BIG John Strong
Posted By thecircusblog on May 10, 2010
How well I remember this fine man. I cannot think of one person who spoke ill of him. He was larger than life and gave every one a smile. John Strong a true legend in the circus business. Comment made by Molly.
Also a comment by Ed. He use to work the circus phone room.
Thank you Stefano for your comment on the name of the elephant.
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thecircusblog
My name is Ivan M. Henry and I am the 4th generation of a circus/show business dynasty. I hope you enjoy the blog.Comments
22 Responses to “BIG John Strong”
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I traveled with Big John Strong Circus from about 1970-1980. I worked as Poco the Clown with a comedy car, a juggling act, and a dog act. Aside the those acts and general clowning I sometimes went ahead of the show, and worked phone rooms.
Big John was like a father to me, I remember how he bragged at one point that I was the only clown he ever paid $100/day! He will always be in my heart like a father, a friend, and a benevolent employer.
On July 14th, 1976, I had the pleasure of spending my birthday enjoying The Big John Strong Circus in Busti, New York. After the performance, a wonderfully friendly clown struck up a conversation with me, and arranged for me to ride on the elephant, quite a treat! Poco the Clown and I became penpals, and at one point I was even invited to join the circuit. Unfortuneately my obligations wouldn’t allow me to accept that offer. I lost track of Poco after a couple of years, and have often wondered how he was.
Don, It is nice seeing the post from you. I hope that all is well with you. I would love it if by any chance you could direct me to any pics of you as Poco (the ones that I had taken were lost such a long time ago, sadly so was the poster you sent me).
Smiling Always, Toni Gray
Big John Strong used to come into Griswold’s Smorgasbord in Redlands, California, where I was a waiter in about 1977 to about 1980. I was often his waiter and he was always such a pleasant person. He even invited me to come and watch them practice their circus acts which I did. He was a great guy and so were members of his family that he brought in.
Wanted to say hi to Don Young/Poco!! You trained John Maguire to be a clown! He left Lompoc, California to go with the circus! My brother Tim Janssen was also with the circus! He dated Chris. Wally, the tent boss was also from Lompoc.
Wanted to say hi to you! I just got out all of my pictures today! What memories.
I’m actually trying to find John Maguire. He is living up north near Sacramento I believe.
You were the greatest and I hope you are doing great!
Diane Greenlee
Hi Diane. I read your post above and had to write a reply. I am John Maguire’s daughter, Molly. How fun it is to read your posts. John (Pete Moss) is doing great and is still in the Sacramento area. I am sure he would love to hear from you all and will pass on this information.
Molly Maguire
well folks, this is a blast from the past…I was on John Strong from 1964 to 1976 in one form or another…and John Maguire, we used to call him bird legs Maguire…he was web sitting me and I fell from the foot loop and landed on him!! had a broken collar bone…I was subing wed for the band’s daughter because she ran off with Wolfman…and so it goes!!!! miss all the hard times,mud,wind and blow downs…white line fever was Wally”s favorite thing to say…and Mr. Henery, I remember your grandparents with love…they were circus stars…we had some interesting times at Jungleland… all for now heidi
Thanks to everyone who speaks so highly of my Father Big John Strong. He was one of a kind and loved by all whocame into his path. He loved live so much and his family and friends were tops to him.
John Maguire dated my oldest sister Sandy for a few years. She would love to hear from him.
Much thanks again for your special thoughts…..
Circusly yours,
John Strong IIi
Little John (Only son of Big John Strong) Blood son…..Only blood child period….
World Finest Shows and Events
johnstrongshows.com
I may very well be the web girl that ran off with wolfman, my memory is fuzzy, My dad was Dennis, mom Lynne, sister Mandy. I dont know if I was still called Bobo back then, at some point i shortened it to Bo. I remember little John fondly. Chubby kid that my sister and I teased unmercifully. Wow, major blast from the past!
After speaking with my mom, lynne, it is indeed me that ran off with wolfman (terry). However I have confused little john with a boy named John-John from the Royal Bros circus that we traveled in Canada with. John John was the chubby kid I spoke of, not sure if I remember little john at all. But I do remember the larger than life presence of Big John Strong. I believe the year we traveled with his show was 1976, the bicentennial year and he wore a red white and blue costume that was similar to Uncle Sam. My mom remembers Heidi.
i have met three men in my life that were instrumental in my love for show business…
my dad, richard skelton and big john…what a guy! why can’t we do a reunion?
col. bill birchfield…birchfieldk1@yahoo.com…606 768 2350
I traveled w/Big John & Ruth on & off during the 1971-1973 seasons as did many kids from the Wenatchee Youth Circus that went on to tour with not only Big John’s show but several others as well.
