THEBIGCIRCUS

The biggest

show in

the world!

VICTOR MATURE RED BUTTONS

RHONDA FLEMING

IRWIN ALLEN'S

Production of

"THE BIG CIRCUS"

KATHRYN GRANT VINCENT PRICE

PETER LORRE DAVID NELSON

GILBERT ROLANDis the Aerialist

In CINEMASCOPE « and TECHNICOLOR "

Produced by Irwin Allen

anplay by Irwin Men. Charlet Bsnnetl, and Irving WJl

Whirling's big circus gets into ruinous

financial difficulties . . .

And enlists (he aid of a banker and a

girl publicist.

The show continues to be mysteriously

plagued with disasters ...

And everyone in the circus becomes a

suspect.

But an act of heroism again brings

fame and security to the big top.

ONE MORNlMS, ON ONE OF

N=W VOEK CITY'S BUSIESTSTEEETS

, HENeY iASPEfZW1KUN5 AEEIVES INFEDNTOFA LAE6E ANC>STATELY BANKINGINSTITUTION...

THAT'S KiSHT/ HANK WHIETLINe, OWNER:OP THE ^ISSEST SHOW ON EAETH.'NOWSUPPOSE WE SET EISl-TT DOWN TOBUSINESS ON THE LOAN I ASKED FOE.'

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEEVIOUSLVCOMBINED CIECUSES OF "WHIRLING ANDBOEMAN" HAVE NOW BECOMEINDEPENDENT SHOWS

,AND

THAT VOUK ClECUS IS NOWIN WlNTEtZ gUAETEeS IN

CALIFORNIA(EEAp-¥ FOE

TOUETNG IN A WEEK

OF COUESE MAYBE I'MPBEJUDICED...YOUSEE,HE'S My BBOTUBB/ j* _s YOUB

bbotubb*

I JUST WANTTD SAY ITS SBEAT TO SEE YOU ALL HEBE... // UUBBAYYY. ,

AMP TD WAVE YOU,WITH US AT THE BIRTH OF THE NEW N, TWATABOY/ HANK.'WHIKLINS CIBCUS.'JOIN IN THE FOOD AND DPINK.FBIENPS...ITS ALL ON HANK WHIELINO.'

I TOLD YOU THIS WAS A SBEAT IDEA,SHE2MAN...JUST LOOK AT THBTJBNOUT/SOME BIO NEWSPAPEBMENHEBE ... SUYS I DIDN'T EVEN INVITE!

YOU MEAN MISS HARBISON )SOT THOSE MEN TO COME J __

HEBE »> ZJ^-—|

•^SHE HAS 1MPOBTANT,FBIENDS, MB.WHIELINe/SHE FI6UEED IF SHE

COULDN'T BEAT YOUSHE'D JOIN YOU

SUOWLY HAWK WHIELINS EDSES TOWAKDTME UION... ' _^CAN'T SOMEONeTtMAT WOULD COST

YOUR BANK TfiVTHOUSAND DOLLARS,

MR. SHERMAN '

HIGH ABOVE THE AEENA.ZACHcouno sees a way to help...

my^ T I HOPE 1i~0—

7

/ THIS WOEKS .' y--T.rr:

I§ii^^^=5

"ftf / /^'^mAjK

ZACH SLIDES DOWN THE SLANTINGV/lRE, STRIKING OUT AT THE NETRSLEASE ROPES-.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN .PLEASE/I'M THE PRESS ASENT HERE—NOTMR. WHIRLING / WWAT YOU SAW JUSTNOW WAS NOT A STUNT/ AND AS POR .

SEEKING HEADLINES, YOU'RE W&ON6!I EARNESTLY BEG VOU NOT TO PRINTTHIS STORY/ THE CIRCUS IS ADISPENSER, OP PUN...NOT PEAR/

HELEN'S WORDS WAVE THEDESIRED EFFECT..,

WELL SAID, 7\ 5UESS I WASMiss marbison/ ) weong? pm

SOCEV,WHieLINS,'

TMANKS,MlSS HAERlSON... \N0...BLJT'BUT PO VOU EtALLV SELIEVE /THIS WAV NOTHOSE SUVSV/ILL K'LL ^ ONE WILL CALLTHE STORY? _ J ITATASTELESS

PUBLlGnV STUNT.'BY ASKIM6 THEM

,

HOT TO PUBLISHTHE STOEV,

I SUAZANTE£l>IT'LL BE IN PRINX'

HOVuEVEE HANK V/HlELlNG'SHAPPINESS IS SHORT-LIVED..

