"America's Favorite Circus Weekly

4th Year February 10, 1975 Number 6

Freedom Train Deadline HearsA 140 man team is racing against a deadline to complete

work on a moving bicentennial monument. The men are refurbishing12 railway postal cars at Richmond (Calif.) for the American

Freedom Train, part of a 22 car unit that willcarry an encyclopedia of American history aroundthe country.

The first three cars, brightly painted red, whiteand blue, are on their way to an assembly station'in Virginia. In the meantime workmen at Venice

(Fla) are preparingcars for the train.

another ten

The Freedom Train has beensanctioned by the government'sbicentennial committee and willstart its 21 month journey fromWilmington (Dela) on April 1st.The train is the idea and dreamof Ross Rowland, of Chicago, whoin 1966 restored a locomotiveand some cars to celebrate thelinking of the U.S. by rails a100 years earlier.

The success of that "GoldenSpike Centennial Ltd." gave(Continued on Page 11)

Advance ManFrom a teaching assistant

to purchasing agent for RinglingBros. Barnum & Bailey Circus isthe move that Marshall Estersonrecently made. The step intoshow business was made possibleafter he answered an advertise-ment in the newspaper.

I was looking for some-thing different, says Esterson,who holds two Masters degreesand has nearly completed his Ph.D. requirements.

(Continued on Back Page)

Page 2 The Circus Report

show VisitorsAmong those seen visiting

Circus Vargas during its engage-ment at San Bernardino (Calif).,on Jan. 26-27 w^ret

Blackie Martin, Mingo,Dan Thomas, Frank and BerniceDean, Al Mall, the John StrongFamily, Eddie Howe, Tom and Rob-in Bishop, Smokey Jones, Georgeand Gay Perkins, Herbert Weberand Joe Col.by.

msrimizEiRAYFIELD JOHNSON, former

circus giant, has been hospital-ized at Morningside Hospital inLos Angeles, Calif.

JACK LEONTTNI, a partner inthe Wallenda Circus, was recent-ly hospitalized at the East Man-ior Nursing Home in Sarasota,Fla.|

In MemoriamRAY RODMAN, former elephant

man with most of the west coastshows, died at Bloomington,Cal.on Jan. 29th of pneumonia andother complications. He was afamiliar figure on the old ClydeBeatty and Graham Bros, circus.

HORACE MURPHY (93) of theMurphy's Comedians, a dramatictent show on the west coast, jdied at a nursing home in NorthHollywood (Cal.) on Jan. 20th.His wife, Peggy, survives.

sawdust trailFirst reports from Fisher

Bros. Circus, in winterquartersat Donna, Texas, are that theywill open on Feb. 15th. New ward-robe is now ready and Jim Davishas been named manager for the1975 season.

H. T. "Tex" Dreyfus, CFA &CMB member, was at Arransas Pass(Tex.) on Jan. 27th to catch theopening of the Al G. Clark & Dai-ley Bros. Circus.

When Charles Moyer closedhis Charles Bros. Circus lastfall he joined Lewis Bros, forthe remainder of the season.

M. L. Dupont

jjIrThe Circus Report ispublished each week byDon Marcks, 525 Oak St.El Cerrito, Ca. 94530.

Subscription rates arei$5.00 for six months;$10.00 for the year.(Air Mail service is$2.00 extra).

Advertising rates are»$2.50 minimum; $5.00 aquarter page; $10.00 ahalf page and $20.00 a

full page (checkswith orders).

February 10, 1975 Page 3

PJfespite some rain Circus Vargas drew capacity^-^business for all four of its performancesat San Bernardino (Cal) where the show openedits 1975 tour on Jan. 26-27.

The program, which ran 2% hours on op-ening night (included a 15 minute intermis-sion) was a fast-paced show without thefrills of the past. There's plenty of actionand circus here for everyone, with goodlighting for each presentation. All equipmenthas been painted and repaired and looks good. The big top has beencompletely repaired and now looks almost like new.

