Over the next week I'll be getting my fair share of circuses. I will be visiting four different show this week.
The first of which will be:
Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy
Then Friday night I will be heading to Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Over the Top
Then Jordan World Circus
And Finally Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Step Right Up! State Fair Brings Back the Freakshow. Minus Most of the Freaks
"In 2007 my good friend St. John the Seal Boy became the first freak to perform at the Ohio State Fair in years. I was privileged to assist him with his whip cracking act."
Sunday, August 06, 2006
MATT TULLIS
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The oversize posters draw attention on the way to the midway: Spidora. Iron Tongue Man. World's Smallest Woman.
They lead to the Palace of Illusions, "The Strangest Show on Earth."
Tommy Breen, the "front talker," calls out to passers-by: "Watch the midget man eat fire"; "Once you see the eight-legged freak, you're never going to forget her."
For the first time in 16 years, the Ohio State Fair has a bona fide sideshow.
Breen wants fairgoers to pay $3 to see the oddities, most of them illusionists. But some have creepy talents, such as the girl who walks on razorsharp swords or the man who hammers an ice pick into his head.
To draw people inside the tent, the 3-foot-7-inch Poobah is outside eating fire as Rubber Boy twists himself into a pretzel.
Two boys applaud as Poobah smacks his lips after downing a flaming stick. During the next half-hour, a dozen or so pay to go inside.
Sideshows, or freak shows as they were often called, hadn't been welcome at the Ohio State Fair since 1990. During that fair, Dave Fleischman, a 518-pound man billed as Big Billy Pork Chop, died in his sleep. The cause of death was heart failure because of massive obesity.
Fair managers thought such entertainment was inappropriate, said Luis Perez, assistant general manager of the Ohio Expo Center.
"It was a sign of the times, what with the political correctness of showcasing people," he said.
But times have changed, and so has the show, he said. It focuses less on oddities of nature and more on illusions and oddball abilities.
"There are some portions that were incorporated into it years ago, but the whole freak portion is gone," he said.
Perez wanted a sideshow because he needed something near the midway to make people slow down and look around.
Ward Hall and the Palace of Illusions he co-owns fit the bill.
Hall, 76, has been running such shows since 1948. He last was at the Ohio State Fair in 1981.
Three years ago, a newspaper reported on what supposedly was Hall's last show, at a fair in Allentown, Pa. With no shortage of freakish behavior on TV every day and plenty of tattooed and pierced people on the streets, few people were willing to pay.
But Hall came back. The Palace of Illusions still has a free show out front, magic tricks and acts like Rubber Boy, who is 17-year-old contortionist Logan Jacot, of New Philadelphia.
"We used to play this fair with live freaks," Hall said. Now, most acts are nothing more than illusions the woman without a head, the spider with a woman's head and the woman who loses her head in the guillotine.
Two dwarves perform in the show, but Hall doesn?t call them freaks, he said.
"That?s what they call themselves," Hall said, "but I don?t consider the little ones freaks because they?re not deformed."
Firefly, aka Crystal McLaughlin, 23, of Denver, is billed as the "World?s Smallest Woman" on posters. During the show, she?s called the "smallest woman currently residing in the United States." At 27 inches tall, she walks and jumps on a pile of broken glass, barefoot.
McLaughlin loves her job, she said.
"I get to meet new people and travel. It gives me something to do."
She helps unveil the eightlegged Spidora (a woman who sticks her head into a spider costume) and attaches an iron to Freakshow Foley's tongue, via a meat hook (that's real).
Gary Arnold, a spokesman for the Little People of America, is always leery of dwarves being exploited in sideshows. He's glad, though, that McLaughlin and Poobah (Norbert Terhurne) perform acts and don?t simply sit around to be laughed at.
"I am happy to see it?s not just the fact they are people of short stature, and that they are performing some sort of entertainment," Arnold said.
Becky Borror, 23, of Westerville, thought she got her money?s worth from the show.
After spending 20 minutes inside the Palace, she decided that her favorite was the guillotine act. "I loved it. It?s fun, amusing."
David Copperfield and other modern magicians have spoiled Maria Kaiser, 39. The show is "for the little kids," she said after visiting the tent Thursday with her 14-year-old daughter, Samantha.
"I think people like us are wanting more and more. I think it should be more like $1."
Ron Kupper, 42, of Westerville, said he knew what to expect going in: not much.
"Yet I couldn?t leave," he said, laughing. The small woman was his favorite part of the show. "At least I know she?s real."
Outside, Breen was still barking: "Have you ever seen a pygmy before? He?s the hottest man here. He?s the last Munchkin still able to perform."
That?s Terhurne's cue. The 76-year-old has been doing this for years, the past 54 with Hall. Hall boasts that Terhurne was one of the Munchkins in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, although Terhurne's name doesn't appear on any list of the movie's credits or official Munchkin Web sites.
