America's Favorite Circus Weekly

Volume 3 April 15, 1974 Number 15

NEW SHOW TO DEBUT TODAYThere's been a steady flow of reports about new shows set

to open for the 1974 season and the latest of these concerns aFlorida based operation. The new Roberts Bros. Circus, owned endoperated by Doris and Robert Carl, is expected to debut today(April 15) in Georgia, ^ "

Payment GuaranteeImported animals will be

subject to public sale if theimporter fails to pay their ac-cumulated costs during quaran-tine periods, under a proposedruling now being studied. TheUSOA reports it would be permit*ted to sell animals in an effortt0 recover feeding, care andother costs if an owner or agertfails to pay such costs.

Officials said last weekthat most animal importers paythe costs involved, but thereare occasions when someone doesnot do so.

The proposal would permitthe USOA to dispose of animalsat public sale and to hold anybalance in excess nf the amountdue for six months pending a

(Continued on Back Page)

In 1964-65 the Earls hadtheir own show (Robert C. EarlCircus) on the road. For thepast few years they have handledconcessions with the HannefordCircus.

According to reports thisnew show will be using a 60 ft.round end top, with three 30 ft.center pieces, made by the LeafCanvas Co. Some 22 seat section*were built for the show, givingthem a seating capacity of1,100 people.

Rolling equipment for thiecircus will include! seat andpole truck, light plant/animalsand sleeper unit, stake driverand water tank, canvas truck, asleeper-cookhouse unit, conces-sion wagon and en office trail-er.

The Circue Heport

A CFA MeetSeverel gueete ettended

the "larch 29th meeting of theJoseph A. Rowe CFA tant in theLoa Angelee, Cal. aree. Themeeting wes hosted by John Both.wan and prealded over by the nerpreaident, Jar* Bergman, andfaetured movies, refreehmente,door priree, etc.

Among those gueete who at-tended tne meeting weret SmokeyJones and family; with the ele-phent "Tike". CFA president MelOleen, George and Ginalle Perk-ins, Harry Chlpmen and Don Fran.cls* Del wentwortb

note

Show Acts

The Wyoming Hiatorlcal Wildtfest Show of 1894 played deteein Canada and the east coast*

Among those on the show wereMartin Downs, Jamas Bayliae endJohn Gathers, owners| Tom. C.Fitzsimmona, annex) Buck Teylor,king of the cowboys) RecklessNell Braddnn, wild steers) TomFord, fixer) Judge Crowley) Dan,the Dude) Johnnie Hare end Char-1ie Thompson.

Acts currently appearing onthe Clyde Bros. Circus1 BlueUnit includei

Lou Regen - tigersCrsst Rianos (Ron Perry) - en

inclined wire wslkDoubleday & Co. - revolv. ledd."ochacho, the Horse - B.MooreLotte Brunn, Mike Chattick and

Ron Perry - jugglingCucchilo - trampolineThe Argentines and The Nevar-

ros - perch numbersMoore's Maes of MuttsMiss Tine - upside down walkThe Rianos Duo and The 0'Brian.

— slack wirs nueibersKirby 's chimpsMiss Digs - t rapezeBeeswax, the Mule - Moore Fee).The Terrys • unicyclesPaulett* Braun - fire batonsRiZZl - plate spinningLou Regen - elephantsPrince Navez - cloud ««ing

THE CIRCUS REPORT is publishedeach week by Don Mercks, 525Oek St., El Cerrito, Ca. 94530.

Subscription rateai $5.00 for asix month period) $10.00 for eyeer. Air Mai! tervice is 12.00extra

NOW AVAILABLEFacilities for bosrdlng hoof stookCharlie Allan. P. 0. Box 91.Plxlay, Calif. - 93256.Phonal (209) 757-3501

YEARS AGOWashburn's Last Sensation

Show played Pittsfseie, Mass. 00Jan. 8. 1879. end then was dis-banded shortly afterwerda.

April 15. 1974 Page 3

Sale Story DeniedThe circus world received

a Jolt early this month whenthe O r l a n d o ( F l o . ) SentinelStar reported the Beatty-ColeCircus was for sale. That storyhas been denied by Frank McCloe-k y , who reports "we're not look*ing for any buyers."

According to reports thepaper's business editor DickMarlowe talked with co-owner J.Collins about the sale of someof his racetrack holdings, whenhe reportedly said the circuswas also for sale. The story wasprinted that way and rumorsstarted flying around the U. S.

