Back when I was in high school (1961-1964) Cleveland’s Public Hall would host the Sportsmen’s Vacation and Boat Show every March. (The Grotto Circus would be there in February, and the Metropolitan Opera in April! Talk about a multi-use facility!)
As part of the Sportsmen’s Show, there would be a thrill show that utilized a large stage with a water-filled tank. This thrill show, which was presented 2 or 3 times a day, included animal and circus-type acts and was even accompanied by a live band. (The bandleader was Sam Willis, a local Cleveland musician who also led the Al Sirat Grotto band. I believe he even conducted some Grotto Circus performances one year when Jack Cervone had to leave early for another commitment. I remember that every year he would use “Circus Echoes” galop for a thrill show act that featured retriever dogs swimming around in the tank, trying to catch a live duck.)
The thrill show emcee was Frank Weed who, according to the souvenir program, appeared at Sport Shows around the country. (One year, his 17-year- old son Gary appeared in the show, presenting rattlesnakes.) The program also said that, among other things, Frank was a deputy sheriff in Dade County, Fla., so perhaps a few of you out there know him or Gary.
Anyhow, here are some scans from my old Sportsmen’s Show programs from back then. Perhaps seeing these names will jog some memories and generate some interesting posts.
Eric
P.S. They still hold a Sportsmen Show in Cleveland, but not in Public Hall. And there is no longer a thrill show. |
6 comments:
When we played the Al Sirat Grotto Circus, we parked the trailers in the huge basement, while we were there they would be building full size houses for the Home Show. We were awakened every morning to the sound of hammers & power saws.
"Sports shows" were booked into arena spaces across the country and many had the same basic formula. I wouldn't be surprised if the same promoter(s) booked them using different attractions in various geographic areas. They had the tank shows, thrill acts, booths for everything from resorts to casting lures. It was a means to build the recreation audience while bringing winter-time revenue into large municipal structures. It's in a long line of promoted operations including political conventions, circuses, auto shows, ice shows, sports events and what not.
The Sports Shows;
were allot of fun to be in it.
The Theron Bicycle act.did allot of them.
after the act, we would be learning how to casting,
a great time.
Mireille.
Why did they stop having the Shrine Circus? I was 5 or 6 when i met Clyde Beatty for the first time here. I helped Guy Gossing as a cage boy here in 1968,texas dates in 1966 and Detroit ,69.
Gordon -
Shrine shows are still going on today. Contact your local Shriner's group for information. The quality of the shows vary from location to location. ~frank
To Frank, I know there are Shrine Circus's going on, i was asking why they stopped having the Grotto Circus in Cleveland?
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