Terhurne doesn?t say much onstage, except that the fire comes in two flavors: chocolate and vanilla.
Hall sits a few feet away at the ticket booth, collecting money.
Dispatch reporter Kevin Kidder contributed to this story.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/contentbe/dispatch/2006/08/06/20060806-B1-00.html
Sunday, August 06, 2006
MATT TULLIS
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The oversize posters draw attention on the way to the midway: Spidora. Iron Tongue Man. World's Smallest Woman.
They lead to the Palace of Illusions, "The Strangest Show on Earth."
Tommy Breen, the "front talker," calls out to passers-by: "Watch the midget man eat fire"; "Once you see the eight-legged freak, you're never going to forget her."
For the first time in 16 years, the Ohio State Fair has a bona fide sideshow.
Breen wants fairgoers to pay $3 to see the oddities, most of them illusionists. But some have creepy talents, such as the girl who walks on razorsharp swords or the man who hammers an ice pick into his head.
To draw people inside the tent, the 3-foot-7-inch Poobah is outside eating fire as Rubber Boy twists himself into a pretzel.
Two boys applaud as Poobah smacks his lips after downing a flaming stick. During the next half-hour, a dozen or so pay to go inside.
Sideshows, or freak shows as they were often called, hadn't been welcome at the Ohio State Fair since 1990. During that fair, Dave Fleischman, a 518-pound man billed as Big Billy Pork Chop, died in his sleep. The cause of death was heart failure because of massive obesity.
Fair managers thought such entertainment was inappropriate, said Luis Perez, assistant general manager of the Ohio Expo Center.
"It was a sign of the times, what with the political correctness of showcasing people," he said.
But times have changed, and so has the show, he said. It focuses less on oddities of nature and more on illusions and oddball abilities.
"There are some portions that were incorporated into it years ago, but the whole freak portion is gone," he said.
Perez wanted a sideshow because he needed something near the midway to make people slow down and look around.
Ward Hall and the Palace of Illusions he co-owns fit the bill.
Hall, 76, has been running such shows since 1948. He last was at the Ohio State Fair in 1981.
Three years ago, a newspaper reported on what supposedly was Hall's last show, at a fair in Allentown, Pa. With no shortage of freakish behavior on TV every day and plenty of tattooed and pierced people on the streets, few people were willing to pay.
But Hall came back. The Palace of Illusions still has a free show out front, magic tricks and acts like Rubber Boy, who is 17-year-old contortionist Logan Jacot, of New Philadelphia.
"We used to play this fair with live freaks," Hall said. Now, most acts are nothing more than illusions the woman without a head, the spider with a woman's head and the woman who loses her head in the guillotine.
Two dwarves perform in the show, but Hall doesn?t call them freaks, he said.
"That?s what they call themselves," Hall said, "but I don?t consider the little ones freaks because they?re not deformed."
Firefly, aka Crystal McLaughlin, 23, of Denver, is billed as the "World?s Smallest Woman" on posters. During the show, she?s called the "smallest woman currently residing in the United States." At 27 inches tall, she walks and jumps on a pile of broken glass, barefoot.
McLaughlin loves her job, she said.
"I get to meet new people and travel. It gives me something to do."
She helps unveil the eightlegged Spidora (a woman who sticks her head into a spider costume) and attaches an iron to Freakshow Foley's tongue, via a meat hook (that's real).
Gary Arnold, a spokesman for the Little People of America, is always leery of dwarves being exploited in sideshows. He's glad, though, that McLaughlin and Poobah (Norbert Terhurne) perform acts and don?t simply sit around to be laughed at.
"I am happy to see it?s not just the fact they are people of short stature, and that they are performing some sort of entertainment," Arnold said.
Becky Borror, 23, of Westerville, thought she got her money?s worth from the show.
After spending 20 minutes inside the Palace, she decided that her favorite was the guillotine act. "I loved it. It?s fun, amusing."
David Copperfield and other modern magicians have spoiled Maria Kaiser, 39. The show is "for the little kids," she said after visiting the tent Thursday with her 14-year-old daughter, Samantha.
"I think people like us are wanting more and more. I think it should be more like $1."
Ron Kupper, 42, of Westerville, said he knew what to expect going in: not much.
"Yet I couldn?t leave," he said, laughing. The small woman was his favorite part of the show. "At least I know she?s real."
Outside, Breen was still barking: "Have you ever seen a pygmy before? He?s the hottest man here. He?s the last Munchkin still able to perform."
That?s Terhurne's cue. The 76-year-old has been doing this for years, the past 54 with Hall. Hall boasts that Terhurne was one of the Munchkins in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, although Terhurne's name doesn't appear on any list of the movie's credits or official Munchkin Web sites.
Terhurne doesn?t say much onstage, except that the fire comes in two flavors: chocolate and vanilla.
