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!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

"SHINGLES" ALERT: I'VE GOT EM

If you have had them, you know what I'm talking about, if you haven't, type the word into "Google" search and read about them. Then discuss it with your doctor because there is a vaccine against them, & believe me you don't want them.
"PAIN,,,,PAIN,,,,PAIN", fortunately, oral medication prescribed by my doctor, & Aspercreme on the rash has eliminated the pain,(I hope),at least for now.
The whole thing is too complicated for me to even try to explain, so like I said, read about them. "YOU DON"T WANT EM"

NEW YEARS GREETINGS

TRUDY & I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY, HEALTHY, & PROSPEROUS 2009!!!!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

SERVICES FOR REX YOUNG

A memorial service will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 29, 2008 at Lakeshore Memorial Services, 11939 James Street in Holland. Reverend Henry Idema will be officiating.

Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2008 at Lakeshore Memorial Services. Memorial contributions may be given to American Heart Association or Grace Episcopal Church. An on-line registry book is available at www.lakeshorememorial.com for those who cannot attend the services.

Cards & letters of condolence can be sent to:
Sandra "Sandy' Young
5232 E. Sunfield Lane
Holland, MI 49423-9267

Rex, of Holland, MI, passed away Sunday, December 21, 2008,at the age of 77, at Lifecare Hospital in Muskegon.




REX & CABOOSE

Friday, December 26, 2008

FROM CIRCUSPACE: AL VIDBEL MEMORIAL

The Al Vidbel Memorial will be held at Showfolks of Sarasota Club in Sarasota Florida on January 4th at 1:00 pm

CONNEAUT LAKE PARK 1956



HAMID-MORTON & HUNT BROS. CIRCUS, PALISADES PARK N.J. 1957

Thursday, December 25, 2008

FROM WARREN (ADAMS) BACON

This came as a comment on my Happy Holiday post, but I thought it deserved a more prominent place!

Thank You Warren.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

IN MEMORY: ELIZABETH "BILLIE" LAMBERT

From the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
Elizabeth "Billie" Lambert died on Dec. 19. She was Gene Lambert's widow.
Private services.

TOGETHER AGAIN
BILLIE & GENE LAMBERT

QUASSAR'S QUIZ????

WHO IS THIS GREAT TEETERBOARD ACT?


I once saw one of the members of this troupe do swingtime double backs on the trampoline until I lost count.

Monday, December 22, 2008

IN MEMORY OF REX "COUNT DE BOXCAR" YOUNG

Rex Young passed away yesterday from injuries sustained in a fall in his home in Holland, Michigan. I will add more details when they become available. Native Americans have an expression, "My heart is on the ground", needless to say this is true, we are deeply saddened by the loss of a dear friend.
I just spoke with Sandy, and she is holding up well under the circumstances, we even managed to talk of some of the good times we all had together, & there were many. Rest well dear friend,,,,we will miss you!





REX & HIS SIDEKICK CABOOSE



IN MEMORY OF MARY "NEON" OLIVER

I have to apologize for being asleep at the wheel, I received this information yesterday & didn'T get to it.

We have just received a call from Mary "Neon" Oliver's daughter Rhonda who said Mary passed away this afternoon. She was a dear friend and a wonderful clown.
Please remember her in your prayers. Cards of Sympathy may be sent to her daughter Rhonda at 931 Pat Lane, Huntington,Maryland, 20639,
Thank you, Sue and Fred Menke



I don't know if you Know Neon, but they know her here in Sarasota. I don't think I have one of her not in makeup. I took this picture of her at a black tie dinner on the Ringling Museum Grounds under Alan Hills big top. Hopefully there will be no more bad news in the New Year.
Penny

Saturday, December 20, 2008

ST LOUIS POLICE CIRCUS 1940

THE ST LOUIS POLICE CIRCUS WAS FAMOUS FOR IT'S POWERFUL LINE UP, 1940 WAS NO EXCEPTION.

