Volume III, Issue #56 IVnvffmhpr "*fl 1008.

COURTSHIP OF A CLOWNBy BiCC'BaCCantine

The true romance of a kid who wanted to be aclown & actually became one, a transcontinentallove story of sawdust, spangles, elephants &midgets. (Holiday, July, 1950. From the 111. StateUniv. Circus Archives.)Among the assorted devils that little boys are stuffedwith is one in charge of a dept. called, "Running AwayWith the Circus." If you can believe all you hear, everysmall boy in America has one. With most boys it is apassing thing, like whooping cough or mumps, but somegrow up still possessed by this wonderful imp.I was one of the some, & a bit luckier than most. For,four springs back, I had the chance to become a clownwith the world's biggest circus, Ringling Bros. &Barnum & Bailey-none of that clown-for-a-day hokumeither, a real working clown with a weekly paycheck &3 meals a day. I took if. I had been trailing the Circus thesummer before, gathering material for a series ofdrawings on the American circus clown, & one of themtold me that the only way I could learn all about clownswas to up & be one. I thought about it all winter, & whenthe characters in my dreams started appearing with rednoses that lighted up, I wrote Pat Valdo, personneldirector of the show, to see how about it. I didn't get ananswer, so when the Circus came to Madison SquareGarden I hustled over to see if all was lost. I found Valdo& feeling like a blushing schoolgirl, told him I wanted tobe a clown. He listened incredulously, said, "Well,well," and that's about all.Valdo spent the next month avoiding me. Finally, on thelast day of the NY run, he let me pin him down. I was in,& had been all the time. He had just wanted to be sure Ireally wanted to join out. It was all most casual after that.I asked what I should do next & Valdo said, "Nothing.Just get on the train tomorrow night."

My first appearance as a clown was opening night inBoston, the next stand-very casual also. The youngerclowns took me in tow, found me a spot to dress in, sentout for a bottle of wine to launch me, evolved a make-upfor me.

(Continued on Page 5)

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**THE RETURN OF THE JUNGLEPRINCESS By MIKE CECERE**

The rumor had been circulating for years, along withsightings nationwide.People would call from far flung outposts like Nitro,West Virginia; Las Vegas, Nevada; Walla Walla,Washington and even the UFO center of the U.S., GulfBreeze, Florida.All had the same tale, "We saw her!" "Her" meaningTammy Wallenda Anderson, better known as "JunglePrincess" Tammy.Tammy is the beautiful, favorite daughter of living circuslegend, Jenny Wallenda & an heir to the Wallenda Circuslegacy, spanning back many generations.It would take too long to detail what all her brothers,sisters, cousins, in-laws and out-laws do. Let's just saythey are All Circus, All the Time, as well as being a finebunch of folks.Tammy has always had a love affair with wild animalsand spent many happy hours as a child observing thegreat trainers at work in dozens of circuses.Her role models, early on, were the great women trainers,such as Ada Smieja, Eloise Berchtold and LillianaKristenson. She took a little style from each to form herown methods & got her big break to take over the cat actwhich her cousins, the Jordans, had adopted.She found her place in life & had a meteoric rise thru theranks of the cat acts. Combining outstandingshowmanship & a natural ability with the great cats itseemed the sky was the limit. Offers poured in forcommercials, film work & foreign travel in Japan &Europe.But fate stepped in, in the form of a non-animal relatedaccident with equipment. A long recovery followed &she returned to the circus as partner to her longtimepersonal friend, Ken "Turtle" Benson, well knownelephant man & showman. Together they put on the"Wild Wild West" whip & rope western act, which wasthe sensation everywhere they went.Once back in action, she returned to building a wildanimal act. Now, backed by a major foreign circusproducer, she is set to return to full-time cat training.Already there is talk of her appearing in some majorcircus productions, as well as a possible guest shot on thepopular, Warner Bros. TV show, "Buffy, the VampireSlayer!" Well, wherever she goes, luck be a lady, hername "Jungle Princess Tammy!"*********************************************