The show features two specs,with all personnel and animalsin the opening number. The par-ade includes eight bulls, withcolorful blankets and showgirlson their heads, in excellentcostumes and head pieces. Thereare also some pony drawn cages,complete with live animals, butthe highlight is the tiger rid-ing an elephant at the end ofthe parade.

The closing spec brings allthe performers back into thetent in colorful garb and flags,while the elephants do a longmount on the track.

Because of a dispute withthe local Musicians Union, whowanted a 21 piece band at $6000for the four shows, the regulartwo man band didn't work. Recor-ded music was used and it cameover well and was all circus.

Only two pitches were madeinside the tent and both werebefore the program started. Onewas for the reserved seats on

the long side, which sell for$1.00 extra, while the other wasfor the side show/zoo.

On the front end are theside show/zoo, with colorfulbanners; a concession tent; themarquee; a moon bounce and apony ride. Also spotted here isthe show's new office semi, nodoubt the largest of its kind onthe road today.

The circus staff includes:

Cliff Vargas - pres./gen. mgr.Wally Naghtin - mgr. on showBill Biggerstaff - front doorDoug Lyon - press representativeBob J. Zanotti - traffic mgr.Wally Ross - animal supt.Sandy Dobritch - ringmaster/ann.

The program features:

Harry Thomas, Jr. - tigersRon & Joy Holiday - gorilla actThe dementis - bicyclesFeller Boys & Dodo - tightwireThe Hansienis - ladder/balanceLos Latinos - flying actWally Naghtin - bears(Continued on Back Page)

Page 4 The Circus Report

Big John's Tent CircusFeb. 10 Santee, Calif.

11 Ramona12 Poway13 Off14 Brawley15 Calexico16 Off

Circo AmericanoFeb 13-Mar 9 San Juan, P.R.

Circus VargasFeb. 12-13 Pensacola, Fla.

lb-19 Birmingham, Ala.

Al G. Clark & Dailey Bros.Feb. 3 Kingsville, Ark.

4 Falfurrias5 Miranda City6 Freer7 Tilton8 Floresville

L. N. Fleckles Circusto Feb. 16 Hartford, Conn.

Happytime CircusFeb. 14-17 Cloverdale, Calif,

Kaye Continental CircusFeb. 5-9 Cleveland, Ohio

14-16 Tucson, Ariz.

Mahari Shrine CircusFeb. 12-16 Miami, Fla.

Polack Bros. CircusFeb. 13-15 Akron, Ohio

Ringling-Barnum - Blue UnitFeb. 12-23 Atlanta, Ga.

Ringling-Barnum - Red UnitFeb. 11-16 Norfolk, Va.

MarriedThe wedding of trapeze

performer Raul Valdez and bal-ancing performer Eva Zvitaoi wasrecently reported by the Assoc-iated Press.

After the double ringceremony in Miami Beach (Fla.)the couple presented a trapezeact for their reception guests.

Auction SaleCole Bros. Circus programsfor years 1935 to 1949

Hobby Bandwagon - Apr. 1947to Oct. 1950 complete.

Each item is to be sold as acomplete unit - no individualcopies sold.

FRANK J. POUSKA5116 East 88th Street

Garfield Heights, OH 44125

Royal Lipizzan Stallion ShowFeb. 11-23 San Juan, P. R.

OTHER ROUTES

Ice CapadesFeb. 11-16 Champaign, 111.

Kramien's Magic CapadesFeb. 11 Sierra Vista, Ariz.

12 Douglas13 Wilcox14 Silver City, N.M.

Nat'l Date FestivalFeb. 14-23 Indio, Calif.

Star Trek ConventionFeb. 14-17 New York, N.Y.

