Circus History: February 2011

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Knights of Columbus Circus

1959

General Manager: Harold Voise

Equestrian Director-Preston Lambert

Band Director Al Vernon

Master of Properties: Charles Jones

Rigging Superintendent: George Voise

Transportation: Leo Kreczmer

Cuneo Wild Animal Fantasy

Hildalys

Karrells

Wiswell's Phunny Phord (this is not a typo)

Tiebors Seals, Antonuccis Chimps, Royal Inca Llamas

Clowns

Baudy's Greyhounds and Monkeys

The Gobs, Jan Risko & Nina, Landon's Midgets

Count Roberto De Vasconcellas

Laughmasters

The Great Wallendas

Jeannine Pivoteau, The Geraldos, Aerial Carousel, The Luvas

Nelsons Porkers

Paramount Bears

Clowns

Prince Duo Cycles, Theron Troupe

Elephants

Constantines, St Leon Troupe, Jordan Bros.

Mister Sensation (Billy Barton)

Norbu

Parade of the Jovial Jesters

Space Spanning Satellites

In Clown Alley:

Dewsburys Landons, Al Ackerman, George La Salle, Rollo, John Facer, Larry Banner

Charlie Cheer and Francois France

The 1960 Alhamdra Temple Shrine Circus

Produced by Harold Bros. Circus

President and General Manager: Harold R. Voise

America's Modern Circus

Rigging Superintendent: George Voise

18 numbers are shown:

Bouncing Eddies

Jerry Bangs and His Funsters

Irma & Rio Zavets and His Klown Kohorts

Honeymooners Comedy Car

Miss Mara

Dieter Tasso

Slicker's Seals

Clowns: Jerry Bangs, Al Ross, Jack Healy, Frank Derue, Max Berti

Dave Winnie and Patsy

Irma and Rio

Harold Bros. Clowns

Joe Frisco's Educated Chimps

Eris-one finger stand

Joe Frisco's Bull

Aquillars Perch Act

Rudynoff's Horses

Promenade of the Clowns

The Flying Zacchini's

Back of Program-Advertisements from Chattanooga, Tenn

1968 "Circus with a Purpose"

20th Annual

Lexington, Ky

Official Program Produced by Harold Bros.

George Voise: Superintendent and Property Dept

Part 1

Eloise Berchtold

Harold Bros. Clowns

Don B's

Athena

Bob Hofmeister-Midget Mule Act

Almero's Trio

Anden's Dogs

Jostling Jokers

Roger Bros. High Wire

Flying Del Martis

Clowns: Irv Romig, Jack Healey, Larry Benner, Rolla, Carl Romig

Gordon's Bears

Bob Tops

Baby Maya

Norbu

Promenade of the Clowns: Red-nosed, chalk-faced, slap happy funmakers from the

earth's four corners

Jose Guzman and Monique

Back of Program is advertisements

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

1967 Circus with a Purpose

19th Annual

Jungle Frank Leopards

Harold Brothers Clowns

Slivers Johnson and His Black Dot Taxi

Carmen's Review

Karen Nyce

Cesar

Ferry Forst

Jostling Jokers

The Fabulous Rossell Troupe

The Flying Ray-Dens

Clowns: Irv Romig, Jack Healey, Larry Benner, Rolla and Carl Romig

Gerald Soules

Whirlwind on Wheels

Tony Diano's Elephants

Bettina-Queen of the Sway Pole

Zacchini's Double Cannon

Produced by Harold Bros.

George Voise-Superintendent and Property Dept

Al Vernon-Musical Director

Preston Lambert-Announcer

1967 Circus with a Purpose Official Program

18th Annual

Produced by Harold Bros.

George Voise: Superintendent and Property Dept

Joe Frisco's Wild Animals

Oleika Shrine Circus Clowns

Count De Boxcar Young

Gerard Soules

Cesar

The Star Flights

Delmonte Chimps

Clowns: Irv Romig, Charley Cheer, Larry Benner, Rex Young, Rolla Carl Romig

Triska Troop

Les Medians

Jostling Jokers

The Three Houcs

Harold Brother's Little Lady Elephant

Sensational Swaying Stars

The Five-Flying Cavarettas

1965 Oleika Shrine Circus back page

Monday, February 21, 2011

Bob Porter, Eileen Voise, George Voise, Harold Voise, Orda Masker, Joe Masker

1944

Orda Masker, Jack Voise, Mayme Ward, George Voise, Harold Voise, Eileen Harold (Voise)

1942

Harold Voise and Eileen Voise

Sept 18th 1944

Los Angeles California

Coles Bros. Circus

1944

George Voise, Joe Masker, Harold Voise

October 12th 1942

Coles Bros.Circus

l to r: George Voise, Joe Masker, Maric, Bob, unk

in Hol????

