Page 2 April 14, 1980

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MAGIC FANTASY HOLIDAY... by Maddy Sink

On tour with the "Magic Fantasy Holiday" showproduced and operated by Willene and Ron Ba-con are:Joe Smiley, performance director and ringmas-ter; Don Phillips & Co., unicycles; Joe and Geor-gia Smiley, magic and illusions; Pop Corn, circuscomic and leading clown presenting his "GreatStratavario Violin" routine; Miss Betsy and hercomedy dog act; Don, Carol and Dianna Phil-lips, comedy bicycles; Joe Smiley, magic; PopCorn, the circus comic; Yoxal l 's Barnyard Revuewith pigs, goats and ponies.The show's musical director is Dave Miller, org-anist; Donald Yoxall is animal supt.; Maddy Sink,is concession manager and Lex Yoxall is theshow manager. Promotional agents are HarryCrouk and David Ashley.

BENEFIT SHOW

The Albany (Calif) Firefighters Association weresponsors of a Variety Show presented at the Al-bany High School Gym on March 8th. Two per-formances were given.The program featured: Bobby Clark, magic; Kris-tavo. juggler; Wally Lee, magic/illusions; TheGreat Jacks, wire and dog act; The Weller Fam-ily, balancing act and Wally Lee's substitutiontrunk mystery.

THE CIRCUS REPORT is published each weekby Don Marcks, 525 Oak St., El Cerrito, Calif.94530- Phone: 415- 525-3332.SUBSCRIPTION RATE: $15.00 for a year. TheOverseas Rate via Surface Mail Is $20.00 a year.ADVERTISING RATES: (Per Issue on a firstcome basis): Minimum Ad $5.00; Quarter Page$10.00; Half Page $20.00; Full Page $35.00

Joseph C. ReisingerA T T O R N E Y AT LAW

Entertainment Law - Civil Trials - Immigration

For Free Consultation or AppointmentCall: 415 -472 -1050

GERONIMO ALTAMIRANO (113) who claim-ed to be the foster son of the famed Apache warchief Geronimo, died of a heart attack on March25th. He was reportedly Arizona's oldest resi-dent.

HILDA EMMA SCHNIEDER (72) known professionally as "Daisy Doll" and a member of the fa-mous midget family, died of a heart attack at aSarasota, Fla., hospital last month. A native ofGermany, she came to the U. S. in 1922 and hadtoured with Ringling-Bamum for 40 yean. Sur-vivors include her brothers Harry and Max, andsisters, Tiny, Dorothy and Rose Marie.

LEIFOLAFWIREBJER-WIRENGARD, a resi-dent of Tampa, Fla., since 1971, died recently.He was a native of Sweden and was in businesswith his father, retired performer Ossian Wiren-gard, as a machinist. He built rigging and manyprops for performers in the entertainment bus-iness.

On The CoverThis week's cover picture, painted in water col-or by Robert B. Johnson, is titled "The Men-agerie". It shows a portion of the bull line, withthe hippo cage on the right. The original picturewas cropped for use in Circus Report.

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The Circus Report Page3

OH; •liiiANTIOCH SHRINE CIRCUS

... by Don Sandman

The Antioch Shrine Circus for 1980 opened atDayton, Ohio, with a full house. The show wasproduced by the Hubert Castle Circus.While the people entered the arena, before theperformance, Clown Alley, consisting of Cart"The Professor" Gray, John Towsend, FredYonker, Tony, and Wimpey entertained every-one and Robert Collins played a calliope con-cert.Circus bandmaster Les Schlafman led the ShrineCircus Band in the overture and Equestrian Dir-ector Jon Friday blew the whistle to start theprogram. Potentate John W. Shimer lead theparade of circus performers.The performance then ran as follows: The Rod-rigues Troupe, aerial bars; Clowns; Larry AllenDean, 7 tigers, 3 lions; Clowns, Levitation; Kar-en, Diane, Angeline, Elizabeth, Kathleen, webs;Olmedas and Antonios, cycling stars; Howath'schimps (3); Amazing Alain, sword balance onslant wire; The Elkardis, hair hangs; The Dianoelephants presented by Lee and Jeanette Kee-ner; Intermission; The Flying Aztecas, doing atriple; Clowns, Long Shirt and Musical Ghost;The Roberts and The Ciminis, aerial cradle; theOlmedas, Spanish Horse Fantasy; The Gasper-rys, table antics; The Dielkas Sisters, rottingglobes; Clowns on the track; The Oscarians,risley;The Kplmedys, head-to-head balancing;The Torinos, juggling; Les Block, high wire.

The Post Office has been returning mail address-ed to the following people, saying that they canno longer deliver it as addressed.Dolores Coronado Wally BickmoreMariene Bradbury Brian McMillan

performanceSPECIAL PROGRAM

Bill Kormpates produced a special program forthe Innsbrook Tarpon Springs Country Club inFlorida early last month. The event was for theEdward H. DeBartinilo Corp.Acts featured were: Jo Ann Jennier, trapeze;Pedro Morales, Jr., foot juggler; Danny Chap-man, clown and dogs, plus magic; Robert Jer-ome (Sad Sack), clown who did make up forthe bartenders and waitresses. Also appearingat the event were two gorillas, Smokey the Bearand Peter Rabbitt who did walk-throughs withthe audience.

SPORTS AND RVSHOW

Acts appearing at the annual Sports and RVShow in Dallas, Texas. March 16-23 were:Dondi, the elephant; The Rolling Diamonds,roller skaters; Diana, foot juggler and MelodyBruno, swaypole.

GEORGE HUBLER, PHIL and LINDA CHANDLER, JAKE CONOVERand G R A C E andDON SANDMAN were among those seen visit-ing the Hubert Castle Circus in Dayton, Ohio.

BOB COOK, who provides stock for rodeos andproduces his own shows, reports he is planninga western show which will include rope spinningin addition to the usual rodeo features.

PHIL and LINDA CHANDLER spent a fewdays at home before joining the Carson &Barnes Circus for the 1980 season.

Page 4 April 14, 1980

Show DatesBeatty-Cole Circus

Apr. 14-15 Jacksonville, NC

Carden-Johnson CircusApr. 14 Ironjaw, Mich.

15 Houghton16-17 Marquette

18 Iron Mountain19 Menomee20 Escanaba

Carden-Johnson CircusApr. 17-18 St. Petersburg,Fla

17-19 Eaco, Texas18-20 Duluth, Minn.19-20 Tampa, Fla.

Hubert Castle CircusApr. 15 Hurnon, SO

17-19 Sioux Falls20 Watertown

Circus VargasApr. 11-14 Oxnard, Calif.

15-17 Long Beach18-23 Commerce

Fiesta de CircoApr. 14 Tracy, Calif.

15 Auburn16 Grass Valley17 Anderson18 UrnviIlr19 McClellan AFB20 Clear Lake Oaks

Hamid-Morton CircusApr. 14-20 Harrisburg, Pa.

Hoxie Bros. CircusApr. 14 Douglas, Ga.

15Tifton16 Ashburn17 Thomasville18 Dothan, Ala.19 Americas, Ga.20 Warner Bobbins

Kaye Cont'l CircusApr. 17-20 Wichita, Kans.

Hubler Int'l CircusApr. 14 Prestonburg, Ky

15 Corbin16 Middleboro17 Somerset18 Frankfort

19-20 Lexington19-20 Amarillo, Texas

M & M CircusApr. 15-20 Omaha, Nebr.

Wayne McCary's CircusApr. 18-19 Lewiston, Me.

Sam T. Polack CircusApr. 17-20 Canton, Ohio

Ringling-Bamum - Blue Unitto June 1 New York, NY

Ringling-Bamum - Red UnitApr. 16-20 Cincinnati, Ohio

Roberts Bros. CircusApr. 14 Live Oak, Fla.

Royal Hanneford CircusApr. 4-12 Marietta, Ga.

Royal Lichtenstein CircusApr. 14 Oberlm, Ohio

15 Cleveland16 Buffalo, NY17 Rochester18 Genesco

Swan Bros. CircusApr. 7-20 Blythe, Calif.