'"what IN TARNATION ISTHAT CONTRAPTION?SWEEMAN.DiD VOU HAVEANYTHIN© TO DO WITH "WIS

TMIS IS THE END OP tT, SHEEMANJ / THE\VHOLE CIECUS MlSMT HAVE SONE UP IN

PLAMES/ TELL VOUS BAKK I WANT OUTDC THE PEAL...ANDI WANT VOU OUT OPTHIS CieCUS BV MOENINS/

ypu'ee slamins -we weons ^AN,HANK.' SOMEONE CUT THE W.ADESON SWESWAN'S MACHINE .'

TELL ME. WHIELINS \ WE SAW THIS 3UVI WHAT YOU SAW, SOYS/ JwiTU A HACKSAW

'FOOLIN' ABOUNDTHE MACHINE ,SIE„.

WE DIDN'T KNOWWHAT HE WAScoins oe. weWOULD WAVETOLD SOMEONE/

I LOOKED AT THEMACHINElWANK?THE FRICTION THATSTARTED THOSESPAEKS WASCAUSED BV THE

,SAWED BLAPBS!

WE JU5T SAW HIM PROMTHE SACK.SIE... HERAN INTO THE SHADOWSAND WE DIDN'T SEE HIM

ASAIN .'

FIEST THATLION SOTLOOSE... ,

MOW THIS/

I'M soeev,SHERMAN-.X SUESS IWAS WEON0.'

Lfi*jg

SUT MOW CAM X MAKE THE PAYMENTWHEN IT DIpNT EVEN COME INTO THESOV: OFCICEZ WE'VE BEEN FLOODEDOUT DC EVEEY TOWN BETWEEN" HEPAMD DALLAS... AND MOEE AHEAD/

NO/ I'LL <3iV£ THIS CIECUSAWAY BEFOEEI SELL- TOTHOSE CLTTTHEOATS/

~

CAN'T SELL OUT/

j wave to make a suevey of yoqechances dueing the galance ofthe touk, hank... lindee both soodAnd bad obcumstances/ it shouldtake me at least foety-ei6ht houes

IT MlSUT I'M 501NS TO MAK& ATAKE A I MIRACLE .SHEEMAN/MlEACLE / I'M GETTING" A PLANE TOTO SAVE / NEW YORK AT OUENEl-Cr

STOP/ IF THE WEATHEE'STOO EOUSW TO FLY, I'LL

HIKE A atRO!

GOOD LUCK,HANK.,. ANDI MEAN THATWITH ALL MY

WEAET,'

nobody'll wcome out in ^

this rain; looks-ike the performancehas to be cancelled

ASAIN,'

ABE MY EVES GOINGSA.D OR. IS THATJSAHWS UP THERE *

WHENEVER- HANK'S AWAV / DOES WANKFROM THE CIECUS I N. HAVE ANVPEACTiCE WITH THE COLINOS,' \ IDEA*2ACH SAVS X'M GOOD ENOQSHTO PERFORM/

HE'D DISOWN ME IF HE KNEW.' BUT I MVETO DO IT, EAMDy... MV MOTHER WAS AFLIER... A FAMOUS ONE... SHE DIEDIN A FALL FROM THE H\e\-i TR-APEZE /

FLVINS HAS BECOME A SORT OFCHALLENGE AND A SYMBOL TO MEONE DAY fa FLY BEFORE A REALAUDIENCE JUST ONC£/ THENI'LL BE READY TO SETTLE DOWN

THEN YOU DO CAfce.'l WASwondeeins if vou'c svseGET ABOUND TO LETTING

ME KNOW/

BUT WE'VESOT THEWHOLE TOUEALEEADVBOOKBP/

IP THE BANK FORE-CLOSED, THE TOURWOULD BE CANCELLEDANVWAY/ SO XCANCELLED IT MVSSLffWE'LL 6EAB THAT ONENlSHT STAND IN NIAGARAAND OPEN IN MANHATTAN

TWO DAVS LATEE .'

LTHE BOEMAN ClECUS GOES INTOMADISON SQUAEE 6AEDEN IN. SI*WEEKS.' IF WE JUMP INTO A CIECfJS-MUNSRY NEW YORK FIRST, WECOULD CLEAN UP/ WE CAN'T SETTHE GAEDEN,BLlTI LINED UP A

MOW'S \OUE CHANCE TO SHOW US WHATKIND OF A PUSLICIT-/ A&ENT YOU AEE,HELEN/I'M TOSSING IT INTO YOUE LAP.'SPEND THE WORKS. ., MAKE NEW YOEKQUE MIEACLE

'

sue's iaewTj we need sometminsSIS.' AN ATLANTIC SWIM... A CLIMB DPTHE EMPlEE STATE.,. MAYBE AM4IEPLANE COVEElWG TME CITV VV1TW JTlCKEp-TAPE