8 1/2 X 11 paper

Laurie Stuart

STEPHENSON'S DOGS

(along the top of the picture: Circo Franck Brown Mexico 75

Palacio De Los Deportes Foto Baston

8x10

the newspaper he is holding headlines

Walt Disney vit toujors!!

typed on back of this 8x10

A LOT OF BULL...Esther Williams feeds four-ton "Big Babe" on the set of M-G-M's "Jupiter's

Darling" as Howard Keel aids.

CinemaScope musical co-stars Esther Williams,Howard Keel, Marge and Gower Champion and

George Sanders. George Wells produces and George Sidney directs from the

script by Dorothy Kingsley

1652x29

Danny

Chicago

(typed on the back: The Apollos)

STANLEY ASHTON FAMILY

8X10 PHOTO

(all 4 photos as one 8x10)

Cole Bros Circus

left to right: unk, George Voise, unk, Bob Porter, soldier,unk,Jack Voise, Eileen Voise, and

Harold Voise with cigar!

1946?

May 28th 1943 taken by John C Wyatt Bellaire Ohio

Danny McBride, Horace Laird, Albert Powell, Otto Gribling

"witten on the back"

Eugene Troupe-RB and BB Circus

Possibly: Charles Eugene, Joe Masker, Bob Eugene, David Warner

The four clowns might be: Stuart Roberts, Vance Gill,Tony Antone, David Warner

Vic Shephard, Bill Mays.

Flying Melzoras

Worlds Premier Aerialist

on back:

Bus and I painting the barn looks swell and i am glad ???? done.

author note: this is the training barn in Saginaw at Webber and Collingwood streets

where Harold Voise would have had his earliest training at the Melzora barn. City Directories indicate that the Melzers lived at 800 Brown Street and the Voise's lived at 808 Brown Street. Harold states that he grew up

with the Melzora's kids. "They were training them and so they took me right along with them"

That was about 1921 which is the same year the barn was built. He played parks and fairs in the summer time and went back to school and then he

joined the Flying Wards in 1924 in Bloomington.

Harold was playing in Albany New York and Wards was near by with Sells-Floto. Eddie and Harold exchanged addresses and Harold at 15 with permission from father and mother left Saginaw

and started in with the Wards of Bloomington.

Thomas Melzer and Jane (Ma) married in 1904 but in the 1920s separated.

They had 3 sons: Melzer Jr aka Buster (died Auguest 1994), Ray and Bill

Ray married Anne in 1932'

Bill later left the act and became a CPA in Saginaw.

Besides H. Voise other performers would train here:

Steward Roberts, Jess Detwiler, Harold McClossen, Roddy Cushman and Garee Bros. and Roy Deisler

The act was retired in 1950s

note: sources include Steve Gossard and Stuart D Gross.

written on back:

George Voise, Joe Masker, Harold Voise

Sept 18th 1944

Los Angelas, Ca

Cecile T. Czubak (signature on the backs)

Cole Bros Circus wagon in background

1953

MIREILLE THERON

1958 Oleika Shrine Circus back page

Advertisements only

Lexington, Ky

1958 Oleika Shrine Temple Tenth Annual Shrine Circus

Lexington, Ky

Pat Anthony's Wild Animal Act

Aerial Georges, Comedy Aerial Bars

Forseitz-Medndez Trio-High Wire Act

Jan Risko & Nina, Novelty Jugglers

Wiswell's Funny Ford

Nelsons's Trained Pigs

The Flying Thrillers, Flying Trapeze

Norbu

The Great Galasso

La Norma

Antonucci's Chimpanzees

Harold Bros. Circus Elephants

Tokayer Troupe, Acrobats

Harold Bros. Circus Clowns

1977- 41st Annual Hospitler Circus-back page

The Cyclonians

The Flying Palacio's (6)

The Royal Inca Llamas

The Carlo's Duo Perch Act

Al Vernon

The Staneks

Irv Romig

Norbu

The Four Endres

1977-41st Annual Hospitaler Circus Program

Manager: Harold Voise

Rigging Superintendent: George Voise

The Elkins Sisters

The Cyclonians

The Four Endres

Lilli-Ana-Kristensen and Her Leopards and Black Panther (centerfold)

