THE BALLOON MAN

Circus topic of special presentation

 

Alfred Cook presented a special program about the circus to classes at Collins Middle School.
from: fayettetribune.com
August 6, 2012
Oak Hill, W.Va.--Alfred Cook presented his “History of the Circus” program on May 22 for the students of Marsha Cook’s Newspaper 7/8 and Language Arts 7 classes.
 Cook is an amateur circus historian and circus model builder. His program included a talk on the circus arriving by train in American towns in the 1930s and ’40s, displays of colorful circus posters and programs and a miniature circus hand-built by Cook.
 Cook is the contact person for Circus Model Builders, Inc.’s Roland Butler Ring #90, one of the two West Virginia rings. The Roland Butler Ring derives its name from Roland Butler who was advertising agent and art director for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Clyde Beatty Circus during the 1930s-1950s.
 Cook displayed his miniature circus at the Raleigh County Public Library in 2009 and the Shady Spring Public Library in 2011.
 Circus Model Builders is presently conducting a membership drive in Southern West Virginia.