
Even the news reporter, part of a usually skeptical camp, wrote this about the reaction of Everett folks at the circus: “No larger or better pleased crowd ever assembled.”

MINNESOTA STATE FAIR VIDEO....

KELLY-MILLER NEWS....,

Kelly Miller Circus returns to Wilmette for two performances
August 27, 2010
After a one-year hiatus, it is circus time again in Wilmette. The Kelly Miller Circus returns to the field behind the Mikaelian Education Center, 615 Locust Road, Wilmette, for two benefit performances at 2 and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25. All proceeds support the District 39 Educational Foundation which provides funding for educational programs, experiences, and technologies in each of the District's six schools.
The Kelly Miller Circus has been a Wilmette favorite over the past 10 years, providing an opportunity to bring District 39 families together to experience this creative and innovative family of performers. Leslie Weyhrich, chair of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, commented that "It is nice to be able to bring this piece of Americana back to Wilmette. From the opportunity to watch the Big Top go up, to experiencing the circus elephants up close, to enjoying the arcade games at the Midway, it's a great way to kick off the back-to-school season."
The Kelly Miller Circus returns to the field behind the Mikaelian Education Center, 615 Locust Road, Wilmette, for two benefit performances at 2 and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25.
The Kelly Miller Circus has been providing family entertainment as a traditional tented circus since 1938. This year's show features elephants, horses, rare white tigers and a cast of international circus stars under a beautiful circus big top. The always-exciting elephant-powered raising of the Big Top is itself a great free show that will take place around 9 a.m. on circus morning and all are welcome.
Circus seating is limited. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $35 for ringside box seating. Children under two are free. Tickets are available for purchase at Lad & Lassie, Fuel, The Noodle, and Depot Nuevo in downtown Wilmette and at Nail Art on Ridge Road. Tickets can also be purchased at the Mikaelian Education Center or ordered online at http://www.d39foundation.org/. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the circus box office on the day of the event.
The Foundation would like to thank its community sponsors for their generous support: F.J. Kerrigan Plumbing Co, Plaza del Lago Shopping Center, No Man's Land Pizza & Grill, Munday & Nathan, Bryan's Garage, Forrest's Service, Wilmette Auto Body, Tabet DiVito & Rothstein.
The District 39 Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to investing in our children's future. Circus proceeds will support the Foundation's Gripp Grant program, which grants funds for educational programs, experiences, and technologies that expand, enrich, and complement the schools' curricula. Over the past 15 years, Gripp Grant awards have funded a broad range of priorities throughout D39 schools and the wider community. Recent awards include technology innovation, architecture and math programs, outdoor classrooms, fitness programs, reading initiatives, poets-in-residence, and prairie gardens.
For more information about the D39 Foundation or the circus, please visit http://www.d39foundation.org/ or call 847-853-3939.

Back in their prime, Hell Drivers and thrill show performers were major celebrities.

Car and tire companies, such as Phillips 66, bragged that if their brands could take a beating from stunt drivers, they certainly could handle you.

The Aut Swensen Thrillcade was a traveling show that combined stunts with circus animals, marching bands, dancing girls and even professional archers (yes there is such a thing).

A MESSAGE FROM THE BALLOON MAN....

NEWS FROM DICK....

WELL TODAY I'M GOING TO TAKE A VACATION!

(WHAT A WAY TO HAVE TO GET A VACATION!)

I CHECK IN AT THE HOSPITAL HERE IN DOVER.

THE DOCTOR TELLS ME THAT THE TREATMENTS ON MY LEGS SHOULD

ONLY TAKE 3 OR 4 DAYS.

SO THAT MEANS NO NEW POSTS FOR A FEW DAYS.

PLEASE BEAR WITH ME AND KEEP CHECKING THE SITE

DICK

TONNY PETERSEN'S HELL DRIVERS AT THE HARFORD, PA FAIR (FROM RONALD FINCH)

Stunt Driving show. The best stuff is at the end so keep watching! Harford Fair August 2010

MORE PICTURES FROM THE PAST FROM BOB COX

LOUISVILLE JUNIOR!

http://www.nysfair.org/home

ARTIST, JOE OLSON, DONATES COLLECTION TO UNIVERSITY

'Circus' exhibit is artist Joe Olson's latest contribution to Ga. Southern

Georgia Southern Professor Emeritus of Art Joe Olson is shown creating one of his paintings that is part of his 'Ciircus' exhibit at GSU's Center for Art and Theatre.