- - - - M A G I C - - - -

Berwin & BrewsterApr. 14-19 Dyersburg,Tenn

Blackstone Magic Showto Apr. 27 Boston, Mass.

Prf. Miller's Magic Time USAApr. 14 Barnesboro, Pa.

15 Brookville16 Punxsetawney

Felix Snipes - Magic/ESPApr. 18-19 Richmond, Va.

- - - - O T H E R D A T E S - - - -

Anthony's HorsesApr. 17-20 Wichita, Kans.

Babes In ToylandApr. 14-15 Gainesville, Ga.

17 Normal, III.18 Carfaondale

Billy Burr's Fun-0-RamaApr. 14-19 Cranston, R.I.

James H. Drew ExpositionApr. 14-20 Winston-Salem.NC

Firemen's MusterApr. 19-20 Pomona, Calif.

Tony Fossett FamilyApr. 18-20 Staten Island, NY

Gund Western Collectionto Apr. 20 Fresno, Calif.

Gutis Family - Jungle ParodyApr. 1809 Lewiston, Me.

Hall's African BaboonsApr. 17-20 Wichita, Kans.

Hall & Christ World AttractionsApr. 18-27 San Antonio, Tex.

Kaye's Hollywood ElephantsApr. 15 Huron, SO

17-19 Sioux Falls20 Watertown

The Kursawes - Bicycle actApr. 15-20 Omaha, Nebr.

Rick Legg- ClownApr. 15-20 Omaha, Nebr.

Los Latinos- Wire ActApr. 18-20 Amarillo, Texas

John Mac Kay • ClownApr. 17-20 Wichita, Kans.

Rolling Diaminds • skatersApr. 18-19 Lewiston, Me.

IN MARCH. CLIFF VARGAS announced theappointment of new executives to the manage-ment team of that giant tenter. GARY GEWENIGER, field marketing director for CV for tenyears, is now Vice President and Director of Ad-vertising. JERRY OIGNEY, former Director ofPublicity and Public Relations for RBBB, Holi-day on Ice, Follies and Beatty-Cole, also withSolters & Roskin Public Relations (NY) is nowthe CV Director of Public Relations. Returningto the fold after a three year absence is DOUGLYON, at the moment in charge of DOUG HENNING PRODUCTIONS. He will serve as VicePresident of "special projects" on a consultingbasis.

CLOSEUPS: BARBARA VAN VOORDEN whocelebrated her 21st birthday at the Medina Tem-ple Shrine Circus will tour solo under the nameBARBARA VAN. Rumors are the young beautywill be headed to Europe soon... SAM T. PO-LACK'S Pine Blu f f (ark) date broke records. Thelatest in a string of record breaking winter dates,a trend I hope continues. On the other hand asevere blizzard and snow plow strike hurt atten-dance in Montreal during the Garden show'searly run. Biz turned to packed houses and turnaways on the weekend, once the customerscould get through the snow.. .WAZZAN FAM-ILY in South America with the Yabba DabbaDoo Show until late Nov.. .TOMMY HANNE-FORD will not set down in a park this summerbut will continue to tour Royal Hanneford •mostly fairs.. .New Producer ED MIGLEY haslined up a strong show for the Cape Cod Shrinedates, among those acts signed are Lilli-Ana, theRodriguez Troupe, Tony Diano elephants, Mis-ter Sensation, Johnny Zoppe, Oavide Zoppe, Ja-net and Frank Burger. The circus will feature se-veral major productions, including a mechanizedand electric spec.. CHARLEY VAN BUSKIRK,playing Circus Odyssey for the first time, wasflabbergasted by the gorgeous layout and light-ing effects carried by a show that can aptly becalled "America's Circus Beatiful". He said I canquote his remark that in all his years of unicycleriding it was the most "satisfying" circus date hehad ever played. Charley and Joyce made theDecatur date for Hubler, went to St. Paul forGarden, after which they crossed the countryto the Maine dates.. .A surprise visitor duringthe Emmett Kelly, Jr. Circus date at Burlington

(Vt) Mar. 22 was clown BERT DANIELS, nowretired, who suffered a stroke a year ago but whohas recovered from the aftereffects. Bert liveson a farm about 22 miles south of Burlington ..The GREAT ERIC, high wire, is in the openingscenes of "All That Jazz". His wife KATHY wasthe "un-sung" heroine of the date when shestood by the organist, turned pages, kept themusic going. A local trio of musicians "cut" theshow (or maybe I should say "hacked" the showand had it not been for Kathy, God only knowsWHAT the music might have sounded like! As itwas it wasn't all that great.. .LEONARD GREENmoved from Ft. Lauderdale to Beverly Hills...Emmett and Nancy drove from Yucca Valley(Cal) to Burlington • now THAT'S a jumpNancy's mother has recovered from a recent op-eration we are happy to hear.. .Youngstown (0)CFA'r JIM BANKS writes he caught the BeattyFlorida opening, marred by a tragic accident toEDNA ANTES who fell and fractured her leg.Banks says he never saw the Beatty show look-ing better with many new faces (it's about time)and an excellent performance with cracker jackbandleader RUSSELL DARR wielding the ba-ton. .JIMMY DOUGLASS also reports the showis good, that the clown numbers (under the dir-ection of JIMMY JAMES, also the announcer)are first rate. A 3rd Okay on the show comesfrom AL and SUE DAWLEY.. .The OBANDOSwill tour the season with TNT/Olympic. CAROLis back in the comedy low wire act.. .Talent lineup for Burlington included the Weldons, Marcel-li & Janis, Cimse's Dogs. Mister Sensation, GreatEric, Merrill the Magician, plus the Cyclonians,and Emmett and Nancy.. .Talent lineup for On-eonta (NY) included the Gutis, the Cyclonians,Frank's tigers. Cimse's dogs, Scalzo & Co., Mis-ter Sensation, Kosco & Co (clowns). Carol andCarlos Obando with Stanley Friedburg handlingthe professional three piece band (trumpet anddrums).. .RUDY SILLS (Cimse's Dogs) has up-dated his always flashy act with a sensationallighted ladder for his high dive dog.. .DAVIDEZOPPE has also equipped wife SUSAN's actwith outstanding new special effects. Both actswill appear at the Circus Odyssey date in CapeCod and it should be a beautiful number...Okay! whazzsis I hear about BILL STRONGusurping my dressing room niche on Garden

(Continued on Page 26)

Page 6

NEW ARRIVAL

William and Jeanne Reynolds are the parents ofa baby girl - Mariel Lynn • born on Feb. 1st. William is the bandleader with Carson & Barnes,and Jeanne sells banners.

CIRCUS TIME

A show called "Circus Time" was produced bythe Amandis Entertainment Agency, and pre-sented at the Don Cesar Hotel in St. Petersburg,Fla. on March 26th.Personnel on the show included: Leo Mascitto,band leader; Dieter Tasso, ringmaster; DannyChapman and Co Co, Jr., clowns; The Almiros,plate spinning; The Rolling Diamonds, rollerskaters; Sir Robert, illusionist; The Odd Family,comedy; Miss Diana, foot juggler; Rudy Del-monte, contortion; Dieter Tasso, juggler; TheVick inas, risley/teeterboard and the WilliamMorris elephants.

FRANZEN BROS. CIRCUS

This year Fran/en Bros. Circus is offering sever-al new features and its roster lists several newpeople as part of its program.Lynne Michaels, is the show organist; Charlie"Shorty" Jackson is the drummer; Dennis Mic-haels is producing clown, assisted by Fred Fen-nicum. Curtis Cainan has a new three people re-volving ladder act, plus his dogs and wire act,and Brian and Tina Grieser are featured on thetrapeze.The show has a 12 liberty pony act, plus a tigerthat rides an elephant and several other animalacts.All new red and white canvas has been scheduledfor delivery about May 1st.

April 14, 1980

CIRCUS QUIPS...by KARLJ. BISCHOFF

IF YOU SHOULD FIND MISTAKES in thiscolumn, consider that they are there for a reason, we try to pleez everyone and some peepleare always looking for mistakes.

FOR SOME PUBLICITY MEN the man in themoon isn't half as interesting as the girl in thesun.

