Page 26 - The Outdoor Showman July-September 2021

CIRCUS NEWS
Gotta get better!
If 2020 was bad for circuses, 2021 has been worse.
As one proprietor said “Things have gotta get better. They couldn’t get any worse.”
Sudden lockdowns, unable to move, unable to show, unable to plan - no income, and no sign (so far) of anyone catching the Covid19 virus.
When Jobseeker finished at the end of July, the few non-staff employees battened down for hard work back on the road.
Lockdowns meant that that didn’t last long. Everywhere masks, and almost- compulsory anti-virus jabs.
At one stage in mid-August, 13.5 million Australians (out of 26 million) were locked down. Agricultural shows and big productions did no better.
Here’s how most shows fared.
Stardust did well early on the year on the NSW South Coast, had three good weeks at Manly (Sydney, their first visit ever!) and a top month at Castle Hill.
Then they moved to Rosehill Racecourse.
Not the carpark facing Rosehill Road, where they’re building the new rail line. Carpark number two, off to one side, not nearly as visible.
All set up, two shows under their belt
- and lockdown. Last show June 26th. No gallopers either. Sydney-wide, and later State-wide. Seven weeks no-show and more to come. Total for 2021: eleven-and-a-half weeks’ showing
“We’re now trying to get clearances to get back to the property on the Hawkesbury,” co-proprietor Jan Lennon said. “Probably not until November, with all these lockdowns.
“That’ll be it for us, for the year. Better luck next year.”
Meanwhile the last Australian performing lions are preparing to
go to a relatively new zoo at Wyong, Central Coast. Trainer Matt Ezekiel Smith, and the whole Stardust family, miss them terribly.
The monkeys have already gone to Susan George’s monkey retirement private zoo, in new cages. It’s
estimated she’s got about 50 now, but her licence says they can’t be sold or go on display. (No logic, but that’s the law!)
In Canberra, things are no better for Silver’s Circus, presenting another big Sesame Street production. The Capital Territory is in lockdown, after its first positive virus cases in 18 months.
Lot of sight-seeing, but no income for the Anton and Anna Gasser operation.
A few kilometres away, in Queanbeyan, Shane and Nancy Lennon are holed up at the Showground.
They can’t enter the ACT without going into a fortnight’s quarantine, and ACT people have to do the same, and cross the NSW border, to get to them. So, no shows.
The Great Moscow Circus is locked down at Wyong. Webers look like being there until it ends.
In Victoria, it’s even worse.
Damien Syred’s Circus Royale has held on-and-off (mainly off!) performances in Melbourne’s West and Northern suburbs.
But no sooner could he get set up, but Chairman Dan would close the city, or the whole State. That’s after almost a year on one site!
Tony and Cathy Maynard’s Eroni Bros’ Circus, at Geelong, probably won’t show this year.
In North Queensland, Lennon
Bros’ Circus had the run almost to themselves but the economy up
that way was on its knees. Low sugar prices, travel and tourism basket cases (no international air traffic, and very little local), plus big layoffs because
of the virus.
But Cheryl Lennon says everyone loved the mild winter. Rockhampton, Mackay, Bowen Townsville, Cairns, Emerald, all fair to excellent business.
With Gladstone and Bundaberg next, they want to make Brisbane for the September-October school holidays.
Circus Rio is already there, but not showing until then.
‘Infamous’, Pepe and the Ashtons’ cabaret circus, has probably done best of all Australian shows:
consistently good houses after it left Brisbane’s Rocklea Showground for the Southport Broadwater.
They’re at North Lakes from late August, and their 18-plus-year-old audiences love ‘em.
It’s a good job that all those left standing are circus tough!
Sonny Gasser
24 THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN
The eldest of the three Gasser Brothers, who changed the style of circus in Australia, died in early June. Ernest (Sonny) Gasser, aged 87, had battled ill-health for several years.
Best known as Chi-Chi the Clown, he starred in his brother, Frank’s, Circus Royale, throughout Australia and New Zealand, for more than 30 years.
Born into European Circus royalty (his mother was a Bauer, the oldest circus