Special to the Herald

The Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art presents "The Circus, Greatest Show on Earth," an exhibition of paintings by faculty emeritus Joe Olson.

The are was inspired by Olson's memories and the rise and fall of the circus. The exhibition runs through Sept. 10 in the Contemporary Gallery at the Center for Art & Theatre at Georgia Southern. The public is invited to attend an Artist's Talk on Sept. 8 from 5 - 7 p.m. Olson will discuss the images and ideas that shaped his recent work. The department also will hold an artists' reception on Sept. 10from 5-7 p.m. at the Center for Art & Theatre, where visitors can meet and discuss art with Professor Olson.

One of Joe Olson's paintings from the exhibit is shown.

Growing up in Philadelphia, Olson said he was fortunate to be exposed to diverse art forms through his many trips to major museums. He said: "Painting is an integral part of my life and represents the means by which I can most readily express my thoughts and feelings." As a student working from life, Olson said he learned to "focus on the big things and leave out the unimportant details. As a result, the focus of my work has dealt with capturing the essence and spirit of things seen, felt, imagined and remembered." The circus has always been a fond memory that Olson said he revisits often in his paintings - he started off by drawing monkeys in the margins of his mother's cookbooks. As a child, he loved the "3-Ring" circus and would frequent it annually. Then, the circus was held in massive tents that not only contained the high wire, trapeze, and numerous animals, but also thousands of patrons. Onlookers were over-stimulated by the commotion, exciting acts, colors, noise and adrenalin - all of which are represented in Olson's paintings. With the increase of motion pictures, animal rights, and the shift of residences to suburban homes the circus became an overlooked relic of America's past. This adverse decline is captured in the expressions and interactions of the animals and figures Olson painted. Olson began his career in art in Philadelphia where he received his Master of Fine Arts from Tyler School of Arts, Temple University. He also earned an M.Ed. from Temple University before receiving an invitation from Lamaar Dodd to pursue his D.Ed. at the University of Georgia. In 1969, Olson joined the staff of Georgia Southern College, where he taught various studio art courses including Art Education and Art Appreciation. After 19 years as a faculty member, Olson retired and remained in Statesboro with his wife, Mary. Even now, Olson continues to play an active role in the community as an artist and citizen. Olson has exhibited work all over the eastern seaboard; he has works in both private and permanent collections such as Purdue University, Frank Center Advertising Agency in New York City, Scottish Heritage Society of Statesboro and the Botanical Gardens at Georgia Southern.

Erie County Fair Passes 1 Million Mark

HAMBURG, NY - Thousands of Western New Yorkers took advantage of one of the biggest county fairs in New York State. The Erie County Fair wrapped up Sunday night, after a nearly two-week run. And fair organizer say they couldn't have asked for a better turn-out.
The fair's Marketing Director, Louanne Delaney, tells 2 On Your Side that the great weather over the past couple of weeks helped push fair attendance just over 1 million. Delaney says good fair attendance is also good for the overall Western New York economy.
"Hotels are all booked. We have a lot of people coming in from out of town that capitalize the infrastructure, businesses around the area. When they get some time off, they run up to Niagara Falls, taking the sites, taking some of the recommendations that we have."
On Sunday, the rain held out long enough for last-minute fair goers to get in all the food, rides and other entertainment the fair had to offer on its last day, including the world's largest demolition derby. FROM WGRZ-TV

FROM AUSTRAILIA.....