FACT! • SMILE-you can do very little with itbut you can do much less without it.

COULD IT BE for some promotional people,it isn't the high cost of living but simply thecost of living high?

SUCCESS in show business often lies on thefar side of failure.

in theThe New York City Health Dept. slapped a sum-mons on the swank new Magique disco for allowing a horse to perform on the premises."It's a violation of the health code to permitlive animals in food establishments," says Dr. R.A. Ferrer, the city's health commissioner.Health inspectors also hit the disco on Manhat-tan's upper East Side, with a summons for op-erating without a valid license.Health authorities were alerted by a newspaperphotograph that depicted scantily clad CherylRixon, the Penthouse Pet of the Year, astride awhite horse in the disco.Ferrer says he frequently receives complaintsthat some discos are featuring lions, tigers andother animals in performances.

Smotey & The Bandit No. 2STARRING

Bert Reynolds Sally FieldsJackie Gleason Jerry ReedDom De Luise

ALL ANIMAL SEQUENCES WERE BOOKED THROUGH AND

ARRANGED BY:

GUNNAR AMANDIS

AMANDIS ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Large Elephant owned byWil l iam Morris . , -,..

Joe Horwath s ChimpsBaby Elephant owned by

George Hanneford, Jr. Kimcs Pork Ch°P Revue

Llamas. Camels, etc., owned Froelich's Alligatorsby Hoxie Bros. Circus

- MANY THANKS TO ALL FOR A JOB WELL DONE

Amandis Entertainment, Inc.2236 SHADOW OAKS ROAD SARASOTA, FLA. 33582

Phone:813-371-6605 - 6906

— Fully Licensed and Bonded —

Page 8 April 14, 1980

SELLINGHIGH-WIRE SET

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It is time to phase out zoos. Zoos are as antiqua-ted as medicine-man shows and kerosene lamps.Children no longer have to visit zoos to see exo-tic animals. They can watch animals in the com-fort of their living rooms thanks to television.We cannot dispose of our captive animals; theyare our responsibility. However, if we keep theirliving quarters clean, feed them well; time willresolve the problem.I hope I live long enough to learn that it is i l le-gal to import or breed exotic animals for zoos,circuses, movies or any other form of "enter-tainment." Then I will know the human race isprogressing, and not regressing.

SANTANY, magician, has left the famed Tihanyshow after eight years to open his own show inArgentina.

DYER M. REYNOLDS (Ichabod) well knowncircus and clown artist, is in serious conditiondue to health problems. His address is: 571 So.Coronado Ave., Los Angeles, Ca. 90057. He in-formed Eddie Howe recently that he will be"hanging it all up very soon" because of his illhealth.

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Show ReportSHRINE CIRCUS ... by Josette Massue

The Karnak Temple 40th Annual Shrine Circuswas resented at the Montreal Forum, March 13-16, and was produced by Garden Bros. It washeavily promoted with plenty of feature storiesappearing in the local French and English news-papers.Acts featured were: Lilh-Ana, leopards; The WinnBros., high wire; Susan Sheryll's Afghans; Pow-ell's Ponys; Trudy's Dalmations; An aerial num-ber with Miss Illona; Princess Tanya, gorilla par-ody; Johnny Laddie, unsupported ladders; TheRicardos; Michael & Co.; Clowns Rumpy andSmiley Daily, Jr; The Flying Lanes; Intermis-sion; The Pirates of the Sky; Zoppe's RhesusMonkeys; The Canestrellis; the Cyclonians; TheBorsky; The Astros; Gee Gee's Elephants, pre-sented by Roy and Patricia Wells and TheQuassars.Music was under the direction of Charles Schlar-baum. Acts were introduced in English by IanGarden and in French by Pierre Jean, formerlywith the Gatini Circus and from Paris. He ispresently a host of a TV Circus program thatfeatures many European acts. Also filling in asannouncer was Giovanni luliani.

MAGIC SHOW

Al DeLage will again be producing the annualMagic Show for the Lions Club in Linden, N.iwhich is scheduled for May 16th.Already booked for the show are: Jay Jaye'sPunch and Judy Revue; Al Hillman, The FunnyBar Fly; Jack Adams, The Merlin of Magic; DeMattiazzi's Wonderful Dolls; Al DeLage, magicand novelty and George Schindler & Co., com-edy magic.

Will TradeCircus Paper, Cards, Programs, etc. forWild West Items, Route Cards, etc., forYoung Buffalo, Texas Bill, Pawnee Bill,C01-'08), Oklahoma Ranch, Jones BrosBuffalo Ranch. Indian Pete IXLW. N.1914, Cummings W.W. 1906, B. Bill '83'08, Allen Bros. 29-34, Miller Bros. '08

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Phone:816- 827- 1916

Pa ge 10 April 14, 1980

Feb. 22-24 - Garden Bros. Circus at the Toron-to Maple Leaf Gardens • Acts were: Smiley Daly,clown; Charles Schlarbaum, musical director; TVStars; Eddie Schmitt, tigers; Winn Bros., wire;Trudy's Dalmations; Susan Sheryll's Afghans;Rex Morton's Bears; Web number, with Billy Bar-ton starring on cloud swing; Princess Tanya; Lad-die Family, unsupported ladders; The Ricardo's;Michael & Co.; Rumpy, comedy; The FlyingLanes; Fairyland spec; Powell's Ponies; Barbara'sanimals; Pirates of the Sky; Johnny Zoppe's Rhe-sus Monkeys; Rumpy; The Cyclonians, cycles;The Canestrellis, The Bruskis; Astros; King's ele-phants; Gee Gee's elephants; The Quassars.

Feb. 29-Mar. 2 - George Hubler Circus at Buf-falo, NY - Acts were: Boom Boom Browning,musical director; Rev. Austin Miles, ringmaster;Jorge Barreda, lions; Vashek, high wire; HappyDavis, comedy car; The Charlies, The Olmedas;Poncho; Clowns; Susan Sheryll's Afghans; Tru-dy's Dalmations; The Super Lokos, comedy act;Lou Ann Jacobs, aerialist; The Olmeda's horses;Clowns; Johnny Zoppe's Rhesus Monkeys; Jose-lito on high wire; Davide Laddie Family, unsup-ported ladders; Olmedas, juggling; Karina's tra-mpoline; The Gutis Family, Jungle parody; theFlying Valencias; Clowns; Diano elephants andThe Quassars.

March 8-9 • Bill Kay Circus at Albany, NY -Bill Pntyn, musical director; Schmitt's tigers;The Onecos; Clowns; Miss Lisa, trapeze; SusanSheryll's Afghans; Clowns; Cook's Comedycar; the Flying Lanes; Clowns; Davide Laddie,unsupported ladders; The Gutis Family, jungleparody; Clowns; Roman Schmitt, elephants; theClowns; Johnny Zoppe's Rhesus Monkeys.

WANTEDACTS FOR SUMMER SEASON

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NEW ARRIVAL

Gerard and Mary Jo Zerbini are parents of a babygirt - Salonge Leonelda Anna - born Feb. 2nd,and weighing in at 7 IDS. 12% ozs. The youngstersgrand parents are Fred and Ora Logan of the Beatty-Cole Circus.

WEDDING

Michele Marie Pelegrin and DeWayne Lee Pitten-ger, both of Sarasota, were married in that cityon Feb. 16th. Michele is the daughter of Mr. andMrs. Joseph A. Pelegrin and DeWayne is the sonof Mr. and Mrs. Fred Pittenger and is the catcherwith the flying act on the Beatty-Cole Circus.

March 13-16 - Garden Bros. Circus at the Mon-treal Forum - Pierr Jean and Ian Garden, ring-masters; John Daly, clown; Charles Schlarbaum,musical director; Eddie Schmitt, tigers; WinnBros, on high wire; Susan Sheryll's Afghans;Trudy's dogs; Web Number; Princess Tanja. gor-illa parody; The Laddie Family, unsupportedladders; Riccardo's wire; Michael & Co.; TheFlying Lanes; The Bruskis, juggling; the Canes-trellis; Pirates of the Sky; Johnny Zoppe's Rhe-sus Monkeys; The Cyclonians; The Canestrellis,teeterboard; the Bruskis, ladder; The Astros;Gee Gee's elephants; The Quassars, Finale.

