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!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

FROM KIM SUE: THE ROYAL HANNEFORD CIRCUS, MORRISTOWN, NJ, 2008


Dear Uncle Bill...well here is the proof...you might have to photo shop them for me. This was in Morristown,N. J. and it was like a mini Evansville.... we had Tim Frisco [I rode in the elephant act so Tim's wife Patti could go spend time w/ her family]...Clayton Rosaire and his dad Jim Mowery...Clayton is one of the funniest guys in the ring and out...the Cortes were there also which was great to work with Alida...nice to have family around...we did the Unicycle Act alone...with our music.. Alida and Ysabella assisted,the Original Bertinis really would have been proud we choreographed all the cute dances and yukes it looked good...two cradles ,us [of coarse] and Alida and Robinson. Billy and Angela Martin...Billy was the Ringmaster and of coarse my mentor. Billy did the trampoline act with Roger [Vlastek] it seems to be a lot funnier from the other side watching! Roger was happy there were only two shows a day even Sat.cuz remember Roger [Vlastek] also does the unicycle act and the cradle act! Travis [Billy's son] was the sound engineer ...father and son working side by side...Angela worked center ring with the traps in a display where the girls actually all worked together...you know ending together..complementing each other...even wearing matching colors...it was a very beautiful display.The Smirnov Quickchange [they worked Circus Sarasota] very good- very fast! Leo and Getti Garcia did the motorcycle globe...they have Maximus ride he is 6 yrs old and of coarse friends with Vincent. Other acts were Panfilova Housecats, Poema Risley,The Vitals Crossbow,and of coarse the Zoppe-Zamperla Rosinback Riders! It was the same act you saw in Sarasota but the horses were much more comfortable...see they usually do all the Renaissance fair stuff and other venues with dirt flooring so the horses weren't used to the Hanneford circus ring,[ I know I don't have to tell you that but...]...they got used to it and did great...so great they put me in the act...one practice and I was in! I can't believe I did it.The act consisted of Olissio, Gino, Ermes Ashley and me.As you see in the pix I rode in with Gino for the pyramids, it was truly an honor to work with these boys they certainly are old school and come from the best when it comes to rosinback-riding.If ever given the opportunity I would do it again in a heartbeat. Needless to say Morristown,N. J. 2008 was a great ending to the Royal Hanneford Circus Spring tour.
Now we are at Storyland in N. H. we did this weekend and have three days off! Keep in touch, love you and the blog! Your niece...K.S.

MORRISTOWN #2 ELEPHANTS WITH TIM & KIM

MORRISTOWN #3: THE VALLA-BERTINI TROUPE

L to R, Vlastek Valla, Alida Zoppe Cortes, Kim Sue Wong Valla, Ysabella Cortes, & Vincent Valla.

MORRISTOWN #4: THE ZAMPERLA-ZOPPE RIDERS



Wednesday, May 28, 2008

THE LIFE OF TOM MIX ILLUSTRATED,,,,& SELLS-FLOTO CIRCUS 1931:

THE LIFE OF TOM MIX: #1




THE LIFE OF TOM MIX #2: MILITARY SERVICE


THE LIFE OF TOM MIX #3: RODEO YEARS


THE LIFE OF TOM MIX #4: THE MOVIE STAR



TOM MIX #5: SELLS-FLOTO CIRCUS,,,,THE PROGRAM

GOOD MATINEE TODAY



TOM MIX #6: FROM MULES & ACROBATS,,,, TO ACROBATS & HORSES


TOM MIX #7: CLOWNS & MORE CLOWNS


TOM MIX #8: AERIAL STAR,,,,& HORSES, HORSES, HORSES!



MABLE PELKE WARD (MIX)


MENAGE HORSES

T0M MIX #9: WIRE ACTS,,,,PERCHES & IRON JAW

TOM MIX #10: THRILLS ON HORSEBACK & IN THE AIR

TOM MIX #11: ACROBATS & FLYERS

TOM MIX #12: RACES & WILD WEST CONCERT

TOM MIX ,,,,ALL OUT AND ALL OVER,,,,& WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT,,,,THE GIRL LEFT TOWN ON THE AFTERNOON STAGE,,,,AND THE HERO IS KISSING HIS HORSE!!!!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

CARL HAGENBECK CIRCUS OFFICIAL PROGRAM,,,,MAGAZINE & DAILEY REVIEW

HAGENBECK 1916: STAFF & BAND CONCERT


HAGENBECK 1916: No 1- SPEC----No 2 STATUES

HAGENBECK 1916: No3- MIXED ANIMALS----No 2 AERIAL DISPLAY



THE ALVAREZ

HAGENBECK 1916: No 5- ELEPHANTS & RIDING TIGER----No 6- HORSES & RIDING LION

HAGENBECK 1916: No 7- CAT ACT & AERIAL DISPLAY----No 8- SLIDES

I call displays like No 7, "Mixmaster" displays!!!!

HAGENBECK 1916: No 9- CAT ACT & MIXED DISPLAY----No 1O- PERCH ACTS

Figure out display No 9, I can never understand why they do things like this????

HAGENBECK 1916: No 11- HORSES &----No 12 WIRE ACTS

HAGENBECK 1916 DISPLAY 13: MENAGE NUMBER---DISPLAY 14: COMEDY ACROBATS DISPLAY

HAGENBECK 1916: No 15- PAS DE DEUX

HAGENBECK 1916: No16- ACROBATIC DISPLAY----No17- MULE DISPLAY

HAGENBECK 1916: No 18- THE FLYING WARDS




JENNIE WARD


MAMIE WARD
For those who don't know, Mamie was the catcher in this act.


THE FLYING WARDS

HAGENBECK 1916: No 19- RACES----WILD WEST AFTER SHOW AD