Hall sits a few feet away at the ticket booth, collecting money.
Dispatch reporter Kevin Kidder contributed to this story.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/contentbe/dispatch/2006/08/06/20060806-B1-00.html
Friday, February 27, 2009
Me with Fire Within's Oleg Ouchakov
This photo was taken in Montreal at Cirque du Soleil's international headquarters.
Fire Within
Here is a promo for Fire Within. I believe this series aired in 2003 on Bravo. The series showed a great backstage pass at the creation process at Cirque
CAST YOUR VOTE! SHOULD ELEPHANTS BE IN CIRCUSES
There is a poll running whether or not circuses should be permitted to have elephants. It is directed towards UK shows but I think we all need to show our support for elephants in circuses world wide. If we are to win this war we all must work together and help each other.
http://timesnews.typepad.com/news/2009/02/should-elephants-be-going-back-to-the-circus.html
http://timesnews.typepad.com/news/2009/02/should-elephants-be-going-back-to-the-circus.html
CIRCUS BAN LIFTED!
Over in the UK, High Wycombe to be more specific, a circus ban was just lifted. Hopefully times are starting to turn in the UK. The reason for the lift of the ban was the lack of scientific evidence that circus animals suffered.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Cirque du Soleil's Next Adventure
Cirque du Soleil will now be conquering the exercise market. Soleil is teaming up with Reebok to produce a gym workout series.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Trial
For the Journal-Constitution
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The federal trial against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act will determine whether the circus can continue using bull hooks and chains to train and control its Asian elephant herd.
But the implications of the trial go far beyond what devices elephant handlers can wield. If the animal rights plaintiffs succeed against Ringling Bros., they will also succeed in a dramatic reshaping of the ESA itself.
The stated purpose of the statute was “to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved ….” The law clearly addresses species in their natural habitats, and has never before been interpreted to apply to captive animals.
According to animal rights groups, the Asian elephant is endangered because of shrinking habitats and a thriving ivory market in Indochina. Ringling Bros. bears no responsibility for these trends, which are largely attributable to the failed “governance” of decrepit communist regimes in Vietnam and Laos.
A brief case study is in order: Captive elephants in Vietnam have dwindled from 600 in 1980 to 165 in 2006, according to the International Zoo Yearbook. Contrast Vietnam’s decline to the net increase in elephants at Ringling Bros., due to the circus’ successful breeding program that has resulted in 21 births since 1992.
Despite this positive record of adding to the Asian elephant population, the plaintiffs have based their case on the ESA’s prohibitions on harming endangered species. If protecting the individual elephants in question was their true goal, the plaintiffs could have used traditional laws against animal abuse. If bull hook misuse is observed by Ringling Bros. employees or anybody else, they should notify the authorities and press charges based on laws against animal cruelty.
The reason the plaintiffs did not use traditional avenues is that they would have lost the opportunity to push their “free contact” agenda, where circus and zoo animals would be “freed” from the hardship of human interaction forever.
The elimination of traditional methods of elephant restraint could pose too much of a risk to employees and public safety for Ringling Bros. to continue touring with elephants. This would mean no more elephant rides by circus performers, no more elephant parades and no transporting of elephants across state lines —- the end of the traveling circus as we know it.
Ringling Bros.’ breeding program itself would also be in jeopardy. At a cost of $600,000 per animal per year for elephant care, Ringling Bros. cannot afford to breed elephants out of a sense of civic or scientific duty alone.
If a “free contact” interpretation is applied to the ESA, American zoos would be transformed into exhibits of plentiful barnyard animals, while quarantining endangered or threatened species in some distant, private wildlife sanctuary free from the glare of public scrutiny. As for the circus, fans of Cirque du Soleil will still have their sad clowns and rope dancers, but lovers of “the Greatest Show on Earth” would have little left to cheer.
columnist@ajc.com
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/02/26/edthc0226.html
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The federal trial against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act will determine whether the circus can continue using bull hooks and chains to train and control its Asian elephant herd.
But the implications of the trial go far beyond what devices elephant handlers can wield. If the animal rights plaintiffs succeed against Ringling Bros., they will also succeed in a dramatic reshaping of the ESA itself.
The stated purpose of the statute was “to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved ….” The law clearly addresses species in their natural habitats, and has never before been interpreted to apply to captive animals.
According to animal rights groups, the Asian elephant is endangered because of shrinking habitats and a thriving ivory market in Indochina. Ringling Bros. bears no responsibility for these trends, which are largely attributable to the failed “governance” of decrepit communist regimes in Vietnam and Laos.
A brief case study is in order: Captive elephants in Vietnam have dwindled from 600 in 1980 to 165 in 2006, according to the International Zoo Yearbook. Contrast Vietnam’s decline to the net increase in elephants at Ringling Bros., due to the circus’ successful breeding program that has resulted in 21 births since 1992.