3

BEATTY CIRCUS WORKERS DIDN'TMISS THEIR THANKSGIVING DINNER

(From the Valentine Archives, No year stated)Naples, Florida: For all of the people who slaved over ahot oven or range at home on Thanksgiving Day: Bethankful you didn't have Kathy Rex's job.While many were cooking dinner for family, she wasalso cooking turkey dinner with all the fixings for whatmight be called her family-about 90 circus workers withbig appetites. Yet with most of this huge chore ahead ofher Thursday morning, the 22-year-old said she hadsomething to be thankful for. "I'm just happy we'reclosing. It's been a long season."So even with the giant-sized turkey dinner which willtake about 12 hours to prepare, Kathy said she could seethe end of working over a hot stove in sight. Besidesfixing the numerous turkey rolls, purchased earlier thisweek by her mother, Delores, she had her hands full justpreparing the turkey dressing.The dressing for the circus troops was made with 6 dozeneggs, 5 loaves of bread, 10 pounds of onions, 2 bottles ofseasoning, 30 pounds of corn meal mix & 4 stalks ofcelery, she said. Then there's the fruit salad, made with 5pounds of apples, 3, 3-gallon cans of fruit cocktail, 5 bigbunches of bananas & 2 large packages of coconut mix.There will be 22 cans of cranberry sauce, mountains ofmashed potatoes & stacks of pumpkin pie to round out atraditional Thanksgiving Day dinner for the workers.The workers too have something to be thankful for. Oneof them poked his head in the cook wagon in the morningto ask if there would be Thanksgiving dinner. "Oh, no,we're having leftover liver!", Kathy said. She explainedthat most of the workers, herself included, don't likeliver, although she has to cook it from time to time. Well,at least there wasn't liver on this Thursday!*********************************************

Richard King reports he attended the premier of thefilm "The Worlds Greatest Showman" at the Al RinglingTheatre. The film was a joint effort of the Circus WorldMuseum, Wise. Public TV & the Wise. SesquicentennialCommission. The film deals mostly with the Mabies,Coup, Costello, Barnum & the Ringlings. Most of it wasshot around Baraboo & most of us had parts. It will beshown on WPT in December & will be made available topublic TV stations. In Wise, it will be 77 minutes longbut will be cut to 57 min. for national release. It can beordered in the 77 min. version from CWM for $19. Bythe way, it's good!

***********REUNIONS 1998***********OLD TIME CIRCUS REUNION AND

CHRISTMAS PARTYTHURSDAY, DECEMBER 10THBARTOK - HOXIE - ALLAN HILL SHOWFRIDAY, DECEMBER 11THRINGLING CIRCUSMONDAY, DECEMBER 14THTOM PACKS - HAMID MORTON -ORIN DAVENPORT - POLACK BROS. -EVENTS INTERNATIONAL - CLYDE BROS.(HOWARD SUIZE) - BILL & DICK GARDENCIRCUSTHURSDAY, DECEMBER 17THCLYDE BEATTY - MILLS BROS. - DAILY BROS -FLOYD KING BROS. - SELLS & GRAY -CRISTIANI BROS. - HAGAN & WALLACE -VON BROS. - SPARTEN - CIRCUS KIRK -CIRCUS GENOA - ADAM & SELLS - COLE BROS.ENTER AT 6:00 PM. SIT DOWN DINNER AT 7:00PRICE $15. PER PERSON.MUST HAVE RESERVATION & MONEY IN BYLATEST DEC. 1ST.PRESENT CAN NOT COST MORE THEN $1.00Please contact Jenny Wallenda at:2708 DeSoto Road, Sarasota, FL 34234*********************************************

HARTFORD CIRCUS FIRE INFO WANTEDI am writing a non-fiction book about the HartfordCircus Fire. Any and all information would beappreciated. Please write to: Stewart O'Nan,35 Old Avon Village #1944, Avon, CT 06001.For those on-line write: pizzis@aol.com****************************************

CIRCUS HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1999CONVENTION TO BE IN LOS ANGELES

Well, Bloomington, IL lost out this next year toL.A., but perhaps we can host it in 2000!! The datesare May 19-22. The circus will be Feld's newtenter. This is the first Ringling related travelingtent circus in the US in 43 years. Mark yourcalendars!!****************************************

It has been reported that CFA member Barry"Bonzo" DeChant will clown with the KellyMiller Circus for the 1999 season.

