Posted By thecircusblog on October 7, 2008
Just to the left is the circus. The show lasted about 30 minutes, then the blow off. Pete would start the bally on the base drum, and the pitch began. “Hey… Hi…. Look Over this way, wonders of the world here and on the inside, and your just in time.”
Posted By thecircusblog on October 7, 2008
The Circus was set up in the grandstand arena. On this day we did an afternoon performance. The Carnival is in the upper part of photo. Siebrand Bros. Circus 1953.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 7, 2008
In 1982 I was putting together the Teen Age Fair in Las Vegas, NV For Bill Capell . I needed a strong act, so I called a friend and agent by the name of Dennis Condon. He put me in touch with Wolfman Jack who later became my friend as well.
Thanks Dennis.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 7, 2008
I met Jose while I was working in a motion picture called “Jumbo” at MGM studios. He was a couple sound stages away doing a Mexican character in a cowboy movie. When Jose was not working in movies, he did a comedy/musical act at Alvera Street in LA. It didn’t take long for us to become friends, and I later hired him when I started producing shows at the National Date Festival, Indio, CA and The State Fair Midway owned by Larry Davis.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 7, 2008
I can not even remember h0w many shows we worked together, A fine performer and person.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 7, 2008
Bongie was trying to do a complete headstand, but his feet would hit the canvas, so I went to one knee and he made it. I was told it put a smile on E.K’s Fernandes face. Bongie would make up his comedy during each one of his tricks. It seemed that he paid attention to the audience reaction and what the audence liked ….he did more of and he got funnier as the act continued. Of course I played the part of the serious animal trainer. I guess you could say I was a monkey’s straight man. Bongie was about a year and one half old when I first acquired him. He was easy to train and never let me down.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 7, 2008
1963…. Ivan in Hawaii with the E.K. Fernandes Circus. The season before my Dad was with me. This season he had Pan American Shows out on tour, so I did a single. I was in Hawaii for 10 weeks and played all the islands.
Posted By thecircusblog on October 7, 2008
Mickey, the high diving dog, she closed my mother’s dog act. This trick was only used where there was enough height to put up the pegged ladder. For those concerned, there was never an accident. Mickey lived to be 17 years old. Dad retired her at 14.