WMAT?C.eoss THE

I DIDN'T MBANTMAT/ I WAS JUSTUSIN6 AN EXAMPLE"' KIND C

THAT TBAIN YOU'EE ON IS CUNNING"I TWO SECTIONS JUST LIKE ALWAYS~l KNOW WHAT TO DO .' _S " <«

LATEB tuat same wight, theWHIRLING TEAINS SPEED TUE0U6HTHE NISHT

i HEAD1N5 COE NlASAEAFALLS..,

stop wcceyiNe,HELEN... ZACH IsTHE GEEATEST"HE'LL MAKE IT/

WOT If I CAW TALKHIM OUT OF rr.' IWANTED TO TEV ANDPEESUADE MAMACOLINO TONIGHT, BUTSHE'S IN THE FOEWAEOSECTION WITH A SICKSIELjSALLY UOPOEE...

TRACKS ACE OUT, SIC SOT TO R*^EM FIEST/ I'D SAY SOU FOLKS A|?ESTUCK HEJZE THEEE DAYS AT LEAST,,.COULD GO BY THE F?OAD BUT ITS AGOOD TWENTV MILES OP MOUNTAIN

TWO THOUSAND YEAt?S A60 A ©UYNAMED HANNIBAL CBOSSED THE ALPSWITH THE HELPOFFOETY ELEPHANTS/WHEN IT COMES TO ELEPHANTS, WE'VEGOT HANNIBAL OUTNUMBERED/WE'RE CBOSSIH& THAT MOUNTAIN/

LEAVES THE TEAIN, THE. WU1ELINS CIECLJS MOVES ON THEOUSH THEAPPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN COUNTEY... A GAUDV, FANTASTIC PEOCESSION THATMOVES SLOWLY AND> WITH SADNESS BECAUSE OF THe TfeASEDV IK ITS FAMILY..

3UT THE NEXT DAY THE CiF?CUS OPENS ONSCHEDULE IN NIAsAEA...

THE BISSEST HOUSEVrfE'VE EVEE PLAYED-TO... NOT AN EMPTYSEAT ANY PLACE/STILL THINK IT WASTOO BIS A GAMBLETO SWITCH THE TOUE?»

AND NOW.., IN THE CENTEE KINS,THE SEEATEST CIRCUS PEEFOEMEE:OF ALL TIME. ..IT IS MY SEEAT HONOCTO PEESENT-. ZAO-i CQUNQ

!

2ACU SHUDDEES.,, HIS HANDCOMES TO HIS EVES.,. HE SWAYS...AND THEM HE IS FALUNS..,FALL1NS...

...LANDINS IN THE NET BELOW As SASPSCOME FEOM THE AUDIENCE ...

THAT'S THE END OC IT.EANDV;NOT ONLY OP POOE ZACH BUT OFNlASAEA FALLS...NEWVOEK...ANDTH6.WHIBLINS CIECUS.' UNLESS...

EV5BVBOPY DIES.' YOU... ME...MAMA... EVEEVBODY.' AT LEAST SUE'SSPACED THE SIGHT OP VOL) TL1ENINSCOWAED ANP THE CICCUS GOIN6SANKEUPT,'

rr WASN'T NEGESSAey.'^ X SUESSEVESVOME COULD HEAe ) MV LECTUEEVOU HALF WAV ACROSS 7 WAS A LITTLEthe lot: y\ loud:

SOU DON'T UNDEE-STANDi HELEN...

. IT was foe HISIS SEOKEN,., \ OWN SOOD,'SO YOU'D DEIVE *UlMTO HIS DEATHWITH A LECTUEE ?J

>OU eeALLV DONT UNDERSTAND .'

2ACH MUST WALK THOSE FALLS.'WITH MAMA SONE HE'D BE LOST IFHE CAN'T CAEEY ON IN HIS WOBK.'HE CAN'T LIVE ON IF HE DOESN'T/

EVEN IF HE DIES TOMOEEOW, HE'LL VDIE IN GLOEY INSTEAD OF LIVINGIN FAILUEE/ BUT IF ZACH DOESN'TWALK NlASAEA UE'S DBAD ALSSADV

THE NEXT DAY, AT THE NlA©Al?A FALLS.. ZACM COLINO'S UPTWEEE,LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...

THE CLIFF DEOPS AWAV A FULLTWO HUNDRED FEET, THAT WIEE IS

ASI6WTTO SEE. ..MUST BE A THOUSANDFEETOF IT, ITSTE&TCWES AWAv ACEOSSTMEEAPIpS... WITH THE FALLS THUNDEEINS

I>OWNJ BELOW.

yANK,UIEL6N, AND MAMS WAITONTHECANADIAN SIDE OF THE FALLS...