The circus staff and per-formers were shaken-up when the)read the report as they prepar-ed for the show's April 6th op-ening et Commeck, N.Y. The rumorwas not denied until fflcCloaky,who was out of town, returned tcsupervise the show's opening*

Ifetofacts-̂̂ • *The program currently be-

ing presented by Lewis Bros.Circus, which this week Move* into North Carolina, feature*!

Bob Cibbs - dog revue (6)The Clowna - a dog pieft*. Sourene - TrapezeRo** Cibbs - liberty ponle* (6)Mi** Zo Ann - swinging ladderBob Clbb* - trained camelMs. Maya - balancingMi** Lydla - trained elephant

new OREMlth ita season already

well underway, the new DaileyBros. Circus is reportedly do-ing good buslnees. The show Isplaying in the South und mid-western state*.

The circus is using a 60 ft,round and top with two 30 ft.center sections, with threerings. The show is owned by Go-pher Davenport, son of the lateBen Davenport.

Their program features sev-eral very good Mexican perform-ers and an elephant. Also pre-sented in the show are many ani-mal numbers*(For a full report of the ahow••• Circus Report of Feb. 18,1974 - Pege 5).

HISTORICAL FACT ....

John Pluto, of Meet Baden,Ind., purchased Golden Bros.Circu* in Mid-1924, then a fewweek* later sold it to GeorgeW. Christy.

Hiss Henry - bareback ridingThe Zerbinis - comedy knockeb'tBob Cibbs - liberty mule* (6)Gary Henry - clown jugglerThe Zerblnl* •• wir*Pokey and the clown carMa. Zo Ann - aerial webThe Zarblnis - teeterbo*rdBob Gibb* - elephant* (3)

Mu*ic for the chow 1* pro-vided by a two piece group, con-elating of drums and organ.

Page 4 The Circus Report

Pictured above, to the left, is Roae and Virginia Schaller, twopopular performers with th« Russell Bros. Circus during ita earlyyeara on the weat coast.

Pictured to the right ia Jack Joyce and hie elephant "Lucy" who•era with the Clyde Beatty-Rueeell Bros. Circus. The nan and womanin the picture are Mr. end Mra, Willis* Caiapbell, who were report*edly the original ownare of "Lucy*. They were the ownere of theCampbell Bros. Circus which wintered at Eveneville, ttiec*

April 15, 1974 Page 5

MAGIC SHOW TOUR ANNOUNCEDPlan* to tour the "Shoatima Foillee* •• • ••cond unit to

complement their "Holiday Hippodrome" aho« have bean announced byBill and Dick Cardan. Tha baaia of tha nea ahoa «ill ba Stu Millarand his magic eho», «lth tha addition of aevaral circus-type acta.

peopleDENNY WATHEWS viewstha modal circusexhibit, of RICHARDMILLS, which mom axhibitad at tha Oak-land (Calif) HobbyShow on April 5-7.

RON PERRY recentlybought a 31 ft. Hoiiday Rambler housetrailer.

REV. DAVID HARRIS recently•rota a comparison atory on R.B.B.B. aod Circus America for thaMeaning, ton Poat.

CEORCE HUNTLEY, of Rockford,111., has been visiting friend*and relatives in California*

PAUL, Tha Magician, Hill of-fer a magic lecture in Oakland,Calif, on May 10th at tha Bjorn-aon Hall, 2258 MacArthur Blvd.

BOBBY GOLDEN «ill ba tha an*nouncar/ringmaatar for Cardan AJohnson Circus this season.

THE HAL-TIMS and MISS JANwind up their tour with thaClobatrottara today (April 15)than head vest to join tha Ceo-rge-Matthewe Circus.

RAY CHANDLER is presenting

Millar will atarin and managetha unit "hichia scheduled toatart touring *»aarly May* Thaehoej ia expect-ed to ba out 10to 12 maaka and•ill also feat..ura Bill Brickliand his poodles,

tha Morgan Aahton Family (r4s-lay), plus Ray A Dionna (parchact) and thair son Michael do*ing role bole end balancing.

For aeverel years Millerhaa operated end sianaged aideshows and last year toured withHoxie Broe. Circue. This yearhe took out hie earn magic show,to good business. Severe! cir-cus people, including organistJorge Cozillo were with hiim.

the animal act* at Circue WorldMuaaum (Beraboo, Wiec.) whileJohnny Cline recovers from a ma-jor operation*

DEL GRAHAM, aerialiat, no*teaches trepeze »ork to upcom-ing performers. He haa producedthe all girl act called "TheFlying Vienna*,"

Allen's Patting ZooApril 17-21 San Diego. Calif.

