Mike and Janice Aria at Circus World. |
Friday, February 20, 2009
From Mike Naughton #2
Posted by Buckles at 2/20/2009 06:17:00 AM
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Mike and Janice Aria at Circus World. |
Posted by Buckles at 2/20/2009 06:17:00 AM
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18 comments:
Probably the best looking couple I have seen working around bears. I always liked their wardrobe. I think the bear's name was Chloie.
Never met them but hear they were great folks.
Do they still have bears?
Did Chappie Fox book the acts at Circus World or was it in the hands of Irvin Feld and associates?
I knew Mike very briefly. I believe he died quite young of cancer. Does anyone have more about his passing?
Anonymous,
In addition to "cute and charming," as J.C. Hall mentions, they had a great bear act.
Wade Burck
Mike, died from Lou Gerichs disease,I believe? They were the nicest couple! Chloe was the one in the photo and they had another bear,a black, I can't remember her name but I have scars on my hand from one time she ran at CW and I caught her, but not before she clawed my left hand good.
they were an adorable couple--we worked together every day and i loved them; Mike did tragically die quite young, while they still had the bear act, I think, and I believe Janet, also a terrific clown, still lives in Florida; to my knowledge, Chappie, who had an office next to mine, didn't book the acts--if i recall, and that's going back 35 years, we had an entertainment director and of course the Felds hired acts, often borrowing them from the traveling shows;
When the "Theatre" opened at CW. The acts were, Jewell New, lions, Trevor Bale, horses, Buckles, elephants. The Coronas, did a few acts, The flying act, if I remember was the Flying Lanes? (Help Capt) Mike and Janice, bears. Dancers and the production of unloading the train with the Clown Angel and little tramp girl. I hope I didn't leave anyone out?
The story I like is that they were given Chloie as a prize on the Newlywed Game
lj
Janice and I attended Clown College in 1972. Mike missed his sweetheart and traveled to Venice to be with her. She signed on the Blue Unit and Mike signed on with jackie Althof.
i was smitten by Janice and one night I bought a bottle of wine and aws about to knock on her door when I met Mike. he was looking for Janice and I took him to her door. They were a GREAT couple.
BTW - I gave him the bottle of wine... Janice was over the moon when she saw him. And in the dark in Venice Mike LOOKED like a bear!
Lou Gerichs took Mike’s body away as his mind kept alert. This seems a much crueler way to go than my Dads passing from complications from Alzheimer’s disease. Somewhere there is art work that Mike painted close to the end of his life by holding a paint brush in his teeth. He painted greeting cards and they were sold to help raise money. I will always sadly regret I didn’t see Mike and Janice during this time even though they only lived a few miles away.
I believe that Janice is still employed by Ringling or Felds in working with the animal press.
Bob
I believe janice,who lives in Davenport,Fl, works at the Ringling Elephant Conversation Center
This came from their web site....
Janice Aria
Director, Animal Stewardship Training
Janice Aria began her career in 1972 with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®. Aria has 30 years of experience in animal handling and animal behavior. In 2006, Aria was named Director, Animal Stewardship Training and is based out of the Ringling Bros.and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation. Aria directs the student intern program, teaches training methods to animal handlers and is involved in the care of the largest herd of Asian elephants in the Western Hemisphere. She is responsible for designing and implementing a standardized curriculum of best practices in training, and works closely with trainers and their animals to maintain high standards of animal care.
Aria holds a Bachelors degree in Special Education from the University of South Florida. For five years, she also taught high school, middle school and elementary school students. Aria developed a reading program for learning impaired students in which she received a state award for excellence in 1998, the same year she was named Teacher of the Year.
We have been told that when we had the privilege/pleasure of visiting the CEC last April that we were probably the last visitors for an indefinite period of time. Ironically, Diane had a lovely extended visit with Janice in the office and hers is the only business card we got that day.
We would like to publically thank the Feld family, their office staff in NY and Florida and the truly great staff at the CEC for a visit that was as educational as it was joyous. We will long treasure the memories of that day.
Our only regret is that we did not know Janice and Mike back in the "Bear Days".
PG
PS To the gang at CEC, keep up the great work and no, we have not forgotten the photos. Patrick we understand we'll be seeing you and Billy M. next month.
Mike and Janice worked the Famous Hunt Show back in '78; I was a clown on the show. Wonderful people -- they helped me a lot. I reconnected with Janice at the Clown College Reunion last September in Baraboo; she's still wonderful!
he died of ALS
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