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Monty Barnum’s Travelling Circus
I don’t know where to begin with this horrible tale of mystery and death among circus folk, but I suppose, at the start, is as good a place as any.
It all started when we arrived in Rose Hill for the next show. Everyone helped with the circus tent construction – that’s the way it is with circus folk, we all have half a dozen jobs. Me, I was the circus strongman act: breaking chains and ripping directories apart but I was also the ticket collector and programme seller as well the one needed for the placing of the centre tent pole at each new location. Oh! and the occasional ring master.
Well the preparations for the show went ahead as scheduled. We had the big opening parade: great crowds btw. Let me tell you who was there:
There was Rudy Horn , one of the all time great juggling acts. He led the parade pedalling his unicycle while flipping seven teacups and saucers onto his head. That wowed the crowd , especially the final touch with the teaspoon.
Then there were the acrobats: Xia Juhua, she too could balance bowls, on her feet.
She was followed by Robert Hobson (of The Flying Nelsons) back flipping all over the place.
Not to be outdone Mr Kite was front flipping just as much.
Behind them came Pablo Fanque and his troupe of horses. That always got the crowd excited.
By then the crowd was ready for the clowns: Grock and Felix Adler . They brought smilies to people’s faces.
Coming up next was the knife thrower Harry McEvoy a young blade and the sword swallower (that’s a mouth full), The Mighty Ajax . Following was Xavier Chaubert the fire eater. ‘You’re toast’ he would say and people backed off.
In this group was Emanuel Zacchinis , the human cannonball ‘He looks like Superman’ said some in the crowd.
Following them was the tightrope walker; Charles Blondin. Say no more.
After him we had Clyde Beatty restraining a lion on a leash. and then the trapeze artists Jules Leotard and Alfredo Codonas . Finally we had Hugo Schmitt with his elephants.
Tornado Smith wasn’t in the parade, being too busy with his Wall of Death and Gypsy Rose was very busy showing young men the future, least that’s what she told us.
It was all started out as a normal circus day.although this one was for the Benefit of Mr Kite.
I don’t know where to begin with this horrible tale of mystery and death among circus folk, but I suppose, at the start, is as good a place as any.
It all started when we arrived in Rose Hill for the next show. Everyone helped with the circus tent construction – that’s the way it is with circus folk, we all have half a dozen jobs. Me, I was the circus strongman act: breaking chains and ripping directories apart but I was also the ticket collector and programme seller as well the one needed for the placing of the centre tent pole at each new location. Oh! and the occasional ring master.
Well the preparations for the show went ahead as scheduled. We had the big opening parade: great crowds btw. Let me tell you who was there:
There was Rudy Horn , one of the all time great juggling acts. He led the parade pedalling his unicycle while flipping seven teacups and saucers onto his head. That wowed the crowd , especially the final touch with the teaspoon.
Then there were the acrobats: Xia Juhua, she too could balance bowls, on her feet.
She was followed by Robert Hobson (of The Flying Nelsons) back flipping all over the place.
Not to be outdone Mr Kite was front flipping just as much.
Behind them came Pablo Fanque and his troupe of horses. That always got the crowd excited.
By then the crowd was ready for the clowns: Grock and Felix Adler . They brought smilies to people’s faces.
Coming up next was the knife thrower Harry McEvoy a young blade and the sword swallower (that’s a mouth full), The Mighty Ajax . Following was Xavier Chaubert the fire eater. ‘You’re toast’ he would say and people backed off.
In this group was Emanuel Zacchinis , the human cannonball ‘He looks like Superman’ said some in the crowd.
Following them was the tightrope walker; Charles Blondin. Say no more.
After him we had Clyde Beatty restraining a lion on a leash. and then the trapeze artists Jules Leotard and Alfredo Codonas . Finally we had Hugo Schmitt with his elephants.
Tornado Smith wasn’t in the parade, being too busy with his Wall of Death and Gypsy Rose was very busy showing young men the future, least that’s what she told us.
It was all started out as a normal circus day.although this one was for the Benefit of Mr Kite.
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