What a memorable time…
Still in touch with Linda & John(Little John). Chester, Sandy, Heidi, Fred & Betty, Bones, Meatball, Jan (now Biggerstaff) etc.
Also wrote a series of 6 articles on those days & detailing many of the exploits & adventures that were published in “The White Tops” between May 2007 thru April 2008 titled, “Why Flying is Easier”.
A Center Ring Full of Love to all of us kids of all ages- David Frederick Pugh
Didn’t mean to make it sound like was currently in touch w/Heidi, Fred or Betty…just that they were on deck during my stints with the coolest of circus entrepreneurs, Big John !
I ran a boiler room for Holloway Productions in San Bernardino, CA. We sold tickets for the for the John Strong Circus sponsored by the local Jaycees. Big John spent a couple days in my office using one of my phones to do business. He definitely was bigger than life, and louder, too. It was hard for anyone else to use the phones because he hollered so loud when he carried on a conversation. He always liked putting on a show in my town because I made it a point to deliver tickets to every children’s organization, hospitals, schools in town. We packed the tent. Holloway didn’t like it because he was afraid he’d have to pay for a second show.
The show was great because the kids were able to sit right down near the ring and almost touch the acts.
The elephant’s name was Nina.
I remember fondly.
See you down the road.
Many fond memories -Big John’s Circus played on the grounds of my Elemetary school every year (Roche Ave School in Porterville, CA) from the mid 60s to the 70s. I always looked forward to hanging out with John – his son, we had a once a year friendship that started because we shared the same initials. He took me behind the scenes and let me be a part of the family while they were there – and Big John always joked with me about running away and joining the circus, though I never had the nerve. Some of the best folks I’ve ever had the privilege to call friends.
Did Big John’s Circus ever appear in Falconer or Busti, New York in 1945 or 1946? Did they feature live animals, specifically cougars or black panthers? Any help would be deeply appreciated.
Becky Rosen
Jamestown, New York
I just posted a pic of Poco and Me. Circa 1977. My husband, Glen, and I traveled with the circus for a few months taking pictures. One of the best times of my life! Big John left an indelible on me. I will always remember him and the incredible people I fell in love with.
Wow, this site brings back so many long forgotten memories. Big John Strong Circus came every year to Humboldt County California Fair in the 60s and 70s. I would go with my big sister and we always somehow got front row seats. I remember the elephant, the clown car, and especially the family who had the high wire acrobatics act. I think it was a mother, father, and daughter. Well, at least I remember the daughter because she was my age and I was in love with her I wanted to run away with the circus and learn to do high wire. Obviously, that never happened but my memories of her carried me through each year until the family returned with the circus. Through the circus I imagined my way out of some tough times as a kid. It’s strange, you imagine a circus just to be a diversion, but in fact it touches many peoples’ lives on many different levels, and over time.
Looking for Don Young, who responds to the above post….worked with him in Iowa 1n 1982, wondering if he is still around?
Wow, what a great set of posts. Names like Don Young (Poco), John Maguire (Pete Moss), Heidi and everyone. Show people talk about First of Mays being newcomers to the business referring to the date a lot of shows in the old days would open their seasons, the First of May. Well, in 1976 I joined Big John Strong and his show into the 4th of August at Canton, Illinois. And I stayed and grew professionally with the show thru the 1981 season.
As I have said many times, I would trade a day of my life to spend one more hour with Big John, he was that fascinating and interesting a man and showman. He was also best man at my wedding when Chris Burrell and I married on Oct. 23, 1981. What an incredible human being.
Bill Schreiber
Hey I used to drive the elephant truck & work with Wally had some great times. Still remember bringing the elephant truck to my moms in San Diego & showing Nina off.So many great memories
Wondering if anyone remembers my husband, David Dague. Worked as a clown and a canvas boss for Big John Strong and other shows. He died in 2012, but always had such great stories about his time with the circus.