Circus models come to town
By CHRIS SHOLLY Staff Writer
05/23/2011
HERSHEY - James B. Rittle of Gretna Springs remembers going to see the Ringling Brothers circus in Reading with his father.
Now, the ringmaster of the Central Pennsylvania chapter of the Circus Model Builders Inc. - known as the Leonard Aylesworth #2 - he spends his time building model circuses.
It isn't the entertainment that draws him to the miniature circus, though.
"Just the mechanics of it, how it's done and why they do it from years ago. The kids today don't see the big top go up unless a small show would come to town. It all comes to together and fits together to make the thing work, to make entertainment," he said.
Rittle's display is part of the annual convention of the Circus Model Builders Inc. being held this year at the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, 161 Museum Drive, Hershey. On Monday, numerous model builders from around the East Coast set up their circuses on the second floor of the museum. The displays will be available for viewing through Thursday afternoon.
Rittle has created a Ringling Brothers-style miniature circus from about 1930. He said he always wanted to build a model circus in miniature but never found the time for it until he retired.
"Well, family came along and that took priority. The circus was always on the backburner," he said.
In 1989, Rittle had a heart attack, and decided if he was going to build a circus, it was now or never.
It would have taken many years to create a circus model from scratch, he said, so he purchased a model from a York County man and added his own touches to that one."The bleachers are made out of tongue depressors and Popsicle sticks," said Rittle's wife, Linda.
Rittle said he has more than a thousand miniature people in the stands under the big top.
"The arms are not attached. They're molded plastic," he said, adding that he and his wife glued the tiny arms and painted each one individually.
Dave Liggett of Lewistown coordinated this year's meeting in Hershey, timed to coincide with the real Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus, which will open Wednesday and run through Monday at the Giant Center in Hershey.
The last convention this chapter has hosted was held in the Hershey Sports Arena in 1961, Liggett said.
"It was a national gathering. Now, we're worldwide," Liggett said.
read more at: http://www.ldnews.com/news/ci_18122480
Now, the ringmaster of the Central Pennsylvania chapter of the Circus Model Builders Inc. - known as the Leonard Aylesworth #2 - he spends his time building model circuses.
It isn't the entertainment that draws him to the miniature circus, though.
"Just the mechanics of it, how it's done and why they do it from years ago. The kids today don't see the big top go up unless a small show would come to town. It all comes to together and fits together to make the thing work, to make entertainment," he said.
Rittle's display is part of the annual convention of the Circus Model Builders Inc. being held this year at the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, 161 Museum Drive, Hershey. On Monday, numerous model builders from around the East Coast set up their circuses on the second floor of the museum. The displays will be available for viewing through Thursday afternoon.
Rittle has created a Ringling Brothers-style miniature circus from about 1930. He said he always wanted to build a model circus in miniature but never found the time for it until he retired.
"Well, family came along and that took priority. The circus was always on the backburner," he said.
In 1989, Rittle had a heart attack, and decided if he was going to build a circus, it was now or never.
It would have taken many years to create a circus model from scratch, he said, so he purchased a model from a York County man and added his own touches to that one."The bleachers are made out of tongue depressors and Popsicle sticks," said Rittle's wife, Linda.
Rittle said he has more than a thousand miniature people in the stands under the big top.
"The arms are not attached. They're molded plastic," he said, adding that he and his wife glued the tiny arms and painted each one individually.
Dave Liggett of Lewistown coordinated this year's meeting in Hershey, timed to coincide with the real Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus, which will open Wednesday and run through Monday at the Giant Center in Hershey.
The last convention this chapter has hosted was held in the Hershey Sports Arena in 1961, Liggett said.
"It was a national gathering. Now, we're worldwide," Liggett said.
read more at: http://www.ldnews.com/news/ci_18122480
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