Animal supporters in uproar over council's circus U-turn

Jennie Curtin

August 23, 2010

"A pampered life" ... Matt Ezekial, a lion trainer at Stardust Circus, gets cosy with a couple of lions. The circus argues lions live much longer in captivity. Photo: Brendan Esposito

ANIMAL welfare groups have denounced a decision by Ku-ring-gai Council to overturn a 10-year ban on the use of animals in circuses.
The RSPCA said it was ''gobsmacked'' by the ''archaic'' decision to allow circuses with animals such as lions, elephants and tigers back on to council land.
"In animal welfare the wheels of change move frustratingly slow, but they do tend to move forward, so this decision by Ku-ring-gai is not only disappointing, it's bizarre," said the RSPCA's NSW chief executive, Steve Coleman.
Advertisement: Story continues below"The science has been in for a very long time - circus life cannot meet the social, behavioural or physical needs of wild animals.''
He said animals in circuses were kept in close confinement in unnatural social groups and were constantly transported from venue to venue.
"Research shows that the life of a circus animal leads to stress and boredom, and often results in abnormal behaviours or stereotypes, such as repetitive pacing or swaying.''
A solicitor advocate with a pro bono animal law service, Jillian Field, described the decision as ''abhorrent''.
''It's extraordinary and shocking,'' she said. ''It's sending children the message that it's acceptable to use animals for amusement and profit.''
Ms Field said the use of circus animals should be banned nationally, as it is in countries including Austria, Bolivia and Singapore. She called on the public to boycott such circuses.
But the decision was welcomed by the owner of Stardust Circus, Jan Lennon, and her son, Glenn West, a lion tamer.
''Finally a council is using its brains,'' Mr West said.
''We get inspected regularly by the government departments and there is a code of practice we have to abide by.''
Ms Lennon, whose circus has lions, monkeys, ponies and dogs, said that, contrary to stories spread by activist groups, there was ''no cruelty to animals in the circus whatsoever''.
''We have a huge enclosure for our lions … They live a pampered life. And they live a lot longer in captivity. It's about 10 to 12 years in the wild but ours live until 22 or 23,'' she said.
The Ku-ring-gai Council decision, made a fortnight ago, was apparently sparked by a petition, signed by 223 people, seeking permission for Webers Circus to feature performances by ponies and dogs at St Ives Showground.
Ku-ring-gai's deputy mayor, Jennifer Anderson, originally responded to the Webers petition with a motion to allow only domestic animals in circuses, but Cr Elaine Malicki proposed the amendment, which permits all animals in circuses on council property.
Cr Tony Hall, whose casting vote in 1999 confirmed the ban and who voted against the overturning, called the decision a ''shameful act''.
He said he had contacted Animals Asia Foundation to help establish an online petition to lobby the council to change its decision. By last night, it had been signed by 689 people.

FROM GREAT BRITAIN---

Laughs on the menu at Chester circus

23 August 2010

Angela Chaves with camera.
A CIRCUS will be stopping off in Chester for its first visit to the city in more than 20 years.
Britain’s most celebrated Big Top show, Gerry Cottle’s Circus, will be setting up at the Roodee on Chester Racecourse for eight days from Sunday to Sunday, August 29 to September 5, including the bank holiday.
At 15, Gerry Cottle ran away to join the circus, learning his trade by cleaning up after elephants, erecting tents, juggling, stilt walking and being a clown.
At its peak Gerry Cottle Circus hosted the ‘Seaside Specials’ on Saturday nights on BBC1 and the globally renowned Circus World Championships. Gerry became the most travelled circus in the world with tours as far as Oman and Bahrain in the Middle East, and a tour of the Far East which included returning to Hong Kong three times.
The new look circus will be aimed at the family audience, starring some of the finest performers from around the globe.

FRANZEN BROS CIRCUS #1 (FROM BILL PRICKETT)

Ponte Verde, FL 04-06-1993

Princeville, IL, 08-16-1995, Wayne Franzen
and son Wayne

Ponte Verde, 04-06-1993, Generator, props & Donnickers

1993 Elephant Truck

Wayne Franzen, Princeville, IL 08-16-1995

FRANZEN BROS CIRCUS,#2 (FROM BILL PRICHETT)

Spool trailer, Ponte Verde, FL, 04-06-1993

Stuck in the mud!

Wayne Franzen, Princeville, IL, 08-16-1995

Wayne &

Memorial Service for Norma Cristiani scheduled for:Monday, August 30 at 1pmSt. Martha's ChurchReception atShowfolks of Sarasota doors open at 4pmhosted by the Cristiani FamilyPlease pass the word.

Mike Naughton

MORE PICS FROM BOB COX

Dick heres some pics... The Cotton Bowl...I use to work ice cream & cokes there during the Dallas Cowboy days.1966Heres a Herb Alpert Concert in the Bowl... He was there a day before he played watching a Beethoven Concert and he bought a coke from me...I told him.."Heres a coke to go along with Beethovens Fifth."heres two novelty guys at the Nashville Fair.

