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.

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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, March 31, 2009

AAAAHHHH,,,,DO YOU REMEMBER THESE

Many already know of the tragic crash of the German Airship, Hindenburg, in Lakehurst, NJ, on May 6, 1937. The story below tells of Joseph Spah, who managed to survive the crash. ...This is Joseph Spah!


When passenger Joseph Späh, a vaudeville comic acrobat, saw the first sign of trouble he smashed the window with his movie camera, with which he had been filming the landing (the film survived the disaster.) As the ship neared the ground he lowered himself out the window and hung onto the window ledge, letting go when the ship was perhaps 20 feet above the ground. His acrobat's instincts kicked in, and Späh kept his feet under him and attempted to do a safety roll when he landed. He injured his ankle nonetheless, and was dazedly crawling away when a member of the ground crew came up, slung the diminutive Späh under one arm, and ran him clear of the fire.

REMEMBER THESE #2: CHESTER CABLE

REMEMBER THESE #3: THE FELLER BOYS & DODO

REMEMBER THESE #4: YOUNG MARTIN LAMBERTI


REMEMBER THESE #5: THE BERTINI TROUPE

ONE OF THE GREAT UNICYCLE ACTS

HELENA DOING A LAYOUT SOMERSAULT FROM THE TEETERBOARD,,,, TO THE SHOULDERS

REMEMBER THESE #6: THE KAYARTS

A CLASS ACT ALL THE WAY,,,,1958

REMEBER THESE #7: COL. JOHN HERRIOTT

IN, OR OUT OF THE RING,,,,"THE VOICE OF THE AMERICAN CIRCUS"

Monday, March 30, 2009

FOR OUR FRIENDS "OVER THERE": BERTRAM MILLS SUPER SHOW, OLYMPIA SEASON 1964-'65

When Georgie Scott first came to the U.S.A. with his Dorchester Jockey Act, he would sit in the dressing room ribbing us about the trials, & tribulations of living, & working in "The Colonies". After listening for a while, I would start singing, "Over There, Over There". We had a lot of fun with it, and eventually when he walked past me, he would be singing, "Over There, Over There"!


OLYMPIA '64-'65 #2: STAFF, BANDMASTER, RINGMASTER, & CLOWNS

IF YOU CLICK ON THE IMAGES THEY WILL ENLARGE FOR EASIER READING.

OLYMPIA '64-'65 #3: THE ACTS

IF YOU CLICK ON THE IMAGES THEY WILL ENLARGE FOR EASIER READING.















OLYMPIA '64-'65#4: THE LINE UP

IF YOU CLICK ON THE IMAGES THEY WILL ENLARGE FOR EASIER READING.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT SHOWMEN'S ASSOCIATION 2009 HIT THE ROAD BBQ

IF WE HAD SOME ICE CREAM, WE'D HAVE ICE CREAM & CAKE, IF WE HAD SOME CAKE!!!!

HIT THE ROAD BBQ #2: EARLY BIRDS

FRED MENKE & BILL STRONGDAVE ACREE IN THE BACKGROUND GETTING READY TO START THE WHEELCHAIR RACE!

LINDA ROSAIRE, KATHY NELSON, PHIPS HAKES, & THELMA FRIAS


BILL & TRUDY STRONG, DONNA McMAHAN, AND DORITA & WALTER ESTES

HIT THE ROAD BBQ #3: THE LINE STARTS HERE

"MISTER" WARD HALLSTEPPIN' LIVELY, & LOOKIN' GOOD, AS USUAL


WAITIN' FOR THE FLAG TO GO UP!

DICK KOHLREISER, BOB GREY, & TRUDY STRONG.ARE YOU SURE THIS LINE IS MOVING??

HIT THE ROAD BBQ #4: THE COOK HOUSE SPREAD

JUDY STEVENSHANDIN' OUT THE BACKYARD SILVERWARE!


DEVILLED EGGS, & PICKLES, & DEVILLED EGGS, & OLIVES, & DEVILLED EGGS, & CELERY, & DEVILLED EGGS,YOU GET WHAT I MEAN!


LEE STEVENSARE YOU KIDDIN' ME LEE?


LEE STEVENSYEH, I'M JUST RIBBIN' YA'!


JUST DESSERTS!


MORE DESSERTYS

HIT THE ROAD BBQ #5: IN & AROUND THE BALLROOM

THE IISA BALLROOM

BILL STRONG, SARAH,(FROM PIRATE'S TREASURE COVE), TRUDY STRONG & TOMMY BENTLEY

TRUDY STRONG & GLORIA WILKINSON

BILL STRONG & DIANE "GRANMA" WILSON

ROGER DUBOIS

JIMMY ESTEP

WILSON SISTERS, TRUDY & PENNY

KATHY NELSON & LINDA ROSAIRE

HIT THE ROAD BBQ #6: AFTER DINNER

BILL STRONG & ROY HUSTONDISCUSSIN' "UNCLE GEORGE"!



DAVE ACREE, WARD HALL, BRAD & GOLENA BRADBURY, AND PETE TERHUNEAFTER DINNER SPEAKERS!


PETE TERHUNESEEMS TO ME I'VE HEARD ALL THIS BEFORE!