SNAPSHOTS FROM BERTHA #1: QUASSAR'S QUIZ,

FROM BERTHA NONENMACHER CAMPISI

Now if you realize you have seen these folks recently, don't let that fool you as to who they are!!!!

SNAPSHOTS FROM BERTHA #2: THE ZOPPE ZAVATTA TROUPE

Left to right,(back row), Secondo,(their Father), Joe, & Enrico;(middle row), Yolonda, & Germania; (seated), Francesco,(Kiko).

SNAPSHOTS FROM BERTHA #3: THE JIM WONG TROUPE

I know they've been here before, but how could I pass up such a great photo!

THE JIM WONG TROUPE
From top to bottom, Joe, Sung, & Lum, with Jackie on the left.

IN MEMORY: PAUL A. MILLER

Many an act spent the Winter months working on Paul Miller's combination Circus-Carnival when he played shopping centers around Florida.


OBITUARY

FROM PENNY WILSON RODRIGUEZ: THE ST LEON'S TEETERBOARD TROUPE

ST LEONS #2: MICKEY RODRIGUEZ

WITH THE ST LEON TROUPE
This is probably mid 1950's.

ST LEONS #3: CLOWNING AROUND

MICKEY & PELUSA
This is actually on Polack Bros. when Mickey was with Bobby Yerkes' Teeterboard Act, "The Braytons"

Correction from Penny, it was Bobby Yerkes & Fay Alexander's Teeterboard Act, "The Fabrays".

ST LEONS #4: TRIPLE SOMERSAULT

This is Mickey, with The St Leons, doing the Triple to the Shoulder Chair.

OTTAVIO CANESTRELLI: CHICAGO MEMORIAL TRIBUTE

RINGLING BROTHERS AND BARNUM & BAILEY "COURIER", 1935

R.B.B.B. 1935 #2: THE BROTHERS 5 & PARTNERS

I had considered posting this picture upside-down, indicating "distress", or that they had rolled over in,"etc.", but thought it would be a "sacrilege". Needless to say, "they wouldn't recognize the old place".

R.B.B.B. 1935 #3: THE STATISTICS

R.B.B.B. 1935 #4: CIRCUS CHAMPIONS

There are some familiar names here!

R.B.B.B. 1935 #5: "IDOL OF AMERICAN YOUTH", COL. TIM McCOY.

R.B.B.B. 1935 #6: A MULTITUDE OF MARVELS & BEAUTIFUL STARS

R.B.B.B. 1935 #7: ELEPHANTS, & ZEBRAS, & CHILDREN,,,,"OF ALL AGES"

R.B.B.B. 1935 #8: MENAGERIE

R.B.B.B. 1935 #9: ANIMAL A-B-C'S

R.B.B.B. 1935 #10: BACK COVER

IN MEMORY: VASHEK SCHEICH

I just received this sad news from Darlene Williams.





Hi Bill
I don't know if my mom got a chance to call you but
our cousin Vashek Scheich passed away early Sunday
morning.

Vashek's Memorial Service is planned for this
Thursday, January 31. Anyone wishing to send
condolences to the family can do so to:

Scheich Family
10230 N.W. 48th Court
Coral Springs, Florida 33076

Thanks
Darlene WIlliams
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NOTES FROM THE OLD "BILLBOARD" 1912.

Al G. Barnes, Twenty-five double length specially constructed railroad cars will be needed to transport the show, which includes two cars for the advance. (3/2/12).

FROM JIM COLE: ANOTHER " CIRCUS KID" EXCELLING IN ANOTHER FIELD

I received this email from Jim Cole this evening,(01/27/08)

I just got a phone call from Tino Cristiani telling me that his 18 year old son Calen did extremely well at a speed skating competition in Cleveland, OH this past weekend. Calen works in the Cristiani Bros. trampoline act along with his brother Mateo and his dad. They had just done the Saginaw, MI date, and stopped in Cleveland on the way back to FL.

Calen took a sudden interest in speed skating 2 years ago, and has been training at an ice rink in Kissimmee, FL. He previously had very little experience on the ice, however his circus / gymnastics background gave him the balance and leg strength to go into this difficult sport. There is an article about him in www.Circus4Youth.org Look in FEATURES.

Calen placed first in the 1000 meter race, and was well on his way to winning additional events. However a very rough ice surface caused he and many other skaters to fall. He non the less logged some very impressive speed times in his first ever competitive event.

Calen Cristiani entered the race virtually unknown by his co-racers and event organizers. They sure know who that "Circus Acrobat Guy" is now!

The 2010 Winter Olympics is his ultimate goal. His father is hoping to attract a sponsor for Calen, perhaps within the circus community.

