HOWDY, MY NAME IS BILL STRONG, I'LL BE YOUR "24 HOUR MAN", ROUTING YOU INTO THE PAST TO SEE WHAT THE CIRCUS WAS IN DAYS GONE BY. IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, AND MISS WHAT IT USED TO BE, THEN COME ON ALONG AS WE GO DOWN THE ROAD FOLLOWING THE ARROWS BACKWARDS, TO "YESTERDAY'S TOWNS"! IF YOU HAVE CIRCUS RELATED PICTURES YOU WOULD LIKE POSTED, SEND THEM TO,,,,yesterday1@verizon.net,,,,AND WE WILL TRY TO FIT THEM IN. "24 HOUR MAN" WILL HAVE THE FINAL DECISION ON POSTING.
Three years at CWM made me a real traditionalist, and I keep remembering Bob Parkinson saying, "I want the people to see what the circus used to be, not what it is today. That's what this site is about!
This is a classic photo of Kay Frances that has appeared in literally hundreds of Circus Programs for many many years, Kay wasn't just a Bareback Rider, she also worked Dogs & Ponies, did Rola Bola with her Brother Tommy, including Head to Head, and worked in the Trampoline Act. Her daughter Nellie has proved to be equally multi-talented, but where she really shines is with her excellent Liberty Horse Act.
posted by 24-HOUR-MAN | 10:07 PM
4 Comments:
Nellie has certainly inherited the wonderful warm, quiet but outging personality of her mother and certainly her love o0f animals and the ability to work them. I am pleased to have worked with both of them. Both have the same sense of humour even when times are tough.
I shall never forget the early morning training sessions at Hanneford winter quarters watching John Herriott break Nellie's act. Then the last training day prior to Nellie's departure for Florence, SC...John, let Nellie work the act while he went to the far corner of the training area to watch....
SIDELINE: To Nellie's New horse act...Tommy Hanneford always wanted to play the Old Ringling Building in Venice, FL..Even sent me in to book the building at one time. It never happen but he did pack Nellie and the new act and headed for the building for PR pictures..I guess you would say a Hanneford played the old building afterall under Tommys supervision.....
Tommy was a great showman and here is one of the reasons why. just at the completion of the training of Nellies liberty act I and Tommy were quite aware of the problems with a new act of all green horses in first going on the road. Getting used to lights, music, running on a mat, new harness, wearing plumes,etc. Now everthing was ready. Tailer petioned off, portable stalls built, so Tommy Rented the venice arena for a couple days and we loaded up and moved in just like we were playing a date. ring curb, mat, light standards, sound and cordless mike. backed into the building and set up the stalls. Had Wanda Kay and husband with organ and music and yes did PR photos. Wedid two a day with Nellie in her new wardrobe. It was just great and when we went to the first towns it looked like we knew what we were doing. Katja Schuman showed up to visit in White Plains and we were so nervous and so proud when the act worked good. Tommy indeed would have liked to play the Venice Arena but at that time the building looked pretty shsbby. It was like the twilight zone for me after the glory years I had spent there.
When Trudy had the POA act,(also trained by John Herriott), we visited Carson-Barnes and before the first show Bobby Gibbs went to DR, and said, how about letting Trudy work in the center ring spot, I'd like to see her act. DR said he'd like to see it too, so she did it, the next show Bobby asked if he wanted to do it again, he said yes but put her in a different ring, "if you're going to season 'em, season 'em". In the three days we were there Trudy worked in all five rings it was great for her & the horses.
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