Norbu

The Flying Palacio's (see note)

note: George Lalo Palacio (Frenchy)
Raoul Palacio
Jose Palacio
Irma Palacio
(Mexico City)

Sunday, February 20, 2011

1976-40 Annual Hospital Circus back page

The Vickinas Kids

Erik and Bobbi-stand on one finger

Zavattas Balancing Ladder Act

Erik's Comedy Chimps

Irv Romig-Rickey the Clown

King's Performing Elephants

Al Vernon

The Flying Dells

Chase and Park

Erik Adams-chimp hangs by his teeth

Aguillars' Perch Act

1976- 40th Annual Hospitaler Circus Program

Manager Harold Voise

Rigging Superintendent: George Voise
Lilli-Ana-Kristensen and Her Leopards & Black Panther
(notes on the above act: taken from the State Journal 3/2/78 Lilli-Anna's spoiled babies eat about 35 pounds of beef hearts, neck bones and chicken a day. They swallow 3 heaping teaspoons of castor oil and actually beg for more. They go crazy over perfume and all tend to like women more than men-probably because a woman taught them their tricks. And like many other redblooded mammals, Lilli-Anna's six leopards and panther tend to have their little family squabbles. Hashish, a 200 pound 10 year old panther broke one of the leopard's backs. A doctor patched the back up but Hashish can still be a bit testy.
Oh, hes showy and oh yes he's really stuck up, says the panther's smiling blonde trainer. And he could take your arm off.
For 6 years Lilli-Anna has been bringing her big cats to circus arenas around the United States. Today through Sunday she'll be putting the cats through stunts at the Lansing Civic Center when the 42nd annual Hospitaler Circus presents its array of performers.
Lilli-Anna's is only one of two acts in the US in which a panther is loos in a circus arena. And she believes shes's the only woman performing with a panther in a US circus.
Hashish may look sweet and kind, she says, but watch out. "He knows me and so he thinks I'm fine. With anyone else he would take away their hand. Goodbye arms. He could get you from right where you stand. And all of these cats are so very fast that once i looked and saw one on one side of the room and the next thing i knew he was on the other side.
She said she hadn't even seen him make the trip. Lilli-Anna swabs Hashish's cage with pine-scented cleaning fluid mixed with water and the big animal rolls over on his back, then rolls onto his stomach and presses his velvety black nose into the floor. Oh they just love the smell, Lilli-Anna said with a laugh traces of a Danish accent still clear in her voice. they love perfume so much that when I spray a little into their trailer they roll over and just go crazy. Such big babies.
But Lilli-Anna cants let her guard down with the animals; she's had her share of close calls. During a practice session, the slim trainer was coaxing a leopard on a pedestal to jump over her head. Once he jumped he went right for my throat. But when they want to jump you they start to drool all over first. Strange as it may sound, Lilli-Anna was saved by the drool. When he started to jump he slipped on his own drool. He fellright into the saw dust and he got so embarrassed because he had failed that he just walked away. I was lucky. You dont live through a leopard. They go for the throat or the brain. She pointed to a leopard thrashing his tail and knocking his pan againts his cage. That fellow if he ever go ahold of somebody, he would never let go. Her husband Svend watches on the sidelines when she performs with the cats. People dont know it but he's there hollering at me about what i have to watch for. He has a long stick too. See, I cant watch behind me so he's there to help out and warn me.
Svend says he doesn't get jittery watching his wife put the cats through their paces in the circus ring. If I ever start getting nervous I'll quit, he says.
They dont believe in carry a gun during the act. So many peopletry to have the cats as pets. But it the people are attacked its their own fault. These are not pets; they are wild animals. You have to respect them. It is always the person's fault if he is hurt. I get it once and awhile from animals. Lilli-Anna began training felines about 6 years old, coaxing them to behave with meat and a whip. They can be nasty, she said But they have to learn to trust you. She spends hours talking to them, singing to them and cleaning their cages-a task that never seems finished. The cages require at least four or five full scale cleanings a day.
Some people think its cruel to keep the cats in cages like this, she said But the cats are very healthy and cats are really vey lazy animals. Even in the jungle they hunt awhile, then lay down and rest most of the day.
It takes at least 4 years to train the animals properly, she said. With these 2 babies (2 1/2 Barbary leopards) I never know what they'll do, they're so young. The African leopards are on the wildlife endangered list and among the few Barbary leopards now living in captivity. Teaching cats tricks isn't really the most difficult part of the act, Lilli-Anna continued, What's the hard is getting them accustomed to new faces, voices, bright lights, the applause at the circus.
Lilli-Anna was born in Denmark to a father who loved the Big Top and a mother who thought it was scandalous. She was a little old-fashioned and believed that when show business people came you had to go get the laundry and hide the chickens. An active child, she studied ballet and acrobatics. When the circus came to town she made friends with the performers. They asked her to join them. She fought with her parents over the suggestion, but eventually left to swing on the trapeze. Circus animals quickly became an interest. She learned to train horses and do some trick riding. Then a few years ago she met a Czechoslovakian woman who wanted to sell some big cats she couldn't afford to keep. I just knew i could do it and now I've gotten so attached to these cats. I just love them. there's sort of an understanding between us. I'd never sell them. I'd let them lay under a palm tree at my home during the winter time.
Lilli-Anna lives in Florida when she's not making 60 to 70 stops around the country with circuses.
If you're thinking of becoming another Lilli-Anna and training a few big cats to jump through hoops of fire, or leap over your head, she has some advice: You've gotta have a log of guts and 100,000 bucks. The money goes toward a semitruck, stainless steel cages and a 525 pound freezer for all that meat.
(article written by Lee Upton and used with promotion )
(note#2 of this act above: another article appears in Long Island Journal 5/10/98)

