YOU'VE GOT CLOWNS!

 

China’s Shandong Circus Troupe Stars in Cirque du Soleil’s DRALION
from:  asianweek.com
By AsianWeek Staff
September 14, 2012
China’s Shandong Circus Troupe will be performing in Cirque du Soleil’s DRALION opening at the Stockton Arena on Wednesday, October 17. There are 25 performers (six girls and 19 boys) from China’s troupe in the show. Here’s a sneak peak at some of the acts:

Derived from Chinese acrobatic tradition, the Hoop Diving act takes on a tribal flavor from the African-influenced music to which it is performed. Ten male artists dive and throw themselves like arrows through small wooden hoops. The hoops are stacked on top of each other; some are stationary while others rotate. Photo courtesy of http://www.cirquedusoleil.com

This act requires great strength and flexibility. Displaying impressive control, the artist balances on canes of various heights, slowly executing a series of astounding figures while maintaining a delicate equilibrium. Photo courtesy of http://www.cirquedusoleil.com

The diabolo, or Chinese yo-yo, is a children’s game which involves holding two sticks linked by a string while sliding, juggling and tossing a wooden spool. With increasingly difficult maneuvers, the artists attempt to outdo each other in dexterity and ingenuity. Photo courtesy of http://www.cirquedusoleil.com

 

 

A blend of traditional Chinese dragon and lion dances takes on new scope when reimagined by Cirque du Soleil. In a dynamic and energetic tumbling sequence, the artists perform acrobatic moves while balancing on large wooden balls as the dralion characters surround them with a spirited dance. Photo courtesy of http://www.cirquedusoleil.com


Circus Smile

Uploaded by Acircussmile on Oct 29, 2011

Let us make you SMILE!

National Circus of China comes to Livermore, Berkeley

CIRQUE CHINOIS The Chinese national circus, Cirque Chinois, with its world-renowned acrobats, comes to the Bankhead Theater on Friday.
By Randy McMullen
Contra Costa Times
09/14/2012
The world-renowned Cirque Chinois, the National Circus of the People's Republic of China, is helping the East Bay fall arts season get off to a flying start.

The circus opens the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center's fall season on Sept. 14, before moving to Cal Performances at UC Berkeley for performances on Sept. 15 and 16.

The renowned troupe is known to engage in eye-popping feats of acrobatics, juggling, juggling, contortion, and airborn theatrics.

The Sept. 14 show at Livermore's Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., is at 7:30 p.m., and is currently listed as sold out. Contact 925-373-6800 or www.mylvpac.com to check for any late ticket releases.

Cirque Chinois performs 8 p.m. Sept. 15 and 3 p.m. Sept. 16 at Zellerbach Hall Bancroft Way and Telegraph Avenue on the UC Berkeley campus. Tickets are $22-$52; contact 510-642-9988 or www.calperformances.org.

 



Circo Victor Hugo Cardinali - Leoes Brancos

Published on Sep 14, 2012 by goncaloteixeiradiniz

Crias de Leão Branco nascidas no Circo Victor Hugo Cardinali!

Primeiros treinos das crias com Victor Hugo Cardinali Júnior!

Dog act that won 'America's Got Talent' performed with Circus Flora

 

Father and son Nicolas (left) and Richard Olate with two of their star dogs, Lilly and Loca. Olate Dogs won Season 7 of "America's Got Talent."

(Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
 BY GAIL PENNINGTON • Post-Dispatch Television Critic
from: stltoday.com
Sept. 16, 2012
Olate Dogs, the performing-canine act that won Season 7 of "America's Got Talent" Thursday night on NBC, performed in St. Louis with Circus Flora in June and again in December.

"Richard Olate, his family and his dogs come to Circus Flora from Chile, where Olate discovered his talent as an animal trainer with an abundance of stray dogs," Circus Flora said at the time.

Olate Dogs were chosen winners over a human comedian, Tom Cotter. Judge Sharon Osbourne, who is leaving the show after this season, was a big champion of the dogs throughout the season; after their win, she handed out hugs all around.

Olate Dogs won $1 million (awarded as an annuity) and a headlining show in Las Vegas.

