HERE'S ANOTHER PROGRAM FROM GLORIA WILKINSON: DES MOINES, IOWA'S, ZA-GA-ZIG TEMPLE SHRINE CIRCUS 1952

The show was produced by Irving H. Gossman, of the Gus Sun Office, and presented in the KRNT Theater

PROGRAM

Jim Snell's Clown Alley----Mullen's Liberty Ponies----Johnny Ak,(Frog Contortion)----Mullen's aristocratic Canines,(assisted by Gloria Wilkenson)----Bob & Diane,(Roller Skating)---- Betty Alvarade,(Single Trapeze & Spanish Web)----Al Dault & Millicent,(Comedy Tables)----Bob Parry,(Comedy Trampoline On Skis)----Gene Colin,(Musical Act ?)----Wanda Dixon & Bobby,(Seal Act)----Noble Trio,(Parallel Bar Act, possibly with Frank Clark), The Barons, (?).

ZA-GA-ZIG # 2

JOHNNY AK--FROG CONTORTION ACT--I wonder if he was from Wisconsin?

AL DAULT & MILLICENT--COMEDY TABLES In spite of the stack of tables,I don't believe he did "Table Rock".

BETTY ALVARADO--SINGLE TRAPEZE & WEB See how she is wrapped up in the Web, I wonder if Jake sells "Silk"

ZA-GA-ZIG # 3

BOB BARRY--Trampoline on skis

RAY & ARTHUR-- from Sweden

WANDA DIXON & BOBBY

FOR THE GUY DOWN THE ROAD NAMED JIM!!!

Jim I hope you can handle this, here are three snapshots of Trudy, from '58 to '63, I'm sure you will notice a difference.

Penny, Trudy & Joanne on the Texas Dates 1958. Trudy & Jana Corona on the Gil Gray Circus, 1960.

Trudy on Jimmy Douglas Paramont Circus Christmas Show 1963.

HIGH ACTS:

Billy Barton once remarked in his Circus Report column that Mike & Hope Kent were the last of the "High Acts", right away all the Aerial Acts started complaining, not realizing that this was a specific "type" of act. Everyone has their favorite act, and I have many, but the old time High Acts have always been my great love, I remember as a youngster watching Jerry D. Martin at a celebration & have been hooked ever since.

I forgot this act yesterday so had to do a little editing this morning, I guess it figures because no one seems to remember Rudy.


RUDY BERG

Since there is a trapeze bar here I'm sure he did a routine on it

This rigging makes me think of Vino Berosini, who had a boom on one side of his rigging on which he rode a bicycle using a balancing pole.

The worst part of doing a free act was working late at night hoping to hold the crowd on the lot longer.

HIGH ACTS: FROM BOB CLINE THE FOUR QUEENS

Good Morning Bill and Trudy, Please find enclosed several of the original photos that "Fritzie" Hartzman gave me two weeks ago from her performing days with the Four Queens. This is the information she gave me about them. The girls are Sue Aulric, Alfrieda "Fritzie" Small, Marie Kirkourian, and "Boots" Strube. "Boots" husband was Tony Strube, the group's manager and ground man. These photos were taken in 1934 / 1935 on the William Glick Shows carnival where they worked as a Free Act on the midway. The girls put up and took down their own rigging with Tony on the ground tying off. In 1934, Sue Aulric died when she lost her grip on the Breakaway sway pole. After Fritzie left the group in 1937 when she met William Hartzman, the group went to Europe. They worked 110' feet in the air. One girl worked as the catcher of the cradle act while the other three all took turns doing the aerial routines with her. I still don't understand where the breakaway sway pole comes in and maybe it was taken out after Sue was killed, I'm not sure. None the less, this is still a rather unique rigging to me.

Above is 17 year old Fritzie Small in 1935

I can't imagine finding 4 guys who would tackle a rigging like this, let alone 4 girls.

THE FOUR QUEENS #2

Here's the cradle routine. I remember seeing an act like this on Tom Packs in 1957, and they used wooden ladders. I love the little frames they put around snapshots back then.

PEACHES' SKY REVIEW

Probably the most talked about High Act of all was the famous "Peaches Sky Review", it must have been a sight, I did get here too late for this one.

Now there is a rigging, I thought the Kimris outdoors was impressive but this beats them all, I can't even conceive how much work it took to set it up, & tear it down. Maybe someone can come up with the actual height, and how long it took. By the way, I believe the girls did a chorus line on those platforms, complete with high kicks.

PEACHES' SKY REVIEW #2

THE ORIGINAL TWELVE The picture above is from a Wichta Kansas newspaper story about a local boy, who ran away to join the circus, returning to his home town, that boy was Searle Simmons.

Top, Evelyn Reagen, Helen Amandis, & Helene Hartzell.

Kneeling in front, Peaches, Patty Mac, &Marie Peters.