The Circus Report Page 11

JACK KING SEZI noticed in the March 17th issue of Circus Re-port that the writer of an article said all the bag-gy pants comedians are gone. Wrong!For a fact, just to mention a few Everett Law-son is alive and living in Chattanooga, Tenn. Thenthere is Irv Benson who is working Vegas. Lou As-col just closed with the Minsky revue and last butcertainly not least Jack King is very much aliveand active in the business.True, most of us think of Jack King as a bandleader and organist but for the records, Jack was notonly in burlesque as a feature comic but had beenin vaudeville.Let us not forget that vaudeville did not die untilthe late 50's. Jack left Broadway to come intoburlesk. He was singing the lead in "Up In Arms"

HELEN WILSON-ShowOrganist(own Equipment) 704 - 786 - 4563

When it closed he opened at the Atvin Theatre inMinneapolis. It might further be said that al-though Jack is working as contracting agent forRay Winder, and when need be he manages thephone rooms for the Atlantic Southern Produc-tions. It doesn't all end there.Mike Martin and Jack are dickering for the jobon the Caribbean ships as comedy stars. Jack sayshe is as capable as he ever was and stilt just asfunny and will prove that this coming fall whenhe will once again dazzle audiences with his comedy and with the support of Mike Martin, actingas straight man.

MiMlLaMii «JM1

DAVID COPPERFIELD

Memorial Day Weekend - May 23 - 26. 1980 in Wichita KansasStrictly Limited Registration - 250 onlyContact Joe Stevens for information - 3238 E Douglas. Wichita. KS67208 - (316) 683-9582

Don't Forget the Traditionally Exciting Kansas City Jubilee — July 24 27 19BOFor Information Write Jubilee-300 W Armour. Kansas City. MO 64111

The 2 Best Conventions in America this year are in Wichita and Kan™* Pifu

The Circus Report Page 13

SUPREME COURT UPHOLDSTAX

by Mike Feely • Reprinted from the SarasotaHer-aid- Tribune of March 25, 1980.

Sarasota County may gain $200,000 in taxes as aresult of a U. S. Supreme Court ruling upholdingthe property value assessed against Ringling Brosand Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows.The Supreme Court, in refusing by a 6-3 vote tohear arguments in the case, left intact a decisionby Florida courts which ordered the circus topay full taxes on its touring property in Venice.The ruling was a personal victory for CountyProperty Appraiser John Mikos, who since 1972based his yearly assessments on 100 percent ofthe value of animals and equipment used on cir-cus tours.Mikos assessed the property value at about $2million. Ringling lawyers contested the assess-ment, claiming the tax should be lowered be-cause the property is kept in Venice for only 30to 80 days per year.Ringling claimed it owed only $9 a year in localtaxes on its touring property. Mikos' assessmentwould result in approximately $20,000 in annualtaxes.If Mikos claim to nine years in back taxes is sup-ported by the Florida Department of Revenue,the county stands to gain close to $200,000."I am elated," Mikos exclaimed when informedof the Supreme Court decision. "Oh, I am tickl-ed. The small man still has a chance."Mikos has been fighting for the 100 percent as-sessment since his first year as county appraiserin 1971. The county agreed to settle out ofcourt that year, but Mikos decided in 1972 tostand by his original appraisal.

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Ringling's corporate offices are located in Wash-ington, DC, but each of the circus' two touringunits spends 30 to 80 days each year in Venice.The circus keeps some equipment and animalsin Venice year-round and the tax on the fullvalue of that property was not challenged.Ringling attorneys, however, contested tax billsfor 1972 through 1976 based on the full valueof touring property, such as animals, railroadcars, cages, wagons, tractors and tents.They argued items of touring property were "in-strumentalities of interstate commerce" andshould be taxed on a basis that reflects theamount of time the property is in the.county.Mikos' attorney John Dent pointed out thatRingling's touring property is not taxed in anyof 48 states and that the equipment and vehiclesare licensed in Sarasota County.The 2nd District Court of Appeals in Lakelandupheld a lower court decision affirming Mikos'assessment. The touring property, said the ap-peals court, enjoys state protection and is out-side the "stream of commerce" which wouldexempt it from local taxes.The Florida Supreme Court declined to hear theappeal. At the Supreme Court in Washington,only Justices Harry Blackmun, Byron White andJohn Paul Stevens voted to hear the arguments.Mikos reaped praise on Dent, who guided thelower court decision through appeals. "He did ahell of a job for us." said the property appraiser.One more obstacle stands between Mikos andthe Ringling tax money. The state Departmentof Revenue has declared the circus touring unitsa private car line, which exempts them from the100 per cent assessment.State officials, however, refused to approve theSarasota County tax roll unless Mikos agreed.Mikos agreed, but later filed suit against theDepartment of Revenue.Mikos, however, was confident the suit wouldbe settled equitably following the SupremeCourt decision.While he estimated the annual tax moneys at$20,000 Mikos noted, "It may be more."Tangible personal property is self-assessed. Theassessment provided by the circus may be chal-lenged by Mikos.Meanwhile, Mikos has been studying the circus,he visits the circus grounds each New Years Daywhen both traveling units return to Venice.He even sought from officials at the Smithson-ian Museum in Washington, he said, "the valueof an elephant."

Page 14 April 14, 1980

DAVE PERCY has joined Prof. Miller's MagicTime USA show as stage manager. He reportsthe show has been doing excellent business inits early tour dates.

EDDIE HOWE, former circus advance man, justcompleted a seven month assignment as advancepress agent for the film "Apacalypse Now."

JOHN and HERTACUNEO, JOE SHERMAN,JOYCE and AL VIDBEL, RON KELROY andDOTTIE WINN recently visited the Garden-Johnson Circus.

LJICK OSLUND, working advance for the KRA-MIEN Magic Show plans to play fair dates withhis own magic show during the summer monthsWALLY NAGHTIN

WALLY NAGHTIN, of the Ringling Red Unit,has just finished building a new 33 ft. trailer forhis trained bears.

HAP DAVIS sprained his ankle and foot duringa performance of the Garden-Johnson Circus atMilwaukee, doing a brandy from the trampolineto the floor. He taped up the foot and ankle anddidn't miss a performance.

JOHN HERRIOTT appeared as a guest perfor-mer with the Royal Hanneford Circus when he

•00 SCO* P*«T OF- TMtMOO c&Ni tax vr. •see —

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visited that show on March 25th.

TONY DIANO.andMr. and Mrs. BILL GALL-OWAY visited the Shrine Circus held in Buffalo(NY) this past month.

DENNIS and LYNN MICHAELS are touring onFranzen Bros. Circus. Dennis is boss clown andLynn plays the orqan and does the announcing.

SHARON WARD, former show girl with theRoyal Hanneford Circus, is now touring withthe Ringling Red Unit.

AL DAWLEY, ringmaster, was made an Honor-ary Member of the Damascus Temple during acircus performance at Rochester, NY.

MEL HALL visited the Kelly Bros. Circus whenthat show played Lumberton, Texas, on Mar. 29

FRANK DEAN broke his own rope spinning re-cord when he appeared at the Guiness Museumin San Francisco last month. Just prior to theSan Francisco appearance he conducted a ropespinning school in Elko, Nevada.

WASHINGTON TUBBS II-TO otT YOU,

Tm*, POIWT VOOR STICK *T VM*\ ^^\V vwi* '̂ e*cx. vefcx vwpt

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The Circus Report Page 15

... by William Wotsch

One year when the Ice Follies came to our Cle-veland Arena they had a live hone that pulled acarriage in one of their production numbers.This hone had special shoes which enabled himto walk on the ice.In the number the hone and carriage came outand some boys and girts skaters would get intothe carriage and then they waved to the audi-ence as they went around the ice. The peoplewatching always enjoyed it.Once backstage the hone would be unhitchedand then led across a long rubber matting to hisstall. This was way back in one of our tunnels.One night after everyone had left, except thecleaning crews, I was late in leaving and stoppedto talk to some of the crew. Somebody said 'heylook, the hone is coming out from backstage.'Sure enough, there was the hone, walking thesame route he did for each performance. Thistime in front of empty seats.We watched surprised. Finally I said we'd bestget the hone back to his stall. Then he saw usand tayed down on the ice and no matter howmuch we coaxed or pleaded he wouldn't budgeFinally, 1 called the hotel where the show wasstaying, in downtown Cleveland, and got ahold

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of the stage manager and told him about o urbig problem. He got some of the show fellowsand they came down to the building, finallythey got the horse up and back to his stall.The horse had worked the tie-rope loose andthen wandered out for a solo performance ofhis own.

