My all-time favorite Ringling spec music was the score for the 109th Edition’s “Circus Toyland.” Most of this music would have been as familiar to circus audiences back in the days of the original Ringling Bros. as to those in the 1970’s: “Toyland” from “Babes in Toyland” (Victor Herbert), “Circus Toyland” (an original song), “I Can’t Do the Sum” from “Babes in Toyland” (Victor Herbert), “Twenty-Second Regiment March” (Victor Herbert), “With Lance in Rest” from “The Fortune Teller” (Victor Herbert), “A Slippery Place Rag” (Phil Hacker, 1911), “Doll Dance” (Nacio Herb Brown), “Mister Clown” (played when Lou Jacobs was introduced), “China Doll”, “March of the Toys” (Victor Herbert), “Manhattan Beach March” (Sousa), “The Teddy Bear Express” (an original song used for the miniature train that carried children from the audience around the arena), “The Toyland Menagerie” (another original song), and an ending that seamlessly combined “Toyland Menagerie” and Victor Herbert’s “Toyland.” |
Monday, August 24, 2009
1979 Ringing Spec Payoff Elephants
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12 comments:
Actually, most of the music by Victor Herbert, Sousa, etc. would have been MORE familiar to circus audiences of yesteryear.
For the 114th Blue Unit Edition, which played San Diego in 1984 and which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Ringling Brothers’ first circus tour, an unusual amount of care was taken to insure that the musical program would have a traditional, old-time circus sound. Instead of an electric bass, the long-banished tuba was (temporarily) allowed back into the band, while a clarinet was used instead of a 2nd Alto Sax. Old-time traditional circus music was much in evidence, particularly in the first half of the performance. It was also the last edition that Irvin Feld lived to see. After he was gone, someone within Ringling’s upper management decreed that the Circus’ musical programs would emphasize jazz-rock-pop at the expense of the more traditional material. (This was especially true after Bill Pruyn vacated the position of “Musical Director” in 1990.)
See Mike the back door is in
the corner as I suspected
Eric that's not ALL that changed
after Irvin was no longer there
It was all downhill after that
Could that be Bob Harrison
down front on the floor
You could always tell if a show
was on it's 1st turn or on the
"rodeo route" by the last digit
in the edition number
Chic,
Actually, the San Diego Sports Arena has openings at both sides of this end. After these payoff elephants exited the arena, they had to make their way around through the backstage area to get to the back door that opened to the outside. The opening to the right was actually closer to the back door. I'm not sure why they just didn't continue around to the right and exit the arena by that opening.
Chic,
I don't understand what you mean about edition numbers....the 101st edition would play two seasons as the 101st Edition. The edition number did not change to signify it was the second year of the tour.
Maybe I misunderstood what you were saying.
If the last digit of the edition number, such as the current 139th, matches the last digit of the year, 2009, then it is the new show on its first year tour. Next year, 2010, the 139th will be on its rodeo route or second year. The new unit will be the 140th touring in 2010--both of the last digits are the same.
Dick Flint
Baltimore
Eric I still think these look
correct as shown because if you
blow up this photo the letter
R on the 2nd jack in the box
reads correctly and the high
wire rigging is in the front
Jack what I meant is the 1st
year of a show the last digit
of that year matches the last
digit of the edition
At least they did in my time
Chic, I have to agree with Jack - the Edition numbers did not change. What I have noticed is that the Blue Unit was Even Numbered Editions and started their premier run on the Even Numbered Years and vice versa for the Red Unit. This year the Red Unit was the new show. ~frank
Thanks for clarifying, Dick and Chic. Now I understand what you meant. I had never realized thst.
When editing the program books, we would revise the second year books as necessary -- often the running order of the Program of Displays (which they have sadly dropped from the programs). Sometimes an act would leave and new act arrive so, of course, that would be changed. And, in the course of the first season, it wasn't unusual to get some better photos too. But we surely didn't change the edition number.
Thanks Dick please explain it
to Frank as I NEVER said that
the edition number changes
It seems that this formula
still holds true
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