*ONLY IN AMERICA by Mike Cecere*For those of you who pay close attention to politics inthis great country of ours, you just had to love theElections on Nov. 3rd.The most outstanding candidate was the Independentcandidate for Governor of Minnesota. His name is JesseVentura, known to millions of his fans as Jesse "TheBody" Ventura. He made his main fame in the world ofPro Wrestling both a a flamboyant wrestler & as acommentator where he fine-tuned his winning speakingstyle. And before all that, he served his country valiantlyin Vietnam with the Naval Special Forces. He shares thisdistinction with a well-known member of the circus biz,Mr. Ken "Turtle" Benson!Not only did Ken also serve in Vietnam with the NavalSpecial Forces, he is also a Minnesotian, as is Gov.Ventura. It's amazing what these fellows have incommon.But I'd say what they have in common is They Tell ItLike It Is! Ventura, made articulate from his many yearsas a TV commentator, knew how to speak directly intothe camera in the "sound byte" style you need to get yourmessage across on the 6 o'clock TV news.And it worked! He came, he conquered & now he getshis chance to bring common sense to the governing of hisbeloved Minnesota.By the same token, Ken "Turtle" Benson has been doingthis same direct-to-the-public appeal to counteract themessages of the pro-vegan hate groups that plague thetours of his show, among others.And he's doing a much better job than any other circusoperation, including one that has a whole office staff,supposedly dedicated to such issues.Hey folks, it's nice to have an office, but you need to getthe message out! Maybe what's needed is more combathardened American Patriots like Jesse Ventura & Ken"Turtle" Benson speaking their minds. After all, that'swhat they fought for so all of us can give our opinion.You can't do that over in Red China or down in Cuba orout in California or any of the few Marxist states left inthe world. It's only in America!*********************************************

Rich King reports he received one of Jim Russells newBell wagon kits. Excellent detail, but not for theinexperienced modeler as the only parts in the kit arecastings for the carvings & the frame seats undergearmust all be scratch-built. Haul this out when someonesays HO is all "shake the box!"

COURTSHIP OF A CLOWNAll I did that night was walk a borrowed snake gag oncearound the track. A couple of stands later I was put intoone of the big clown productions as a comedy cop. Myjob was to wrestle a handful of balloons from a midget,and, in returning them to the rightful owner, be trippedso as to fall on & explode them. Big laugh. I cracked arib in this one before I learned to fall properly.But by season's end I had sawdust in my shoes & comespring, I went out again. This time I was no longer aFirst-of-May. I had props of my own, which I'd builtduring the winter. One was a pink plush elephant whichI carried with 1 real arm & one false, using the other armto animate its sleevelike trunk. The other prop was aslightly schizophrenic gag which, when strapped to mymiddle, made me look like a mermaid being carried by asailor. My torso, with a pair of pearl-studded falsiesadded, became the mermaid's torso & my legs thesailor's. The mermaid's tail & the sailor's torso weredummies. It was this fool mermaid that did me in. It wasshe who changed my life. If it hadn't been for her-well, Ikept a journal that second year & maybe you'd like toread about it in thereMar. 30, NY City—Now it's really spring! The Circusleft winter quarters in Sarasota yesterday, says a squib inthe Herald-Trib this a.m. Time to turn me into a clownagain. Will take them 4 days or so to get up here,allowing for waits on sidings & a couple of feed & waterstops for the animals. Better get at my trunk.Mar. 31, NYC—To O'Ma Shiltong's today to see howshe's getting on with my props. Didn't start them any toosoon. I'm lucky to find such a good seamstress asMadame Shiltong. I never could have managed all thatsewing & fitting myself. Had trouble enough with wiretwisting, soldering & papier-mache. The elephant is allcovered with pink plush & Mme. has to do only a littlestitching on his trunk. The mermaid's tail is partlycovered & looks weird dangling from the ceiling amongthe fancy dresses for East Side ladies. The mermaid'scustom-built pearl-studded brassiere came in theafternoon mail from Pittsburgh. It's the only thing for thenew gags I didn't try to make myself.Apr. 2, NYC—Spent the morning at Tony Parker'sstorage house on the West Side, hinging & hasping mynew prop box. The old clowns will probably hop me forbringing out such a big box. I'm just a Johnny-come-lately & according to Circus tradition, too green yet tohave props of my own. Finished packing my trunk &

