Circus arrives for 6-day run
Last year’s Shrine show was marked by a fatal accident involving an elephant handler
Workers unload a truck inside the 109th Field Artillery Armory in Wilkes-Barre to prepare for the Irem Shrine Hamid Circus. The shows begin Monday, with a one-hour outdoor program scheduled for the next day.CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER
BILL O ’ BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com
April 19, 2011
WILKES-BARRE – The Irem Shrine Circus featuring Hamid Circus Inc. begins Monday at the 109th Field Artillery Armory and will feature acrobats, trapeze artists, clowns, tigers and, yes, an elephant.
Jim Hamid, 65, is the third generation of the Hamid circus, which his grandfather began in 1932. He said the Hamid Circus travels as far west as Colorado and can be seen throughout the Midwest, South and East. Meanwhile, preparations continue for the annual circus in Wilkes-Barre. The bleachers have been installed at the armory, waiting for thousands of circus-goers to arrive.Volunteers from the Irem Shrine were on site Monday getting it ready for when the circus comes to town. The circus runs April 25-30.
“It wouldn’t be a circus without an elephant,” said Jim Hamid, circus owner. “Last year we had a tragic incident, a horrific accident. We never expect anything like that to ever happen.”
Andrew Anderton’s death was ruled an accident after the show’s lone elephant, Dumbo, a female African elephant, killed the groomer. Anderton, 48, of Florida, was trying to fix electrical wires in the ceiling attached to the wall that were sparking near the elephant.
The coroner’s report stated the animal was startled after coming in contact with the wires and inflicted traumatic injuries on its groomer.
“Elephants are a part of every circus,” Hamid said. “Elephants are part of the tradition. People love elephants.”
Hamid said he contracts with different people each year for animal acts. Wonderful World of Animals of Peoria, Ill., is the licensed facility that owned the elephant. Hamid said that to his knowledge the elephant was not put to sleep after the 2010 incident. He said the elephant may now be at a zoo or a sanctuary.
Investigation launched
Dave Sacks of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s animal and plant health inspection service, said Monday his office did get a request to investigate the 2010 incident, but he did not know the result of that investigation. He said he will find out what action was taken, if any.
Last year, USDA officials received a letter from the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals requesting the agency investigate the incident and revoke the license of the animal exhibitor who provided the elephant.
This year, Hamid said, the elephant for the circus is owned by a different company. Hamid said the trainer is Tom Demry.
“Every year we change companies to get our animal acts,” Hamid said. “In the case of elephants, usually they are owned by individuals.”
Hamid, 65, is the third generation of the Hamid circus, which his grandfather began in 1932. He said the Hamid Circus travels as far west as Colorado and can be seen throughout the Midwest, South and East.
“We’ve always had a wonderful response to animal acts when we come to Wilkes-Barre,” Hamid said. “The intimacy of the armory is wonderful for the audience. And those high ceilings make it easy for us to rig up.”
Meanwhile, preparations continue for the annual circus. The bleachers have been installed at the armory, waiting for thousands of circus-goers to arrive.
The old, unused Stegmaier Beer Time clock that was used for Wilkes-Barre Barons basketball games decades ago still hovers at the west end of the armory, serving as a memory of legendary days. It has been there for every circus and many other events.
Volunteer drivenBill Patton, co-chairman of this year’s event for the Shriners, said volunteers will be working all week in preparation of the event. He said the bleachers were installed Sunday.
Patton said the Irem Shriners own the bleachers that were purchased after the 1972 Agnes Flood.
“The proceeds from the circus go to the Irem uniform units,” Patton said. “We also handle all of the concession and novelty items.
Amy Oberst, office manager for the Irem Shrine Circus, said there will be a few changes to this year’s circus.
The number of shows has been reduced to 11 from 13, she said, and there will not be a show on Tuesday afternoon or Saturday morning. The Tuesday evening show will start at 6:30 to allow younger children to attend and still make their early bedtimes.
