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5th Year November 15, 1976 Number 46

Big crowds have jammed-packed the John Strong Circus tent for every performancesince the show arrived in Southern California for its fall and winter dates. Turnaways wererecorded at Redlands, Yucaipa, San Bernardino and Riverside. One observer reported youcan't imagine the size of these crowds.

John Jr., has rejoined the show af-ter a summer tour with Mid-America. Hisbalancing and juggling acts, which win strongapplause, have been added to the show's pro-gram, while his side show attracts good sized

crowds on the midway.

Another feature act on the show isSwami, the fire eater and sword swallower,whose performance draws standing ovationsat every show.

Pumpkin FestivalAn old-time circus side show, from the daysof Bamum, was created by the Early Ameri-can Circus for the annual Pumpkin Festivalat Half Moon Bay (Calif.) on the weekendsof Oct. 23-24 and Oct. 30-31. The JerryBooker production provided an extra attrac-tion at this small town's annual Halloweenfeature which attracts thousands of peopleevery day.

The show was impressive and colorful, sit-

(Continued on Page 6)

AVAILABLE FOR LIMITED ENGAGEMENTS

HOLLYWOOD ELEPHANTSContact

JUDY JACOBSKAYESuite 519 • 1680 North Vine Street • Hollywood. California • 900«Y

Area Code 213 • 462-6001

Page 2 The Circus Report

NEW ONEA new show called Suncoast Circus Reviewhas been put together for indoor dates andis being offered for conventions and specialevents. Details about the show and its avail-ability can be obtained by writing to: JerrySwan/ . 525 Treasure Boat Way, Sarasota,Fla. 33581.Show personnel includes: Andre, high wire;Kay Rosaire, lions; Les Peters, hand balanc-ing; Danny Chapman, clown; The Revolu-tions, trampoline; Sarah Chapman, aerialist;Capt. James Henry, balloon trap act andRobert Sanderson, musical director.

ANTHONY OLOBRI and his circus modelswere featured in the July 27, 1976 issue ofthe Providence (R.I.) Times.HERBERT UECKHART, of Las Vegas, hasbeen appointed Nevada State Chairman forthe CFA.

FOLLOWING THE BEST OFTHE OLD TRADITIONS

MISS JO-ANN J E N N I E Rpresen Is

SUNNYTHE C A L I F O R N I A SEA LION

and

A MOST Ol 1ST ANDINGSINGLE TRAPEZE A C T

/ \TRoni f / \ r ,

LUCRETIA McEVIL

iidhip t mp i.o' M( •H,,. \.nd W Schult/?525 Wv-,1 Peterson A-.'e.Chicjgo. HI 60659

Novelty acts booked for TV network appear-ances by the Simone Finner Enterprises, are:John Baldwin's Charming Chimps; Lance &Jeanne Shinkle, novelty "dancing dolls" andTwinkle, the Wonder Dog, all appearing onCTO "Stars on Ice"., in December.Appearing on the Merv Griffin TV show nextmonth will be: The Great Tomsoni, Poland'sFinest Magician; Mr. Electric (Marvyn Royand Carole with their electric light illusion);and the Great Alexanders, Hungarian teeter-board troupe.

In Memoriam

FRANCINE DERISKIE KIESS (48) died af-ter a brief illness on Sept. 20th at Muncie,Ind. She was formerly a member of the !)»•-riskie circus troupe. Survivors include herhusband, Robert; children, Robin, Clyde,John and Robert II. Other survivors includea brother, Frank Peeler (with Circus Vargas),and sisters Lucy Snowden, Sandra Owens andGail Barnes.

MiscellaneousNew arenas under construction at Billings(Mont.), Portland (Me.), and Jamestown (ND)will be included on RBBB's route for '77.Lion Country Safari, in Southern California,is featuring "Bluegrass" music shows underits circus tent for the winter season.Members of the Sells Bros. CFA Top inOhio attended the evening performance ofRBBB in Cleveland on Nov. 13th.The 1977 CFA Convention is set for June16-18 at Circus Circus in Las Vegas.

Gunnar Amandis Helen Amandis

AMANDIS ENTERTAINMENTArtists' Representative

619 NorthLock wood ridge Rd.

Sarasota, Fla(813) 9557506

November 15, 1976 Page 3

T h a n k y o u D I S N E Y O N P A R A D E f o r

P E L U Z Af o u r w o n d e r f u l s e a s o n s

1 9 7 2 - 7 6

C L O W NJavier Esparza4535 Pioneer Ave.Las Vegas, Nev. 89102

(702) 876 4076

Page The Circus Report

ROUTESBeatty-Cole Circus

Nov. 15 Lake Worth, Fla.16 Homestead17 Plantation18 Hallandale

19-21 Miami

Circus VargasNov 16-18 Visalia, Calif.

19-24 Citrus Heights

French Charity CircusNov 20 Santa Monica, Ca.