A MOMEMT LATEE.ZACUSTAETS THETEI?EtFVINe WALK FEOM TME AMERICANSIDE...

THIS IS IT /ZACHCOLINO... THE GREATESTWIEE WALkEE IN TME WOELD TODAV,,,STEPPING OUT ONTO THE WIEE...THE FIRSTTIME IN A HUNDRED VEAES ANVONEHAS DAEED TME 5TUNT '

ZACH MOVES OUT CVEE THE VANNINGCHASM... ADVANCING SLOWLY...BALANCING HIMSELF CAEEFULLY...

and as the foments pass , hecontinues uis dangeeous jouenevACBOSS THE SWAvlNe WIBE...

THE CEOWD'5 IN AN UPEOAEiTWESKEATBST PEAT OP ITS KIND IN AHUNCCED VEAes... ACHIEVED

I

ZACU COUNOrONEOF MlSTOEV©EEATEST DAREDEVILS/

I SAID I'D WALK THE FALLS AMDKILL YOU APTEE IT WAS PONE...BUT OUT TWEEE IT CAME TO ME .,

YOU'KE NOT WOETH IT, HANK /

ABOUT TIME SOUCALLED! CAN'T YOU

DO SOMETHING? IFTONIGHT'S SHOW GOES

""

WHIf?LlN6 WILL HAVE

U£ MISSSD HER .'

OVEZSt-ICtOT

JEANNIE PLUMMETSDOWNWARD...

Z4CM COLINO, SEEING JEANNIE DIVINSTO HEE DEATH , ALSO DIVES, WITH ASPEED WHICH ISSTABTLIN6...

AND LIKE A CONTROLLED BULLET,2ACH ' SHOULDERS ' JEANNIETOWARD THE SAFETY OF THE NETBELOW..

£!&m?JEN.SSP!L2HII TSW AS.T"E ^EAE patal, accidentAPPEARS TD THE CROWD TO BE A ttEHEARSED THRILL...

ZACU/ WE JUST LEARNED TMAT uTOMMY CAUSED THE WRECK THAT,"KILLED MAMA? HIS MISSIN& 4EANNIEWis NO ACCIDENT.' ^> -_*

WHA....' J

BEFORE HANK CAN STOP HIM , 2ACUSWINSS UP TOWARD THE Tdp OFTHE TENT...

BUT ZACW COLINO IS MOT TO BE RESTRAINED.HE CLIMBS UP AFTER THE KILLER..,

TOMMY SEES THE REV6NSEBURNINS IN ZACU'S EYES...HE STEPS BACK...

The D,tl Trademark it, and ahehas been, a positive guai

magazine bearing it con-

tain* only clean and uhohientertainment. The Dell rode elimi-

nates entirely, rather than regulates,

objectionable material. That's whywhen your child buys a Dell Comiryou can be sure it contains only goodfun. ''DELL COMICS ARE GOOD COMICs"in our only credo and constant goal.

CIRCUS CHOW

Circus men and women work hard and eat heartily. Meals,warmed on modern steam tables, are served under thecanvas of the dining: tent for performer and laborer alike.

The circus kitchen operates on a tightschedule. A special flap: is raised on one ofthe tent poles when each meal is beingserved, but after it is lowered, nobodycan get a bite to eat.

The dining tent is the first one up afterunloading begins in the early dawn of thecircus day. Breakfast is served immediate-ly. Lunch is from eleven until twelve, anddinnertime is held from four-thirty to six.

Ponderous animals have ponderous appe-tites, and a large portion of circus food is

hay. It must be kept on hand to feed horses,giraffes, camels, and elephants,

Fresh meat is also purchased to feed thebig cats. A full-grown lion or tiger canconsume fourteen pounds per dav, whilethe smaller cats, such as leopards, eat less.

BIG-TOP

BUFFOONERY

Here come the clowns with their painted faces and color-

ful costumes. Circus clowns spend many hours thinkingup and trying out their gags. When they appear under the

Some routines, such as the clown lire department and the clown band, require prop;and several participating clowns. Thesigroup acts are called production numbers

(inmaldi.about whoi

fcheatr

Charle

clown is "joey." Thisnickname of Joseph

al clown of long ago,Dickens wrote a book.

People often wonder if the constant appli-cation of grease paint and make-up is hardon the complexion of a clown. It probablyis not, as clowns get a facial beauty treat-

ment every time their make-up is applied.

The circus "joey" may change his costumeseveral times during the course of a per-formance, but he will never change hisface because it is his own personal trade-mark. No other clown will copy it.