On Tuesday, April 26, at noon, the circus visits the River Common for a one-hour program featuring the ringmaster, some acrobats and animal acts. Shriners will be there with motorcycles.
BILL O ’ BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com
April 19, 2011
WILKES-BARRE – The Irem Shrine Circus featuring Hamid Circus Inc. begins Monday at the 109th Field Artillery Armory and will feature acrobats, trapeze artists, clowns, tigers and, yes, an elephant.
Jim Hamid, 65, is the third generation of the Hamid circus, which his grandfather began in 1932. He said the Hamid Circus travels as far west as Colorado and can be seen throughout the Midwest, South and East. Meanwhile, preparations continue for the annual circus in Wilkes-Barre. The bleachers have been installed at the armory, waiting for thousands of circus-goers to arrive.Volunteers from the Irem Shrine were on site Monday getting it ready for when the circus comes to town. The circus runs April 25-30.
“It wouldn’t be a circus without an elephant,” said Jim Hamid, circus owner. “Last year we had a tragic incident, a horrific accident. We never expect anything like that to ever happen.”
Andrew Anderton’s death was ruled an accident after the show’s lone elephant, Dumbo, a female African elephant, killed the groomer. Anderton, 48, of Florida, was trying to fix electrical wires in the ceiling attached to the wall that were sparking near the elephant.
The coroner’s report stated the animal was startled after coming in contact with the wires and inflicted traumatic injuries on its groomer.
“Elephants are a part of every circus,” Hamid said. “Elephants are part of the tradition. People love elephants.”
Hamid said he contracts with different people each year for animal acts. Wonderful World of Animals of Peoria, Ill., is the licensed facility that owned the elephant. Hamid said that to his knowledge the elephant was not put to sleep after the 2010 incident. He said the elephant may now be at a zoo or a sanctuary.
Investigation launched
Dave Sacks of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s animal and plant health inspection service, said Monday his office did get a request to investigate the 2010 incident, but he did not know the result of that investigation. He said he will find out what action was taken, if any.
Last year, USDA officials received a letter from the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals requesting the agency investigate the incident and revoke the license of the animal exhibitor who provided the elephant.
This year, Hamid said, the elephant for the circus is owned by a different company. Hamid said the trainer is Tom Demry.
“Every year we change companies to get our animal acts,” Hamid said. “In the case of elephants, usually they are owned by individuals.”
Hamid, 65, is the third generation of the Hamid circus, which his grandfather began in 1932. He said the Hamid Circus travels as far west as Colorado and can be seen throughout the Midwest, South and East.
“We’ve always had a wonderful response to animal acts when we come to Wilkes-Barre,” Hamid said. “The intimacy of the armory is wonderful for the audience. And those high ceilings make it easy for us to rig up.”
Meanwhile, preparations continue for the annual circus. The bleachers have been installed at the armory, waiting for thousands of circus-goers to arrive.
The old, unused Stegmaier Beer Time clock that was used for Wilkes-Barre Barons basketball games decades ago still hovers at the west end of the armory, serving as a memory of legendary days. It has been there for every circus and many other events.
Volunteer drivenBill Patton, co-chairman of this year’s event for the Shriners, said volunteers will be working all week in preparation of the event. He said the bleachers were installed Sunday.
Patton said the Irem Shriners own the bleachers that were purchased after the 1972 Agnes Flood.
“The proceeds from the circus go to the Irem uniform units,” Patton said. “We also handle all of the concession and novelty items.
Amy Oberst, office manager for the Irem Shrine Circus, said there will be a few changes to this year’s circus.
The number of shows has been reduced to 11 from 13, she said, and there will not be a show on Tuesday afternoon or Saturday morning. The Tuesday evening show will start at 6:30 to allow younger children to attend and still make their early bedtimes.
On Tuesday, April 26, at noon, the circus visits the River Common for a one-hour program featuring the ringmaster, some acrobats and animal acts. Shriners will be there with motorcycles.
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