CALEN CRISTIANI

IN MEMORY OF: CHUCK OSAK, A SHOWMAN'S FRIEND

For those of you who weren't acquainted with Chuck, he was the owner of SHOWTOWN BAR & GRILL, and SHOWTOWN ASSOCIATES, supplying Truck Permits & Licenses, among other services in his office next to Showtown.

Chuck passed away last Thursday night, he was a true friend to all Showmen, and will be missed.

NOTES FROM THE OLD "BILLBOARD" 1912

Young Buffalo's Wild West and Col. Frederick T. Cummins' Far East and Indian Congress were combined. Opens at Peoria April 27. (3/9/12)

THE SUNDAY MOVIE:CARSON & BARNES CIRCUS

Now, anybody who don't like this,,,,don't like ice cream!!!!
This is from Kent Ghirard's home movie collection.

CARSON-BARNES #2 & 3

CARSON-BARNES #4 & 5

RECEIVED THIS PHOTO IN TWO SEPERATE EMAILS YESTERDAY,,,,I CAN TAKE A HINT!

WEDDING BLISS
Mr. & Mrs. Pedro Reis,they are a lovely couple,,,,,,,,of course we already knew that!

Their, CIRCUS SARASOTA,2008 edition, "SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS", will open with the special performance for Circus Families on January 31st.

NOTES FROM THE OLD "BILLBOARD", 1912

Kit Carson Buffalo Ranch will open April 1. (3/16/12)

Riggs' Wild West will not go out this season (3/16/12)

LaMont Bros., of wagon show fame, are framing up a two-car circus at Salem, Ill., their winter quarters. (3/9/12)

FROM JOANNE:BACK STAGE AT "THE FOLLIES"

JIM SWAFFORD, JOANNE WILSON,& "JUMPER", AND GIL MILLER
In "The Green Room", at the famous "Palm Springs Follies"!

QUASSAR'S QUIZ: MIKE NAUGHTON, U AXED 4 IT!

Not Circus but close, this is not so much to see who can identify this lovely lady, but how many. Just remember, if you know who she is,"you're old"!

FROM KIM SUE ON BILLY MARTIN'S "COLE ALL STAR"

Hi ...just wanted to send this pic. to u...Charlie and Joyce Van Buskirk came to visit, it was great to see them, Vlastek was on his toes in the unicycle act. They live in Bradford, N.Y. where the Cole All Star appeared tonite.Maybe you can blog this w/ a little history on them. Billy made a them take a bow, and told the audience how Charlie was one of his inspirations...the spent many years w/ them on Vidbel's Olde Tyme Circus. Thanks...all is good and cold here...but we're keepin' warm. Love and miss u


Left to right are Angela Martin, Charlie, & Joyce Van Buskirk, and Billy Martin.

THE CYCLONIANS: JOYCE & CHARLIE VAN BUSKIRK

What can I say to describe the Van Buskirks????

UNICYCLISTS SUPREME

GOOD FRIENDS

GREAT PEOPLE

FABULOUS ACT

NOTES FROM THE OLD "BILLBOARD" 1912

Frank A. Robbins, purchased all of the cages at the sale of the Dan Robinson Show at Indianapolis, Ind. This makes the total number of cages twenty-five. The aviary has been augmented by the addition of a very handsome Ostrich, and a pair of Rhea. As it already has a Casowary and an Emu, this makes a splendid collection of running birds.(1/20/12)

GET WELL WISHES: JOHN HERRIOTT

For those who are unaware, John Herriott spent the weekend in the hospital for surgery, I just spoke with him, he is home and doing fine. I'm sure you all join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.

NOTES FROM THE OLD "BILLBOARD" 1910

Greater Norris & Rowe.... The big thirty-seven whistle calliopefrom the shops of the George Kratz Co. has been delivered, and the Leonhardt Company promise early delivery of the ten big tableau parade wagons. (1/8/10)

FROM KENNETH PALMGREN IN SWEDEN: MYSTERY ROCKET CAR DRIVER????

Hello Bill!
It's a very interesting story about how I become aware of this
Circus Act.
I am living in a small town in the south of Sweden named Hästveda.

Some years ago I heard about a man from here who had been a "gun
bullet"(cannon ball) in US. Somebody asked me about a man who had been
a goalkeeper in bandy,(hockey), sport here in Sweden. I asked around and
found the hockey photo and also from his brother a photo from US showing him with Cressos Rocket Car.
He never told anybody here about his adventure, so few know about
his time in US, only that he had been a sailor and away from here for
almost 10 years. I think something happend that he didnt like, but to his
frisor he mentiond he had been a stunt man in US.

On the backside of the Cresso photo you can read " Larry Epstein 1122
Lakeside avenue Li9-2005 PHILA. 26 PA.

