Page 23 - The Outdoor Showman July - September 2023

RODEO NEWS
Old-time US parade wagon, 1880s
Jansen Grant, while Infamous returns to Australia, fills in on the Wheel at American Circus, at mid-Pacific Okinawa
Stardust Circus rehearsing part of its 14-man teeter-board act 22
The late Clive Lohta, sway-pole handstand, high above Melbourrne Shopping Centre
Gary and Caroline Brophy, Weber Bros’ Circus, with offspring
Big Top Productions (Brisbane) proprietors, Simon and Cindy Bowdler
Diego Bonaldo, back after broken limbs
Eroni’s well-bridged Big Top
Chris ended up three days in Bundaberg hospital with a broken leg and bad facial injuries.
Las Vegas wedding
Stardust Circus closed for three weeks in late July, to let about 20 family and rellies fly to Las Vegas, USA, to see Gene West marry long-time girlfriend Christie.
All seven of Jan (West) Lennon’s children were at the Flamingo Hotel, one of
The Strip’s highlight establishments, and most followed up with tours
to parts of the US and Canada.
It followed Stardust Circus’s mixed six months on the NSW South Coast and Canberra, then an excellent season at Rosehill, Sydney.
Three weeks at Penrith ended Sunday, 11-20 August, then four weeks Blacktown Showground, Miranda, Manly and Warriewood until the December 3 Christmas break.
There are now 14 in the knockout teeter-board act, with new costumes and choreography.
Ricky Ashton-Harrison is consistently catching the triple and double-double in the seven-person flying trapeze act.
Glen west is out of this, after 25 years catching and flying.
More on Stardust: Joel West’s daughter Shania and Wayne Helliwell now have their own second daughter, Isabella Kyren.
Joel’s second daughter, Shay, and boyfriend Chonco are performing in China, heading to Mexico.
Quick Round-up
Silvers Circus, Circus Royale and Eroni’s Circus are all in Victoria. They all say ground rents are grossly high, but winter business has been good.
The Great Moscow Circus, after best part of a year on Western Australia, is crossing the Nullarbor to open in Adelaide for the September school holidays.
THE Circus (Harry Weber) played Darwin in June, then a 3,000-mile jump to Townsville, North Queensland, then Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, Cannonvale Beach, Rockhampton,Bundaberg, Hervey Bay.
Fred Brophy, the last boxing show
(probably in the world) played N-W Queensland and the Northern Territory again this winter including the iconic Birdsville Races.
Beaver Brophy took time out to win, not one but two, camel races at Western Queensland carnivals.
Separately, Diego Bonaldo is back on motorcycle the globe after his fall and broken ribs earlier this year.
Eroni’s Circus ballet rehearsing choreography, new opening number
Goldie and Mini-Goldie, Hudsons
Perry Bros’ elephant semi, 1990s
THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN 21