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, June 30, 2009

~FROM PAUL INGRASSIA: BAD NEWS~

JUST RECEIVED THIS FORWARDED BY PENNY.

Subj: Bad News....Dale Riker
Friends....I am very sorry to advise that our good friend Dale Riker was stricken with what appears to be a fatal illness while on the road this week with Ev. He is in a hospital in Autin, Texas. Prognosis is not good and things are moving very fast. Fr. Jerry Hogan called me with this news a few minutes ago after being advised by one of Dale's children. He and I asks your prayers for this very great guy....Paul Ingrassia

Monday, June 29, 2009

~SERVICES FOR ROY HUSTON~

SERVICES WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, JULY 2ND, AT SOUTHERN FUNERAL HOME, ON RIVERVIEW DRIVE, JUST WEST OF HIWAY 301, IN RIVERVIEW. THE NUMBER, IF YOU NEED DIRECTIONS IS 813-671-3121.
VIEWING,,,,,2:00PM
SERVICE,,,,.3:00PM
FOLLOWED BY A "CELEBRATION OF LIFE", RECEPTION AT THE GIBSONTON SHOWMAN'S CLUB.

~MESSAGE~: FOR LILLY YOKOI'S DAUGHTER MONICA

Monica,

Would you please email me at monkr63@hotmail.com? My wife is John Kim's niece and the family in Korea has been trying to locate him and Mary for many years.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Richard and Hyeon Ok Monk
Wilton, Connecticut

Sunday, June 28, 2009

~FROM JOANNE: "CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG" GUEST BOOK~

JOANNE & PEE WEE ARE IN DALLAS SO THEY'LL HAVE LOTS OF COMPANY THERE, HERE ARE TODAY'S VISITORS.

These are the 2:00 Sun show guests—Kay, a longtime friend of Shirley (Henry) Atayde, Cathy Hetzer, Shirley, and Joanne


The second photo is Cathy's husband Steve, Cathy, Joanne, Shirley, Pee Wee and the young man is Cathy's grandson Jacob. We had a great visit and Jacob was in heaven as I took them on a backstage tour and one of the stars of the show spent time with us and talked to Jacob a lot about the show Thanks Guys for coming to see the show.

~UPDATE~ O6/29/09: ~JOANNE & PAUL CREASON~For those who don't know Paul, he is a graduate of the "Gil Gray School Of Circus Experience", & "Paul Kaye Circus University". He is also a former Edmundo "Papa" Zacchini, "Cannonball".

~IN MEMORY OF: OUR GOOD FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR ROY "HUSTON" HUSTED~

I received a call from Yuka today with the sad news that Roy passed away in his sleep during the night. I didn't get any details, except he had been feeling good in spite of some recent health problems. She would like friends to hold their calls for a couple days, I think we all understand that. Roy will surely be missed.

I always thought Roy had the perfect eyes for an Illusionist.





Roy & Yuka at the "Showfolks", seniors party a couple weeks ago.

I borrowed the following video & remarks are from the magic news website "itricks", hopefully with their permission, so it could be seen by his many circus friends. We live just across the street from Roy & Yuka & we have been friends for many years, we will miss him.


We’ve been informed that Roy Huston is no longer with us.
This video, produced only hours after word was released that he is no longer with us features some great old footage and what looks to be a recent interview with The Amazing Huston.
iTricks wishes to express our condolences to all friends and family.

FROM ROGER SCHULTE:
I am still in shock. It was a few weeks ago I had planned to stop by and see Roy but did not make it. My partner Melissa and I spend 10 years making the film Gibtown and Roy was the spiritual center of the film. He was a master of illusion not just on stage but with life itself. He knew that that this small place called earth is what you make it! He transformed any space he was in with his stories and imagination.
All I could do after hearing the news was try to create something fast from the footage I had and let my thoughts ride the road. Roy is a true artist and his life is the work that is displayed in the memories of all that met him. PLanet Gibtown will not be the same without you! Yuka my thoughts are with you.
Roger Schulte
FROM: MEL SHACHAT-EDMON
I will miss Roy very much. I had the honor of meeting him many years ago while making "Gibtown", the documentary on Gibsonton and its amazing residents. I am very saddened by the news, he was a unique guy, filled with laughter, talent, magic and always a great story to tell. I learned so much from him from the history of spook shows, to the great houdini, to the life of an illusionist (your really a furniture mover!)
RIP Roy, I'm sure your doin your magic in a special place. - Luv, Mel Shachat-Edmon

Friday, June 26, 2009

~FROM JOANNE: "CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG" GUEST BOOK~

Gertie Craig is 89 years young. Kandra ( her daughter ) brought her to the theatre for a visit with us. Bill Gowan came by and we all had a great visit. Gertie looks great and I ask her if she would finish training my ponies for me and she said that she didn't have room for them at her place.


