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!

Friday, September 29, 2006

LIKE MOTHER LIKE DAUGHTER: JOANN & STACI ANDERSON







Joann Hofmeister Anderson, & her husband Don have had their own show, "The Texas White Horse Troupe", for many years, but have also always been a welcome presence on the Circus scene. Here is Joann, and her Daughter, Staci Anderson Diaz.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

LIKE GRANDMOTHER, LIKE GRANDDAUGHTER: THE VIDBEL TWINS






Now in this case, these girls were raised by their Grandmother, Joyce Vidbel, so it was her influence that shaped their lives, and I might say did a great job of it. Here is Joyce, in the first photo,with the Hamid-Morton Circus Elephants,Bombay, Siam, & Delhi, and doing the Leg Carry with Siam. Next, her multi-talented Twin Granddaughters, on top is Jennifer who seems to be the more animal minded of the two, seen here working with her White Pony Drill, she also rides High School. Next is Suzie with her Exotic Birds, but where she really shines is in the air, first on the Cloud-Swing, then in her excellent Single Trapeze Act. Suzie is now Mrs. Mike Ashton, and recently gave birth to a baby girl,,,,to be continued!!!!

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER: THE HERRIOTTS








Here are three generations, Mary Ruth Herriott, with just two of the Many Animal Acts she has done, & top to bottom are her multi-talented daughters: Laura, working a Mixed Act of, Camels, Horses, Llamas & Zebras, also has a Dog Act,and works with Elephants & Liberty Horses;Then Laura's Daughter Jennifer;who is equally proficient in the ring working horses, Dogs, or with Elephants ; Heidi, seen here with Einstein The Educated Pony, she is also a Ringmistress(showing her Father's influence) has also worked Dogs , Liberty Horses, with Elephants & Single Trapeze; Cindy, with her Mixed Act of Camels, Horses & Llamas, has also worked Dogs, Liberty Horses, with Elephants, & did Cloud-Swing; & Christine"Wiener" with a Six Pony Drill, also has works as a Ringmistress, has a Dog Act, and she and her Husband James Plunkett, have their own Circus. Now if all that ain't enough to make a Mother proud!!!!

Don't think for a moment that what you see here is all these Mothers & Daughters do, most of them are so multi-talented it would take days to describe the versatility of each of them!

LIKE GRANDMOTHER LIKE GRANDDAUGHTER:DIANNE WILSON & DANA ALLEN





Sometime there is a skip in generations, this time it's Dianne Wilson & her Granddaughter Dana Allen,(now Mrs. Wally Naghten Jr.). In the first photo you see Dianne working her Seal Act in the 1960's, next is Dana with Seals, she really worked this act with her brother but sorry DV, this is Ladies Night, the next two photos show Dana with a Dascshund Act, & an Exotic Bird Act. By the way, we all refer to Dianne as "Grandma", & she's still going strong.

QUASSAR'S QUIZ: MYSTERY CHILD


Here's another Mystery Baby for you, and NO, it's not Shirley Temple.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

QUASSAR'S QUIZ: CLEVELAND, OHIO 1966,,,,AND THE ANSWER IS!!!!



Anonymous gave you the addresses for the IMDb Movie Database showing the film credits of Darlene Ava Williams, & David W. Strong, and Mr. Lee gave me his correct guess at a BBQ at Cindy & Roy Wells' house earlier this evening. And this is what those two kids look like 40 years later,(I can't be that old!).

Saturday, September 16, 2006

QUASSAR'S QUIZ: CLEVELAND, OHIO 1966




Don't you love it when people show you a picture of someone when they were a little kid, and ask you who it is.
Here's a hint, in the form of a riddle, "They were in the same business then, and they are in the same business now, but the business they are in now, is not the same business they were in then"????

Thursday, September 14, 2006

FROM PENNY WILSON RODRIGUEZ



These were taken on Tom Packs Circus, in Indianapolis, in 1954, that's Penny on Diablo in the top picture. In the bottom picture, left to rightare, Ruggera Zoppe,(now Mrs Fritz Lauber), unknown, Joanie Letty Valentine, & Penny.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

LET'S SEE WHO CAN GUESS THIS ONE


The dog act, as it says, was Evy Karoly's, but who is the young blonde guy working the act?

