Norbert
Posted By thecircusblog on December 8, 2013
The wonders of the circus and a carnival side show. Norbert “PooBah” Terhurne was one of those wonders….. 1930 to 2012. He performed for Ward Hall for 55 years. He made a good living for himself and never asked for anything but a stage on which to present his talent.
I once had a hot debate with a news reporter in Sacramento, Calif. who took exception to the sideshow workers that were on the carnival and circus at the back of the midway… just a small circus , no names mentioned. I was the fixer of the show at that time and for some unknown reason some one pointed me out to help this reporter to get his story. I listened to all of his degrading talk concerning the miss treatment of the side show performers and how they were being taken advantage of. My response was not exactly what he was expecting. I told him that these people are making an honest living. They are not run=rounds or bums, and they are not on welfare, and will never be. They are the type of people that have pride and honor and they live in the true spirit of doing the best you can with the cards you have been dealt. Now Mr. reporter, would you like to interview some of my friends? No he said and walked away. In he next days paper there was a story written about how great the fair was and how the fair workers were so professional.
PooBah was not part of the Sacramento jack pot. His photo reminded me of that time in the 1985.
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