brought the pink elephant home to the apartment,carrying it boldly up First Avenue.Apr. 3, NYC—Rainy Sat. morning. Circus train came inwith the drizzle sometime during the night. Alwaysseems to rain for the Circus in NY. Found BobbyKellogg, one of the younger clowns, having breakfast inDay's, a small bar near the Garden which many of theCircus people regard as their NY club. Over coffee hetold me that Big Ruth, leader of the elephant herds, wasnot enthusiastic about going on tour & held up traindeparture by running back to her comfy stall in the barn.For a while we watched the wagons, all bright withRingling red & silver, being trucked into the Garden.Then I chalked out my trunk space on the cement floor ofwhat will be the clown's dressing room in the basement.Setting up has to wait for a hockey playoff tomorrownight, but the riggers were up in the catwalks allafternoon hanging the aerial rigging.Apr. 4, NYC—We can't get in upstairs until the hockeygame is over tonight. Workmen will be up all nightspreading the dirt & changing the Garden floor from afrozen lake into a circus lot. It's to be a mixed aerialdisplay this year & there is a real clutter of webs, trapeze,& swinging ladders hanging from the Garden's ceilinggirders. Band pomped about in the balcony all afternoon,learning their couple hundred new music cues.Chesty the Belgian, my favorite clown, told me I'm onwardrobe list & I better be at Brooks (the costume one)tomorrow by 11 for fittings. Still no rehearsal. And only3 days to opening. Doesn't seem to be like much time. AtDay's tonight I had a beer with Felix Adler, who startedclowning the year I was born, & he floored me byflashing a letter I'd written him when I was 12, asking ifI couldn't please come & be a clown. I'd forgotten allabout it. He found it while cleaning out his trunk. It isdated 1922.Apr. 5, NYC—Wardrobe call at Brooks & good to seeeverybody again. There's a new clown over from theCole show, young guy name of Ernie Burch. TheAlzanas are back, cocky as ever, after their fall in Miamiend of season. Hilda still in a brace & won't make theopening, but promises to join the act under canvas. I'm tobe a toy soldier in Spec & a dowager duchess in Finale.As I was being fitted into a bosomy green drag for theduchess, Mary, one of Brooks' fitters, scuttered by witha bloody nose. A new showgirl had clumsily bumped herwith an elbow. No wonder John Murray Anderson, ourproducer, calls showgirls elephants. (See Page 9)

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128TH EDITION RINGLING BLUE UNIT:Huntsville, AL-Van Braun Civic Arena-Dec. 3-6Miami, FL-Miami Arena-12/26-1/3Sunrise, FL-Nat'l Car Rental Center-1/7-1/10Jacksonville, FL-CoIiseum-1/14-1/18N. Charleston, SC-Coiiseum-1/21-1/24Macon, GA-Centreplex-1/28-1/31Augusta, GA-Civic Center-2/2-2/3Columbia, SC-Carolina Coliseum-2/5-2/7Raleigh, NC-Dorton Arena-2/10-2/14Charlotte, NC-Coliseum-2/17-2/21Fayetteville, NC-Crown Coliseum-2/25-2/28****************************************

ALL NEW 129th EDITION RED UNIT !!!!Tampa, FL-Expo Hall-12/25-12/28Lakeland, FL-Lakeland Arena-1/1-1/3St. Petersburg, FL-Bayfront Arena-1/6-1/10Orlando, FL-Arena-1/15-1/17Birmingham, AL-Birm.-Jefferson CC-1/20-1/24Greenville, SC-Bi-Lo Center-1/27-1/31Knoxville, TN-Civic Coliseum-2/3-2/7Greensboro, NC-Coliseum-2/10-2/14Richmond, VA-Coliseum-2/17-2/21Norfolk, VA-Norfolk Scope-2/24-2/28Hampton, VA-Hampton Coliseum-3/2-3/7(All information is subject to change)

BIG APPLE CIRCUS: Damrosch Park, LincolnCenter thru January 10

BACK YARDis published twice monthly-(I5th & 30th) by CherieValentine, 1522 Clinton Blvd., Bloomington, IL 61701. Ph.309-828-0737 (no collect calls, please) E-mail:cdvalen@ilstu.edu Subscription rates are S25.00 peryear, for 24 issues, within the USA. Advertising rates,payable in advance, with your copy, are: Full page S30; Halfpage SIS; Quarter Page $10; 1/8 page $5. **The column,"The Fox," is written by Jenny Wallenda. Other material iswritten by Cherie Valentine, unless otherwise identified asto author. Reprints from other published material areidentified as to source. Comments by writers are their ownand do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher.Back Yard is a pro-circus, pro-animal publication, whichsupports the use of animals which are legally held andproperly cared for, in the American circus.

