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.
About Me
- Name: 24-HOUR-MAN
- 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
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.
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
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
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
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.
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.
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.
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.