The Greatest Show on Earth!! We usually go to Sarasota, FL in the early spring so our son James can get a glimpse of the circus performers as they ready for their trip on the road. We just returned from Sarasota today where we spent a few days with my sister and her husband. James in photo wearing a white cap.
Sunday afternoon we went to St Armand's park near Lido Beach (downtown Sarasota, across the bridge), for a ceremony to add 5 circus members to the Circus Hall of Fame. We thought James would enjoy hearing the Sarasota Circus band perform - and he loved the music.
Sunday afternoon we went to St Armand's park near Lido Beach (downtown Sarasota, across the bridge), for a ceremony to add 5 circus members to the Circus Hall of Fame. We thought James would enjoy hearing the Sarasota Circus band perform - and he loved the music.
Sarasota has been the home of the circus for over 50 years. Many years ago we would take the boys to see my sister and she would drive them past the circus practice areas where they could watch them practicing walking on the tight rope in the front yards of their homes, as well as other acts.
Emmett Kelley Jr. lived not to far from my sister and James would get her to drive him past his house. He has a very large ring and autographed photo of Emmett Kelley. Later he switched favorites and became a fan of Lou Jacobs. His daughter Dolly was at the ceremony Sunday and her husband was inducted in the Hall of Fame. We left before we saw her.
James' favorite was a clown named Bello Nock of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He is shown here waving as he rides on an elephant during a pachyderm parade to mark the arrival of the circus March 24, 2008 in Washington, DC.
Bello was inducted into the Hall of Fame and announced his retirement from the circus. He spent several years traveling with the circus and performing sometimes 3 times a day, several months each year. I took this photo of Bello last Sunday. Wearing a suit instead of his usual clown costume, he wouldn't be reconized as Bello except for his "tall, red hair".
Five persons (or groups) were being inducted including the Flying Calvarettas - 4 sisters and a brother. They came from California for the ceremony.
It was so much fun watching the circus family embracing each other at this ceremony when they saw their old friends and co-workers. James came away a happy person for having been a part of a circus celebration. He will remember this for a long time. And he will have photos of this special day.