1998 GREAT YOUTH CIRCUS WOW.!!!Maun' Mead reports that was one of the audiencereactions after seeing the Appleton, Wise. Wilson MiddleSchool Great Youth Circus in October. Others wonderedhow 6th, 7lh & 8th grade kids could be taught circus arts& put on a very professional performance in just 3weeks. But they did it—It took just 3 weeks of intensivetraining for circus director Tim Tegge along withinstructors GiGi Tegge, Bob Good, Oleg Gapon &Gulnara Salakhova to teach the students all this:Juggling, rola bola, diabolo, trapeze, Spanish web, lyre,rag doll, living statues, swinging & balancing ladder,trampoline, rope spinning, rope jumping, illusions(including Houdini's Metamorphosis), hula hoops &clown makeup. An unusual aspect in the school gym wasopening the performance with a horse & rider bearing theU.S. flag during the national anthem. Following theanthem, a rag doll routine introduced the entire castcoming out of a chest at the back door. Innovationsincluded the use of black light & fog in the living statues& Spanish web displays. Unsung heros behind each &ever}' performance were parents doing roustabout &concessions work & students handling lights & sound.Tim Tegge was ringmaster for all performances, adding aprofessional touch. The effort was praised by schoolprincipal Wm. Harbron who said the circus raises theentire school's pride as well as increasing the individualperformers sense of fulfillment & self-esteem. "It's likefielding a championship sports team—only this teamaccepts members with widely varying degrees of ability& physical characteristics. The entire school winsbecause the pride rubs off on everyone."CFA members from around the state attended the Sat.,Oct. 24 afternoon performance after a brunch with thecircus staff & Principal Harbron. The CFAerscommented quite favorably on how professionally thedisplays were presented. Enthusiastic audience reaction& comments indicated that this year's Wilson MiddleSchool Great Youth Circus was a successful effort.*********************************************Dale Riker reports that the Sarasota paper (11/11) saidWinona Lowe is making a planned gift of more than amillion dollars to the endowment of the Museum of theCircus of the Ringling Museum. The gift is being madein the name of her sister & brother-in-law, Helen & EdArmstrong; Ed was a lifelong member of CFA. Themuseum is focusing more on the circus now.

COURTSHIP OF A CLOWNThis new one was the tallest girl I've ever seen, all zippedup in silver spangled tights from ankle to chin & wearingbesides a feathered headdress that made her look at least9 feet tall, though I'm sure she's only 7 or 8. First Gardenrehearsals this afternoon. Everyone anxious to see whatJohnny North dragged back from Europe. There was anew Italian midget underfoot. Supposed to be a trickrider, but he must be much too small for that. We're allwaiting for the highly touted Unus to stand on one finger.New sideshow giant (8'8") from Iceland looks like hewishes he svas back there. New pair of clowns fromEngland-Albertino & Lulu, his wife. Now we'll have 2lady clowns, for Rose Hanlon is back too. Usual First-of-May ballet broads, one pretty lush one called DreamyEyes & one who was brought roaring down 49th St. tothe stagedoor astraddle a motorcycle. Saw that longshowgirl again, too.She doesn't seem to do anything but walk behind BigRuth in Spec. Jerry Bangs wants me to work in a number.Lou Jacobs has a spot for me in one of his gags. Jerry hasbeen very helpful to me in my new job as clown. He's anidea man, doesn't clown himself but produces thosespecial numbers that fill the big top with clowns. Hisproduction this year is called Westward Whoa, withclowns as cowboys & Indians. With my own 2walkarounds, Spec & Finale, I'll be doing 6 numbers, oneless than last season.Apr. 6, NYC—The Circus was being put through itspaces all day at the Garden. John Murray Anderson at hisbooming best, expecting elephants to have the samementality as ballet broads. Honestly don't see how it canopen tomorrow night. Everything seems so ragged. ButJerry Bangs, who has been around the Circus 17 years,says it has always been this way & tomorrow night, sureenough, somehow all will be finished & smooth running.The complete run-through (including acts) dragged oninto the night. That tall spangled girl rides on the payofffloat, the last & most elaborate one, in Spec. She'ssupposed to be the Snow Queen. Spec is all aboutChristmas & features a singling letter to Santa.Apr. 7, NYC—Opening night. Everyone saddened by thesudden death of the new clown, Albertino. Dropped overright at the mike doing a broadcast yesterday afternoon.Lulu, his wife, went on tonight just the same. Nearlyeverything went well, though my strip pants didn't comedown in the Indian number & I almost didn't get mymermaid in. My performance as a waltz queen in Finale