The Vickinas-Kids

Roger Zoppe's Arabian Riders (centerfold)

Zavattas Balancing Ladder Act

Chase and Park

The Flying Dells

1973-37th Annual Hospitaler Circus-back page

Johnnie Cline's Elephants

The Saturnaires

Miss Jo Ann

John Liberty

The Jostling Jokers

Bobo Barnett

Al Vernon

Jennifer's Seals

Irv Romig-Rickey the Clown

The Fabulous Wallendas

Norbu (author note: Norbert and Arden Kreisch)

1973-37th Annual Hospitaler Circus Program

Manager: Harold Voise

Rigging Superintendent: George Voise

Guy Gossing's Royal Bengal Tigers (centerfold)

Miss Patricia-an olympic springboard diving champion

Chester Bobo Barnett

The Fabulous Wallendas

The Saturnaires

Norbu

The Flying Rock-Smiths

1972- 36th Annual Hospital Circus-back page

Zavattas Balancing Ladder Act

Jacob's Elephants

Serge Duo-Aerial Motorcycle

Al Vernon

Welde's Bears

The Blondins Troupe

Norby-Arden-The Caddy and the Pro

Clowns

Roger Zoppe's Arabian Riders

1972-36th Annual Hospital Circus Program

Manager: Harold Voise

Rigging Superintendent: George Voise

Zavattas Balancing Ladder Act

The Caddy and the Pro

Featuring Noby-Arden in her Debut-A Young Star is born

note: (Noby Arden is currently in LA doing Stuntwork see Stuntwomen.com)

Roger Zoppe's Arabian Riders

Norbu

The Flying Armors

Pat Anthony's Fighting Lions and Tigers (centerfold)

1971-35th Annual Hospitaler Circus Program

Manager: Harold Voise

Rigging Superintendent: George Voise

Margarita Vasques-Juggling Hairialist

Milongas-Trained Liberty Horses (center fold)

The Great Leonardos Troupe

Norbu

The Four Flying Dells

1970-34th Annual Hospital Circus-back page

Chris Alberti Family

The Christies

The Georgians

The Fabulous Flying Artons

Carl A Romig-Clown

Mr. George Hanneford

Johnnie Clines Elephants

Al Vernon

Saturday, February 19, 2011

1970-34th Annual Hospitaler Circus

Manager: Harold Voise

Rigging Superintendent: George Voise

Tarzan Zerbini-Center Photo

Mademoiselle Jackie-Direct from Paris

Chris Alberti Family on the Rolling Globes

Flying Arton's

1961 ANNUAL YAARAB SHRINE CIRCUS

Indoor Circus

Atlanta

clown: Alfredo Landon

22 displays

display 16: The Flying Rousseaus

display 19: Norbu

(nothing on the back side)

1961 Annual Syrian Temple back page

details of 1961 Circus Committee on right side

phote of right: Shriners' Hospital for Crippled Children

Lexington, Kentucky

listed also Syrian Temple Chanters

1961 April 3-8

Annual Syrian Temple Shrine Circus

Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio

Produced by Thomas N. Pack

There are 24 displays

Display 3: Glamorous Miss Mara-Spain's Fabulous Trapeziste

Display 13: The Rousseau-Geraldos

back page of the Ringling Bros Circus Program (red)

unable to find year

various small photos of the acts