A year or so ago, John Ringling North II instituted a search for the music written by his famous uncle. (Surprisingly, a number of JRN’s tunes were actually published!) Local San Diego TV personality and circus authority Jack White had the sheet music for many of them in his collection and was able to provide North with copies. I never heard if this music was ever revived and used in Mr. North’s circus, but it is nice to think that modern-day circus audiences could once again be treated to GOLD DOLLAR MOON, BUTTERFLY LULLABY, DREAMLAND, and so on. |
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
From Eric Beheim
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20 comments:
Eric,
You will happy to know that Lovely
Luawana lady is being used on Kelly Miller Circus this year.
I just saw the perofrmance here in Texas and they have a web number that is a work in progress but yes it is used.
John Moss comes out in the ring and announces we are going back to 1952 and from the movie the music is used.
It brought back many memories and a few tears from me.
John Ringling North II is taking Kelly Miller to new higherlevels of entertainment and the fans will love this years performance for sure.
Harry
Harry,
Work in progress? There is one web!!! That's not a work in progress, it's complete. Were you expecting it to be 18 webs eventually?
Wade Burck
Wade,
You need to take a chill pill.
Work in progress was a quote from ringmaster John Moss. They are trying to add to it and I am not going to talk about anyone in show business that is trying to do better.
This is a small circus with a great well rounded performance and John Ringling North II is adding his touch to it to make it better every year.
There will not be 18 web girls as you well know.
And how do you know that the act is complete now?????????
Harry
Kelly Miller is going to be in Crandell, Tx tomorrow and I plan on going by to see it. Does anyone know how I can find there route, I would like to know if they are any closer to me today?
Is there ANY show with 18 webs
in the air at 1 time anymore
Maybe in Europe but I doubt it
Chic
Gary,
I get the route cards from the show and the last date I had was Many, Louisiana and that was March 13th.
The cards are late now and if I had the dates I would send them on to you. Sorry.
Harry
I am trying to remain calm. A work in progress? for web.what do people do all winter?
Eric ---
There also was a song titled "Popcorn and Lemonade" from the 1951 show. Don't think it was in the film. But I have a recording with a few bars of it.
Don't even know the vocalist. But it sounded great. From the finale, I think, in 1951.
--- ToddP
Hello Gary,
According to "The Mud Show Diaries" they are in WillsPoint.
Also check the "Adventures of Steve and Ryan" and Casey's "Circus Diaries"
If you can't find them,go to Bill Dykes site from this blog. Bill has these blogs down on the right side,way down at the bottom and you can go to these blogs from there.
regards,
P.J.Holmes
Eric --
Thought more about "Popcorn and Lemonade." Bet you know it.
The lyrics were something like:
"Popcorn and Lemonade; thrills and a big parade..." Definitely was the 1951 finale, but because of a contract dispute, did not make the movie TGSOE. === ToddP
Chic and all persons,
In Evansville 2008, 16 webs and 3 woman performing on roman rings. It would not be called a work in progress. The band was big , many musicians.
Clark Weigle used "Popcorn and Lemonade for the overture on Kelly Miller in 1990,there was a 4 piece band.
The band at Circus World in Baraboo played "Impossible"(was told it was written by JRN for Pinito Del Oro and sang by Harold Ronk. I was also told that was what I was working to, David Salutos was the vocalist there was a live band.Where am I going with this ?Live Musicians playing music. Those photographs are copies of the covers of sheet music. In the day public loved this music so much they bought the sheet music and played it. How can peopel who are so enamored with "it" say that playing a tape or a computer of any music is of any merit ???? How can you people call a drummer and a computer programmer a band??? How can you rave about something prerecorded at a live performance???
Rebecca Ostroff
To Mr. Kingston. I am amazed at your comment about brining K-M to higher levels of entmnt. I recall some excellent shows by David Rawls with lots of animal acts, anice soec and the midway menagerie exhibit of camels llamas , pondur burros, ponies and the three nice elephants, niceley displayed and the exotic acts, par excellence of my daughter Cindy and Laura and the traditional dog and pony act of the Herriott family, and my grandaughter Jennifer with her beautifully costumed and excellently presented Cloud swing.I am quite familiar with the name Kelly-Miller where with my family in 1944 [thats right] I worked three elephant act, rode high school, worked four liberty ponies and we did the concert including whip cracking act. I have closely followed this circus over the years and do not believe the present production is on par with previous ones. As I said before it is another Hugo show, but is not as good as some of the previous Hugo Shows, especially Barbara Byrds fabulous wardrobe, acts and production down thru the years. You have to call a spade a spade. Seems like circus fans are quite loyal in giving fabulous reviews on shows they enjoy visiting, but for posterity it does not give a true historical aspect. Too bad but please keep up your work I am sure you mean well.
I like others are curious how a one person web act can be a work in progress and it seems the so-called big riding act consists of few people. I do recall seeing that great Fuco family and their wonderful acts and weill be curious how they replace them with comparable acts.
Daughter Laura has informed me that Mr. North and his family are very nice people and a pleasure to work for. It would seem that he still is in the process of getting his bearings in circus operation and it is hoped that they will have a successful season and continue to have KM a credit to our industry.
For ToddP
POPCORN AND LEMONADE was recorded by Harold Ronk for his LP album A DAY AT THE CIRCUS WITH MR. SINGING RINGMASTER. I seem to recall that part of it was used in the DeMille movie, but as incidental music during one of the performance sequences. It was published along with the other 1951 production number music as a tie-in with the film.
Kelly Miller as some nice photos and press from the date in Shepherd Tx.
Google "Shepherd chamber declares circus a success"
P.J.Holmes
Buckles,
Wow!!!! The comment that didn't pass muster yesterday mirrored all of these new comments. Johnnys thoughts about loyalty to anything that is nice to you and it not being accurate history, is something that has been stated in the past, to some angry responses. If you do not "demand" something from a producer, the mentality of "the audience doesn't care" as long as it is a show will never change. Oh yes, and "as long as you are getting paid, who cares." I suggest it will keep going down and down. And Johnny's thoughts hold true for hanging paper for acts as well as the show. As self serving as Harry statement was, the suggestion that a show is great because of a families participation is just as self serving and wrong.
Yet Ringling, which is still the biggest and I suggest has the greatest overhead, even with just 9 elephants, is whacked at every turn because it isn't what it used to be. Yet a show or a web number is touted as great even though it is not what it was either.
I should think we have a pretty good idea of "what happened here."
Wade Burck
I caught the Kelly Miller show yesterday afternoon and thought it was fresh. Casey's tigers were impressive in that it was about one year ago that I saw him and he had just added Tora. She has turned into a nice cat and the whole act was smooth. I like that he doesn't have props only seats and the cats only do a situp to start from them. Wade you must of made a good impression on Casey! The two feature clowns were very good and the Rolo Bolo act also. Doug Terranova showed up right after Casey ran through a practice between shows.
Gary,
Casey is an "eager" young man, who want's to do and try things different. He had stayed in a "comfort" zone at the start of his career, but realizing a need to change and advance the profession, given that he doesn't have the "cute an charming" crutch, LOL, he has taken to the concept like a fish to water. That open mindedness, and a willingness to learn, has made him a pleasure to deal with, and he has done extremely well, and I an proud of him.
Wade Burck
Addendum to Gary,
I hope Dougie didn't get there just in time to muck up what Casey has learned. LOL
Wade
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