was several cuts below Merry Widow standard. Had beenthrough the routine only once with Chesty & he's soallergic to rhythm. Jerry's clown number laid an egg. Noone was surprised or dismayed. One rehearsal is just notenough for a gag using 29 clowns, 2 ponies & a dozenmechanical props. Should be running good in a few days,when everybody gets the feel of it. It was all over bymidnight & I thought our hardboiled opening-nightaudience liked up pretty well.Apr. 8, NYC—Morning papers are raving. My legs arestiff & will be for a couple of weeks until I get used torunning, rollovers & wearing big clown shoes. Themidgets' annual complaint about the stair-climbing in theGarden has started already. Can't say that 1 blame them.6 or 7 trips per show is murder on their short legs. All themidgets except Starke are back. He's at sea with theMerchant Marines. The old clowns tonight talked of howmuch better elephant leaps were in the old days & what amarvelous hand-balancer is Unus. Nobody seems toknow that tall showgirl's name.Apr. 9, NYC—Prince Paul, the midget, flew by me inFinale hanging to the tail of Modoc the elephant &shouted that the tall showgirl's name is "Whiskers." Thatcan't be. Must have heard him wrong. How would beknow anyhow? Must be hard for midgets to communicatewith showgirls. I'll ask John Murray Anderson. Propboss says must have my prop box painted. Visited themenagerie between shows. Cages are stunning, alldifferent colors topped off with old-fashioned rococo.Everyone knows that motorcycle girl's name. It's Suzy.Apr. 10, NYC—Wenzel, the clown, has started some sortof .wire construction up on top of the dressing cubicles inthe backstage corridor. Hear it's to be a snowman forSpec. This is apt to go on for months. Once he started asnail in the Garden which didn't get into the show until 7months later in Richmond, VA.Apr. 12, NYC—Lots of news over Sunday. Suzy, themad one, was rolled for $80 by 2 sailors in a Hell'sKitchen bar Sat. night. And someone broke into JerryBarig's prop box & stole all the guns he uses in thenumber. Had to do the matinee with only one, borrowedfrom another clown. Gag fell pretty flat without theshooting. Jerry found some guns down in the Village atpremium prices. Suzy appeared in her third new blouse-by my count-cerise with yellow pin stripe. JohnAnderson says the tall showgirl's name is Whiskers.Apr. 13, NYC-—Our dressing room is beginning to smella bit despite the new air purifiers. Another 2 weeks it willbe like a tannery! (To Be Continued)

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International Circus Festival-NetherlandsThis 3rd Circus Festival will be held from Dec. 18-29 inEnschede. There will be 14 performances, between 2 1/2& 3 hours each. The prize of a Circus Artist in gold,silver or bronze will be given. 25,000 visitors areexpected. A video is available from last yearsperformance. For more information contact:Circusfestival Enschede Holland, Europa-ring 24, 7641DA Wierden Holland. Fax: ++31546574439, or e-mail:office@circusfestival.comTheir home page is www.circusfestival.com Lots ofphotos of the performers on their pages.*********************************************

**VaIentine Family Tent Christmas Party**Charlie Simpson reports the Party will be on Dec. 4 atthe Swiss Inn in Houston, TX. Guest speaker will beRoger Smith, who recently moved to Houston. Youreditor worked with Roger on the Beatty show from'80-'81 when he assisted Dave Hoover. Hopefully,Roger will be writing some articles for us about hisexperiences, especially with Mabel Stark & Mr. Beatty.As Jenny Wallenda knows, it is nice to find old friendsagain! Charlie also reports that next year the HoustonShrine Circus will be in Pasadena at the Stock/RodeoArena & will be a Hamid date.*********************************************Raul Gomez reports that Circus Flora will be inScottsdale, AZ from Nov. 26-Dec. 3. Next year they willbe returning to Houston at Herman Park. They havemany new dates booked for next year.*********************************************

