Thursday, January 31, 2008

Zerbini Circus #3


DSC01850, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is there a reason this guy is wearing his big brother's trousers?

Anonymous said...

Yes, this seems to be in a lot lately and it looks awful (concerts, weddings, etc.)!
Carl

Anonymous said...

This show has a fortune invested in lights and yet they allow the announcer to wear dead black. I've never met a lighting designer that could make dead black look bright and snappy.

Thirty years ago, when all we had were quartz lights on poles around the ring, there was brighter and more colorful wardrobe. Now we have the most advanced lighting possible and everyone wears black.

Black is the conventional manifestation of mourning, sorrow and bereavement...very appropriate for pay day.

---
Part 2, Having been contracted to the TZ route, many years ago, we opened in Ft. Wayne and then had 2 or 3 months off, much to our surprise. Consulting an attorney who told us the phrase "as per route" could mean anything: one day, a week, a year, etc.

Our attorney poked so many holes in the "standard circus producers contract" that it looked like Swiss Cheese.


A lesson learned from a Frenchman with a loin cloth. Sacre bleu!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous,
If you had had the good fortune to meet Mr. James C. Hall 33 years ago, he would have tipped you off to all that mumbo jumbo and saved you the future grief.
A former Rated-Pro,
Wade Burck

Anonymous said...

Hello Bloggers:
Could someone please fill me in with some information about black wardrobe? I thought there always was a stigma with black wardrobe- that it was bad luck to wear it in the ring. I know Mr. Vargas absolutely went ballistic if anyone wore black wardrobe. Realistically, even with modern "mood" lighting, black wardrobe just does not show up, especially at any distance. And as a circus photographer, black wardrobe is the worst to photograph as it eliminates all detail. Thus the use of black in many magic and illusion props (i.e. the black arts). I suppose that black wardrobe helps to hide the dirt, but it depends on the dirt- Oklahoma red mud isn't hidden on black wardrobe! (From days spent on Carson & Barnes...) I agree that there seems to be a plethora of black wardrobe now and it just is not flashy- I don't care what you do to doctor it up! I suppose black may have a slimming effect, although on some very large people- it doesn't work. I would like to hear anyone else's thoughts, especially about the bad luck aspect. Are there any other superstitions associated with wardrobe? I know that Joanne Wilson & PeeWee Pinson told me that wearing yellow wardrobe on Opening Night is considered bad luck, since that was the color that Leitzel was wearing when she fell, but are there any others? I would really like to know!
Thanks,
Neil Cockerline

Anonymous said...

I'll assume the trousers are cut according to a "style." As a Wal-Mart shopper style is largely lost on me. In defense of the coat, assuming several changes through the show black certainly isn't uncommon anymore. I saw one gentleman recently in a jacket so colorful it looked like the carapace on some kind of flying beetle.

Anonymous said...

Neil,
I don't know where you got the idea Mr. Vargas didn't like black? That deal he had me dress up in at contract time was most certainly black, not counting the studs, and open crotch, of course. I'm sure Alan Gold and Wayne Regan can confirm this. Barbara, word had it you designed the costume. Is that true?
Wade Burck

Anonymous said...

Anonymous,
That lovely little town you refer to as "2 or 3 months off" is actually a popular repeat date, played quite often, called Pending. Some performer's have actually been insightful enough to get a mail delivery service from there. As I was counseled many years ago, "you had better learn your Geography Pal, if you hope to make a living in this deal.
Wade Burck

Anonymous said...

As to wardrobe for announcers, I feel that Brian LaPalme probably has the best wardrobe on the road today. He always has several changes during each performance and they are always in top shape. He also is one of the best announcers that I have ever heard. He gets the audience into the show and keeps them there.
Bob Kitto
POS: His peanut pitch was so great that at times he ran the venders out of product.

Anonymous said...

Bob,
I have to disagree with you on this. I think the sharpest Ringmaster is Dame Thomas Baker (or is it Sir? Help me out here, guy's) in the tail's he lifted off Ringling a couple of decades ago. I addition to holding up nicely like any well crafted Eves Brookes, they are therapudic for Paul Kaye. On a long, slow 3 show day when the great man is waxing poetic, and pining for the "good old days", when "ballet broad's were a dime a dozen" and Al hadn't taken flying lesson's yet.", all Tommy has to do is lift the lapel's of his jacket, and show Paul what color "it used to be". Calm's him right down, and he goes back to sleep until show time.
Wade Burck

Anonymous said...

The title "SIR" as in SIR BILLY BAKER cannot be passed from father to son since it is a honorary knighthood from the Crown.

In recognition of Mr. Tommy Baker's contribution to the circus and the endless joy that the circus brings to children world-wide, the Crown would consider granting the esteemed Mr. Baker an honorary position with the LADIES OF THE GARTER, a fine and noble bunch of broads.

Anonymous said...

Queen Lizzy,
Brilliant history lession. Thanks for the consistancy. My friend, Paul Kaye wanted me to ask you if you had an extra one of those "honorary" deals he could have. He also wanted to know how the circus scene is doing over there? He's thinking, probably straw house's, right? Come on, Paul, don't bust her hump. It's 2008. Why don't you make sure you have 689 web's packed for next year. You might need them. Barbettes cominging to help correograph.
Wade Burck

Anonymous said...

To the Honourable Mr. Burck,

By recommendation to her Majesty, the Queen, you have been appointed the Director of Nominations for the LADIES OF THE GARTER, colony side only.

Kindly forward your list of nominees to Buckingham Palace.

This noble position is one of great honour, we trust you will keep its heritage close to your heart.

As we say around the Palace:

An odd knight
during an odd night
is perfectly alright,
but you can never have
too many Queens

Cheerio!
Sir Slopily Shod

Anonymous said...

Queenie Babe,
Damn!!!! You whacked me hard with that sword. You are just supposed to tap lightly. Paul thought you broke my shoulder. He was already to start looking for a new dressing room mate for next year.
While I am honored at the position you have offered, and Lord know's I could use it on my resume, what with my PR campaign in full swing and all, you might want to reconsider. Take a look at the hey rube I started trying to work out judging protocol for that other inbred hemophiliac, on the other side of the lake.
Wade Burck

P.S Speaking of Sloppily Shod, what's your son been up to lately. Haven't heard much over here in the colonies.