MARK ANTHONY, popular clown and a formermember of the Ringling-Barnum Clown Alleywas producing clown with Royal Hanneford Cir-cus in Detroit.

By Crane

Page 16 April 14. 1980

ANTS FOUGHT ELEPHANTSThe shrill scream of a woman in mortal terror

woke plantation owner Athol Cavendish froma troubled sleep.He lifted his mosquito net and listened. The

screaming continued, but there was anothersound, coming from everywhere • above, be-low and around him,A rustling crackling sound made by the steady

tramping of a million tiny feat - driver ants!Cavendish leaped from his bed and rushed

from the room. On the verandah a native wo-man, his cook, was screaming madly and beat-ing the air.The ants were all over her, biting viciously,

crawling into her mouth, her ears, her nostrils.The ants had claimed her for the death of mil-lions of bites. In a few minutes they would pickher bones clean of flesh.

Cavendish acted quickly and with extreme per-sonal bravery. Without hesitating, he rushed for-ward and grabbed the girl in his arms.

A hundred yards away was his only hope - theriver. Would he reach it before the ants got tohis eyes?

His lungs bursting, his arms aching from hisscreaming, struggling burden, he stumbled to thesteep bank and collapsed into the muddy streamIn the swirling waters the ants, one by one, lost

their grip and floated away. Cavendish - and thenative girl - lived to tell the tale.

They were lucky, For the dreaded driver antsof Africa seldom release a prey, however big,once they have it in the grip of a million hungrylaws.This tiny creature - barely half an inch long - is*

the Terror of the Jungle, and when the Ant Armyis on the march nothing stands in its way.

Even the mighty elephant, with its thick, toughhide, flees in panic when the ants are marching.The driver ants are nomads. Their armies are

forever on the march. They will eat any meat,human or animal, dead or alive.

During their marches any living thing that can-not get out of their way is doomed. A full growncaged leopard in a South African Zoo was killedby them and picked clean in a single night.

When the ants attack a human dwelling theywork in eerie silence, broken only by the faintrustle of a million tiny feet, the steady champ-inn nf a million tinv laws.

They invade at dead of night, and before thesleeping humans know it they have taken overthe whole place. Methodically, they searchevery hole and corner for meat, living or dead.

They will not, however, attack a sleeping per-son haphazardly. They act like a real army. Amillion ants gather over him and wait for the"command" before plunging their nippers intohis flesh tearing it away.

Driver ants have, in addition to ordinary malesand females, three working types.

The soldiers are about half an inch long, with ahead and pincers as big as the rest of their bodiesThey seem to be the brains of the organizationand organize the marches and lead attacks.

Another type is about a quarter-inch long, withthe important duty of tearing the flesh from liv-ing prey. It cannot tear out such large chunks asthe first type, but does not do badly.

Little ants which act chiefly as porters, makeup the third type.The queen of the driver ants looks just like a

cylinder. A head, thorax, and legs are tacked onat one end just as a bit of skin is often left at theend of a sausage. She is at least two inches long,bloated, and eyeless.

Since driver ants are killed by sunlight or evenstrong diffuse light, the army usually halts be-fore dawn on a fine day and shelters until even-ing, but on dull days the march goes on. Often,to get over streams, the ants form a living bridgeand though thousands die in the crossing mill-ions more go on.

To compensate a little for the havoc wreckedby the driver ants, the natives have put them toa strange use.

Should a native cut himself badly, ants are madeto bite into the wound so that the pincers holdtogether the two edges of the cut like a surgeon'sstitches. The bodies are then cut off and therows of ant heads, which pincers which neverunclasp, helps the cut heal property.

Don't forget to send in your sub-scription renewal now - you can'tfind a better bargain anywhere.

Write to: Don Marcks525 Oak StreetEl Cerrito, Calif. 94530

It's just $15.00 for a full year

The Circus Report Page 17

Books For Your Pleasure 11!"THE TWO, The Story of the Original Siamese Twins" by Irving Wallace. - The hard

bound $12.95 edition now $8.00

"DOCTOR IN THE ZOO" by B. Buchenholz - Pictures and anecdotes on the life ofthe Chief Veterinarian of the famous Bronx, N.Y., Zoo. - Hard back $10.95 editionnow $ 6.00

"COUNTY FAIR" by Lesberg & Goldberg - A pictorial presentation (more than 200photos) of this unique American tradition • A day at the San Diego County Fair -Original $14.95 edition now $ 6.00

"AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT, A Unique History of Popular Show Business" byJoseph and June Csida • A thoroughly researched historical text, a comprhensivechronology and hundreds of articles, advertisements and photos reproduced from thepages of Billboard. New hard bound original $30.00 edition now $ 15,00

"CIRCUS HEROES & HEROINES" by Rhina Kirk. Kids of all ages, to borrow a circuscliche, will thrill to the tales about these dazzling personalities. - New copy of the1972, $4.50 publication still $ 4.50

"HERE COMES THE CIRCUS" by Peter Varney - An entertainment in itself, a joyousand visual celebration of the cosmopolitan circus and those who made it great. - newhard bound $12.95.1978 edition now $ 8.00

BETTY SCHMID485 Sleepy Hollow Road Pit tsburgh, Pa. 15228

RED SKELTON will star in a pay TV film called"Red Skelton's Funny Faces", which will featuremost of his regular comedy characters.

MORGAN BERRY and his elephants were thesubject of a special feature in the March 1980 is-sue of Life magazine.

SLIM PICKENS, was featured in a TV End ofthe Week Special called "The Winged Colt" air-ed on April 5th.

JOEY JORDAN, skating juggler, will soon starin his own show "Fantasy Follies" at the Ore-pheum Theatre in New York.

MARK WILSON, magician, made a guest appearance on the Mike Douglas TV show the afternoonof April 9th.

GEORGE C. BINGAMAN spent three months inFlorida where he visited friends on both of theRBBB units and was able to watch their rehear-sals for the 1980 season.

A R T U R O TROSTL was the subject of a specialarticle, which included a color photo, appearingin the Tampa (Fh) Tribune on Fob. 10th. Arturowalks a wire across a pirate ship during the an-

nual Gasparillo celebration there.

RON and JOY HOLIDAY have signed a 5 yearcontract with a new agent, effective late thisyear. They played Youngstcwn, Ohio, on Mar.18-23 and then flew to Hollywood for an ap-pearance on TV's "The Big Show."

PAT GRAHAM, former circus owner and now aunit manager with Foley & Burk sends his bestwishes to the Copelands in Florida.

PETE LUVASand his African elephant "Kenya*played a San Antonio, Texas, date on March 26,for the opening of a new strip palace.

FRANK DEAN and JOHN HERRIOTT will befeatured in a special show produced by theSmithsonian Institute in Washington,DC forApril 25-27.

BILL BURGER visited the John Strong Circusat Fallbrook, Calif., and he reports he receiveda "real warm" welcome. Bill may go back withthe show in June.

PAUL HORSMAN writes that his model circusis set up in the cellar of his home in Auburn, N.Y. and visitors are always welcome. Recent visitors included JOE and Mrs. MYERS, with Rob-erts Bros. Circus, AL STENCELL, of Martin &Downs and his office manager LARRY SHEL-LON.