Gary Thomson, Ontario, Canada reports the MartinDowns Ring & Fred Logan Tent had their Fall meetingNov. 22. It started at 10 am & finished at 7 pm, with 2meals! (Now that IS a meeting!) They have shows linedup for Nov. 28th weekend, Feb., May, July, Aug. & Oct.They will also have a hospitality day Aug. 25 for Kelly-Miller when they arrive in Strathroy, Ontario. Keep usinformed Gary and thanks!*********************************************

Denny Childers reports that Emmett Kelly, Jr. Dayswere held in Tombstone, AZ Nov. 13-14. This was the8th annual celebration & Emmett turned 74 years youngon the 13th. Pat Kelly also attended & both were dressedas Weary Willie. Money earned goes to Tombstone H.S.Scholarships. In 1964, Emmett, Jr. began goodwilltouring for Kodak; in 1972 he formed his own circus.They were the only circus to perform at the White House.

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DECEMBER 13,1998

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CONTACT:Jerry Lee Klinefelter2700 University Pky.Sarasota, FL 34243

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JANUARY AT THE SHOWFOLKS CLUBAlva Johnson wants you to know that there will bespecial events happening in Sarasota, even thoughthere will not be a Festival this year.The Showfolks Club will stay open extra hoursduring January for the people visiting Sarasota.There will also be visits to some Winter Quarters.The circus school that Dolly Jacobs has opened willhave classes starting Jan. 2nd. There will beperformances on weekends until January. The newtent is now up on Fruitville Road, near theInterstate.There will also be trips to Gibsonton. TheWindjammers Convention will be at the end ofJanuary. Also in January, there will be the SarasotaCircus Celebrity festivities, with this year'scelebrity, Dolly Jacobs. You won't want to miss theRing of Fame Ceremonies too. You can contactAlva through the Showfolks of Sarasota Club.****************************************

Dave Knoderer, of Letterfly Art Studios, 11/18-Tampa, reports "As part of the continuing commitmentto motorhoming excellence, industry leader, LazydaysRV Supercenter, is proud to host Letterfly, America'sforemost mural artist. In an unannounced ceremony onthe beautiful 100 acre dealership, ground was broken forthe next, in the ever increasing list, value added serviceavailable at the dealership. Officiating was salesconsultant, Lee Perrella & George Rattee, supv. incharge of the construction project. The first shovel full ofdirt was removed by Dave Knoderer, the artist himself.The site will be the exclusive domain of the guests ofLazydays who have arranged to have a Letterfly muralcreated on their RV. Part of the ongoing expansionprogram, the cement slab will have a carport type shelterfor the comfort of the artist. The setting amongst the treeswith numerous park benches will also be the site of thetalks given by the artist as crowds gather to see a work inprogress, also adding to the amenities offered."*********************************************

Ken Holehouse, of Fond du Lac, WI reports theIllinois fans gathered at the Pine Grove in Rosemont, IL,enjoyed lunch & fellowship & then went to the RinglingBlue's performance at the Horizon on Nov. 14th.Honored guests at the luncheon, which was hosted by ILState Chair Sheelagh Jones, were former CFA Prexy

CFA Prexy Rich Deptula & Fr. Jerry Hogan. Prayerswere offered for Joy Holiday who, it was announced, hadbeen attacked & killed by Jupiter, one of the tigers theHolidays had raised from birth. Fr. Jerry gave a brief talkon his work as circus chaplain. A priest of the diocese ofBoston, Fr. Jerry said his inspiration to go into circusministry was Fr. Sullivan, also a Boston priest & the firstcircus chaplain. Fr. Jerry spends 70 % of his time on theRingling shows, where he acts as a sounding board formanagement & the people on the shows. He estimatesthat 80 % of his time is involved in counseling. Hemaintains strict confidentiality regarding all he hears.When he first arrives on a show, he makes sure everyoneknows he's there by 'hanging around'. Appointments aremade for counsel, baptisms, marriages, etc. Fr. Jerry saidhe deals with all faiths & faith traditions & must be asaware of the Muslim calendar, for example, as he is ofthe Christian calendar.Ken reports that Ernie Miller just returned from Hugo,OK & DR is doing well & getting around with a walker.BUT Geary Byrd fell off a truck & broke his elbow. Thishas been quite a year for the Carson & Barnes family.*********************************************