Left side, Elsbeth Cosmo, Annie Robbins,(Edelson), & Vickie Hanneford.

Right side, Bertha Nonnanmacher, Jo Powers, & Wendy Warren.

(Vickie Hanneford was also a member of the six girl review that preceded this act.)

OTHER HIGH ACTS AND UNUSUAL RIGGINGS

THE APOLLOS This was a fairly common type of High Act rigging, a single pole or ladder with rigging on either side, & one or more short Swaypoles on top.

BRUCE ANDERSON

THE BARRETTS I wish I had a view from a little further back to show more of this rigging, as I remember it was a two people act.

THE CONNELEYS This is a very unusual combination, on top seems to be a loop the loop, but a single pole rather than the usual frame. The two hoops remind me of a later act done by Cimse's daughters called "The Sils Sisters".

OTHER HIGH ACTS AND UNUSUAL RIGGINGS #2

DELILAH CANESTRELLI This is Delilah Canestrelli on Ringling Bros. I don't know that she worked any higher as naturally in some buldings the building itself dictated the possibilities. It is definately not the best place to be walking on a Rolling Globe.

BOB TOP & LAUREN This is Bob Top & Lauren also on Ringling Bros. Here they are on a level with the flying act which is usually about 32'.

Indoors or out, I don't remember them working exceptionally high but then again who would blame him , it is obvious there is no room here for mistakes.

(Incidently I just received news that Bob's second wife & partner, Edna Voight passed away on Saturday!)

THE ALLENS This is The Allens on Hamid-Morton Circus in 1954, if you're not familiar with the act, notice there is a motorcycle inside the wheel propelling the rigging, I don't know how or if it was rigged outdoors but it was obviously not for low buildings.

OTHER HIGH ACTS #3: TELL TEIGEN

TELL TEIGEN I'm posting Tell Tiegen by himself because he was truly "one of a kind", in the air probably the most daring, & unique of all the "High Acts" and on the ground, a great personality, always in a good mood, & always greeted you with a smile on his face.

NEW BLOGGER

After being hounded to death to change to New Blogger every time I log in to create, or edit a post, I finally gave in, if for no other reason, just to shut them up.

So bear with me & hopefully it won't take me as long to learn the new way as it did to learn the old one, of course by that time, they'll change it again!!!!

It makes me recall a phone conversation with Buckles about upgrades, etc., in reply to something Barbara said in the background he said, "I'm an old man, I like things the way they are". My sentiments exactly!!!!

IN MEMORY OF SARAH BROWN COLE

Sarah Brown Cole passed away this morning in St Cloud FL. Hospital, after a 5 week illness.

She was the mother of popular CFA, & CMB member, James S. Cole.

IN MEMORY OF ANDY ANDERSON

Andy Anderson, husband of Jenny Wallenda, passed away Saturday night of a heart attack.
Andy, left, with Hub Hubble at the Showfolks Flea Market last December.

FROM PENNY,ANNE PIKE: ONE TOUGH SHOW GAL

Her friends called her "Texas Annie", and she had a lot of them, & a heart as big as Bobby Gibbs!!!!

WE MISS YOU ANNIE!

TEXAS ANNIE: #2: WITH BABY ROXIE

Here is Annie working with "Baby Roxie", who belonged to GeeGee's sister Roxie.

TEXAS ANNIE # 3: MORE OF BABY ROXIE

WAITING IN THE WINGS

TEXAS ANNIE # 4

ON ROBERTS BROS. CIRCUS

ANNIE & LISA

TEXAS ANNIE # 5

ALOHA Y'ALL
Norma & Annie in Hawaii.

FROM JO-ANN ANDERSON'S SCRAPBOOK: THE HOFMEISTERS

This is Jo-Ann's father J.A. "Bob" Hofmeister presenting his Liberty Act of 8 Beautiful Appaloosa Stallions. as "Chief Joseph".
This act was later sold to Circus Vargas, where it was worked by Billy Baker

HOFFMEISTER #2 EXTRAS

Bob was best known for the Appaloosa Liberty Act, but here are some of other animal the Hofmeisters worked with.

LIBERTY MULES
This Liberty Mule Act as you can see included a spotted Mule & a Zebra, Bob would on occasion work it in a White Gorilla suit.

VIOLA HOFMEISTER
Jo-Ann's mother Viola working with one of their dogs

BOB & AYA
This young elephant was later sold to Bucky Steele, & GeeGee, and her name was changed to Roxie.

ROLLER SKATING MULE

ANDERSON'S TEXAS WHITE HORSE TROUPE

I could go on posting photos of the Andersons, doing Roman Riding, Chariots, Garland Entries, and even a WHite Wedding Carriage pulled by some of their beautiful Albino horses, but here are some of them with their Liberty Acts.


Hofmeister's Liberty Mules
The mules are being worked here by Jo-Ann in Kansas City, 1962.

JO-ANN ANDERSON


DON ANDERSON