Page 18 April 14, 1980

KAGK LIMITED ItOTD ( H>(S - 4064 )9'H A.i QAILAND. «A 44*9

. . . .by LLOYD E.JONES

There are several low priced magic books such as"50 Modern Card Tricks" that you can do with-out skill and sleight of hand. This book was writ-ten to replace a "no sleight • impromptu book"that had been standard for years, but requiredprepared cards, stacked decks and even sleightof hand. Despite inflation and a reprinting insideof two years, the price is a low $3.00. Master afew and you are ready to perform, at any timewith any deck. Printed in a 5% x 8% size with asoftboard cover, it is illustrated.The success of this book has led to a second vol-ume "50 More Modem Card Tricks You Can Do'and it is priced at $4.00. Published in 1979, thisnew one and the first one gives you one hundredtricks to present, once the details are masterd.Air Mail for either one would run 54c, while surf-face parcel post charges are 59c. Both books aretype set and soft covered.

Another bargain card book is a big 8% x 11 in,with art cover and 48 pages of tricks, fully illus-trated. It is titled "Popular Card Tricks" andwas written by famed magical author Walter B.Gibson. It has an interesting history, which ison the opening page. These are great tricks andincluded are the first use of the "one way"deckprinciple. Stilt low priced and a standard itemat magic shops, it sells for $3.50, postage on thisis 59c.

Often one can find a book at a bargain price, es-pecially those which are published by major concerns. offered to the public, and after the salesstop, are dumped on the market. One such bookand a good one is "Magic in Mind" written bypopular magical author Bill Severin. It was firstissued in 1974 at $6.95, now, it is available for$3.49 (postage 59c). Hard bound with a wrap-per it is 5% x 8% with 127 pages and illustrated.There are about two dozen tricks requiring nodifficult to make or prepared equipment. Withthe current great interest in mental magic thisis a good buy.

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The Circus Report Page 19

in theELEPHANTS GOING TO AFRICA

(An AP story reprinted from the Seattle, Wash.Times of March 17, 1980).

Can three "orphaned" elephants from Wood-land, Wash., with years of circus experience findhappiness in the wilds of their native Kenya?Stay tuned later this year when the answer willbe filmed by ABC Sports.The man behind the unusual adventure is Ran-dall Moore, 28, who is training the three ani-mals on a two-acre pasture outside of Browns-ville, Texas, on the Mexican border.The Brownsville Herald discovered the projectwhen someone called and asked "How wouldyou like to wake up and see three elephants inyour backyard?"Moore had worked with the Sfrican elephantsbefore the death of their original owner andtrainer, Morgan Berry, seven months ago inWoodland.Berry's body was found next to an Asian bullelephant he had raised since it was a year old.

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"It was questionable whether he was killed ordied of a heart attack," Moore said.Berry's family decided to sell the nine elephantsat the farm, but Moore desperately tried to raisemoney to keep them together.He contacted Shana Alexander, who had writtena story 17 years ago for Life magazine aboutBerry. She wrote the article "For The Love ofElephants" which appears in the March 1980 isuse of that magazine.A benefit concert was planned. But the familyinsisted it had to sell the grey giants.The three African elephants were bound for azoo in Colombia, South America, when Moorecalled ABC Sports. The network agreed to fi-nance the project of returning the animals toAfrica.Before attempting their release in the East Tsa-vo National Park of Kenya, Moore and an assis-tant hope to ride the pachyderms into wildherds of animals."It's all very speculative. It'll be a trial-and-er-ror thing, and it might not be possible to re-lease them at all." Moore said.African elephants, distinguished from their As-ian cousins by larger ears, are more difficult totrain. Moore's three charges once performed ina rare all-African elephant circus act.

Male elephants of both species sometimes gothrough periods of being hard to control andare apt to turn on people who have reared themsays Moore.'The first time I got up on one of them, I wasreally scared. I'm doing better now, but I'm stillscared of them. Anyone that isn't is a fool.That's the way you get killed," said Moore'sassistant, Fred Vince.Moore and Vince will leave April 28th for Hous-ton with the animals, where the troupe will beleaving by ship for Kenya, two days later.If the return to the wild fails, Moore says, per-haps the animals could be used to take touristson safaris."I would much rather see them free because,personally, I don'twant to spend the rest of mylife chasing around Africa with them," he said.

MiscellaneousThe Philip Morris World of Fantasy players opentheir 1980 season on April 12th at Selma, Ala.The tour wilt run 30 weeks and will include some18 days in Canada.

Page 20 April 14, 1980

ALL TYPES OF ACTS

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JOE VIA has joined the Garden-Johnson Circus(No. 2 Unit) and is presenting the 8 male lionact. He replaces Lawrence Grant on that show.

CARY GRANT presented the "Magician of theYear" award to DAVID COPPERFIELD at theannual Awards program in Los Angeles.

GLEN and ETHEL HENRY, and DALE andBOOTS MADDEN visited the Carden-JohnsonCircus at Ardmore, Okla.

HIPPODROME GOING

The Hippodrome Theatre building in Cleveland(Ohio) is going to be torn down because no onehas come up with a plan to reduce its operatingcosts. The historic theatre was built 73 years agoand is to be torn down to make way for a 173car parking lot.The land on which the theatre sits is owned byJudge Alvin Kren/lc and the building is manag-ed by Anthony Babin, son of a local real estatedeveloper and agent.It costs $85,000 a year to keep the building heated, Babin said. The building has not been usedabove the second floor for the past 10 years.The building's 1,500 seat theatre was heraldedas a wonder when it opened in 1907. The stageis 130 feet wide and 104 feet deep. It is equip-ped with a hydraulic lift, a 450,000 gallon wa-ter tank and a treadmill so horses could gallopbefore the audience.Later the theatre was filled with movie crowdswho were treated to deep carpets and a flashymarquee.

FROM GATINI WORKERS AND OWNERS

Hi, I have just come back from the worst time and financialperiod ever.

But, I remember the people who worked hard to help mekeep the show on the road and to you I say a big "ThankYou."

Hope to see you soon. Have an easy road and stay high!

GILLES VALIQUETTE7687 St. Denis, Apt. 4

Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2R - 2E7

— P. S. Hope you understand —

The Circus Report Page 21

PAPA WENOAY just celebrated his 73rd bir th-day. He is featured in the Funs-A-Poppin Circuswith his trained dog act. Daughter HEIDI cele-brated her 22nd birthday and just recently hadher animal acts with the Emmett Kelly, Jr. Cir-cus,

GINA and PETE MACHALLECK, of Sarasota.are the two children who jump five stories offthe "Death Ship" in a new movie now openingin theatres across the country.

F. A. (Babe) BOUDINOT, former RBBB gener-al agent, lives in Chicago and also maintains ahome in Florida. On occasion he works with astage show in Chicago.

ED FREEMAN recently worked several clubdates in Iowa fora feed company, presentinghis magic show. Ed also works advance for theFranzen Bros. Circus.

F. BEVERLY KELLEY, former RBBB press andpublicity director, is currently working advancefor a major Broadway show which is now on anational tour.

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Large Blue-Eyed Greater SulphurCrested 1,250 ea

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STEVE WALLENOA, high wire walker, plansto walk a cable across the Grand Coulee Damthis summer. He says the round trip will beabout 6,000 yards, which would be a new re-cord wire walk.

TAMARA JONES, of the Associated Press, dida story on "Circus Kids" last month which toldabout the youngster's life with Circus Vargas.Some of those mentioned were Toby and TimBickmore, Maria and Manuel Zuniga, Darleneand Renec Williams and Herve Wagneur.

JACK TAVLIN and wife visited with EDDIEHOWE and other friends in Southern Califor-nia late last month while on a stop-over fromNew York to Hawaii. Jack once produced theRBBB program books, he was co-owner of theRussell Bros. Circus in the late 1940's and in1948 purchased Cole Bros. Circus and touredthat show for two years. Today he is operatingan outdoor advertising business in New York.

VATES ENGESSER, mother of Roxy Engesser,has returned home after a hospital visit. At age83 the doctors have suggested she give up smok-ing and drinking. She'd like to hear from friendswho can write: Rte. 2, Box 11-B, Trenton, Fla.32693

Page 22 April 14, 1980

Monkeys and Baboons For Sale1 Red-Bellied Marmoset, captive-born, 9 mo.

female.