February 10, 1975 P«Q« 5

Evans to Lead Corydon BandFor some 28 years circus enthusiast Ward Stauth has made

sure that a good band was on hand for entertainment at each meet-ing of the Harrison County (Ind.) Soil & Water Conservation Dis-trict. This year he's planned a real feat, one of the best pro-grams ever and the public is invited.

At tomorrow's meeting (Feb. 11), in Corydon, Ind., theband will be lead by Merle Evans, the "Toscanini of the Big Top."Evans, who is famous for his circus music with the RBBB Circus,began his career as a cornet player with the Cotton Blossom Show-boat Band in 1910.

Since his re-tirement in1968, Evanshas been con-ducting band;all over €he

country. One of the things thathas made Evans great is his at-tention to details. He won theConn Music Co. award for excel-lence, the first year it waspresented (1968).

Ward Stauth, who is chair-man of the Conservation Dis-trict, plans to retire thisyear. He has been with the dis-trict for 24 years. Stauth isan officer and active member ofthe comparatively new but fastgrowing Windjammers Unlimited,a group dedicated to preservingreal circus music for all thefuture generations of circusfans.

TEX DREYFUS reports he mayexhibit his model circus in con-junction with Circus Vargas'engagement at Houston, Texas.

BOB MATTHEWS, old-time cir-cus performer, was recently re-leased from a hospital and isnow in a Los Angeles (Cal.) areanursing home.

CHRIS BRICKER has reported-ly taken a leave of absence frorrhis job with RBBB this year.

BEN HAMMER, CFA of South-ern California, recently under-went surgery in a Los Angelesarea hospital.

ENOCH BRADFORD continuesto handle canvas for the DeWayne Bros. Circus.

BOB MacDOUGALL, CFA and CMBhas joined the RBBB Blue Unit'sWardrobe Dept.

WILLIAM KAY has been namedmanager of the Wallenda Circus.He will also continue operationof his own show.

ROBIN and TOM BISHOP havean aerial cradle act ready fortheir upcoming tour with the BigJohn Strong Circus.

Page 6 The Circus Report

YEARSMOPittsfield, Mass.June 10, 1922

RBBB Circus at Pittsfield,Mass. - June 10, 1922.

The circus carried 351 bag-gage horses and 141 ringhorses, plus 28 elephants,16 camels, 2 baby camels,a zebra, 2 mules and some20 ponies.

The tents include! big top,menagerie, two side shows,two concession stands, twobaggage horse tops, diningtent, cookhouse, ring horsetop, dressing tent, candybutchers, wardrobe, band,wild west, props and black-smith shop.

The No. 2 side show was cal-led Curioland and featured:12 attractions, six smallcages, parrots and an aircalliope. The open frontendhad 3 ticket boxes, and oneticket taker.

This circus uses two elec-tric light plants, 2 gaso-line wagons, 7 cages of ani-mals for the big show, smallcart for the seals, 3 cagesof wild animals, a cart, atrick auto, tractor andthree giraffes.

The wagons are all red andwhite, or yellow and white.

\\\

'»<•«<« Ttckrl 9 hilr Tlfk'l V* Bed 1

' ,n f D w-V < . '.•.:->• -5-- ' Fnmfc.

The sleepers are painted red, while thestock cars and flat cars are yellow andgreen.

The Circus Report- February 10, 1975 Page 7

OXFLCTTS, T7CT1DEHFI. O AINTV^S, XI

The ciroH lot, aa hare diaananj. ia called a atraifhtaway, or a "Yankee Robinaoa" layo«t. Sinaaant lirmaaiii a piece of pommd awaawm at latat nighliiiai acrea it u not an everyday fcircua. The main eatrance gate ia placed in tile middle of the left-hand abort aide •( theonly the audway, aide ahow, menagerie, and main tent, but there ia much more. The moat i_^are in the back yard. They are the main dreaainc tent, the "hone topa," the "~>*'t'"—r. aad the pufutiaurm

The sleepers are painted red, while thestock cars and flat cars are yellow andgreen.