Beatty-Cole Circusto April 21 Commack, L.I., N.Y.

Cardan-Johnson CircusApril 15-21 Springfield, Wo.

Caraon & Barnes CircuaApril 15 Bellinger, Texas

16 mcCaway17 Pecos18 Kermit19 Seminole20 Lovington, N. M.

Hubert Castle CircuaApril 15 Ktoose Jew, Saak.

16 Swift Current17-18 medicine Hat

Circus Americato April 21 Washington, DC

Circus VargasApril 15-16 Meat Covine, Calif.

19-23 Costa deae

Catti-Charlea CircusApril 20-21 Redding, Calif.

Grand Circus SafariApril 18 Ashland, Oregon

Hamid-morton CircuaApril 15-20 Wllkea-Barre, Panne.

Hoxie Bros. CircuaApril 15 Clinton, S. C.

16-17 Columbia18-19 Charleston20-21 Florence22-23 Fayetteville

Hubler'a Int'l CircuaApril 15-16 Dodge City, Kane.

19-20 Abilene, Texas

King Bros.April

Lewis BroaApril

Circua15 Brenham, Texaa16 Huntavilla17 Lufkin18 Nacogdechea19 Kilgora

> Circua15 Clayton, Ca.16 Hayesv'l8,NC17 Murphy18 Andrews19 Franklin20 Waynesvllle

Tommy Scott-Tim mcCoy ShowApr. 15 Mobile, Ala.

16 Culfport, Miss.17 Slldell, La.18 Hammond

Wallende CircuaApril 18-21 Syracuse,NY

OTHER ROUTES

Comic Book Convention

ID Hayaav'J.evNL17 Murphy18 Andrews19 Franklin20 Waynesville

Polack Bros. CircusApril 19-21 Sacramento,Ce

Rinqlinq's Blue Unitto May 27 New York, N. Y.

Rinqlinq's Red Unitto April 22 Washington,DC

Royal Lipizzan Stallion Sh.April 19 Johnstwon. Pa

20-21 Pittsburgh

Saraaota Sailor CircusApril 19-21 Sarasotn.Fla

Tommy Scott-Tim McCoy ShowApr. 15 Oobile, Ala.

16 Gulfport, MSB.17 Slidell, La.18 Hammond19 Plaquemine20 Crowley21 New Iberia22 Abbeville

Shrine CircusApril 19-28 H a r t f o r d , C o n n

Voorheis Bros. CircusApril 18 Sandusky,IHich

19 Caro20 Richmond

Wallace & Rogers CircusApril 9 Emmett, Iflado

Wallenda CircusApril 18-21 Syracuse,NY

.... OTHER ROUTES

Comic Book ConventionApril 17 Berkeley, Csl

Disney on ParadeApril 17-21 Greensboro,NC

Harlem GlobstrotteraApril 15 Decatur, 111.

Holiday on IceApr. 16-21 Atlanta, Ca.

Ice CapadeaApr. 17-21 Columbia, «o.

Ice FolliesApr. 16-21 Uniondale, NY

<o

Tha Circus Report

A Bad lightCircue Vargas had e rough

night hare in the Lee Angelee,•-elif., aree on Saturday, March6th. The 8 p.m. show leet itslighting system due to some poordieeel fuel. The fuel cloggedthe lines end left patrone alt-ting in derkneas for periods of15 or 20 minutes et e time.

Pat Anthony managed to ocm-•»te hie ect in between the

period* when the light* mere out

The management was veryaorry about tha problem and wasright there to issue "rainchecks" to anyone mho wantedthem. Patking lot attendesjtaware aleo right thate with th«"rain checks* for every one.

..... Cleude Tonolli

ROUTESPeter Pan Show

Apr. 17-28 Chicago, 111.

Roaa City RidesApr. 15-20 Salem, Mo.

Frank Sinatre ShowApr. 15 St. Louia* Mo.

16 Providence, R.I .18 Detroit, Mich.

21-22 Philadelphia, Pa,

Coming upThe circus aeaaon ia only

getting underway in NorthernCalifornia and already it lookslike another banner yeer (leetyear some 21 shove played In theSan Francisco Bay Aree).