1 Common Marmoset, captive-bom, male,adult, 7 oz.

1 Gelada, male. 6% yrv, 95 Ibs. The "LionKilling Baboon". Magnificent grind showattraction. Good disposition.

1 Yellow baboon. 8 mo. old. female, collarand lead broken. Good training prospect.

2 African grivet monkeys, male. I V S y r s oldready for training; 3 yr. old excellent ex-hibit or breeding animal.

SURPLUS MONKEYS WANTED, ESPECIALLY ADULT RHESUS

Ken Fess or Sybil VoslerM A R M O S E T B R E E D I N G F A R M , INC.

P. 0. Box 1104 Riverview, Fla. 33569Phone: 813 * 677 - 3542

in the

DISPLACED RESIDENTS

by Mar/one Fritt - Reprinted from the Sarasota(F/a) Herald-Tribune of March 13. 1980.

When LaTosca Trailer Park is closed in comingmonths, a part of local history will go with it.Built in the 1930's and one of the oldest parksin Sarasota, it was once called "the circus park"by early residents.Located on Fruitville Road east of Tuttle Ave.,it is being vacated for future land developmentPark residents, some of whom have lived herefor nearly 30 years, received eviction notices inJanuary.Nell and Don Whatman will always rememberthe Fat Lady, the Monkey Man and the TrapezeLady among the colorful neighbors who becamefriends over the years."Ruby Whipkey. the circus tailor, left the parklast year." Whatman said in an interview, "Den-nis The Clown is still here. Carlos, the Fire Eat-er, has lived here for 29 years and is still aroundThey're all fine people who have given a lot ofpleasure to circus fans.The Whatmans bought into the park seven yearsago when Whatman retired from the school sys-tem in Port Burnwell, Ontar io ,Canada.Most recently, the couple has spent weeks help-ing older residents in the park face the task ofrelocating, hoping to make the transition easier.

There are 83 trailers in the park. Some havebeen sold, a few have been moved, some weretorn down. Slowly, the park is being dismantled"It's the old folks we're worried about," What-man said, "the ones who are 80 years old or older. Some are still kind of shocked at the pros-pect of moving. Some can't afford to take theirtrailers with them and have had to sell. It's veryupsetting. City officials have been very goodabout trying to find new homes for these peopleWe just hope every one of them can be properlycared for and that it's done with dignity."Reta Atwell, doesn't want to live with anybody.Widowed since 1972, she has lived at LaToscafor 20 yean She is 88. Her home is one of thenicest in the park, but she can't afford to moveit The city has promised to help."I'm just waiting," she said. "When I first gotthe news, I cried for three days. I have $337 amonth Social Security. I don't go to extremes.It would take more than I have to move my.home and I want to have enough to be buried.I thought I would spend my last days here, butI got fooled. It looks like I will be going to thecity mobile home park. I'm just waiting. It's abig worry."

Carlos Leal, the Fire Eater, is philosphical aboutthe future.Although handicapped and in ill health, the for-mer showman is a proud man. His favorite past-time is telling stories about his show businessdays and leafing through a scrapbook filled with

(Continued on Page 24)

The Circus Report Page 23

MAGIC AWARDS. . ....by LLOYD E.JONES

"Domy" (Werner C. Dornfeld) old-time comicand M.C. who got his start during World War Iwith Elsie Janis, and popular performer at hun-dreds of magic affairs and conventions, washonored by the Houdini Magic Club in January.Oorny, now 87 years old, has been in and outof the hospital frequently. He was presentedwith a Zenith TV set with remote control inappreciation for his many contributions to ma-gic in general. Dorny, who lives in Chicago, wasfor once in his life, speechless.Other clubs aiding in the presentation of thisgift were the Wizard Club of Chicago and RingNo. 53 I.B.M. along with the Order of Merlin.

The annual Awards Banquet of the Academy ofMagic Arts and Sciences held in March, electedDavid Copperfield as "Magician of the Year."(Wonder if they saw his expose in TV Guide?}.

(Continued on Page 24)

in theTwo Boston theatres swapped shows to accom-modate the needs of a three ton performer.An elephant traveling with the Harry BlackstoneMagic Show was too large to fit through the backstage loading door at the Wilbur Theatre. So thelarger Shubert Theatre across the street was ob-tained for the magic show.

Show DatesTommy Scott's Medicine Show

Apr. 14 Marshall. Texas15 Nacogdoches16 Huntsville17 Crockett18 Rockdale19 Temple20 Gonzales

Harry Thomas • Tiger actApr. 15-20 Omaha, Nebr.

White House in MiniatureApr. 19-27 Okla City, Okla

SEATS AND CANVASLike New used 6 weeks — Stored in dry storage — 20 sectionsseats, bevelled edges, sealed, 5 boards high, 36 in. h igh at back— Jacks glued and bolted — Holders on back of stringers forside poles.

8 sections 6 ft. x 40 ft. of canvas sidewall with net wind holes— Pink and Orange striped wi th blue scallop trim — Makes 80ft. wide by 120 ft. deep enclosure — No f ront end.

Junc t ion Boxes — 300 ft. 3 wire copper cable — Many otherextras — 24 ft. fo ld ing unusua l ring curb and pad — A beau t i fu lset-up for fairs or shopping centers.

Ent i re set-up needs only anchors on the four ends — No stakesneeded for side poles.

— $ 7,500 Firm —

ROBERT MOCK14043 • 24th Avenue SouthSeattle, Wash. -98168

Phone:206-243-2160

Page 24 April 14, 1980

DISPLACED RESIDENTS (Cont'd)

highlights of his life."I was a teacher," he says proudly. "My latewife was a teacher also. She spoke five languagesLeal has lived in the park for 27 yean. Friendsstop by to pick him up for services at Faith Ba-ptist Church where he once taught Bible classes.Each day he takes his main meal at the Candle-light Dining Room for senior citizens whichmakes his monthly Social Security income of$265 stretch a little further.Where will he go when the park closes?"God knows," he said. "This was unexpected.But when God closes one door he opens anoth-er. My wife used to say that when times werebad. She was always right."Meanwhile the Whatmans continue to cat! onpeople in the park, giving encouragement whereever they can."Being uprooted is not so hard on us snowbirds,'Whatman said. "Once we had a home on LakeErie for 18 years and had to relocate. And oneother time that happened to us. This time it'snot so hard to face. We plan to find a placesomewhere in Sarasota. We're more concerned

MAGIC AWARDS (Continued)

Lecturer of the Year was Max Maven (Phil Gold-stein), Stage Magician was declared to be WhitHaydn, Close-up Magician, Daryl (Martinez),and visiting magicians were Pet rick and Mia (re-cent defectors from Czechoslovakia) and theJunior Achievement Award went to Mark Kalin.Fellowships were presented to Fred Kaps • Mas-ter Fellowship and a Joint One to McDonald andMable Birch. Creative Fellowship was given toEngland's All Bongo, with a Literary Fellowshipgoing to Glenn Gravatt and a Performing Fellowship to Jimmy Grippo. Special Fellowships werealso awarded to Len Vintus and Burling Hull.

This was the 12th annual Awards Banquet andthe show was M.C/d by Bob Barker and includ-ed Mark Kalin and Linda, Svengari (comedy act)with Richard Deacon being assisted by RoseMarie. Terry Seabrooke, Mark Wilson, Ali Bon-go and Dick Zimmerman also performed.

about what we can do for the other people herein the park. As far as Nell and I are concerned,we've got our money's worth of memories."

The Circus Report Page 25

... from Jerry Digney, Circus Vargas

Your March 17th issue, unfortunately, includedsome erroneous information regarding the busi-ness practices of Circus Vargas. Columnist BillyBarton reported that we no longer distributefree kids tickets. While we have severely limitedtheir distribution, they remain a part of our pro-motional effort.

Also incorrectly report! d wis news that CircusVargas performed a special event of our show inHollywood for the Los Angeles Gay Commun-ity. This is totally untrue and no such eventtranspired.

While we enjoy your publication immensely, Ifelt it appropriate to bring these errors to yourattention.

FOR SALE-WIZ FLASH-

EFFECT: Photo Flash Cube (Magic CubeType) is tossed or handed out to a member ofthe audience. Performer's hands are shown tobe completely empty. Cube is returned to theperformer and with no false moves the cube iscaused to flash at the will of the performer.