THIS PROGRAM IS IN THE FORM OF A DOUBLE SIDE "HERALD", BELOW IS THE REVERSE SIDE
THEY PUT OUT A HUGE THICK BOOK EVERY YEAR, THE ONLY CATCH WAS, IT WAS ALL ADVERTISING. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE WAS ONLY ONE ACT TO EVER APPEAR IN THAT BOOK, lARRY GRISWALD, IN 1956,,,,HE BOUGHT AD SPACE & PLACED HIS PICTURE IN IT.

"WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN TALES OF YORE,,,,TO BAD WE CAN'T REMEMBER HOW MANY TIMES WE TOLD THOSE STORIES BEFORE". AFTER POSTING THIS, SOMETHING RANG A BELL SO I CHECKED, & DISCOVERED I RAN IT LAST MAY. OH WELL!!!!

BRRRRING,,,,BRRRRING, PHONE CALL FROM JOANNE AT THE NORTH POLE!

Well,,,, not exactly the North Pole, but Appleton Wisconsin is close enough, next stop Toronto.


SWAY POLE FROM THE PAST: HARRY FROBOESS "THE SWAYING MARVEL"

I found this little poster on ebay, a great addition to my collection of, "Daredevils", "High Acts", & "Sway Poles", the pole seems to be quite unique for that time, with such a long swaying section, & only one set of guy lines. I notice he also did the head first slide, in case you can't read it, the date is 1938.


Thursday, December 18, 2008

IN MEMORY: PETE IVANOV

I just received the very sad news that Pete Ivanov passed away at "The Pines" yesterday,(December 17, 2008).

Pete was one of the last of the great Horizontal Bar Actors, our hearts go out to his family and they are in our prayers.

SLEEP WELL DEAR FRIEND,,,,WE WILL MISS YOU.

AT SHOWFOLKS



THE IVANOVS CASTING BAR ACT
Pete, Grace, & catcher Jimmy Olsen.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

QUASSAR'S QUIZ

Since I haven't done the Quiz for a while I'll start off with a fairly easy one. This was lifted from a small photo in a 1954 program, so the quality suffers a little.

This is one of the classiest Hand Balancing Acts of our time.



Here is another picture of this great act.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

THE AL KADER TEMPLE SHRINE CIRCUS, 1970 PRODUCED BY HUBERT CASTLE

FIRST HALF

CAGE ACT

AERIAL DISPLAY #1

OSCAR MACIAS
This would have been a better balanced display with the Cloudswing in the center.(See my comment}


THE PHAROAHS



TIBI & EVA This is Tibi & Eva Esqueda Young.

ANIMAL DISPLAY

THE MARAHAL CAMELS AND LLAMAS
&
SANDRA'S LIBERTY PONIES

JUGGLING ACT

GUS & URSULA

BEAR ACT

NAGHTIN'S BEARTS

SEAL ACT

VAN DONWENS

COMEDY CAR

REX YOUNG

MIX-MASTER DISPLAY

BRADD & SHEILA FRANK
File photo.


ESQUEDA FAMILY



ANITA VARGAS' HUSBAND
My apology for not knowing his name.

AERIAL DISPLAY #2

CARL WONG



TRIO ANGELOS

INTERMISSION

The clowns here are, (top center), Jimmy Armstrong; (center right), Gene Randow, Jimmy Armstrong, & Harold Simmons; (bottom left), unidentified, & Carl Marx; (clown band), Lee Marx, Bill Bannister, Jimmy Armstrong, Rex Young, & unidentified.

SECOND HALF




FLYING ACT

WIRE ACT DISPLAY



I think this was the only really balanced display in the show.

CHIMPANZEE ACT

GALA SHAWN

BALANCING & UNICYCLE DISPLAY

OSCAR



THE ESQUEDA TROUPE

THE JANMAR ELEPHANTS

Presented by Bert Pettus & his daughter Sandra.

THE KIMRIS DUO

This photo is actually Lee & Henri, for some reason it is the only publicity picture we continued to use when we took over the act.