King Bros. CircusNov. 15 Marrianna, Fla.

16 Chattahoochee-- End of Season --

I . i n n s All-Star CircusNov 20-21 Nazarath, Pa.

Polack Bros. CircusNov 19-21 Springfield, III.

Ringling-Barnum • Blue Unitto Nov 21 Nassau. L.I.

Ringling-Barnum • Red Unitto Nov 21 Cleveland, Ohio

Ray Valentino CircusNov 20-21 Conroe, Texas

OTHER ROUTESCarnival of Brazil

Nov 16-21 Cincinnati, Ohio

Paul Eagles Club PartyNov 15 Los Angeles, Cal.

Ken Griffin (Magic)Nov 16 Biloxi, Miss.

17 Gulfport18 Pasagoula20 Maryville, Tenn.

Royal Lipizzan StallionsNov. 16 Notre Uame, Ind

18-19 Fort Wayne20-21 Detroit, Mich.

IF YOU WANT THE JOB DONE RIGHT!

CARL E.CONLEY(30 YEA RS IN Cl RCUS B US I NESS)

JUGGLING-LIBERTY HORSE ACT

ANNOUNCER

3RD SEASON ON KING BROS. CIRCUS* * * * * * * *

A-1 CONCESSION MGR. and SIDE SHOW MGR

Year Round Address. 2635 Noi ion Road Kent. Ohio 44240 .

Page 5

BILLY BARTON.THE CLAUDE OU BOIS' "Circus World" a newFrench-Canadian Circus which debuted this season,is prepping for an extended tour in 1977 to run atleast six months and is looking for a small wildanimal act. CHESTER CABLE returns in 1977 andTONY and IRENE FOSSETT have signed withCircus World and will present their new Kangarooact along with the Gorilla Parody and Tony'sbounding rope..

BILL and TRUDY STRONG cancelled Circo Uniondue to Mexico's peso problems—A new rocketship aerial act from Europe will be featured withCircus Vargas. The unique rigging is moved intothe center ring, then rises and rotates independentof suspension cables or guy lines BOBBY GIBBSwts seen visiting CV in Dallas.

BILL "Boom Boom" BROWNING finally gave upthe bachelor's life when he married a girl he met inSt Louis. . . .ALFONSO M A G A N A phoned fromFlorida, very upset over reports that he "conspired"to "steal" the G-M bulls. "It is simply NOT true,"he says. . . . .GEORGE HUBLER added Syracuse tohis 1977 Shrine dates.. . . .Understand the DetroitShnners have vetoed professional butchers whohave worked there since ORRIN DAVENPORTpioneered the date decades ago • why? ....ROYALHANNEFORD will repeat Cincinnati . . . .Dayton hasswitched its dates several times!

RUDY JACOB! is active booking his Rudy Bros.Circus and has acquired a number of importantengagements for 1977....Many of you know thatJON FRIDAY is a ringmaster but didyaknow hedid a single trap act? JIM DOUGLASS is creat-ing an elaborate new spec for M&M and SAM T.POLACK....JACKIE LE CLAIR, former RBBBaerialist, finally subscribed to CR. "I got tired ofgetting it second-hand!" he writes. We wish thisfeeling were contagious! Comedy star NANCYWALKER actually yells at her plants to make themgrow - which they do! I wonder if you wouldterm that "Green Tongue"?

Gossip-star RONA BARRETT'S latest Gossip Maga-zine is filled to the brim with pictures of RBBBperformers mixing it up with Hollywood Hotshots.....Hear that a reporter who was inside the HoxieBros, steel arena attempting to photograph a lion,got clawed in the face for his efforts KURT EL-

KINS reports the Sisters are fine, and they have ad-ded a black poodle that steals the act. Their newpresentation planned for '77 has been delayed, but

I will probably be unveiled mid-season BILLY andI BONNIE EARL have added a skunk (Petunia) toI their musical-comedy number. It's going over so

well, Billy says he's "jealous". In that it's a female,Billy, dontyathink it's Bonnie who should com-plain? Billy, incidentally, composed all the musicfor one full side of their sensational BONNIE &CLYDE album

Prior to Sells & Gray's closing, MARTA FLORESand MARL EN E GROTEFENT measured the tressesof glamour-puss BLANC ESTRADE whose hairfalls an incredible 36 inches RBBB's BOB DOVERfelt right at home under the Circus Vargas Big Topwhen he visited former assistant MIKE GORMAN,the CV ringmaster. That show has one of its newseat wagons completed and it was inspected byCUFF VARGAS.

GEORGE DA DEPPO has finished the art workfor the new Polack Bros. Circus program. He alsodid the new covers for White Tops, the letterheads for the HERNANDEZ TROUPE, ad layoutsfor JOHN STRONG and is busy designing a newbrochure for the FLYING ARMOURS.