There is nothing to add or palm off. You canshoot all four sides of the magic cube as desir-ed. This bare hand miracle works any where anytime. Close-up or on stage.

By itself "Wiz Flash" is spectacular and a puz-zling attention grabber.WHAT YOU RECEIVE: A supply of the

"somethings" that make it work. These can beused over and over for hundreds of perform-ances.

Included is a manuscript of twelve stunts,gags, and magic effects using "Wiz Flash". Fea-tured is a routine where you use the cubes as amini-microwave oven and bake a cake in a spector's pocket.

Presented on the Cabaret Show at recent Hol-lywood Cavalcade of Magic. The act received astanding ovation.

Sent complete via First Class Mail.

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appreciated byC& B FISH FRY by Karen Cart

The Canon & Barnes Circus held their annualpre-opening fish fry on March 22nd at the D.R. Miller estate in Hugo, Okla. In addition toMr. and Mrs. Miller, Geary and Barbara Byrdand their daughters Traci and Kristin, over 50guests attended. The guests included all circusmanagement personnel and department heads,as well as local fhends and out of town rela-tives.The more than 150 Ibs. of fresh bass which wasserved had been caught by Geary Byrd and con-cessions manager David Rawls, in Mexico on arecent trip.Fortunately, the weather cooperated, so theguests could enjoy the large patio and beautifulyard. As usual at any event hosted by the Mill-ers and Byrds, the food was delicious and agood time was had by all.

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Page 26 April 14, 1980

BILLY BARTON (Continued)

Bros, by dressing with RUMPY? Come on BILL,back in the damned closet!.. .BILL and TRUDYby the way suffered serious truck problems re-cently and barely made their last two jumps...CAROL and CARLOS visited the fabulous AutMori Grotto Circus in Youngstown on their runfrom Sam Polack in Arkansas to Circus Odyssyin New York.

RON and JOY HOLIDAY are thrilled withtheir quarter-million dollar contract with theBrighton Casino Hotel in Atlantic City wherethe Dynamic Duo will be starred in a major re-vue, to be called "Hello Broadway" which willspotlight 30 girl dancers but NO NUDES. Theywill tape a Home Box Office TV segment tocoincide with their Atlantic City opening. It allhappens in Sept. Meanwhile Joy is looking fortwo more cats, a baby Siberian tiger, a babyAfrican leopard.

I was tickled pink during the Burlington (Em-mett Kelly date) to be surprised by a visit fromG R A C I E and GRACE HANNEFORD (daughterand wife of the legendary POODLES). Theydrove up from Glens Falls (91 miles), didn'tknow I was there and so the surprise was mutualWe had a wonderful visit; both gals took great,are doing well. Gracie works her dog and ponyacts at Frontierland in summer, runs a motel atnight and Grace (sr) has a gift shop. Gracie isnow a brunette by the way, a color that is be-coming.

SNAPSHOTS: FRANK SCALZO is a magicianwho is always on stage. Maybe that's why he'ssuch an expert magician?.. .NICKY, the son ofEd and Cyndy Migley, looks just like his mother- a beautiful child.. .Don't, I repeat Don't cele-brate your birth day in Oneonta (NY). We end-

ed up at a Pizza Parlor on the eve of the momentand next morning at a Perkins where Ed and Cy-ndy and a coterie of friends, Bobby and I sat ata long table. Til never forget the candle stickingin a stack of pancakes and those God-awful voi-ces serenading me.. .LOTTIE BRUNN playedthe Poughkeepsie date for Hubler, opened theshow and stopped it. That gal is a juggling phen-omenon!. . .Hanneford's opening in Detroit fea-tured HERBIE WEBER's slide and the RocketCar.. .BELINDA AMANDIS M A Y N A R D has aunique aerial rigging that rises electrically andfeatures dancing waters. Everyone sez it's lovely.. .CHARLIE VAN BUSKIRK told me I wasgreatly missed in the Men's Dressing Room atMontreal, said the room was DEAD! Finally PatLane (Boy! will I get even with him) started theball rolling by coming in after the act and saying"Oh Mary!" which started a chain reaction withBuskirk, Bruski, Pietro Canestrelli, et all follow-ing suit.. Now the Gutis are saying it and virtual-ly everyone else .. OH! MARY! . . .PETER GU-TIS is studying Journalism and is putting out aweekly newspaper. CHARLY GUTIS told me hismother and father are in good health and doingfine. He remarks that if conditions keep worsen-ing in this business he is thinking of packing itup for good - What a shame! If things continueas they are producers will be hard put to findtalent in 1981. More and more acts are thinkingof quitting and, unfortunately, it is all the M A-JOR acts!.. .STANLEY FRIEDBURG is organ-izing on not only Circus Odyssey route but alsoSANDY DOBRITCH's string of dates.. GUTISwill play the Dobritch dates also.. .MISTERSENSATION set for the Brockton Fair, the St.Louis Police Circus.. .MIKE NAUGHTON mak-ing dates for BILL KAY and also ED MIGLEY.

(Continued on Page 27)

The Circus Report Page 27

BILLY BARTON (Continued)

NOW, I hear the FLYING LANES may revamptheir act and try to hang on a bit longer. Insteadof quitting in April they may wait until the endof the season. Perhaps they wit) then continue.I hope so.. .Hello, Taco, wherever you are!...Thanks SABU for my Birthday Greetings.. Thisyear BILL GALLOWAY is making Omaha andLincoln for Gracie without wife BEVERLY. Ta-king no chances she'll get lost this time (longstory/in joke).. JUNE DEWSBURY called andlaid me to filth for my heartless treatment of"clown" BUBBA HASTINGS! Was her face pinkwhen she found out that Bubba was the fictionalbrainchild of BILL KAY and GEORGE HUBLERfostered by JOE SHERMAN and BILL GALLO-WAY. . .Unknown to Kay and Hubler I was "in"on the gag and decided to kill off Bubba just forthe hell of it. Not to worry! That quarette willget even - 1 have no doubt! Anyway, Bubba'sdeath came a year late. I'd planned to kill himoff last year but forgot about it.

INTERESTING ITEM from Emmett Kelly isthat NINO COCHISE. 106 yrs old, is alive andwell, living in Tombstone (Arz). Cochisc was onthe 101 Ranch Show, also Buffalo Bill.. and be-

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lieve it or not, at his advanced age he reads with-out glasses. Nino Cochise worked with such leg-endary greats as ANNIE OAKLEY! Also livingin Tombstone is CHIEF WHITE EAGLE (PoncaIndian Chief from Ponca City, Okla) who is 78and two others, all of whom toured with thosefamous shows.

Friends of RICHARD PLUME (The Prince ofDarkness) will be devastated to know he is notonly ON THE WAGON but also currently serv-ing Jury Duty! The Shock of it all is driving therest of us to drink! And, speaking of driving, heis doing THAT, TOOI (Betty, Chuck, Tommy,Cliff, Wally, Cemon, Struppi, Loni, Freddie, eta! PLEASE NOTE!).

GLENN PARKINS is readying a Circus Cook-book which will feature recipes conjured up byworld famous performers plus a photo of theartist, two to a page, bound in "coffee-table"format. Book has found a publisher.

BOBBY motored to catch Ringling Blue forthe first time, also to visit with JOHNNY andBETTY ZOPPE;was impressed with the produc-tion numbers and super impressed with Johnny'slavish new space presentation.

ED MIGLEY, an innovator of modern circusideas, has come up with a winner with his groom-ing of MIDDY STREETER to be Circus Ringmaster. Middy, tall and slender with a quality speak-ing voice, is dressed in regulation top hat andspangled tails, BUT - here's the gimmick - wearsa white mime makeup. Where this might not fitin with ALL shows, for ED's unique circus for-mat it is PERFECT! My Congrats to both.!

ROLAND MARCELLI used to chain his bikeswhen he left the building between shows andlocked up his props. He and Janis told me atlunch recently that now he leaves them wherethey lay - hoping someone WILL steam them!

Oh, Mary! See you down the road, luvs.