The matinee show started at 2i30p.m. with a good crowd and therewere a few showers in the after-noon. The night show got started

at 8 p.m. and also had a goodcrowd.

The cookhouse and horse tentswere down by 6 p.m.

The Circus Report

Ho I low ay Prodictitispreieits

Bm JOHN STRONG & SON•»•* .̂ -~*. ~-* "̂».

LUCKY LARABEE, who was theringmaster with Clyde Bros. Cir-cus for 7 years, is shown hereas he turns those duties over toHOWARD SUESZ who will be thefuture ring master on his show.Larabee is going to freelanceand has already signed severalbig dates.

DONALD YOUNG, who worked asadvance clown for John Strong'sCircus will tour with the Mid-American Circus this season.

TEXAS TOMMY and his train-ed dogs are currently winteringat Bob Gibb's place in Texas.

THE FLYING BRAYTONS are afeature of the Atayde Circus inMexico City. They'll be thereabout 10 weeks.

ALBERT LUCAS, juggler, iscurrently touring with a unitof the Ice Capades show.

ROGANA, sword balance, wasthe only circus act shown on arecent TV Special called "A Sa-lute to Ed Sullivan."

JINDYtheCHIM!U*i

ACROBATS

JUGGLERS*OLD^ME SUE SHOW]

UNDER THEBIO TOP

May 15Santa Ana, Calif.

February 10. 1975 Page 9

JERRY BOOKER and his train-ed Hyena "Hapiso". The animal isa full grown African spotted hy-ena, which is just one of themany and unique features of J-.P. Booker's "Early American Cir-cus."

Dates are available for the 75season. Contact: Jerry Booker,1645 Rucker Ave., Gilroy, Calif.95020.

LettersYour little paper certain-

ly brings results. We were ableto purchase a rolling globewithin a few days after our adappeared in Circus Report.

Dave Twomey

Don't let my subscriptionexpire. Here's my renewal checkfor 1975.

Ella Logan

BIG JOHN STRONGannounces

The opening of his booking andshow office, in charge of RobinBishop.

The office, at 1533 West llthSt., (No. 15), Upland, Calif,is open from 9 to 12 each weekday. The phone number ist (714)985-4645.

75 PLANSAccording to a recently pub-

lished report the George MatthewCircus will tour in 1975 as perusual. However, showman Sid Kel-Iner reportedly said the tourthis year may be somewhat short-than last years.

Kellner called the 1974 sea-son "spotty" and said that whilethe circus had enjoyed some gooddates there were also severalbig losses.

The report stated that Kell-ner has denied his circus wouldstay in the barn, or that it isto be reduced in size. The cir-cus, he said, would tour thesame size as last year, and withits usual strong program.

SEND YOUR NEWS ...Send your news items about

the shows that play your area sowe can all keep up on what'sdoing and where they are.

Page 10 The Circus Report

New Riding Act Tours With C-JA new Zoppe riding act will make its debut on the Carden

& Johnson Circus this spring. The act is also scheduled to appearat rodeos and special events later in the year.

The new riding act will feature 20 year old James Zoppe,a seventh generation bareback rider of the celebrated circus fam-ily. His aunt, Yolanda Zoppe, will also be in the act. She willbe clowning and keep the horses at their brisk pace.

The Zoppes have been prac- Iticing the act at quarters inSeagoville, Texas. They will beusing three horses in the act. (

Another Zoppe riding act,headed by Joe, was with the Cir-cus Atayde in Mexico City overthe holidays. They are current-ly on tour with the HubertCastle Circus.

CFA

Members of the CFA's FredBuchanan Top (South Dakota) re-cently elected new officers forthe coming year.

Jack Snavely, advertisingdirector for the Sioux FallsArgus-Leader, was named StateChairman, at the meeting heldin the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mar-vin Gabel.