His name was Knut "Knutte" Danielsson born 8-th of September 1920
and died here in Hästveda 16-th of march 1987.

He is the man with the helmet in the picture. Do you know who the other
man is? Is it the same man you can see on the video clip?

What was Cressos? Still exciting in any form? Very interested in all
about this show. Because I*m going to make an article in local
newspaper about Knut and interesting for local history.

Well that's all from now, please let me know all you know about this
story!!
Regards Kenneth

1942
As a hockey goalie.

AS CRESSO


IN LATER LIFE IN SWEDEN

NOTES FROM THE OLD "BILLBOARD" 1910

Walter L. Main has for sale, on the Alabama Styate Fairgrounds four miles from the city of Birmingham,the following property. Fifteen nearly new circus baggage wagons, four flat cars, one sixty-ft. stock car,one pony, five draft horses, two bareback mares, eight sets of harness, and a lot of tools. (1/08/10)

MEMORIAL SERVICE: FOR OTTAVIO CANESTRELLI

I would like to personally thank Bill and Trudy Strong for providing a place for people to post comments and pictures of Ottavio. Ottavio and Oreste were very close to their son Steven when we worked together on Circus Varges a long time ago. I also want to thank everyone who posted on this site.

I think that it has helped my parents a great deal to know that my brother touched so many people's lives.


Ottavio's memorial will take place this Saturday, January 26, at 2:00 p.m. at the address below:

El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley
5600 Carroll Canyon Road
San Diego, California 92121

I hope that anyone who can attend the memorial will do so.

Ottavio was the last of my immediate family to still hit the road. He did so because he loved it and had the courage to carry on, even when the circus business changed for the worse. He was very successful, traveling all over the world and crossing over to legitimate theater. In doing so he fulfilled the hopes and dreams of my entire family.

Ottavio's parents, his daughter Catherina, his brothers and sisters, his nieces and nephews, and the rest of our family will always miss him.

Pietro Canestrelli II
*************************************************************************************
CHICAGO MEMORIAL TRIBUTE

World Circus Federation

PRESS RELEASE
18 January 2008

World Circus Federation Announced in Monte-Carlo

A new international circus organization under the patronage of S.A.S. Princess Stephanie of Monaco was announced today. The Fédération Mondiale du Cirque brings together circus organisations around the world for the purpose of preserving and promoting circus arts and culture. The six Founding Members include the Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo, the European Circus Association, the Outdoor Amusement Business Association based in the United States, the Circus Federation of Australia, the Animal Interest Alliance of South Africa and the Canadian organization En Piste.

The Federation will serve as the voice of the worldwide circus community and will represent its interests at relevant meetings of United Nations bodies and other international organizations. The headquarters of FMC will be in Monaco, and will be supported by Monte-Carlo Festivals.

Speaking to the media and more than 120 circus directors, artists and fans gathered for the occasion, Monte-Carlo Circus Festival President Urs Pilz noted that, in the early 1970s, S.A.S. Prince Rainier III already envisioned the need for the creation of a world -wide circus organization. Mr. Pilz said that the conditions for creating such an organization did not exist at that time. Increasing collaboration among circus directors over the past few years across Europe and on other continents now enables national and regional circus organisations to join forces for their mutual benefit.

The Federation will announce its initial projects and activities following receipt of permission from the Principality of Monaco and the completion of formalities. A world-wide competition is planned to create a logo for the new Federation. Speaking for the European Circus Association, which undertook the preparations for the creation of the Federation, Ms. Laura van der Meer stated “the European Circus Association is extraordinarily pleased that the vision of the worldwide circus community collaborating for the preservation and promotion of circus arts and culture, will soon will be realized.”


For further information, please contact:

LAURA VAN DER MEER +32.2.633.1503

JUST A NORMAL STREET IN AN AVERAGE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE QUIET LITTLE TOWN OF GIBSONTON

For some unknown reason people think the citizens of "Gibtown" are different, this little video clip proves once & for all,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, maybe they are right!!!!


The players are,in order of appearance Tanya Herrmann Corbet, Joanne Wilson,( introducing 2 month old, Tatiana Corbet), Gaylord Maynard, Ward Hall, Roy Huston, Bill Strong, Yuka Huston, & Stefan Corbet. (Camera person} Trudy Strong.

THE 24TH ANNUAL GIBSONTON INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT SHOWMAN'S CLUB CIRCUS

THE MIDWAY


ELEPHANT RIDES


KIDDIE RIDES


FACE PAINTING


WELCOMING THE GUESTS.
Ward Hall & his pal Pete "Pooba" Terhune. palPete "Pooba" Terhune.


TO THE BIG SHOW