Friday, September 26, 2008

Polack Bros. Program 1964 #6


Scan10759, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

THE VAN DOWEN'S SEALS
Nelly Van Dowen and her sleek and shiny troupe have been featured with nearly every circus in Europe and South America. Her family operates an animal import-export company and zoo in Holland.
Nelly and Andre Van Dowen have had their present act since 1957.
Prior to that time Miss Van Dowen was prima ballerina with the Corps de Ballet of the Theatre Chatalet in Paris.

Posted by Buckles at 9/26/2008 06:34:00 AM

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wasn't planning on working with sea lions when the Van Donwen's had their big act. I don't remember any special tricks except a big male balancing a ball up and over a set of steps. For a while they had a few penguins that they put in a plexiglas-lined tub (kind of looked like a demonstration washing machine). It did impress me that the big act always hopped out of the transport cage for the opening and jumped back in for the finish.

26 September, 2008 18:49
Mike Naughton said...

Van Donwens worked many Don Francisco dates (Pan American Circus). Don (Frank Mijares) lived in Edison/Colonia, New Jersey. Don had the White Plains date YEARS before Tommy started Royal Hanneford in the mid-60's.

Does anyone know where Van Donwens were located?

Cimse was in New Jersey as well as Frank and Janet Burger, and Arthur and Goldie Duchek.

Someone told me that the New Yorker Trailer Park in N. Bergen NJ was still operating.

27 September, 2008 11:42

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