MADISON COUNTY, IDAHO COUNTY FAIR

from: http://www.kidk.com/news/101192209.html

Madison County, Idaho Fair brings out heart of the community
Story Published: Aug 20, 2010
MADISON - Fairs really bring out the heart of the community. It's fun to see the people and the animals, along with the arts and crafts. But we have to tell you, one of the coolest things was some amazing face painting.
Jasmine Flores gets her face painted by Laura Pennock and becomes a character from the movie "Avatar." It's amazing what a little bit of blue paint can do for you, add some stripes, some dots, and well, you're no longer quite human.
"It's crazy and awesome," Flores said.
Coming back down to earth, here's one competition that pits child against beast. 9-year-old Kassidie Christiansen raised this 14-hundred pound steer.
"Kind of hard, because he is so much bigger than me. And I'm so much littler than him. I have to feed him 3 times a day everyday. I actually had to put him in a separate pen than my brothers, and I had to feed him by myself," said Christiansen.
And that steer amazingly did what Kassidie asked too.
"We enjoy watching the fair every year. This year we came out to see some of the show, the lamb and the cows, teach our children what hard work is all about," said Krista Gehmilch.
Others just come for the roping.
"Want to see some roping. Two cowboys kind of simulate a branding. They rope the cow, get her down, and let her back up and do it again," said Brett Reed.
But the fair is more about a few rides, or competition. As Carolyn Haroldsen proves, sometimes it's just love for animals that brings us out. These lambs are a part of the petting zoo.
"Lambs are just really really loveable. They are just innocent animals," said Haroldsen.
The fair continues on through Saturday. So if you want to become a creature from another planet, or just watch some roping on this one, you might consider checking it out.

August 26th---September 7th

Official says fair 'sitting in pretty good shape'

By Emily Nohr, For The Independent Friday, August 20, 2010

Hard-hat-wearing workers are hustling around the grounds, finishing electrical work, painting walls and making last-minute decisions.
After nearly two years of planning and construction, the new home of the Nebraska State Fair is taking shape -- and fair officials are energized about its premiere on Aug. 27, despite worries that the facilities won't be ready in time.
"It could be that some areas aren't going to be entirely done -- but they're going to be functional," said Marilyn Larson, director of marketing for Davis Design, the primary architecture firm on the job.
"When the fair is done this year, they have more construction they want to do because there just wasn't enough time to do all the buildings they wanted," added Leroy Svatora, a senior associate at Davis Design.
The almost 40,000-square-foot conference and office pavilion has not been started yet.
While pavement is being poured in the days leading up to the grand opening, the landscaping probably will not be finished by fair time, either. Svatora pointed out this time of the year isn't great for planting grass and flowers anyway.
And while the up-and-running buildings appear finished, plenty of fine-tuning needs to be done, Svatora said. Fair officials and participants will need time to get familiar with the new facilities, too.
"They aren't even trained yet on how to handle the equipment that they now have, as far as mechanical equipment," he said. "It's not just like turning a thermostat. There's a whole lot more to it."
Fair officials' top priority right now is getting the buildings and grounds cleaned up, said Joseph McDermott, State Fair executive director.
"There's a lot of detail work that needs to be done," he said. "For the most part, I think we're sitting in pretty good shape."
Svatora estimated the project would be officially completed next summer.
"Hopefully, before next fall at this time. That'll be the goal," he added.
For more information about the fair and its facilities, visit http://www.statefair.org/.

Wallenda films stunt at St. Armands CircleSTAFF PHOTOS/ CHIP LITHERLAND
Published: Saturday, August 21, 2010

With its long and colorful circus history, Sarasota is an irresistible draw for a daredevil performer like Nik Wallenda, above right. On Friday, he and his wife, Erendira, balanced atop swaypoles during a stunt filmed at St. Armands Circle. The feat was filmed for a Discovery Channel pilot. Fans watched in amazement as the pair swapped swaypoles in mid air. After the stunt fans like Margaux Provencher Marie, 7, could get a signed photo of Nik Wallenda.