Circus kids #1/ St. Louis Police Circus 1961

I must have misled everyone about last night's banquet. The Windjammers are not circus people but musicians who enjoy playing circus music and come down every winter record music, present a concert at the Ringling Museum and conclude today by playing for Sailor Circus at the Sarasota High School. The pre show band is huge and will play in the center ring and then be reduced down to circus size for the performance. John Herriott will be the Ringmaster at today's circus and was therefore invited to sit at the speakers table. I was similarly invited since I contributed photos from my web site of several old time Band Masters for their Windjammers magazine. Howard Tibbals was keynote speaker. The joint was jumpin', must have been in excess of 300 musicians and families, after the dinner and speeches, we chatted with Don and Jan Covington of whom I asked if their return to Big Apple was a "come home, all is forgiven" scenario but he said not. The evening concluded with members forming a Glen Miller type band for dancing but we left rather early since the Colonel and my tastes lean more toward Led Zeppilin. When I dropped off Johnny at home, I found Mary Ruth, Cindy and Roy Wells watching old videos and to my amazement saw the Ringling Park immediately after we left for the Blue Show. First footage I had ever seen of the polar bear act when it was there, I had no idea they did a web number (Bud, do you remember Jenny Sue?) the Herriotts working the liberty act, Axel' elephants. The train was gone and replaced by specs floats from the touring shows. Christ what has happened to the business? That show was so much better than the crap they carry around the country today. By the way Karen, when I left for the banquet, Barbara and Baby Kay had their arms around each other watching a scary movie on TV and dressed in granny gowns. And if you saw a picture of me today you would immediately call Mt. Olivet Cemetary in Oklahoma and advise them to start mowing around the elephant tomb stone.