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

DO YOU KNOW THE NAME OF TRIGGER' S COWBOY



There was an email going around a few days ago with the names of the horses of some famous cowboys, now here's a switch that should be easy for you old fogies, if you're not afraid to give away your age. I have removed the inscriptions from these two pictures , except for the name of the horse. You tell me the name of the star, & the character.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

QUASSAR'S QUIZ: WHO IS THIS MYSTERY LADY


I think any hints I give for this one would be a dead give-away, so you're on your own.

This comes from Jackie Wong, who said it was given to his sister when he was 3, or 4 years old. I asked him when he was born but I think he gave the wong year!

Thursday, September 07, 2006

SNAPSHOTS: THE ERIKSONS HAND BALANCING ACT



These are two very early photos of the Eriksons, possibly taken before coming to the USA.

In the top photo left to right are Hans, Karl, & Steve.

In the bottom are Steve, Hans, & Karl.

For many years the Eriksons had a big Mobile Home & Trailer Park on Highway US 41, south of Tampa, since it was closed years ago, Mother Nature has reclaimed the property, and all that's left is the driveway.

THE ERIKSONS # 2



This is a much later version of the act, Steve is no longer there but the act has grown, this is the Clyde Beatty Circus 1952, & left to right are Hans, Penny Wilson, Conchita Morales Erikson,(Karl's wife), Herbie,(and if you think Herbie is not a girl's name, you are right, but then Herbie, is not a girl), & Karl.

THE ERIKSONS #3




This is 1953 when they were with Siebrand Bro. Circus & Carnival which is a "whole nother story".

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

BARBETTE REVISITED: "SIDESHOW"


Here is another photo from Jackie Wong.

This is the complete group of performers who took part in Barbette's, "Sideshow", which was the opening number on Polack Bros. Circus in 1953. In the front are once again La Norma, & Millie Ward, on each side of Cucciolo. Some others I recognize, the clown on the left is Joe Sherman, the one on the right, peeking from behind Alberto Zoppe, is Dennis Stevens. Jackie Wong is standing in front of the S, & Herta Klauser in front of the H, and it looks like Dorothy Pina,(later married to Bobby Yerkes), behind the bass drum.

AMONG MY SOUVENIRS


That sounds like a song title! The date was October 18, but I can't pin down the year, I think it is late 1940's, I know it was on Polack Bros. Circus, I'll bet that was some Birthday Party

SNAPSHOTS: THE ALL AMERICAN BOYS




Here are three pics of Walker Dick's "All American Boys" Tumblers. As usual I'm a little short on identification.

In the top photo is, Walker Dick, ??, Don Gibbons, Bill Nixon, Obe Bryon, ??, ??.

In the middle photo is Walker Dick, & Don Gibbons, the rest are unknown.

The bottom photo is Mickey, doing a nice one arm plange.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

ENGLISH DINNER

A word about the "English Dinner" at Showfolks last nite, prepared by Derrick Rosaire Jr.,,,,"FABULOUS"!
I said "a" word.

QUASSAR'S QUIZ: ACROBATIC ACT


From the Morales Family album, this snapshot of a brother & sister acrobatic act.

The answer to the last quiz was Jacquline Zerbini, Tavana, & Mr.Lee guessed it!

SNAPSHOTS: THE KELROYS



The first Australian I met, was Ray Humphries, who flew for Roy Deisler, & I noticed that whenever there is an Australian on the show, everyone suddenly becomes Australian, "Good Morning", becomes, "G'Day Mate", & everything is Matey this, or Matey that.
These two snapshots were sent to me by Margaret Goodall-Kelroy, who was adopted by the Kelroys, she assisted Ron at times in his Rola-Bola, & Plate Spinning Acts.
In the top photo is the Kelroys in 1952, Ivy, Ernie, & Joan. The bottom photo shows the Kelroys in 1923, in Australia, with Ernie on the left.

THE KELROYS # 2



These are a couple snapshots I took of the Kelroys, Ron, Ernie, Ivy, & Joan, warming up for their juggling number, & dressed for the trampoline act, on Hoxie Bros. I believe in the late '60's.