LES BLOCKS, high wire artists, visited Sells & Grayenroute to Florida from the Gatti Char les closing;also visiting S&G on an unscheduled day off fromHoxie Bros, were the Chandlers, the Bradd Franks,the Dryers and Ted Saversky. INGE and ROBERTWILLIAMS were also on the lot for a day.

A bizarre incident marred the Sells & Gray's Daw-son (Ga) stand where, only the night before, the lo-cal KKK had burned a cross. It seems the showwas sponsored by a black American Legion Post.That incident, coupled with a spongy lot and noavailable caterpillar, decided Wilson Storey to moveon. How fantastic to imagine that, in this day andage of social enlightment, the KKK is still allowedto pursue their indignities!

Frustrations suffered by tent show people are num-erous and here's an example. On a tenter recentlythe entire show was engrossed in a crucial WorldSeries playoff when the light plant suddenly shutdown! A word to the wise: Buy battery TV's.

See you down the road, luvs.

Page 6 The Circus Report

FOR SALEOFFICE TRAILER - used one season

Write or Call:

MARSHA HUNT JONESP. O. Box 66

Florence, N. J. - 08518

Phone: (609) 499 0865

Experienced clown-mime seeks employmentwith a circus for 1977 season. Will sendphoto and resume upon request. Write to:M. Streeter, R.D. 1, Chester Springs, Pa.19425.

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL (Continued)

ting in the middle of a huge field and sur-rounded by thousands of pumpkins of allshapes and sizes. One of the special featureswas the display of a huge 285 Ib pumpkin.The show's midway included four bannersand a bally platform on the right side, witha pony ride and clown make-up booth onthe left.The show itself, running on a continual basis,was sidewalled and featured a rope walker,juggler, belly dancer, snakes, two clowns anda fire eater. Several circus animals were alsodisplayed within the canvas walls, includingHapiso, the world's only trained hyena. Af-ter show lectures were given about the hyenaby show owner Jerry Booker, who also dem-onstrated some of the training techniques us-ed in teaching Hapiso his tricks.

FOR SALEREAL BARGAIN ' ' ' 50 ft. Outdoor alummum rigging; 10 ft. sections; special crane barwith pulleys. Complete with stakes, pulleyblocks, cables and A-frame. Ready to go up.

Only S900

Contact: Luben R. StoyanoH, 1617 EnchantedLane, Lancaster, Texas • 75146

Phont: (214) 227 2768

Acts SetSeveral novelty acts have been booked bySimone Finner Enterprises, of Hollywood,to tour with the Harlem Globetrotters forits 1967-77 tour.

Acts featured on the National Unit include:John Baldwin's Charming Chimps; The Pat-ricks, juggling duo; The Davisons, rola bola;Touring with the International Unit will be:The Lindens, balancing team; Ham 'N Bur-ger, plate spinning; The Grimaldis, musicalclowns and Michael Ashton, foot juggler.This unit will make dates in Canada, Brazil,Argentina and Venezuela, as well as the U.S.

SAM T. POLACK will produce the New Or-leans, La., Police Circus for 1977.DAVE MERRIFIELD and THE QUASSARSworked the fair at Atlanta, (la., early thismonth.

The ERIK ADAMS acts replaced The Burgerson some east coast Polack show dates.JOSS SILVER, formerly with the CircusKingdom, has joined Clown Alley on thePolack Bros. Cirrus.

CUSTOM COLORCIRCUS PHOTOSStop-Action Performance Shots,Scenics, Equipment, Lot Views,Band Photos: All in Full-Color

Listing No. 1 - 1 7 4 Photos $ .35B e a u t i f u l 5"x7" Sample....$1.20

JAMES D. K A L l v O D ACr A - CHS - CMB - Ui:

1309 South Clinton AvenueRerwyn, I l l i n o i s 60402

November 15, 1976 Pago 7

NATIONAL CONGRESS OF ANIMAL TRAINERS 4 BRFFDERS. Inc.

THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED THE INTRODUCTION OF BILLH. R. 15151 II!

The only bill that would exempt captive born endangered species will bere-introduced at the next Congressional Session.

If you do not already belong to this vital group of trainers and breedersand you care about the business join now !!

A meeting is planned towards the end of the month with all animal people(circus, zoos, breeders, etc.).

For information write:

P. O. Box 31N. C. A T. B.

Center Hill, Fla. - 33514

YEARS AGOPittsfield, Mass. • June 18, 1926Sells- Floto CircusThe Sells-Floto Circus arrived from Spring-field, Mass, at 5 a.m. in one train of 23cars (5 horse cars, 12 flat cars, 8 sleepers).

( They have 52 wagons (a cart, 15 cages, twotractors). Their colors are: flat cars, orangeand green; horse cars, orange; sleepers, orangeand green; wagons, white.The unloading was started at 6 a.m. and ilwas completed, with everything up on thelot by noon. There was no parade.The tents include: 4 pole big top; 4 polemenagerie; 3 pole side show; 3 pole dress-ing top with ring stock; two baggage horsetops with 7 poles each; 2 pole wardrobe; 7pole dining top; 2 pole kitchen; three con-cession tops, one pole each and three smalltops, with one pole each.In the menagerie were: 14 cages, 14 ele-phants, 6 cjmels, Indians, 16 lions, 8 po-lar bears and 9 tigers.