Future issues of Circue Re-port will carry stories on ellof theee shows, as vail ee theshows playing elsewhere in thecountry. In addition to the bigshow reporta there will be eregular feature of some eld-tie*and recent show photos, ell efwhich you'll enjoy.

flHALE

DAVE TWOACY, shown here withMs train doga, currently hasnis "MaDPytJme Circus" working-Men in Northern California.

HELEN C. VARNELL, * verterancircue and vaudeville performerand member of the Chick end Me-

iIan Varnall team. In recent|yeare aha helped operate e denesatudio in Greenville, Ohio. Herdeath on March 7th was attribut-ed to leukemia. Survivors in-clude her husband and daughter.

April 15, 1974

The two pictures abova »er« taken on the Ruaael Bros. Circus dur-ing its years of operation on the Mat coast. To the right iaflilonga Cline in the backyard »ith t«o of Jorgen M. Chriatian'atrained great dene dogs.

The picture on the left is that of the faaious De ttayne Troupe ofRialey artiata. Feye Alexander, eho ia no* well known for hietriple somersault feeta and currently preaenta a coewdy cer num-ber on shows, ia ahown on the right*

Page 10 The Clrcu* Report

HAPSULES ..The Detteyne Bros. Cir- . - ;.„

cue pleyed Long Beach, Cal.. _"on March 30th.

That new big top order- fad by the Caorge fletthewaCircue is 120 ft. round snc;with three 50 ft middles.

The Russell-Johnson Cir-cua, organized by E. J. MeDaniel (he booked Ceraon HBarnea in 73) opened inTexas on March 13th, then .folded eoon after due tobed weather and poor busi- 'neee.

Circua Vargas boosted it*seating capacity to 7,000for the Los Angelea ereedetea. They also edded aaide show for those detea.

The Merch 1974 issue of"Smithsonian" ewgezine haaen article titled "Bad OldShanghai HaeTurned into aShowpiece of Mew China*that includes e color photoof en unusual unicyclist.

The Washington Poet forApril 3, 1974, haa twopages of photoe and storieeebout Rinqlinq-Bernuw and 'Circua America shows.

The picture on this page weeused by Arthur Bros. Circua ebout1944-45. The names of the girl endclown ere not known.

Circue Kirk ia offering eCircue Fane Packet, coneieting

of paat prograne, a route book,letterheed end ticketa for only$5.00. writei Circue Kirk, Box181, East Berlin. Penna - 17316

King Bros, haa been doinggood business despite eoew wetweather and aoggy lota.

April 15, 1974 Page 11

The above drawing is a copy ofthe grounds at Circus World InFlorida. The various facilitiesarei1 - The ticket wagon2 - Circus Souvenirs3 - The Circus World Story4 - Jamas A. Bailey Cinema5 - Circus Bazaar6 - Cookhouse Tent7 - Dining patio8 - Donniker (rest rooms)9 - Carrousal10 - Camel rides11 - Elephant rides12 - Elephant Show13 - Guest seating14 - Elephant barn15 - Hay barn

JOHN VERNUM, of Paradise, Lei.,recently gave a talk on the his-tory of the circus. He also visit-ed with Honny Shyretto end her hue-band.

DUSTY, the RBBB clown, recentlyreceived national publicity vieAP Wirephoto for the opening ofthe show in New York City,

BILL BIGGERSTAFF, circur pro-gram man, has been named frontdoor meneger for Circus Vargas.

THE CYKEDLIC CYCLISTS (from theGreat Y Circus) worked on the Cal-Tech Circus lest month.

LILLI KRISTENSEN, who hes beenwith Poleck Bros., now joins th«Cardan • Johnson Circus for thesummer ••••on.

CIRCUS REPORTjust $10.00 per year

WriteiDon Mercks

525 Oak StreetEl Cerrito, Cal.94530

Page J2

SENATOR HUBERT H. HUMPHREY, ofMinnesota, served as honoraryrinqmastur for the opening ofRinqlinq-Barnuw's Red Unit atWashington,DC on April 2nd.

PAYMENT GUARANTEE (Continued)

claim by the owner. Officialswould also ba authorized to ar-range for feeding and care ofanimals, at the owner's expense,if the owner neglects to do so.

Other measures in the propo-sed regulations would requireiArrangement for acceptabletransportation to the quarantlrefacility, and that requests forAPHlS^^jfiipection and other vet-erinary services be made inwritufcj^ith a waiver of claim?aqainsctfthe agency and its sm-