Mr. Showman

As 2014 comes to a close, I am posting a photo of a gentleman that I feel represents the talents, qualities and graciousness of today's American circus personalities. Ward Hall has been with and for the circus since he started his circus career at age fourteen. A multi talented individual, Ward is a most congenial, pleasant and well liked by all that have the privilege to know him. He is a true American showman.

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PERSONAL NOTE:

I want to thank all of the men and women of the circus industry for allowing me to enter their busy personal lives for a few minutes to take their photo. To a person, you have been most gracious, friendly and welcoming. You may like to know, that since this blog was started

last year, there have been over 25,000 visits to the site from around the world. As I have several hundred more photos to post, the blog will continue in 2015. To all those fine folks associated with the "traditional American circus", I wish you a wonderful, safe and prosperous new year!

Sincerely,

Don Curtis

Great Catch

Carson & Barnes Circus veteran, Marco Cavallini, does an illustrious job as the catcher for the famous "The Flying Cavallinis" trapeze act.

Right Person For The Right Job

Ringling Blue concessionaire Karina Jimenez is just the right person to work in the shows' Ringmaster zone. A five year veteran, she is outgoing, friendly and a pleasure to talk with.

Slinking Along

Native Bulgarian, Peter Avramov, is a former Cossack rider. He now has a unique and amazing center ring act where he dresses and performs as a human slinky.

All Around Circus Girl

A veteran Carson & Barnes performer, the lovely and talented July Coronel is an aerialist, elephant rider and showgirl. The show is currently wrapping up the 2015 season.

Tossing & Turning

8th generation circus performer, George Coronas, spins and tosses his partner, Ashton Miles, during their acclaimed Risley act.

Starting Young

Pretty four year old Violet Valla is the daughter of well known circus performers, Vlastek & Kim Sue Valla. She rides atop her father's shoulders during the family unicycle act.

Tossing Things Around

A native of Mexico, fast as lightning circus performer Thomas Agular is a world record holder juggler.

Beauty Aloft

Charming Ana Cavallini performs with skill and grace as a flyer with "The Flying Cavallinis" The act is a feature with the mighty Carson & Barnes Circus.

Extraordinary Canine Presenter

Circus performer David Rosaire , along with his wife Sandy, is known for his unique western themed dog act.

All Around Equestrienne

Circus lovely Liz Loyal is a seasoned performer.She and her daughter, Aurora, shine in the ring as part of her husband Timi's equestrian act.

Perilous Presenter

Colorful and talented circus performer Bruno Blaszak presents a fast paced and entertaining tiger act.

A Grand Lady

Normally this blog is reserved to show photos of circus personalities who have been active from the year 2000 to the present. This posting is an exception because it is dedicated to an exceptional lady, Helen Belleti Warburton. Helen started her circus career at age sixteen and became a top mounter with the Belleti high wire troupe; an act that toured with various circuses during the 1930's and 40's. 

Helen passed away on November 11, 2014 at age 100. She was a personal friend, a dedicated circus fan and one who's wit and charm will be missed by many.

A Long Way From Home

Seen performing on Kelly-Miller Circus during the 2014 season was Amina Bayartsaikhan. She and her partner, Zaya, presented a unique and beautiful hand balancing/contortion act on the show, Both young ladies are from Mongolia.

Ponderous Act

Circus elephant trainer Chip Arthur knows his animals well and how to present a perfect act.

Dancing Daredevil

Tall and lovely Flavia Costa is a circus dancer who also performs daring feats on a giant revolving wheel.

Serious Cycler

Circus performer, Ryan Jordan, takes his work seriously, as he well should. He constantly puts himself in harms way during his daring motorcycle act.

Circus Cowgirl

Lovely Carson & Barnes Circus showgirl/dancer, Maritza Stephano, styles for the camera prior to the show's production number.

Realizing A Dreaam

Las Vegas native and Ringling Blue Unit clown, Rudy Uresti, recently realized a dream as he filled in as Ringmaster on the Blue Show.

Silky Smooth

Circus performer,  Magali Rojas, together with partner Chino, perform a beautiful, yet daring, silk act.

With The Greatest Of Ease

Alex Cortes of "The Flying Cortes", a well known circus trapeze act, combines skill and daring as he wows the audience.

Lyre Lovely

6th generation circus performer, Darinka Zerbini (Mrs. Julian), is proficient in both aerial lyre and hula hoops. Her acts can be seen on the Alain Zerbini Circus.