They have 96 head of baggage stock and 38head of ring stock. Wagons included: 2 lightplants, electric supplies, 2 ticket wagons, astake driver, commissary, steam wagon, 2canvas wagons, poles, stringers, jacks, 4 seatwagons, 2 tractors, a cart, 15 cages, band,ring, side show, menagerie, 3 cookhouse,horse tents, dressing and ring stock, 2 ward-robe, 3 prop wagons, water tank, stake &chain, dogs.

F.nd seats were blue, 14 lengths \yith 14 rowshigh. Reserves are orange with 14 lengthsand 14 rows high with 8 seats to a length.The back side had 12 lengths and 14 rowshigh. All interior big (op polos are white.

The cookhouse and horse tents were takendown about 6 p.m. The menagerie started tocome down right ifter the night show wasstarted. The side show was bring taken downal the same time they were dismantling thebig top.

The show was loaded about 11:30 p.m. andwas on the train b>» 12:45 a.m. The trainpulled out fur Albany. NY at 1:30 a.m.

Page 8 The Circus Report

Tell your friends "Merry1 Christmas"with an ad in the Dec. 20th issueof Orc-us Report • hurry, space islimited!

There's no increase in advertisingcosts - let's make this year's issuea really big one.

The deadline is Dec llth.

Season EndsThe season for Carson & Barnes came to aclose at Antlers, Okla., on Nov. 14th, andwas one of the show's longest tours. The bigcircus opened at Austin, Texas on March 27and gave 474 performances in 233 days onthe road, with one day off.The circus played in 22 states, its longestjump (240 miles) was between St. Geneviveand Republic (both Mo.), while the shortestjump (15 miles) was between Carrollton andLewisville (both Texas).This was the first year the circus played onthe east coast and it was the first time theshow played so many one day stands.

InternationalStartimeWants Acts For

Dec. 11 - 18 in Michigan

Must be able to work on indoor stagesAnimals are OK.

Please send information, picture and lowestsalary to:

JAROB PRODUCTIONSP. 0. Box 233

Westchester, 111 - 60153

To leave message call: (312) 383 5646

WANTEDWant to buy a complete bird act, includingall props. Prefer Macaws or Cockatoos.(Will pay cash).

Write or call: Betty Wendany10106 Hillhaven Ave.Tijunga, Calif. - 90142

PHONE: (213) 352-2454

TalentActs seen working recently at Atlanta, Ga.,for the Wm. Rice Circus were: The Staneks,Baron Von Uhl, and Cimse's dogs. The showwas announced by Robert Mitchell, whileCharles Hanson handled concessions.

The formation of a new CFA Tent is under-way in Ohio and its charter is awaiting fullCFA approval.

Officers elected for the new Central Ohioorganization are: Forrest A. Traylor, Presi-dent; Donald C. Nieman, vice president;Norman I. Vodrey, secretary and Ed Starr,treasurer. _THE CIRCUS REPORT is published eachweek by Don Marcks, 525 Oak Street, ElCerrito, Calif. - 94530.SUBSCRIPTION RATE: $12.00 a yearADVERTISING RATES: Minimum ad $2.50;Quarter Page $5.00; Half Page $10.00; FullPage $20.00 (Color $5.00 extra).

FOR SALEChrome Hand or Sword Balancing Lad-der • 3 piece, 15 ft. self-supporting.

Also 3 ft. chrome and mirrored turn-table.

All in Excellent Condition

$750 or Best OfferPhone: (707) 546-7963

November 15, 1976 Page 9

George Ross and Susiethe Bear

AVAILABLE for 1977

-

The only uncaged and unmuzzled JAPANESE BEAR ACT in the world.Doing stunts and tricks that will amuse and delight any audience.

Write: GEORGE ROSSRoute 1Holmes. N. Y. 12531

Phone. (914) 878-6757Federal License

21-KR

The Circus Report

ATTENTION

I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE A GOOD QUALITY

CHIMP ACT OVERSEAS WITH A FIRST CLASS CONCERN.THE CONTRACT WOULD BE FOR ONE OR TWO YEARS.

WOULD CONSIDER BUYING OUT-RIGHT CHIMPS OF QUALITY.

SEND PICTURES AND APPROXIMATE PRICE FOR LONG RUN.ALSO WHERE CAN YOUR ACT BE SEEN BETWEEN DEC. 12to 22nd.

TO MY AGENT FRIENDS AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT: THISIS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO SETMYSELF UP AS AN AGENT, BUTRATHER IT IS A MEANS OF DOING A FAVOR FOR AMANAGEMENT WE ADMIRE.