Circus raises tent Thursday in Jackson

 

The big top makes a return to Northampton County next week. Walker Brothers Circus will have two shows at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center.
from: rrdailyherald.com
by Jacqueline Hough
September 14, 2012
JACKSON, NC— The big top makes a return to Northampton County next week.

Walker Brothers Circus will have two shows at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center.

“It gives the family fun and excitement,” said Judy Collier, executive director of the Northampton County Chamber of Commerce, which is sponsoring the event.

Advance tickets are $12 for adults age 15 and older, which includes two tickets for children ages 2 to 14. Cost is $15 at the door for adults age 15 and older, which includes two tickets for children.

Collier said it is a good deal for parents.

Concessions featuring hot dogs, snow cones, cotton candy and soft drinks will be for sale.

The Walker Brothers Circus has come to Jackson three times in the past, but Collier said this show will feature new acts. They include an aerialist, acrobatics, magic, comedy and more.

“It is great for the kids,” Collier said. “I hope citizens will take advantage of going to the circus.”

James E Strates Carnival Train

2012

Published on Sep 13, 2012 by Shermanta

After leaving the New York State Fair, NS 048 came southbound with NS 2627 & 6752 to the NS Buffalo Line to Harrisburg, PA, then continued westbound on the NS Lurgan Branch to Danville, VA.

 

Wineka column: Corky Powers is king of the midway


Corky Powers busily helps drivers position rides in the proper location. Powers Great American Midways is setting up for the Cabarrus County Fair at the Cabarrus Arena this week. After the fair is over, Powers will be packing up and heading North to Rowan County for the Rowan County Fair which opens on September 17.
Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.
By Mark Wineka
from:  salisburypost.com
Thursday, September 13, 2012
CONCORD - Corky Powers is the mayor, the man, the boss.
 His walkie-talkie is always crackling at him with familiar voices, wanting him to make a decision or asking him what to do next.
 Powers thrives on this stress of being pulled in every direction. He's a master of logistics and as good a weatherman as any farmer.
 Chugging back and forth across the fairgrounds in his Kubota utility cart, Powers builds his midway one ride, food trailer and game vendor at a time.
 But Les "Corky" Powers would rather talk about family - how his wife, their four children, the kids' spouses, six grandchildren, nieces and nephews are involved in Powers Great American Midways.

 

Corky Powers busily helps drivers position rides in the proper location. Powers Great American Midways is setting up for the Cabarrus County Fair at the Cabarrus Arena this week. After the fair is over, Powers will be packing up and heading North to Rowan County for the Rowan County Fair which opens on September 17.
Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.
In all, 19 family members live this demanding carnival life.
"It's a passion for us," Corky says. "You either love it or you leave it."
This week, Powers Great American Midways is set up at the Cabarrus County Fair. When the fair closes Saturday night, the escape-from-reality midway Powers created will be torn down, loaded and trucked to the Rowan County Fairgrounds.
Starting Sunday, the crews who work for Powers will unload, build and position much of the same equipment again for the Rowan County Fair's opening Monday night.
They'll know where rides go because Corky Powers or his son Eddie will have marked the spots on the ground with lines of orange spray paint.
Corky Powers started in this business 32 years ago with three rides.
Now he has 58 rides, 350 people on the payroll, a fleet of 50 trucks, an expansive year-round shop and multi-million-dollar insurance coverage.

Workers with Powers Great American Midways are busy setting up rides and food vendor trailers for the Cabarrus County Fair at the Cabarrus Arena this week. After the fair is over, Powers will be packing up and heading North to Rowan County for the Rowan County Fair which opens on September 17.

Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.
Powers also is the midway operator for the N.C. State Fair, one of the best state fairs in the country. In each of the past two years, the State Fair has drawn more than a million people during its run in October.
For that event - his biggest - Powers brings in other operators and creates four different midways with a total of 110 rides, not counting the food concessions, games and sideshows, for which Powers essentially acts as landlord.
Powers uses some of the county fairs in North Carolina, such as those in Cabarrus and Rowan counties, as stepping stones toward the State Fair in Raleigh.
"It takes them all," Powers says of putting together a year of events, including this fall season in North Carolina. "It's all about logistics, too,"
Though it may seem small compared to the State Fair in Raleigh or the Great Allentown Fair in Pennsylvania, the Rowan County Fair will still have 30-plus rides, Powers adds.
Overall, Powers' Rochester, N.Y.-based operation goes to carnivals and fairs in seven states from New York to North Carolina.
read more:
http://www.salisburypost.com/News/091312-Corky-Powers-and-Midway

 

 

America's Got Talent Results 2012: Winner Is...Olate Dogs

 

(Photo : Virginia Sherwood/NBC)

 AMERICA'S GOT TALENT -- Episode 730 -- Pictured: (l-r) Nick Cannon, Olate Dogs.

By Sally Garcia

from:  EnStarz

Sep 13, 2012

The "Olate Dogs," a dog act led by a 55-year-old man Richard Olate, and his son Nicholas Olate won "America's Got Talent" 2012 Thursday night taking home a $1 million dollar prize, a show in Las Vegas.

After their last performance yesterday, judge Howard Stern said they got a level of expertise of training with the dogs that he had never seen before.  Olate grew up in South America in a poor family and has performed in a circus since he was 12. The "Olate Dogs" currently has four completely different dog acts. Most of Richard's dogs are rescues from shelters. 

Watch the "Olate Dogs" Finale Performance Below

Read more at http://www.enstarz.com/articles/6637/20120913/americas-got-talent-results-2012-winner-olate-dogs.htm#8svBRLqJHj4hbZTf.99

BILL PRICKETT LOOKS BACK AT--

FRANZEN BROS CIRCUS

1993 AND 1995

All photos by Bill Prickett

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR OPENS

 

 

Billboard Message Now On Bumper Stickers

from: dfw.cbslocal.com

Big Geek Daddy

Parkour Dog

The super dog featured doing Parkour in this video is TreT, an American Staffordshire Terrier from the Ukraine. I love watching this dog run, jump, and climb over whatever obstacle is in his path.

 

 Cole Bros. Circus Comes to Watkinsville
Catch the fun under the big top Sept. 17-Sept. 19.

 

Cole Brothers Circus is coming to Bull Run this weekend.

Credit courtesy Cole Bros.
By Kristi Palmer
from: oconee.patch.com
September 12, 2012
The Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars will be at Heritage Park in Wakinsville Sept. 17 through Sept. 19. Heritage Park is located at 2543 Macon Highway.
This circus, that has been in operation since 1884, still takes place under the "Big Top," a huge canvas arena. The circus includes performers such as clowns, Romanian Acrobats, magicians, illusionists, aerial ballets and several different circus daredevils. Animal performances include elephants, Royal Bengal Tigers and cartoon poodles.

 

 

The "big-top" tents of Cole Bros.Circus.

 Credit Connie Gillies
Free children's tickets may be printed online. General admission tickets are $21 per adult and $16 per child. Reserved seating is $25 per adult and $20 per child. Tickets may be purchased online. Watkinsville shows are scheduled twice daily at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m

Culpepper & Merriweather Circus comes to Guthrie

 

 

Submitted by Kim Querry
from:  guthrie.kfor.com
Wednesday, September 12th, 2012,
A family favorite in the circus world will be wowing residents in Guthrie next week. The magnificent Culpepper & Merriweather Circus will be coming to town on Wednesday, September 19, 2012. Visitors are encouraged to come out and see the raising of the Big Top from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m, followed by a free tour of the grounds. During that time, guests will receive a unique face-to-face opportunity to meet with members of the circus. The real fun begins at 4 p.m. with pony rides, moon bounces and concessions before the big show. The first show will take place form 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the second will be from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The circus will feature everything from trapeze artists, jugglers and lion tamers. Tickets purchased in advance will be $6 for children and $9 for adults, However, prices increase to $7 for children and $12 for adults the day of the show. For more information, call 1-866-BIG-TOP-6

The Gwinnett County fair is coming to town
from: 11alive.com
by Holly Pennebaker
Sep 12, 2012 

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- The annual Gwinnett County Fair will begin on Thursday at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville.

