The Ericksons
Posted By thecircusblog on August 25, 2009
This photo was taken sometime in the early 1950’s. They too were on the Siebrand circus.
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The Hodginis
Posted By thecircusblog on August 25, 2009
This photo was taken in 1950 or 1951. Some of these photos came from the Donita Roche collection. She and her husband “Poncho” Frank Roche are both deceased now. The photo’s then went to Dorothy Carson of the Royal Rockets skating act. They were also on the Siebrand circus. Now I have them for the circus blog…. thank you Dorothy
Duke Sport and Tucker
Posted By thecircusblog on August 25, 2009
These 3 of 24 dogs was the original dog act that my father broke for my mother in 1943. The greater majority of all the dogs we had came from the dog pound……. My dad had a thing about the under dog, he always gave them a brake.
Hike and Pete Siebrand Visionaries
Posted By thecircusblog on August 23, 2009
From left to right Hike and Pete Siebrand. Photo was taken by Wade Cavanaugh of the Arizona Republic , Phoenix, AZ. Photo was shot in the early 1950’s. This was a publicity shot for the show.
The Rivalry of the Circus and Carnival.
Siebrand Bros started their show with a merry go round in late 1920’s. As the show grew larger, the Siebrands knew something was missing so they added the circus in the mid 1930’s. The reasoning for this addition was they loved the circus and wanted the best of both show worlds. Good family entertainment was brought forth that would offer the public something different. For several years their show flourished. Circus performers came for a season or two then went to larger circuses. On a few occasions other circus performers would make negative remarks about your being with a carnival as the the two were like……. oil and water…… I’ll explain later. The Siebrand circus played a week at a time in each town and your days were usually free. It was a perfect place to brake in a new act and get payed for it. Many fine circus acts were created on this show and became very successful. There is a vast difference between circuses and carnivals. The circus offers entertainment with performing actors and animals in an array of production numbers. The carnival offers games and mechanical rides. To this day sometimes the two are confused by name. This is where some of the problems start. Several years ago there were a few carnivals made themselves a bad reputation and were not invited back to the town they had played. The reasons are not relevant now after so many years. The rub came between the circus and the carnival when carnivals stared to paint clowns, performing animals and such on their trucks and semi trailers …..this they thought would soften their image. Some would even hire a clown to walk the midway. It got to the point where circuses had to explain who they were and the difference between themselves and carnivals. Thanks to time, bad things don’t last too long. Siebrand Bros along with some other fine carnivals combined there shows with the circus and it proved successful. In these modern times the circus is on it’s own again as well the carnival both having success in their own right……Just don’t paint clowns on your ride semi’s.
The Zavattas
Posted By thecircusblog on August 23, 2009
Monte and his father Oglie 1959, Siebrand Bros circus. The Zavatta Family were with the Siebrand circus two or three seasons. They had two acts…. a comedy unsupported ladder and a dog act. The dog act was quite different than other dog acts. Oglie was a self taught electronic genius. He put his talent to work by building miniature cars, trucks and a plane that were all electronically controlled. Along with a few basic tricks, the speciality of the act was these dogs operating the miniature vehicles,without question a big hit with the audience. This photo represents circus family ingenuity. Monte’s mother became ill and couldn’t preform in the comedy ladder act. Monte had to learn the act almost overnight and took his mother’s place. After a few weeks Irma Zavatta came back to the act and Monte was the family hero. Soon I will be posting more on the Zavatta family, along with Geno Zavatta the younger brother……….Thank you for your comment David……… More photos to come.
Lacy’s Seals
Posted By thecircusblog on August 23, 2009
The Lacy Seals…. what a great act. It has been so long ago since Dad and I worked with them, I cannot remember the last time. Going though these old photos is an absolute pleasure for me and to be able to share them with others makes me happy. It’s almost like being back in the ring again.
Semon’s Chimps
Posted By thecircusblog on August 23, 2009
This was one of my favorite chimp acts. Semon had a smooth and well performing chimp act. The thing about having a chimp act is you never get tired of working the act or watching them. Any chimp trainer will tell you that there is a connection between man and the ape. What makes it interesting to watch them is that you can read what they are thinking, especially when they are getting readyto nail you. However this does not happen often, they are doing what comes naturally to them. Once the conflict is over it’s love and kisses again………….. Kind of like being married.
CoCo and Grace Fairburns
Posted By thecircusblog on August 23, 2009
How I remember the two of them! It seemed to me that they were funnier out of makeup than in. Gracie was constantly yelling at CoCo. She had to because he was very hard of hearing to the point of almost being deaf or maybe he just didn’t want to hear what Grace was saying to him. It was comedy at it’s best. CoCo knew what you were saying as he could read your lips. Then he would answer you with a twisted up conversation that had no meaning. It would make you think you were deaf. So now you are standing there confused and scratching your head and with a smile he would turn his back and walk away. CoCo loved every second of it…………………SO DO I. I just turn off my hearing aids and the world becomes so peaceful.
Chet Juszyk
Posted By thecircusblog on August 23, 2009
Louie Goeble’s Lion Farm and the World Jungle Compound, later called Jungleland, most likely is responsible for more wild animal trainers than I can think of. Chet Juszyk did his cat act at the compound and also went on the road with different shows. Jungleland was also a great haven for animal trainers from all parts of the World to come and get new ideas for their acts. I recently discovered that Chet lives about 30 miles from me on the west side of Phoenix. I spoken with his wife and he is doing well. Of course he is retired now and taking life easy.
The Great Bruno
Posted By thecircusblog on August 20, 2009
I don’t care how many times you saw this act, when Bruno would trip the lever and the sway pole fell away it would run a shiver up and down your spine. The gravity force had to be tremendous. Bruno must of had a strong body as not to be pulled apart.
SEE…………. Comment from a grandson……..click on comments.
Also………………………………………….. Comment from Dave Lanning.
Thank you Mia for your comment.
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