Paul Hoy, of Sioux Falls,is director of District 5, whichincludes North and South Dakotaand Nebraska.

TODAY Is CIRCUS DAY IN. ?A Weekly Advanced Itinerary of all Circus Routes

STOP WONDERING WHERE THEY ARE - KNOW WHERE THEY ARE TODAY

Sent via First Class at 35c per copy, just $11.20 for theSeason of 32 weeks.

SAMPLE COPIES SENT ON REQUEST

CHARLIE CAMPBELL1296 Oaklawn Ave., N.E. Atlanta, Georgia - 30319

Telephone (404) 237-8840

February 10, 1975 Page 11

FREEDOM TRAIN (Continued)

birth to the bicentennial trainwon Rowland support from PepsiCoInc., General Motors, PrudentialInsurance and Kraft Foods. Theirdonations have made it possibleto get the train ready and pro-vide advance personnel.

It will cost more than $1000per mile to move the train andthis money is expected to comefrom admission tickets ($1.50for adults and $1.00 for kids)and souvenirs.

The train will visit 76 ci-ties in the 48 states over aperiod of 21 months. After tour-ing the Atlantic coast statesthe train will move into NewEngland, then heads west acrossthe northern half of the nation.It will move south along the Pa-cific coast, before heading eastthrough the southern states,with the tour ending at Miami(Fla) on Dec. 23, 1976.

Included in the documentsand exhibits on the train willbe i

Benjamin Franklin's draft ofthe Articles of Confederation,Revolutionary War rifles, GeorgeWashington's copy of the Consti-tution, the first Bible printedin America, Gold miner's tools,Ty Cobb's, Lou Gehrig's and JoeDiMaggio's baseball bats.

Also included will be Frank-lin D. Roosevelt's Pearl Harborspeech to Congress, President

Officers NamedThe results of the recent

election of officers for thecoming year, by members of theJoseph Andrew Rowe CFA Tent (inthe Los Angeles area) were re-leased this week to CircusReport.

Serving the organizationfor 1975 will bei —

Al Webb - presidentJim Depiro - vice presidentGlenn Harrison - treasurerGene Moreland - publicity

Show/ StoryThe Dallas (Texas) Morning

News, of Jan. 26, 1975, carrieda full page feature about theHubert Castle Circus and its ac-tivities.

Pictures with the storyincluded Hubert Castle, JoannePinson, Red Hartman and JimmyPlunkett. Incidentally, Jimmy isworking up a wire routine underthe direction of Mr. Castle.

AVAILABLEFacilities for boarding hoofstock of all kinds.

CHARLIE ALLEN, P. 0. Box 91Pixley, Cal.' - 93256

Phonei (209) 757-3501

John Kennedy's Inaugural addressplus Martin Luther King's Bible,some moon rocks, a moon flag andtapes of the first moon landing.

Feb. 10, 1975 Page 12

CIRCUS VARGAS (Continued)

Semon•s chimpsSenor Antonio - one finger stand

balance/single trapezeDante - one finger stand/balan.Original Shappis - comedy actVashek Duo - wire walk/motorcyclrJan Bickmore - single trapezeWally Ross - elephants/horsesMarcos Barrigan and John Peers

- circus clowns

NEWS NOTES ....

The Circus of Wonders Show hasbeen pulling good business at itsengagements in Southern California

ADVANCE MAN (Continued)Esterson says he didn't

know the first thing about acircus when he accepted the job,but he's learned a lot since. Ican even tell the difference be-tween good and bad hay, he adds.

The job keeps Esterson onthe road almost all year long.It's up- to him to see that thecircus, its people and animals,movfe tin and out of town smoothlyHe 'also Wai to make sure there'senough food on hand for the ani-mals and anything else that isrequired.

The animals never stopeating, he said, so I buy eggsby the gross, carrots by the tonand bread and hay by the truckload.

(This jifefn/h£s been condensedand re-written from an articlesent in by Eric Wilson).