Jackie LeClaire reports the annual Showfolks CFABanquet at the Sahib Shrine Temple was excellent.Harold Barnes was the guest speaker. He really broughtback memories of the "good 'ole days" talking about the2 buckets of water in the dressing tent & the regulation26" high trunks so they could be stacked in the wagonwhen loaded. He spoke of the gaspipe racks with theboard on top that screwed onto the top with the hooks forholding your mirror & wardrobe.Harold reminded us all of the folding chairs & theimportance of tipping the working men for all services ifwe did not want our trunks to be "accidentally" droppedoff the train during a run. I believe we used to call this"red lighting." He spoke of the preciousness of waterbeing almost like gold. He talked of bathing, shaving,doing laundry, washing your makeup off & brushingyour teeth, all with the same bucket of water, but as hesaid, "not necessarily in that order!" Jackie said afterHarold's talk, "There isn't anything God loves more thanthe truth, and he really said it." Over 50 attended & JimRidenour, President, did a fine job of presiding over it.(Thanks Jackie. Hope to hear more from you.)*********************************************Wild West Circus, Mesquite, NV, Nov. 27-Dec.20.More in next issue of Back Yard.

***RUBY STILL DRAWS CROWDS***Record 42,991 Pack Zoo To Mourn HerPhoenix Arizona Republic Paper by Bob Petrie:Nov. 12-They streamed in from everywhere-and parkedwhere they could-to pay their respects to Ruby. A recordVeterans Day crowd packed the Zoo to honor Ruby, thepainting Asian elephant. More than 6000 people werewaiting in line to enter when the gates opened at 9 am. By11 am, when the Zoo held the first of its 2 silent tributesto Ruby, more than 9000 had pushed thru the turnstiles.Many parked a mile away at the Stadium & walked orrode the zoo-provided shuttle buses. A woman passed outfliers, urging people to write Ty, Inc., maker of BeanieBabies, to get them to create an elephant toy namedRuby.The sadness extended to those who cared for Ruby overthe years, including Bill Bonucci, a zookeeper whohelped doctors during Ruby's failed Caesarian section."We're all so upset. They're such incredible animals. It'ssuch a great feeling when they let you into their world. Ittakes a great deal of time, a period of getting acquaintedwith each other," said Bill, who worked with Ruby for 3years. Ruby's paintings brought nearly $500,000 for theZoo's conservation fund. Zoo patron Neil Miller said,"She painted, she supported herself. That's pretty rare.We lost an artist, not just an elephant."PHOENIX ZOO PRESS RELEASE 11/11/98The historic Stone House, resting on a hilltop, willbecome Ruby's House. It will feature children's artclasses & Ruby memorabilia (to include Ruby's easel &paintbrushes). The Phoenix Zoo wants to perpetuate themagic that was Ruby for children of the Valley. Inresponse to the many inquiries about Ruby's memorialcontributions, the Zoo has established a "Ruby's House"fund, phone 914-4322.Funds will be used to develop programming for Ruby'sHouse. *Question: "Why can't people visit the burial siteof Ruby & her calf?" "Ruby & her calf are buried in anoff-exhibit area that is secure & not maintained forvisitors. *Question: "When will results from thenecropsies be released?" "The Zoo expects to receive anexecutive summary in as little as 2 weeks or as long as 6.Upon review, the Zoo will issue a statement to themedia." *Question: "Are there any Ruby paintingsavailable?" "The Zoo has 4 original paintings by Ruby.The Zoo may sell some of the paintings in the future tosupport Ruby's House. The Zoo's gift store has a supplyof Ruby lithos." *Question: "How much did the medical

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* * * * * * *procedures cost?" Zoo officials are in the process oftallying the costs. A significant number of reimbursableexpenses are outstanding. Zoo officials anticipate a finalanalysis of medical & related costs late this month.*********************************************

Thomas Shaffer of Phoenix, AZ reports that on Oct.28, Tino Wallenda walked across the Arizona State Fairmidway on a 1 -inch-thick wire. It was a wire which ispart of the Fairground Cable Sky-Ride. This was the firsttime an outdoor 'tightrope' act has performed at the StateFair. The Fair attracts about I million people during its2-week run & is held each October in central Phoenix,the capitol city of Arizona. Tino was quoted as saying thewalk was one of the longest he has ever done. He alsostopped & did head-stands during the walk. There wasonly 1 performance. Several of the Wallenda family,including Tino, will appear in Scottsdale in Decemberwith Circus Flora. (Hope you get to see Circus FloraTom!

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Back Yard1522 Clinton Blvd.Bloomington, IL 61701

FIRST CLASS MAIL!