Despite this positive record of adding to the Asian elephant population, the plaintiffs have based their case on the ESA’s prohibitions on harming endangered species. If protecting the individual elephants in question was their true goal, the plaintiffs could have used traditional laws against animal abuse. If bull hook misuse is observed by Ringling Bros. employees or anybody else, they should notify the authorities and press charges based on laws against animal cruelty.
The reason the plaintiffs did not use traditional avenues is that they would have lost the opportunity to push their “free contact” agenda, where circus and zoo animals would be “freed” from the hardship of human interaction forever.
The elimination of traditional methods of elephant restraint could pose too much of a risk to employees and public safety for Ringling Bros. to continue touring with elephants. This would mean no more elephant rides by circus performers, no more elephant parades and no transporting of elephants across state lines —- the end of the traveling circus as we know it.
Ringling Bros.’ breeding program itself would also be in jeopardy. At a cost of $600,000 per animal per year for elephant care, Ringling Bros. cannot afford to breed elephants out of a sense of civic or scientific duty alone.
If a “free contact” interpretation is applied to the ESA, American zoos would be transformed into exhibits of plentiful barnyard animals, while quarantining endangered or threatened species in some distant, private wildlife sanctuary free from the glare of public scrutiny. As for the circus, fans of Cirque du Soleil will still have their sad clowns and rope dancers, but lovers of “the Greatest Show on Earth” would have little left to cheer.
columnist@ajc.com
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/02/26/edthc0226.html
Logan Jacot to Appear at the Gish
March 24 I will be making an appearance at The Gish Theatre. They will be having a showing of Tod Browning's Freaks. I will be performing various sideshow acts and sharing my experiences with real life modern day freaks. If your in the Toledo area definitely stop by and check it out.
Logan
Logan
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Cirque du Soleil Then and Now
Regardless of what you think of Cirque du Soleil you have to admit that some of their acts are truly amazing.
Happy 2500th Show to Varekai
Cirque du Soleil Varekai just celebrated its 2,500th on Friday. There are two performers that haven't missed a show yet, Kevin and Andrew Atherton which is almost as much of a feat as their beautiful strap act.
Breaking News from Across the Pond
The Great British Circus will be featuring an act of three elephants this year; both African and Asian. This will be the first time in over 10 years that there has been an elephant act in Great Britain. There is however a single elephant that travels with Bobby Roberts Super Circus. She is now retired and just travels with the show.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Ingrid Newkirk's Will
a. That the “meat” of my body, or a portion thereof, be used for a human barbecue, to remind the world that the meat of a corpse is all flesh, regardless of whether it comes from a human being or another animal, and that flesh foods are not needed
b. That my skin, or a portion thereof, be removed and made into leather products, such as purses, to remind the world that human skin and the skin of other animals is the same and that neither is “fabric” nor needed.
c. my feet be removed and umbrella stands or other ornamentation be made from them, as a reminder of the depravity of killing innocent animals, such as elephants, in order that we might use their body parts for household items and decorations;
d.That one of my eyes be removed, mounted, and delivered to the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a reminder that PETA will continue to be watching the agency until it stops poisoning and torturing animals.
e. That my pointing finger be delivered to Kenneth Feld, owner of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, or to a circus museum to stand as the “Greatest Accusation on Earth” on behalf of the countless elephants, lions, tigers, bears, and other animals who have been kidnapped from their families and removed from their homelands
f. That my liver be vacuum-packed and shipped, in whole or in part, to France, to there be used in a public appeal to persuade shoppers not to support the vile practice of force-feeding geese and ducks for foie gras
g. That one of my ears be removed, mounted, and sent to the Canadian Parliament to assist them in hearing, for the first time perhaps, the screams of the seals, bears, raccoons, foxes, and minks bludgeoned, trapped, and sometimes skinned alive for their pelts.
h. That one of my thumbs be removed, mounted upwards on a plaque, and sent to the person or institution that, in the year of my death or thereabouts, PETA decides has done the most to promote alternatives to the use and abuse of animals in any area of their exploitation
i. That one of my thumbs be mounted in a downward position and sent to the person or institution that, in the year of my death or thereabouts, has gone against the changing tide of societal opinion and frightened and hurt animals in some egregious manner
j. That a little part of my heart be buried near the racetrack at Hockenheim, preferably near the Ferrari pits, where Michael Shumacher raced in and won the German Grand Prix
Friday, February 20, 2009
Detroit
I'm on my way to Detroit for a show tonight. I'll have an update for you guys tomorrow morning.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monkey Speedway
I just stumbled across this website www.monkeyspeedway.com. I'm not really sure who's show this is but its nice see another monkey speedway touring the US. I have a soft spot in my heart for the carnival of yesterday which is probably why I enjoy the idea of the monkey speedway revival that is happening.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