Running from Thursday until September 23, this year's fair will include amusement rides, fun houses, pageants, food and live entertainment.

Adults will pay $5 to get in. The cost for seniors is $2, Kids 6-12 will pay $2 and children under 6 are admitted without charge.

On Monday through Friday, hours are 4 - 11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. until midnight and Sunday from 1 - 10 p.m.

Safety comes first before the Great Frederick Fair opens
Inspectors check rides and food, warn of swine flu dangers

 

Tom Fedor/The Gazette

Bill Wallace of Michigan works Monday on the Giant Gondola Wheel at as crews set up amusements for the The Great Frederick Fair in Frederick Md.
from:  gazette.net
by Ryan Marshall Staff writer
Thursday, September 13, 2012
As the midway for the Great Frederick Fair began to come together Tuesday, Jeff Alberts was overseeing a flurry of activity.
Teams of workers assembled the rides, moving panels and hammering pieces into place, as supervisors zipped around in golf carts, and tractor-trailers moved rides and other supplies.

In a white hard hat, white long-sleeved T-shirt with black grease spots, sunglasses and shorts, Alberts sometimes shouted to make himself heard over the dull roar of the trucks and the generators that would power the rides.

Alberts is the safety supervisor for Reithoffer Shows, the company based outside of Tampa, Fla., that supplies the rides to the fair.

Reithoffer has brought about 45 rides to Frederick, most of which have to be assembled at each stop and then torn down when it’s time to move to the next town.
read more at:
http://www.gazette.net/article/20120913/NEWS/709139876/1018/safety-comes-first-before-the-great-frederick-fair\opens&template=gazette

Big E launches 17-day annual fair with an alphabet-list of food, rides, entertainment, shopping

The Republican | Michael S. Gordon
Michael Bradshaw changes the light bulbs and color covers on the Mini Jets ride at the Big E, which opens Friday in West Springfield.
By Mike Plaisance, The Republican
from:  malive.com
September 14, 2012
Think of it as 17 days of doing and eating stuff your parents and doctors would rather you didn’t, and with a Ferris wheel in the background.

The annual fair of the Eastern States Exposition — the Big E — begins today and runs through Sept. 30 at the fairgrounds on Memorial Avenue in West Springfield.

Midway rides let you play around with gravity and the Big E Cream Puff is a small planet of depravity.

Big E officials said 1,201,428 people attended last year’s fair.

“It’s a place where you can find anything, whether it’s a commercial product or a food product. The shopping is unending. There’s so much here, there’s something that appeals to everyone,” said Eugene J. Cassidy, Big E president and chief executive officer.

Cassidy marks his first Big E as CEO but he has been a Big E employee since 1993, when he became director of finance. He took over in June from G. Wayne McCary, who retired after having led the Big E since 1991.
read more:
http://www.masslive.com/the-big-e/index.ssf/2012/09/big_e_launches_17-day_annual_fair_with_an_alphabet-list_of_food_rides_entertainment_shopping.html

 

What's New at The 2012 Big E?

 

FROM:  wwlp.com
Thursday, 13 Sep 2012
The 2012 Big E hosts new and exciting exhibits and events, top-notch performers and entertainment, returning Fair favorites and of course, fabulous food and fun for the whole family, Sept. 14-30!
read more:
http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/whats-new-at-the-2012-big-e

 



How To Train Hop from Jeff Seal on Vimeo.

Last year, after he returned from a four day rail jaunt, we asked Seal how dangerous this sort of thing really is (it's obviously illegal). He told us, "I guess it's dangerous, but I don't know. It's one of those things where if you know what you're doing, it's not that dangerous. I wasn't too worried. I guess if I got my legs chopped off I would be kind of screwed, but I don't know. I didn't think that would happen." And look—one year later, and he's still got both stems!

Enjoy the big top, feel right at home at Lewis and Clark Circus

 

 

Trapeze artists, and acrobats will take over Boiling Springs Community Park on Saturday during the Lewis and Clark circus.
By Dustin Wyatt
dustin.wyatt@shj.com
from: groupstate.com
Thursday, August 30, 2012

Trapeze artists, acrobats, camels and clowns will take over Boiling Springs Community Park on Saturday.
The S.C.-based Lewis and Clark Circus will start under the big top at 4 and 7 p.m.

