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, April 27, 2008

IN MEMORY: ANNIE "ROBBINS" EDELSTON

Jenny Wallenda has sent out the following email,

JUST GOT THE SAD NEWS THAT ANNIE EDELSTON LOST HER LAST FIGHT WITH CANCER.SHE LEFT US FOR WHAT I CALL THE BETTER PLACE WHERE THERE IS NO SICKNESS AND NO PAIN.
SHE WAS VERY DEAR TO ME, WE WERE TOGETHER ON THE RINGLING CIRCUS AND ALSO ON THE POLACK SHOW WHERE SHE WORKED WITH US IN THE ALBERTO ZOPPE RIDING ACT, SHE WAS ALSO A GREAT FLYER AND WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR ALWAYS.
REST IN PEACE MY DEAR DEAR FRIEND
FOR EVER JENNY WALLENDA


We have lost one of the dearest, most loved members of our circus community, and our hearts go out to Willie, and the Edelston family. We feel your loss.
REST WELL ANNIE.
The Wilson Family






1952
With the Flying Harzells

1954
Wishing Willie a Happy Birthday

1952


1954


1954


1955
Annie is on the top, just where she has always been to all of us.

Friday, April 25, 2008

BOBO BARNETT FIRE TRUCK????

I received this email last night and thought maybe some one could shed some light on it. When I worked with Bobo he was doing the feature with the trumpet, & no longer worked in gags.


Hello,
I just found your website. I am trying to find information, history and pictures of Chester "Bobo" Barnett with the car pictured below. It has a 1946 Lauson gas engine in it. I have seen Bobo with another little car but have yet to see him with this one. I was told he used it in a gag with other clown firefighters. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Mike




Sunday, April 20, 2008

QUASSARS QUIZ: 1950'S DOG ACT

Now this should be an easy one for some of you. Identify this Michigan based Dog Act of the 1950's,,,, '60's,,,, 70's,,,,etc., etc., etc. The last time I saw her she was working her dogs in the Christmas Show at the Gibtown Club, you just can't keep those good troupers down,(hint), she now lives in Gibsonton.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

FROM ROBIN BLUIZS: DICK CLEMENS

Hello,
I recently found your site, and was amazed at finding my great uncle Dick on there. I have many great pics of him, and especially after my mom passed, she left me many things regarding him. I think she would be pleased to see the interest still in the lion taming business in the past. Her aunt was married to Dick, Grace Clemens died in 1947.
These are just a few pics.
Robin

DICK CLEMENS
Taken in Indianapolis, Ind., March 3, 1946





Thursday, April 17, 2008

RING, RING: PHONE CALL FROM JOANNE

Joanne & PeeWee ran over to the McCallum Theater in Rancho Mirage to visit Winnie McKay & Chester Cable's show but got there too late for the performance. She said Gary knew they were coming so he stayed to visit a little, Joanne said they were so glad to see some showfolks she forgot to take more pics.


GARY JOHNSON'S ELEPHANT TRUCK

I'll bet this is the envy of the "Flying J", crowd!

WINNIE & JOANNE

Monday, April 14, 2008

IN MEMORY OF: HARRY MILLS

I just noticed this in a comment on Buckles Blog, wish I had known about it sooner.

From John Herriott: An old friend and important circus person, Harry Mills passed away April 11 at 94 yrs. old.

Funeral will be tomorrow at ten thru eleven AM at Palms-Robert6s funeral home 170 Honore Ave. Sarasota. Right off Fruitville Rd.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

NOW HERE'S USING YOUR HEAD FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN A PLACE TO HANG YOUR HAT!

I've been working on this post for so long, at this point I don't even know if it is ready. It started as a little thing about Head Balancing, and then I kept finding more photos in my files so it started growing, & on the other hand there were photos I would like to add, but got lost last year when the "Infernal Machine", committed suicide.

I checked out Wikipedia to see if I could find anything interesting about head stands, but there was not much there, except a lot about yoga, & a little bit about head spins in break dancing. Circus riding act comedians were doing "head spins", so long ago we won't even talk about it.

I did find this.
In Gymnastics:
The headstand, although not an "official skill", it is used in gymnastics as a precurser to many skills such as the handstand, headspring, ect. A gymnastics headstand can be done in any way; head only, head plus forearms, or head plus hands. Although it is often entered via a press, it can also be jumped into, although this is quite dangerous.

The most interesting thing I found was this warning, & I sincerely hope those who spent their lives,,,, on their heads,,,,will now know why they feel the way they do today.