\jenc r

ti in ///„•nmnanzeeS

2971 Santa Margarita

Las Vegas, Nevada 89102 Phone: (702) 876-3724

November 15, 1976 Page 11

ONSTAGE CABARET THEATRE25 East Sunrise Highway, Freeport, L.I., N.Y. 11520

WANT WANT WANT

OUTSTANDING AERIAL and GROUND ACTS and NOVELTY ACTSTo Play Weekends ONLY but for MORE than

A Single Weekend

STARTING FEB. 5th THROUGH APRIL 17th, 1977The ONSTAGE CABARET THEATRE PRESENTS

A ONE RING, EUROPEAN STYLE CIRCUS

Looking for Quality Circus Actsand a Small Caged or Uncaged Wild Animal Act

Able to work on 30 ft. round stage

SHOW SCHEDULE

February 19 thru Feb. 27:April 2nd thru April 17th:

Every Day: 3-A-DayEvery Day: 3-A-Day

ALL WEEKS PRIOR TO FEB. 19 AND BETWEEN FEB. 27and APRIL 2 - WEEKENDS ONLY (Saturday and Sun-day - 3-A-Day.

Contact:LEO GRUND

INTERNATIONAL ATTRACTIONS342 Madison AvenueNew York City 10017

Phone: (212) 867-3887

VINCE GAETA (Director)23 Vandam Street

New York, N.Y. - 10013

Phone: (212) 255-5280

orSTEVE CARLSON c/o ONSTAGE

Phone: (516) 483-3000

Page 12 The Circus Report

Part Three

THE FINANCIALLY TROUBLED G M Great London Circus, helmed by Sid and Matt Kellner, exper-ienced a season of fits and starts. Opening in earlyApril for the first time in the East, G M was im-mediately assaulted by rain and mud. Business wasgood but after only six weeks the show closed inNew Orleans, to reopen in mid-July as a two-poler,one-ringer.

Business was gung-ho the first several weeks out.Once the show nosed North, where it bucked fairsand played territory already visited by one or morecircuses, attendance dropped. Only a handful ofwinning dates helped swell the coffer • Wheeling,Annapolis, Baltimore, and the show sold out forits ten day Akron/Cleveland run where the fulltent and three rings were used.

Two bugaboos sabotaged the operation: old equip-ment breaking down at an alarming rate (the spoolwagon was towed for a week), plus a disorganizedfront end. The odd thing is the show made money(no doubt due to a low nut) but the incredibleamounts of cash poured back into repairs ate upthe profits.

Following the last Cleveland stand, Kellner shut-tered for ten days at the Ascot Speedway in Ak-ron, obstensibly to refurbish equipment. The showwas then to make three giant steps to the WestCoast. Two days into the layover the show closed,people dispersed and the Kellners left for the WestCoast, where promotions were in operation. Theplan now is to reopen in November for a quickrun of b .tiding dates.

Meanwhile, problems erupted in Akron where theHumane Society was in an uproar over the ele-phants. Some bad front page publicity resulted.Kellner returned, sold the G-M bulls to RBBB, issued a few statements and departed again.

What happens in 1977 is all guess-work. Probablythe Kellners will go on the road, playing either inbuildings or ballparks, or back under canvas. Forhow long and based on previous openings andclosings, is all guess work. The future of this cir-cus depends as much on a thorough overhauling ofits front-end, as it does on the body of the showitself. A canvas tour, to be successful without arehash of past problems, means a total restructur-ing of the show as a whole.

. b y BILLY BARTON

Famous Hunt is America's oldest circus - still active• which has never been sold to an outsider andwhich has remained within the family since 1892.Idle for 12 years. Marsha Hunt Jones, daughter ofHarry T. Hunt, picked up the reins and took theshow back on the road in 1975 with a new format• a one ring, two pole square end top.

The first season was a disaster. But 1976 saw theshow try again, begin to click, and to emerge a fi-nancial winner. "1976", says Marsha, "was 100%over 1975."

Elaborate improvements are underway at the Huntquarters in Florence. N.J., where the circus is un-dergoing a face-lift. Retaining its present size, Fa-mous Hunt reopens in late April and will tour thruLabor Day.

A petting zoo and pony ride will be added to themidway line-up which features a unique 30x60canopied marquee covering its entire length. Amongthe new pieces of rolling stock are a workingman'ssleeper, a double-decked low-boy animal semi, anda fifth-wheel living quarters, the back of which willserve as an office and ticket wagon. In addition, a600 gallon Army field truck water wagon will pro-vide running water to the front and back yards,plus an extra large tank mounted on an animalsemi for the animal department. And, to keep thelots dean, a new machine tagged "the garbage eat-er" that not only gobbles up trash but bags it atthe same time.

The current 85 ft. square big top is under rennova-

(Continued on Page 14)

Thank YouBILL HILL, manager for HoxieBros, for your purchase of a1976 Yellowstone Country ClubTrailer and Vega Camper.

