YESTERDAY'S TOWNS

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.

My Photo
Name:
Location: GIBSONTON, FLORIDA, United States

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!

Sunday, September 30, 2007

FOR ANTAR WAZZAN, 80 YEARS YOUNG TODAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANTAR!!!! Here are some memories for you.

ANTAR & BEVERLY

THE WAZZAN TROUPE

ANTAR & FATIMA

ANTAR & FATIMA AGAIN

ANTAR & MAMA ZOPPE

FATIMA & CARLO

THE TROUPE ON HAMID-MORTON


Photos from Penny.

FROM CARIN CRISTIANI RE: THE BOOK "SPANGLES, ELEPHANTS, VIOLETS, & ME", by VICKIE CRISTIANI ROSSI

HEY TRUDY, BILL,
MY SISTER VICKIE'S BOOK JUST CAME OUT ON AMAZON.COM
IT'S A GOOD READ ABOUT THE CRISTIANI FAMILY.
CHECK IT OUT IF YOU GET A CHANCE.
I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD TELL PEOPLE ON YOUR SITE.....
THANKS, HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU GUYS!
CARIN




I was wondering where to use this photo, this is a good place!
OSCAR & MARIAN
Photo from Ninette.

Saturday, September 29, 2007

QUASSAR'S QUIZ: FROM THE HERRIOTT COLLECTION

Johnny sent these two views of a lovely young lady doing a Single Trapeze Act to see if I could guess who it is, I had two ideas, & went with the second one, I was wrong. Let's see how many of you can get it!


Friday, September 28, 2007

AAAAHH DO YOU REMEMBER THESE????, PART TWO

This is another great series of photos from Ninette of acts of the past. Starting out with one of the top thrill acts of all times, "Celeste".


CELESTE, "THE STAR IN THE MOON"
Of all the Airplane Acts, if I had to pick the best special effects it would be this one, when that plane with those long wings started revolving while it went around in circles, the fireworks made a beautiful corkscrew pattern behind it. Then fireworks shot down at an angle from the center of the rigging, and up from the ground, it was a sight to see.

REMEMBER THESE PART TWO: #2

THE TORRIANIS
The first time I met the Torrianis was in 1955 on Polack Easteern, and they were doing a High Wire Act. I remember a little guy in the act named Paulchen, who used to hoard candy bars like they were going to stop making them.


GRETEL



HEINZ



THE TORRE DUO

REMEMBER THESE PART TWO: #3

Here is the Joanides Family

This is Yvonne, Renee, Naida, & Desiree,(not sure of the order of the last two), in the early to mid 1960's.
THE GOLDEN KIDS


This young lady is still performing this trick,,,,over 40 years later.
YVONNE


Here is their father, Johnny, in Madison Square Gardens on Ringling Bros. in the 1950's.
JOHNNY JOANIDES

REMEMBER THESE PART TWO: #4

LES BLOCK'S
I'll have to look to Ninette for names on these two photos.





THE GREAT EUGENE'S

Thursday, September 27, 2007

REMEMBER THESE PART TWO: #5

Here are a couple Acrobatic numbers from the past, the Tuckers act puzzles me because I remember it but I don't remember from where, my "somezheimers" must be acting up again.
I believe the Bogino act is Auralio, I seem to remember hearing he passed away earlier this year.

THE TUCKERS



THE BOGINOS

REMEMBER THESE PART TWO: #6

From opposite ends of the spectrum, two great Single Trapeze Acts,,,,

Working with reckless abandon was, "The Comedy King of the Air".
JIMMY TROY


And the lovely, dainty, "Danish Ballerina".
LA NORMA

REMEMBER THESE PART TWO: #7

In the early 1950's(? I might need correcting on the date), three members of The Great Wallenda's High Wire Act, left & formed their own act. They were Leon Fort, Joe Seitz, & Gene Mendez.


FORTSEITZ & MENDEZ


Later Leon left the act, & it became,,,,
SEITZ & MENDEZ

REMEMBER THESE, PART TWO: #8

Here's another act that was here just before I arrived on the scene, so I missed it.

THE ARRIOLA FAMILY.


Tuesday, September 25, 2007

QUASSAR'S QUIZ: WHO IS THE THIRD MEMBER OF THIS ACT????

This is Pete, & Grace Ivanov on the left so it had to be A Horizontal Bar Act, & with Pete in it, it had to be a good one.

Who is the gentleman on the right?
Photo courtesy of Ninette Parker.

MORE MEMORIES FROM NINETTE.

ROBERT BEAUDY

I remember when Baudy had the Grayhound Act, he had a monkey in the act named Herman, possibly a Stubtail Macaque, but he was one tough customer, they used to chain his cage, which I remember being pretty big, to a post to keep him from turning it over. Les Parker used to walk up to him after the act, hook his hand under Herman's collar & swing him up onto his shoulder, and take him back to his cage.

WE'VE BEEN FIOS'ed!!!!

Do I look better????

I've had a few people ask where I have been for the last couple days.
Last week Trudy decided she would like to have the new Verizon Fiber Optics,(FIOS), so she called and ordered it, and it was scheduled for installation on Mon. the 24th. Sat. morning,(the 22nd) I got on the computer but couldn't get online so I called Verizon to see what the problem was, & they informed me we requested the service be disconnected on the 24th, I reminded them,(to no avail), that it was only the 22nd, the bottom line is, I was offline until the new service was in Mon. afternoon.

Friday, September 21, 2007

THE LADIES AND THEIR TIGERS ACCORDING TO "EVERY WEEK" MAGAZINE, CIRCA 1916

I was going to change the word Tiger to Cats, but then I thought the text with these pictures will probably ruffle some feathers, & bruise some egos, anyway, so we might as well get right to it with, "there are no Tigers pictured, so the author obviously doesn't know what he,(or she), is talking about".







Thursday, September 20, 2007

EXTRA,,,,EXTRA: FROM "O" IN VEGAS

It is my pleasure to announce that effective September 20, 2007 David Chabira will be the new Technical Director of “O”. David has been with the “O” show since before it’s opening in October 1998 and has been the Head Rigger for almost 9 years. David brings to the job a wealth of information of all things “O”. We are very fortunate to have a manager of his caliber in this role. Please join me in welcoming David to his new role.

MORE NEWS FROM VEGAS: BIRTHDAY PARTY!

JUST RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING EMAIL FROM BEVERLY WAZZAN!!!!


We are having a Surprise 80th birthday party for Antar on Sun. Sept.30 at 3:P.M. at our house.

5258 Evaline Lane Las Vegas,Nv. 89120

Thanks,Beverly

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

SNAPSHOTS: SOME GREAT ANIMAL PEOPLE, FROM NINETTE

ALBERT RIX


JACK JOYCE



PINKY & JUNE MADISON

QUASSAR'S QUIZ:SEPT. 16th.

Lee was right again with his guess of Mauricio Drougett Sr., here is the rest of that series of photos of Mauricio & Julie, sent by Ninette.



I never saw this act, but I saw the "Mad Hatters" act they did, & it is sorely missed.