"America's Favorite Circus August 22 2008"
THE KELLY MILLER CIRCUS SAILS ON OHIO'S NORTH COAST
By: John Polacsek
A return engagement is something that the management of a traveling circus usually works into their route, and this year's return to Kelleys Island in Lake Erie was no exception. This resort town really steps and welcomes the circus back each year. The logistics for moving the whole show across some five miles of water for a two day stand went extremely well. The Kelleys Island Ferry Boat Line knows how to arrange the various house trailers, semis and trucks of the circus to maximize their ferry deck space.
The first contingent of the circus made the 40 mile jump from Norwalk, Ohio to the Marblehead Ferry Dock in the early evening of August 3. I found Jim Royal, the general manager of the Kelly Miller Circus parked in the staging area and awaiting the arrival of the ferry Shirley Irene. The weather was perfect, and Jim noted that the show had good business in Ohio, and the staff was looking forward to their time on the island. The performance was a well mixed one, and other than no one to operate the spotlights during the performance, the show was moving forward and hoping to fill a few vacancies.
Jim introduced me to Myrna Silverlake who was in charge of the cook house. Her family goes back a number of years in the circus business and she even remembers booking the 1974 Lewis Brothers Circus through Texas. Myrna had started the season shorthanded as the lady who was to help in the cook house was unable to get a visa. A young man helped out for a while, then Sister Mary Jo Bryne & Priscilla Buhlmann arrived. Sister Jo made her job easier, and she was sad when she left. The next morning I saw a notice on the ticket wagon that a position in the cook house was still open.
The ferry dock was busy as more house trailers and equipment rolled in. I noticed a Rhode Island license plate on one of the cars, but did not have a chance to talk to the occupant. It turned out to be Bruce Johnson, a CFA member who was on the show acting in the capacity of videographer. He has worked on a number of video productions about the circus. The goal was to create a library of B-roll showing setup, activities around the lot and the performances. These video clips will be woven into future commercials and a production that can be sent to potential sponsors. In addition to providing a video documentary, he worked the front gate, and ran errands as his car allowed him easy entry and egress to the lot.
Marcella & Harlond Conn were waiting in line, she works the front doors and he was still clowning. He does the 'meet and greet' at the front door, and distributes the special prize balloons that are the incentive during the peanut pitch. During the Mexican dance number he adds a bit of atmosphere by leading in a costumed donkey into the ring. He noted that there were turn away crowds in Massachusetts, which was a positive sign, and this may mean that the show would return to the New England area next year. The next morning I saw Harlond directing the crowd as the big top went up. He noted that the crowd on Kelly's Island was great, and did not disperse until sometime after midnight when the elephants were unloaded.
The ringmaster John Moss was busy setting up the back door curtain and stage. It was pointed out to me that those circus historians who want to date their photos in the future should note that the words John Ringling North II Presents was above the Kelly Miller Circus logo only in 2007. The back door curtain now has colored duct tape over the JRNII. The title America's One Ring Wonder John Ringling North II Proprietor was painted on a number of the show's trucks for the 2008 season. John was still having a fine time on the show and is a great ringmaster. He did note however that everyone on the show was working to see that things ran smoothly and that the employees were "With It and For It". However he did mention that at the end of the performance he "volunteered" to help hook up the seat wagons, even though it was not considered a piece of 'cherry pie'.
Ben Trumble recently joined the show coming from the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus, to help manage the menagerie. It was an offer that he could not refuse, and he has worked to keep the animals in good condition. I met Ben when he was on the Carson & Barnes Circus and he is quite knowledgeable about the daily ins-and-outs of the circus. For those with internet access should check out his blog.
With Ben was a "First of May" Jeremy McDill, from the State of Missouri, who had joined the show in early July. With a CDL in hand he was trying to find his calling in the circus. He was technically under Armando Loyal in the menagerie department, and was being generally useful' as he helped the tent crew, assisted the mechanic & electrician, and worked props during the performance. He was making his new home in the cab of a semi, practiced juggling and was going to apply for the position in the cookhouse.
Armando Loyal is in charge of the three elephants on the show, Lisa, Becky and Tracy. Business for the elephant ride was picking up, and he was working on fabricating a new custom built howdah. Speaking of new rides, Armando was on the internet and found a new Percheron in Oklahoma. He had his mother pick up the horse, and she came back with two horses instead of one. The previous owner broke the animals and was not satisfied with the results, so hopefully the Loyal Troup can work them into the riding act.
Casey Cainan from Paris, Texas was the master of the Siberian tigers in the cage. He has a bit of history surrounding him as the arena is the one that Wayne Franzen worked in for a number of years. The cages that the tigers occupy also came from Brian Franzen. Even the props were well used as the seats for the tigers came from Gopher, and they were originally used in an act that was presented by Walt King of Washington, Michigan.
As it turns out the circus was going to play Romeo a few days later, which was just a few miles from where Walt King lives. After a short phone conversation to Walt, he said that he might attend the show, if nothing else to see the paint job on his old lion act props.
Circus history is alive and well on the Kelly-Miller Circus and more history will undoubtedly be made in the future with John Ringling North II Proprietor.