"SAVE MONEY WITH JOHNNY"

JOHNNYCANOLE

465 N I 107-id Sf-eiM.am S»'0ie^ Fia 3313830b. /'..I 0?06

7100 S»'n AvenueAitoona. Pa 16602

i81<> ' 944 9347or 943 0003

November 15, 1976 Page 13

OliverThe strange ape/man creature called "Oliver"which created a rash of headlines about ayear ago, has become a guest at EnchantedVillage in Buena Park, Calif. The creaturewill be on view to the public "as an educa-tion experience," says park creator RalphHeifer.Oliver will undergo an extensive series oftests in an effort to determine his originand any possible link to the evolution ofman. His chromosome count is said to be 47as compared to that of an ape which is 48or man which is 46.Hie 4 ft. 6 in., 125 Ib. Oliver looks like anape, but walks erect like a man. He has abald head and upturned nose and eats meat.His tongue resembles that of a man, but hehas no front teeth. He can crush an applewith his gums and chews on his back molars.His cry is much like that of a human andhas been described as "eerie."According to Heifer, Oliver came to the U.S.from South Africa. He says that Eastern au-

B1LL SPAETH (Koko, the Clown) workedthe South Carolina State Fair last month,where he celebrated his 53rd year as aclown.

EDDIE HOWE has been working advancepublicity for the Columbia film "Taxi Dri-ver" which stars Robert De Niro.PELUZA, the Clown (Javier Esparza) hasbeen an instructor at RBBB's Clown Collegesince Sept. 20th. Prior to his work at thecollege he spent four years with Disney onParade and ten years with Polack Bros.

THE BUMPY FAMILY recently returned froma ten day tour that included Hawaii, HongKong, Maucau and Los Angeles.

thorities have estimated Oliver's age at 7,and if he were a chimp he would weigh 95Ibs.

Those who have seen Oliver have suggestedthat he may be a link to the Yetti monsteror the Abominable Snowman.

JHANK YOU

Johnny CanoleFor Your Help In Purchasing The

Super Showman's Special

40 ft. Mayfair 5th Wheel

ERROL MAGUIRE

I N C O R P O R A T E D

Page 14

76-77 (Continued)

tion and will be re-used. Boots on the center polesand new 12 ft. side poles will make it several feethigher. Contemplated are a "back door pad room"similar to the one on Circus Vargas and an aug-mentation of brass in the band.

A very strong, top calibre program is being engagedThe Barry Miller Troupe, with cradle, comedy trapeze and twin-gorilla parody, has been signed, andnegotiations are underway with some top animal actsLavish back door curtains, extending from thequarter poles to back door, have been made, a se-cond spotlight added, and "mixer lights" installedin a new ring curb that flash various colors andlight patterns somewhat like "dancing lights."

The Hunt Circus, during its long history, has al-ways played two routes, alternating each season. Fa-mous Hunt follows the same procedure. The circustours Eastern Shore, Delaware. New Jersey, easternPennsylvania and New England exclusively. In 1977however, they will by-pass Connecticut.

Each year a Hartford TV station runs newsredscommemorating the tragic Ringling fire in the mid-st of a great public ceremony involving wreath-laying on unmarked graves. This annual reminderdoes little to make life easy for a tent show inthat state. Insurance requirements have more thandoubled since 1975. are certain to increase. Theminimum requirement now is for S3 million involv-ing a tenter seating only 1000. goes up as high as$10 million. This year Charles Germaine had thesame headache and worked outdoors, next to the

tent!

Moreover, there is no uniformity among inspectorswho change every day. Pressurized fire hoses surround the top, snake through its interior and ac-

The Circus Rpporttually block entrances and exits. "A far worse haz-ard than the possibilities of a fire," exclaims Mar-sha Hunt.

The prediction here is that Famous Hunt willthoroughly re-establish its old route, make a solidcomeback with its old sponsors and come off theroad as one of the season's major winners. Expectthis show's performance to be a block-buster, pro-bably the "sleeper" show of the season; and lookfor a four-pole-square European big top to emergein 1978, putting Famous Hunt in the same class asCircus Vargas, but on a much smaller scale.

1976 found Wallace & Rogers in competition withDe Wayne Bros. Circus during their Alaskan tour,but they report a good season in the North Coun-try. This small family show, well framed and verypopular, will acquire a new top in 1977, anotherseat wagon and book a new program. They arecertain to repeat their Alaskan trek.

Diamond S Rodeo featured circus acts such as theHarriott family, was touted to be a good lookingunit, well put together. The show averaged a sea-son of half weeks and while it did good business atmost spots, usingxheavy promotion, reports are thatthe rodeo lost money. No word has been receivedabout future plans •• if any.

(Continued Next Week)

FOR SALEROLLING GLOBES

Have Rolling Globes suitable for either.people or animals.