Thursday, June 25, 2009

~RRRRIIIIIIIINNNNGGGG~ MUST BE JOANNE CALLING~

i guess everything IS BIGGER IN TEXAS.
Joanne & a friend in front of the Natural History Museum at Fairpark in Dallas.

~QUASSAR'S QUIZ:FROM JOANNE????

JOANNE DIDN'T GIVE ME THE ANSWER TO THIS, SO IT'S UP TO ALL Y'ALL! LOOKS LIKE A POLITICIAN, OR A LAWYER.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

~FROM KIM SUE: THE AERIAL VALLAS~

~THE AERIAL VALLAS~

THIS IS KIM SUE & VLASTEK, AT ALTOONA'S JAFFA TEMPLE SHRINE CIRCUS.

PHOTOS BY JUSTINO ZOPPE.

~FROM JOANNE: IT'S A SMALL, "BLOG" WORLD~

This is Gino Zavatta. His Dad is Oglie and his mom is Irma. Irma was with the Sidneys bicycle act and their Unsupported ladder was "Irma and Rio" and their dog act was Zavattas dogs. Gino is head carpenter at this theatre in Tempe. Gammage auditorium.

Friday, June 19, 2009

~FROM JOANNE, & PEE WEE: A SPECIAL GUEST FOR LUNCH TODAY~

OLD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD, & LOTS OF JACKPOTS,,,,GREAT COMBINATION.

~JOANNE & IVAN HENRY III~

~FROM JOANNE~:"CHITTY-CHITTY BANG BANG" GUEST BOOK.

~TEMPE, ARIZONA~
~JOANNE WITH FORMER CWM BANDMASTER RICK PERCY,(RIGHT), & HIS SON J.J.~

Thursday, June 18, 2009

~DELAYED, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN~

THE FOLLOWING POST WAS SCHEDULED TO BE PUBLISHED ON WEDNSDAY, JUNE 17TH, UNFORTUNATELY I WAS UNABLE MAKE THE DEADLINE....
SO,,,,WITH MY SINCEREST APOLOGY, HERE IT IS,,,,DELAYED, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.

~ A GARDEN OF ROSES & A BELATED BIRTHDAY GREETING, TO THE LOVELY LADY FOR WEDNSDAY JUNE 17TH~




~TRUDY #2: CONTORTION ACROBATICS, ANIMALS, JUGGLING-ROLLING GLOBE, & FLYING ACT~

~NINE YEARS OLD~

~FOURTEEN YEARS OLD~
~TEXAS TOMMY'S DOGS~

~WITH AL VIDBEL,
HAMID-MORTON ELEPHANTS~


~WITH "CAMEL JOHN" ROUCHE(sp),
JACK JOYCE LLAMA HITCH~


~WITH SISTERS PENNY & JOANNE,
THE WILSON SISTERS~

~WITH SISTERS LINDA, & JOANNE

~WITH MIKE AND JUNE MALKO, & TONY STEELE,
THE FLYING MALKOS,HOUSTON SHRINE CIRCUS, 1958~

~TRUDY #3: SINGLE TRAPEZE, JUMPING HORSES, FLYING ACT, CRADLE ACT, AIRPLANE, & ROCKET ACT, 1960'S & 70'S~

~GIL GRAY CIRCUS 1961~
~JIM & JAN WARVEL'S WHITE HORSE TROUPE,
DETROIT & MINNEAPOLIS SHRINE CIRCUSES 1962~JOANNE & TRUDY 4TH & 5TH FROM LEFT.

~FLYING WARDS,
MINNEAPOLIS SHRINE CIRCUS 1962~~BILLY WOODS, TRUDY, HAROLD WARD, & DENNIE "PEE WEE" PINSON~

~WOOD-PINSON FLYERS,
GIL GRAY CIRCUS 1962~~BILLY WOODS, TRUDY, & DENNIE PINSON~


~THE PHAROAHS CRADLE ACT 1963-1978~
SIOUX FALLS SD. '64 OR '65
~SOME EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITY,
WOODCOCK ELEPHANTS, SIOUX FALLS 1965~BARBARA BECAME ILL THE PREVIOUS WEEK IN MILWAUKEE AND WAS HOSPITALIZED, SHE WAS UNABLE TO BE IN SIOUX FALLS SO TRUDY FILLED IN FOR HER.



~THE KIMRIS DUO & QUASSARS ROCKET ACTS 1964-1982~

~TRUDY #4: TRUDY'S LIBERTY DALMATIANS & STRONG'S LIBERTY POA STALLIONS, 1980'S~

~TRUDY'S LIBERTY DALMATIANS~

~DALMATIAN ACT PONY, "DORI MILLER", ON CIRCUS VARGAS~
~AS CRUELLA DE VILLE AT DISNEYLAND~

~RIDING JOANNE'S MORGAN STALLION, "TOMAH"~THIS WAS A HOLIDAY STREET PARADE IN TREMONT CITY, OHIO, A SMALL TOWN NEAR OUR FARM.

~STRONG'S LIBERTY POA STALLIONS~