|
|
 |
12-31-2021, 12:40 AM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Arkansas Ozarks
Posts: 6,503
Likes: 7,835
Liked 36,378 Times in 3,893 Posts
|
|
A One Ring Circus
No, it really was a one ring circus. Mrs. Faulkner called me mid-day to let me know we had tickets to attend the circus this evening with #1 son, our awesome daughter in law and the two grands.
"What circus are you talking about?" I asked.
"They're having a winter circus down in Greenbrier. The Zoppe Family Circus people actually live there and they're putting on a one ring circus show for the town."
Greenbrier is a small town of just over 5,000. US Highway 65 runs north/south through the middle of town and it's on the direct path between Little Rock and Branson, Missouri. We know a lot of folks in the area, and Mrs. Faulkner said we'd received an invitation to come see the circus performance. Frankly, I was not all that thrilled about going but we don't pass up too many opportunities to get out with the kids.
As it turns out, the Zoppe Family Circus was awesome!! The Zoppe family has a history of circus performing that dates back to 1842 and they certainly put on a great show, and even in this small town they sold out all four nights performances and they announced they were going to perform an additional fifth evening due to the demand.
I don't recall that I've ever been to a circus before, and it was good family entertainment that kept the grands attention (3 and 6 years old) the entire time. I had to admit to Mrs. Faulkner on the drive home that it was actually a very entertaining evening, and the popcorn was great too.
__________________
- Change it back -
Last edited by Faulkner; 12-31-2021 at 09:25 AM.
|
|
The Following 46 Users Like Post:
|
6518John, 7shooter, arjay, Beemerguy53, bigwheelzip, cndrdk, Dashriprock, Davwingman, ditrina, Donna K, Golddollar, GUNMIKE, Iggy, jeffsmith, Jessie, JohnRippert, jscheck, ladder13, lawandorder, lkabug, LoadedRound, mckenney99, MDF4, Model 19 6", MSgt G, Mule Packer, Nedroe, Old Arkansawyer, Ole Joe Clark, Onomea, opoefc, Protocall_Design, Puller, Redbert31, RobertJ., robrossk, Rudi, s&wchad, SS336, stuartg74, sureshotbob, THE PILGRIM, tops, TX-Dennis, vonn, woodsltc |
12-31-2021, 12:45 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 8,042
Likes: 14,762
Liked 18,740 Times in 5,903 Posts
|
|
Very cool! Another tradition under attack by the snowflakes.
__________________
No baby we aint
|
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-31-2021, 01:41 AM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: North Mississippi
Posts: 2,254
Likes: 5,910
Liked 9,620 Times in 1,689 Posts
|
|
I love the circus, my parents used to take us every year.
__________________
Live long and prosper
|
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-31-2021, 03:07 AM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 35,561
Likes: 331
Liked 32,147 Times in 15,297 Posts
|
|
I thought all the circuses had bitten the dust. Except at the Circus Circus in Las Vegas. At one time there were quite a number of them traveling around the country. Too many other entertainment options are available today for circuses to draw any crowds.
For some interesting reading about 19th Century circuses, look up the name Adam Forepaugh.
Last edited by DWalt; 12-31-2021 at 03:10 AM.
|
|
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-31-2021, 03:11 AM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 14,776
Likes: 1,476
Liked 20,504 Times in 8,122 Posts
|
|
That is SO cool. I didn't know there were any actual circuses still in existence.
Last time I went to a circus was about 1975 or 1976. It was Ringling Brothers, which sadly doesn't even exist anymore. Just like drive-in movies.
__________________
Send lawyers, guns & money...
|
|
The Following 6 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-31-2021, 03:41 AM
|
 |
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2014
Location: AR—Town & Country
Posts: 7,649
Likes: 82,457
Liked 26,901 Times in 6,130 Posts
|
|
We were at one of their shows when an errant dog in the dog act decided he was hungry, jumped out of the ring and snatched my son’s hot dog right out of the bun! My son is a nearly grown man now at 17 and still talks about it like it happened yesterday.
People in the audience thought we were part of the act but we were just larceny victims of a hungry circus mutt!
Rudy Heinen & Carla Zopp'e | Zopp'e: An Italian Family Circus
__________________
No school like the old school.
|
|
The Following 10 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-31-2021, 10:06 AM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Virginia
Posts: 8,865
Likes: 10,603
Liked 15,212 Times in 5,253 Posts
|
|
Good old fashion live non-digital entertainment.
Excellent! It’s been many moons since I’ve been to a circus. I can almost smell it.
__________________
“Look life in its iron face”
|
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-31-2021, 10:33 AM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ALBUQUERQUE, NM
Posts: 14,746
Likes: 8,594
Liked 27,191 Times in 9,149 Posts
|
|
Way back I lived in Peru, IN which had been the Circus Wintering Town until they wised up and went to Florida.
There were a number of Circus folks there including Human Cannonball W W The Great Wilno.
__________________
NRA LIFE MEMBER
Last edited by THE PILGRIM; 12-31-2021 at 10:45 AM.
|
|
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-31-2021, 11:08 AM
|
|
Vendor
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Kansas City area
Posts: 6,864
Likes: 68,856
Liked 15,854 Times in 4,872 Posts
|
|
Ah yes... The roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd!
|
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-31-2021, 01:22 PM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: OH
Posts: 2,460
Likes: 9,394
Liked 7,453 Times in 1,943 Posts
|
|
When I was a kid growing up outside of Cincinnati, the Shriners sponsored a real 3 ring circus every year or every other year at the old Cincinnati Gardens. My dad, my best friends dad (who was a Shriner and always got the tickets for us) my best friend and I made a night of it. Really good memories.
|
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-31-2021, 02:10 PM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 7,560
Likes: 4,315
Liked 11,098 Times in 4,159 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by THE PILGRIM
Way back I lived in Peru, IN which had been the Circus Wintering Town until they wised up and went to Florida.
There were a number of Circus folks there including Human Cannonball W W The Great Wilno.
|
Pretty much Peru's only claim to fame.
|
12-31-2021, 03:39 PM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Mid NC
Posts: 3,600
Likes: 4,874
Liked 5,728 Times in 2,130 Posts
|
|
Looks like a good time was had by all.
|
12-31-2021, 06:02 PM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 798
Likes: 475
Liked 1,236 Times in 330 Posts
|
|
My company sponsored the Zoppe appearances here for their weeklong stays in the summers of 2010 and 2011. They put on a fine circus -- took me back to my youth!
|
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-31-2021, 09:30 PM
|
 |
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Piedmont of Virginia
Posts: 4,358
Likes: 4,679
Liked 6,342 Times in 2,472 Posts
|
|
When the circus came to town, (Ringling Brothers, and Barnum & Bailey)
I would volunteer to pull security. It was great roaming the back tents meeting the performers. Some were very interesting to say the least. Several were very good at spinning tales. They all loved working for the circus.
|
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-31-2021, 09:49 PM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: The Rugged Llano Estacado
Posts: 4,505
Likes: 30,890
Liked 9,873 Times in 2,983 Posts
|
|
Took my kid to see Ringling Bros. when he was young. He loved it, and I have to admit that I enjoyed it too. That was shortly before they did away with the circus elephants. Those trained elephants were one of the highlights of the show along with the tigers. Then there was the guy who did the funny bicycling act where his bike kept coming apart. In the end he was riding a bike so small I was a bit worried it might disappear up his backside.
My only previous circus experiences had been as a youngster at the local Shrine Circus performances. I don't remember them as being very exciting.
__________________
Or something like that . . .
|
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