For details Phone: (213) 751 3486

AVAILABLE FOR BOOKINGS AFTER NOVEMBER 1, 1976

MARCANSMALE AFRICAN LIONS

(First Time to Tour U.S.A.- Best M.ile Lion Act Available)Contact

JOSIPMARCAN818 13th Avenue Green Bay. Wisconsin 54304

Phone (414)4325692

November 15, 1976 Page 15

The Facts"Tommy" the male Indian elephant, ownedby Tony Diano, of Canton, Ohio, and train-ed by Lee Keener, is currently on the Texasdates.

Each fall in Sept./Oct., this male elephantgoes through a period of "must" for threeto four weeks. The elephant is in pain, muchas if suffering from a toothache. During thistime he is upset emotionally and nervous.At no time was the elephant out of controland he never missed a performance. Mr.Keener's 6 year old daughter rode the ele-phant in "spec" at each show.

At Houston, "Tommy" in a show of temperhit the groom while he was being swept offin preparation for the show. The animal wasloose and could have killed the groom, buthe did not follow up. Also while in Houston"Tommy" broke off about VA foot of hisleft tusk.

At this time he is back to his normal selfand working daily.

I n M r m o r i a mCHESTER SHERMAN (82) died from a heartattack at Bellevue, Ky., on Nov. 4th. Hespent his whole life as a clown, and startedjust as World War I was getting underway.He toured with many of the famous old cir-cuses such as Yankee Robinson, etc. In re-cent years he had appeared with PolackBros., Wm. Kay, Clyde Bros. etc.

WANTEDCIRCUS RINGMASTER

Send Resume and Photos to:

CIRCUS VARGASP. O. Box 4356

Burlingame, Calif. - 94010

ATTENTIONThe Gibsonton (Fla.) Post Office was re-cently vandalized and much of the mail inthe boxes was destroyed or stolen.If you have written to me or sent in an ororder during October and have not heardfrom me, please write again.WILLIAM RODGERS, P O. Box 822,Gibsonton, Fla. - 33534

DON and JO ANN ANDERSON visited theBeatty-Cole Circus and their parents Mr. andMrs. J A. HOFMEISTER on Nov. 1st atTuscaloosa, Ala. They even had their 30head of horses with them.GENE MENDEZ suffered a broken wrist,elbow and several cracked ribs as a result ofhis recent fall in San Antonio;BARRY LAPPY and family, RBBB unicyclist,will visit with WILLIAM JENACK beforeheading back to England.GRACE IVANOV will direct the "ShowfolksFollies" feature for the annual SarasotaShowfolks Christmas Party on Dec. 4th.The TRISKA TROUPE worked the ShrineCircus date at Fort Worth, Texas.KARL WALLENDA and BILL KAY will pro-duce the annual Showfolks Christmas Circusat Sarasota (Fla.) on Dec. 18th;

NOTICE!Please not . that I have a new address:

Charlie Campbell150 • 10th St., N. E. - Apt. 203Atlanta, Georgia • 30309

I will again be publishing my weekly routesheet "Today Is Circus Day In —" duringthe 1977 circus season. (Many subscribershave a credit for the 1977 route sheet).

Please contact me regarding price and pub-lication dates.

Charlie Campbell

Page 16 The Circus Report

More RestrictionsSome 26 primates will be placed on the En-dangered and Threatened Species list as ofNov. 18, 1976. Included are: Cotton-topmarmoset. Pied tamarin, Yellow-tailed woolymonkey, Diana monkey. Red-eared nose-spotted monkey. Red-bellied monkey, L'ho-est's monkey. White-collared mangabey, Blackcolobus monkey, Mandrill, Drill and Francoisleaf monkey.

Others are: Lesser slow loris, Philippine tar-sier, White-footed tamarin, Black Howlermonkey, Galada Baboon, Stump-tail macque,Formosa rock macaque, Toque macaque, Jap-anese macaque, long-tailed langur, Purple-fa-ced langur, Tonkin snub-nosed monkey, Pig-my chimpanzee and Chimpanzee.

Primates held in captivity on or before the18th, or the off-spring of any such animalwill be free of the law. The off-spring ofany Threatened primate legally imported af-

DATES NEEDED

We would like to add your Christmas holi-day dates to the regular show route listingso please send in these dates.

In many cases promoters will be operatingmore than one unit at the same time.

ter the 18th will also be exempt from thelaw.

However, those wishing to engage in transac-tions involving these exempt primates mustbe able to prove positive ownership beforethe law went into effect. Inventories and re-cords kept for business should provide proof

of such ownership. Markers, tags, tattoos andother devices will be accepted.

Statements for proof of ownership should bemade out and notarized on or before Jan. 3,1977. For copies of the addition to the lawwrite: Mr. Fielding, USDA Legislative Office,Washington, DC 20240.

