PERU REVIEW: FROM GEORGE HUBLER

This came in while I was encarcerateted at "Brandon Regional Whatever" I didn't see it till just now or I would have posted it sooner.

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Perfect weather, Precise Peformances, and a Pompous Parade, highlighted Peru Indiana's Annual Circus City Festival
July 15 - 21

The mind boggling Amateur Circus continued with capacity crowds in its own 2500 seat Arena located on Broadway in the heart of town. The Arena has its own Circus Museum, not to be confused with Circus Hall of Fame located 4 miles East of town on Hwy 124.

Boasting more aerial riggings than any combination of shows in the US, this HUGE show has nearly 300 young performers (some have gone to Monte Carlo), a 40 person (male & female) prop crew, and a fantastic 45 person band.

With a 65' ceiling, most aerial acts work very high up.
There were at least five displays with 22 aerial acts working at the same time. Most impressive highlights are the 8 person flying act with two overhead catchers, and the incredible 8 girl high wire act. After performing a dangerous shoulder to shoulder forward leap by three duos, the Piece de resistance of this thrilling performance, made Circus History
with the only All Girl 7 person pyramid. At the Friday night show, as the standing ovation subsided, a male figure was seen walking up the incline support cable. Climax after climax as this turned out to be surprise guest artist, and high wire legend, PEDRO CARILLO SR. Having just flown in from Reno, Pedro joined the girl troupe, with extra thrills with his traditional dance steps, head stand, chair balance, and heart
stopping rope skipping.

If anyone missed animals in this all people show, they were rewarded with a last minute booking of Julius Von Uhl's Wild Animal Circus. He had an attractive set up on Broadway, right next to the Arena front door. Safe bleachers along the curb plus standing room, nicely painted ring curb, steel arena for his new tiger act, and a performing area for Twiggy the huge Afri;can Elephant, and daughter Victoria Diamonds's goat act, made for an attractive setup at the start of the 6 block long midway...Linda Von Uhl was the Ring Hostess. This
attraction made front page photo and caption: "Wild Animals on the streets of Peru!"

10:00 am next morning saw the Pompous Parade start on time with the cooperation of beautiful weather. Circus Hall of fame furnished 21 authentic wagons, all freshly painted with plenty of real gold leaf. Great job by the week long
clean up crew at the Hall of fame and old winter quarters of the American Circus Corp, once home to Sells Floto - Hgenbeck Wallace and John Robinson.. Peru Amatuer Circus also had its 5 wagons in he parade, one of which was Terrell Jacobs arena wagon, with a flashy paint job. Although the Cole show wintered in nearby Rochester, some of its wagons ended up at Terrell's farm on R 31 just North of Grissom Air Base. The barns are still there (I helped build one) along with two rusting Cole wagons, and the ever growing weeds.

Highlights of the Peru Parade were the impressive and beautiful teams of draft horses complete with gorgeous
leather trappings. This is the only authentic horse drawn Circus Parade in America, and has grown in size and quality to be a very close No. 2 to the late Milwaukee Parade. It will be repeated again at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis in August.... Pete Adams CFA President was honored in the Parade, and Pedro Carrillo was honorary Parade Master. He joined Ray Gronso and Gordon Taylor and me in the
Court House bleachers after passing in review.

Parade over, short refresh at the Circus City Best Western and on to the Hall of Fame. Besides the American Circus Corp. Peru is the home of Clyde Beatty, Emmett Kelly, Terrell Jacobs, Mickey King, Julius Von Uhl.