Bearing Up

The name Rosaire is well known and respected in the American circus business. Derrick Rosaire, Jr. lives up to the name as he and his brother, Frederick, present a fine trained bear act.

Cavorting Canines

JoAnne Wilson is a well known and respected in the circus profession. Her act centers around well trained dog high jinks.

Jovial Juggler

Friendly Ringling Red Unit clown Oscar Lierdo, Jr. is from Laredo, TX. He, like other performers, are looking forward to a break as the show closes for the season.

Up, Up, And Away!

Romanian lovely Lavinia Coman springs to great heights as part of "The Romanoffs" teeter board act currently on Cole Bros. Circus.

Strength & Skill

As the support man in the family perch pole act, veteran circus performer Jorge Rosales is always looking up.

Eqine Elegance

Ringling Blue circus performer, Tatiana Tchalabaeva, presents grace and skill while presenting her trained horse act.

Young Ringmaster

A native of Mexico, Jairo Ojeda is the very adept Ringmaster on the 2014 edition of Carson & Barnes Circus. The show is currently wrapping up its 78th season.

Loss of A Legend

Sadly, Struppi Hanneford,  a great lady of the American Circus has passed away. She will be greatly missed and remembered as a wonderful performer and owner/producer of The Royal Hanneford Circus.

Gold Dancer

Photogenic Karlyn Sims comes all the way from Australia to dance with the Ringling Bros. Circus Gold Unit. The show is currently winding up the 2014 season.

Hand To Hand

Circus veteran Giorgio Marinof  has been performing his daring cradle act for over 30 years. His lovely wife, Luisa, joins him in this skillful and dangerous routine.

Busy Lady

Jeannie Hamilton is a Unit Administrator for Feld Entertainment and she has overseen concession operations on all three Ringling circus units. She is currently on the Gold Unit which is about to wrap up the 2014 season.

To The Point

Circus performer Jose' Vital is an excellent archer and blindfolded he can shoot an apple off of his lovely wife Brola's head.

Adagio Aloft

Charismatic San Francisco native Elena Sanders is a student of dance and aerial artistry. She can be seen performing in the 2014 edition of Cole Bros. Circus.

Bottoms Up

Now appearing at the Big Apple Circus in New York City is well known 8th generation performer Giovanni Anastasini. He performs both  great Risley (Icarian) and Diablo acts with other family members.

Put On A Happy Face

Jonesboro, Arkansas native Amber Perry is a concessionaire with Ringling Bros. Circus. Her artistic talents magically transform patron faces into happy clown mode.

Many Talents

Shown in clown makeup, circus great Tim Tegge also produces his own show and is an expert on the history of the American circus.

A Natural

The lovely Jennifer Walker comes from a family of distinguished circus performers and she continues the tradition by presenting a fine mixed animal act.

Juggling Responsibilities

Raul Olivares Guerro not only is the performance director on Kelly Miller Circus, but he also performs a juggling and a small dog act in the show.

Beauty Aloft

Charming circus performer Jasmin Castro wows the audience with her fearless walking on the high wire.

A Good Catch

A great circus trapeze act needs a good catcher and catcher Antoly V. Huaman has perfect timing as he performs with "The High Flying Pages" troupe.

Down Under Delight

Dancer Elly Meyers comes all the way from her native country Australia, to perform with the 2014 Ringling Bros. Circus Gold Unit production of "Super Circus Heroes".

Big On Laughs

New to Cole Bros. Circus clown alley during 2014 is Monterrey, Mexico native Hector Leonardo. This personable young man also greets patrons on the midway prior to the show.

Skilled & Ballanced

As a member of the China National Acrobatic Troupe, lovely Wei Cao performs in the unicycle, bicycle and diablo acts on the current Ringling Bros. Blue Unit show "Legends".

Cheerful & Convivial

Ben Hutchison, as shown on the Carson & Barnes Circus, is in charge of all of the elephants during set-up, elephant rides and performance.

Record Setter

Personal friend Tina Harris, together with her husband Ron, has sold more Ringling Bros. programs over the years than any other concessionaires. Currently Tina is on the Ringling Gold Unit.

The Beat Goes On

Amiable Kelly Miller Circus drummer "Lucky Eddie", along with fellow musician Marshall Eckelman, provides the background music and cues for the acts and audience enjoyment.

Doggone Good Act

Currently appearing at the Big E (Hanneford) Circus is charming Russian native Yanina Minnestrelli. She and her husband, Serge,' perform a unique canine act. 

Simply Amazing!

A very nice guy and extremely talented circus performer Casey Boehmar presents a skillful and unique juggling act.