INVITES SUBMISSIONSBY

CHOICE-TALENTGROUND

&ANIMAL

ATTRACTIONSfor

1977 SEASON

PREFER ANIMAL ACTS PRESENTED BY WOMEN

18 TO 20 WEEKS-STARTING LATE APRIL(SUNDAYS ARE USUALLY OFF)

ALSO: ORGANIST (Who Reads)-CONCESSION PEOPLEAND USEFUL PEOPLE IN ALL DEPARTMENTS

P H O N E : (609) 499-0865

MARSHA HUNT JONES - P. O. Box 66 - FLORENCE, N. J. 08518

November 15, 1976 Page 17

Jewels

Tights

Beads

Feathers

Spangles

Jewelry

Rhinestones

Mirror Balls

Special Effects

Theatrical Plastics

Costume Accessories

Make-Up

PREPARE FOR WINTER SEWING -

Stock up now at 10% discount with mention of C.R. and Cash withyour order. COD's require '4 down. (No discount on fishnet tights).

FOR DECEMBER ONLY

William RodgersP. 0. Box 52

East Orwell, Ohio - 44034Phone: (216) 437-6-236

PERMANENT ADDRESS

William RodgersP. 0. Box 822

Gibsonton, Fla. - 33534

NADIA COMANECI, Romanian gymnast.will be featured on a TV Special on Nov. 23The show, hosted by FLIP WILSON, will in-clude acts from the Bucharest Circus.

BOB and KAY PARKER are the parents ofan 8 Ib. 3 oz. baby boy born on Oct. 13tn.

TTiey've named him "Robert".

JIM PARKER clowned aboard an aircraftcarrier on Nov. 6th, for a Dependent's OffSea Cruise from Alameda, Calif.

ERHARD and CHRISTINE SAMEL andtheir wild animals were pictured on the co-ver of an East German trade magazine

In t e rna t iona l A n i m a l Trainer

COL. E. T. BALEAND LOVELY BONNIE BALE

ROYAL CONTINENTAL PERFORMING STALLIONSLiberty LOIVJ Rein Higli School

Now Training for H B K K \.-w rin-us, Work!

P.O. Box 2006 - Haines City, Florida 33844 - Phone: (813) 424 2421

Page 18 The Circus Report

THK Gift that'sAppreciatedEVERY WEEK OF THK YKAR - ALLYEAR LONG

Give a friend a Gift Subscription to CircusReport and they will remember you all thruthe year.Order today: Just $12.00 a year. Write to:Don Marcks, 525 Oak St., El Cerrito, Cal.

Baby ChimpanzeesEach one has been hand-raised • WormedAcclimated.

Shipment via Air Freight anywhere.Healthy, live arrival guaranteed.

We are the largest U. S. importersoperated since 1951.

BRONSON BIRDS70 Nagle Avenue

New York, N. Y. 10040

Phone: (212) 942-1150

have

In Mrmoriam /?

KAY FRANCIS HANNEFORD died at aNew Orleans hospital on Nov. 2*d. She hadbeen treated for cancer of the throat sincelast winter, and went into a coma in Octoberfrom which she never revived. Survivors in-clude: daughter, Nellie; brothers Tommy andGeorge, Jr.; mother Katherine and her hus-band, James III. Services and burial will beheld this week in Sarasota.

Mircell&neousThose who have been wanting a mailing ad-dress Tor the Carnival Historical & ModelBuilders Society, the organization can becontacted through its Public Relations Dir-ector Allen T. Zagel, 2255-B Pennview LaneSchaumburg, III . 60194.

Local fans report that business was off forRBBB at Detroit and that things didn't getbetter after the building manager made a TVappearanceand announced people were stay-ing away because of muggings and such inthe building area's parking facilities.

New Zealand's Tony Ratcliffe and RayO'Connor have merged their circuses tocreate Ramon's Circus. All equipment hasbeen painted red, white and blue.

Australia's Circus Royale recently added anew tent to the show. All camels and honesare housed under the new top.

NOW AVAILABLEBOOKING for late 1976 and for the

Season of 1977.

THE ALL STAR CHIMPS - featuring"Chipper" the world's highest stilt walk-ing chimp (a 6 minute act).

SHARON and her PRIZE WINNINGDANCING STALLION - an outstandingdisplay of equestrain dressage (an 8minute act).

Please contact:SHARON V1DBEL

Box 22Winham, N. Y. - 12496

Phone: (518) 734-4137

November 15, 1976 Page 19

WANT - WANT - WANT - WANT

- IMMEDIATELY —

Need acts for enlargement of ChristmasShow units - have four going on theroad this season.

- TWO WEEKS WORK -

Can Use: Trapeze

Tight Wire

Unicycle

Animal Acts

Acts must have indoor rigging equipment

Call Now:

JOHN STRONG

(805) 495-3847

Leave message where you can be reachedas you will be called back.

i BIG JOBS STRONGiSO!»P R O D U C T I O N

HOLIDAY

JUGGLERS