Shannon has made me an official Computer Nerd by showing me how to "copy and paste". I'll begin by showing this interesting eMail from Toby Styles that informed parties might comment on. In this instance, I'm not of any help to Mr. Styles at all, generally speaking the 24 Hour man would have the lot cleared and prepared before the show's arrival and a "22 Car Show" doesn't sound right, the Railroad rates were determined by incruments of five so a 22 car show would have to pay for 25. Circus tents can be surprisingly flexible, out in California, showing Shopping Center parking lots with Sid Kellner, his boss canvasman Nick Bangor would put up the old Mills Bros. 120' top and on more than one occasion he would have a light post sticking up thru the lace line half way up the tent and once we had a row of parking meters in front of the grandstand.
Dear Mr Woodcock I thought you might be interested in this story and hopefully you can fill in some of the blanks. Shortly before retiring from the Toronto Zoo, I was part of a team invited to Cochrane, Ontario a small town 425 miles north of Toronto. A town deep in the boreal forest. They were planning a tourism driven project and wanted to include Polar Bears, the town is not in Polar Bear country but is the terminus of a popular tour train named the Polar Bear Express. The zoo realized that there was a need for a place to help in the rescue of orphaned polar bears, and so we were happy to help. Last year they opened a wonderful facility that is good for bears and people. While there I was shown around town to look at various potential sites. One was near the local school,while driving by the school my guide explained that the original site for the school had been cleared by elephants from a visiting circus. Needless to say this story intrigued me; I have just come upon an exert from a book , Northland Post,The Story of The Town of Cochrane by Alice Marwick. In the book the author refers to a circus (no name ) evidently 3 rings traveling by a train of 22 cars, which when it arrived in town found the proposed show grounds covered with tree stumps she describes how the circus used three elephants named "Big Jumbo", "Tim" and"Tony" to clear the site. I wondered if you might have any information on the above incident? Thanks for your help. I really enjoy your Blog keep up the good work.
Sincerely Toby Styles |
1 comments:
I remember on the Vargas show setting up with light poles thru the lacelines, cars inside the tent and the grassy islands and plants, including tall palm trees. Once right in the middle of the show the sprinklers came on! Good thing they were away from the rings and the audience.
Lee
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