Cleon Graves, the park's chairman, said the show gives families and children all of the fun of the circus without having to go to a bigger city or pay a lot of money.

“This is one of the few circuses left that is actually under the big top,” he said. “It's really good. And with two showtimes, it gives more people the opportunity to come.”

Attendees can step right up and watch performers balance on cylinders stacked seven high, or watch as a woman hangs by her hair high above the ground. There will be high-flying trapeze artists, high-wire artists, acrobats, jugglers, horses, camels, performing goats and more.

The circus midway, open before showtime, will feature pony and camel rides, concessions, a free petting zoo and much more, according to a news release.
But Graves says the clowns are his personal favorite.

“You've got certain clowns that involve members of the community, and that proves to be a big thing,” he said. “The kids love participating.”

Food such as hot dogs and popcorn will be sold.

“This is a good, clean show,” Graves said. “It's local people in South Carolina putting this on, and it works out great.”


Lewis & Clark Circus in Boiling Springs
from: Spartanburg Herald Tribune
Sept 1, 2012
FOTOS BY ALEX HICKS JR/alex.hicks@shj.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~~a note from the balloonman~~
Sept. 14-16
 Lewis and Clark Circus wil be at the Tri-State Exhibition Center in McDonald, Tn. Showtimes are Friday, Sept. 14, at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 15, at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 16, at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m.

 

Boxer Dog in Roncalli Circus 2012

Published on Apr 13, 2012 by Leosdogs1

The knowledge of psychology of dogs and feeling of behavior of an animal, sense of comedy and an infinite ingenuity let me create a performance which does not leave spectators indifferent.

Roncalli on Tour 2011

Uploaded by Kronefotos on May 17, 2011

Shrine Circus comes to town this weekend

 

Special to the Ledger-Enquirer Elephants are a popular part of the Shrine Circus, which comes to the Columbus Civic Center this weekend.
from:  ledger-enquirer.com
By SONYA SORICH — ssorich@ledger-enquirer.com
September 13, 2012
Columbus, GA--Guests at this weekend's Shrine Circus don't need to worry about where they'll sit.

"There's not a bad seat in the house. It's a full-blown, three-ring circus. That's a big deal right there," said Mark Cantrell, circus chairman and director for the Columbus-Fort Benning Shrine Club.

The circus comes to the Columbus Civic Center Saturday and Sunday. It will feature a wide assortment of animals, death-defying acts and more.

While you can usually expect crowd favorites like elephants, tigers and lions, Cantrell said the Shrine Circus is anything but predictable.

"They change the show each and every year," Cantrell said.

Special to the Ledger-Enquirer A bear performs at a previous Shrine Circus.

He calls the event a clean, safe opportunity for family fun. "That's our No. 1 priority: people feeling good," Cantrell said. The local Shrine Club gave away 60,000 free tickets to students at local schools.
"It's a souvenir ticket that they can feel proud of," Cantrell said.

The organization will also give away two bikes per show this weekend. There are two ways to win. Children can enter a general random drawing. There's also a junior Shrine clown contest. Children dressed as clowns will be entered in a random drawing.

Proceeds from the circus will support the Columbus-Fort Benning Shrine Club and its projects. The group gives back to the community in multiple ways.

The Columbus-Fort Benning Shrine Club is giving five local high school marching bands the chance to showcase their skills at circus performances this weekend. The club will donate $500 to each band that performs.

"It's a memory they will never forget," Cantrell said of the musicians.

Of course, the local Shrine Club remains committed to helping patients at Shriners Hospitals for Children as well.

The circus will support a transportation fund that focuses largely on taking local patients to a Shriners Hospital in South Carolina.

Shriners Hospitals provide orthopedic, burn, spinal cord injury and cleft lip and palate care to children under 18.

Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2012/09/13/2199388/shrine-circus-comes-to-town-this.html#storylink=cpy