(1) Basic risk factors and contra indicators related to the headstand:
Prominent Scoliosis; stiffness in neck,
shoulders or upper back; high blood
pressure or real low blood pressure;
neck injuries; serious vertigo;
prominent spinal defects; disc
injuries anywhere in the spine; weak
lower back or exaggerated lumbar
lordosis; frail upper body; eye
diseases; inner ear disorders;
complete or maybe even partial
nasal congestion; menstruation or
pregnancy; and dental infection
would be more or less obvious
possibilities to consider for
postponing a headstand practice.
You may add your own, please.
Each person is an individual so the
above conditions are guidelines
rather than absolutes.

So,,,,here's to those who got where they did in the business,,,,because they used their heads!!!!

NAIDA JOANIDES
I haven't seen this act but am quite certain it is an Aerial Act.

PRINCESS ELENA OMAR
Complete with her own musical accompaniment.

LAMBERTI JR.
This is Martin Lamberti, son of Willie Lamberti from the Gretona High Wire Act of many years ago.

THE WELDENS BALANCING ACT
I hope someone out there can put a name on this man, he also does a Double Trap Act.
My thanks to Eddy Ventura & Dale Longmire for ID'ing The Weldens Balancing Act, & The Raymils Double Trapeze Act.

USING YOUR HEAD #2: HEAD TO HEAD

Now you put a person doing a Head Stand on top of another person's head, it becomes a Head To Head, here's proof you can spin several hoops while doing that.

MAX & REMO BIZZARRO


ANTONIO & PEPE OLMEDA


JOSE TORRES & CO.


Some acts put a little different twist with balls in between.
THE DIONNES


There were quite a few who went over ladders, not that it was easy!
THE MASCOTS


On a Rola-Bola, definitely not easy, evident by the fact you did n't see many of them.
GEORGE & KAY FRANCES HANNEFORD


Wait a minute, who is the "person", on top?
EDDIE STEEPLES



THE YONG BROTHERS
Some people just have to be different, a "Head Stand" on a "Head Stand", and someone should tell them, "you can't do that"!!

USING YOUR HEAD #3 ON A TRAPEZE

Now we take the Head Stand up in the air, on a trapeze bar & add some risk to it.
SENOR ANTONIO
I guess it was inevitable that the hoops would follow.

GALLA SHAWN


ELLY ARDELTY


PENITO DEL ORO


JAMES IRWIN
As the Col. says, "it's all been done before", this is 100+ years ago on the Barnum & Bailey Circus (1905)!

LAGANA
Lagana was actually the Sensational Single Trapeze Star Fritzie Bartoni, seen here doing her Head Balance on a Lyre rather than a Trapeze.

THE ODORRS
Altough I have seen numerous photos of the person doing the Head Stand holding someone beneath the bar, this was the only photo I could find.

USING YOUR HEAD #4 ON A WIRE

ENRICO WALLENDA


ADOLPHO PONCE


FELIX MORALES


THE ARATA BROTHERS

Friday, April 11, 2008

USING YOUR HEAD #5: ON A CYCLE

THE ANTONIOS,(OLMEDAS)


THE VALLA BERTINIS
This great act combined Unicycle & Teeterboard, catching the tricks with the understander riding a high unicycle.

THE THREE GOETCHIS
The Goetchis also supplied their own musical accompaniment, they should get together with Elena Omar!

THE CHALUDYS
This is probably the most famous of all the Head to Head Acts, at least the most talked about among circus folk when the subject comes up.

USING YOUR HEAD # 6: ON A LADDER

Now here's a little variety of tricks, but all on ladders!

THE CANESTRELLIS
Head to Head,on the Unsupported Ladder!

THE ZAVATTAS,(JOE ZOPPE FAMILY)
One foot on the Head, on the Unsupported Ladder!

CHARLIE & DOROTHY NOCK
and a head stand on the Balancing Ladder!

USING YOUR HEAD #7: ONE HAND ON THE HEAD

THE MASCOTS
How about a 3 ring display of The Mascots, Tovarich, & The Chaludys

JOSE TORRES &CO.


THE KARIMAS
No one said you have to be in the ring,,,,or on a stage!
UP IN THE AIR



BRUNA & RENATO MEDINI
With Ringling Bros. warmin' up backstage at the "Garden"!

THE ASIA BOYS
I guess it's not necessary to be standing up, however it might draw hitchikers on the feet.