International Circus Hall of Fame

When you talk about great circus music, you have the names of Fred Jewell, Karl L. King, Sousa and Merle Evans come up in the conversations. Here's a nice display dedicated to Merle's fabulous career on the circus bandstand.

Peru Youth Circus

This evening we were astonished at the professional performance of the Peru Youth Circus. Every performer is under the age of 21. We saw so many things that just aren't seen in the travelling circus anymore. There were double traps, swinging ladders, iron jaw on three occasions, rolling globe, teeterboard, unsupported ladders, cradle acts, six ladies on a 6 trapeze configuration and three young ladies in a cube framed design. That was really interesting. The flying trapeze even had a flyer piggy back over to the catcher on another flyer.

 

You hear some people say they have a bucket list. This HAS to be one your list of things to go see. You won't be disappointed.

Peru Youth Circus

This incredible team of performers did some amazing tricks and climaxed their act with the seven person pyramid. needless to say, they received a standing ovation.

What a great morning!

The Welcome wagon was set-up right beside this beautifully etched glass near the pool of the Best Western in Circus City.

Welcome to Peru

 

This was this year's official souvenir poster for all of the Convention goers.

Magic Lantern Projector

Having never seen a Magic Lantern Projector before, this was pretty interesting stuff.

Magic Lantern Slides

Dick Moore brought his amazing collection of hand tinted magic lantern slides in from Connecticut to amaze everyone with turn of the century color photography.

Circus Music

 

 Charles Conrad brought a unique presentation to the stage when 25 members of the Indiana Symphony came to play pieces of circus music that was interwoven into his story of the European travels of the Barnum & Bailey circus bands.

Grand Prize Bidder

Tonight's auction featured a rare 1892 lithograph from Strobridge that was mounted on linen. The winning bidder this year was Daniel Lyon from Canada. What a great piece.

Let's get started!

This was the Paul and Dorothy Kelly Circus Farm. The Cole Bros. Circus came to rest here. Some of the wagons didn't sell at the auction around 1997 and have remained right where they were ever since. I was told tonight that Eddie Kelly is now living in a facility nearby.

Let's Get Started

Here's part of the showcase exhibits at the Miami County Museum in downtown, Peru.

Let's get started!

This is the triple headed stake driver that was at the Paul Kelly farm for so many years until the auction there around 1997 when it was bought by the International Circus Hall of Fame.

Let's get started!

The Robbins Bros. Circus was based out of the Rochester Winter Quarters which is about 20 miles from Peru.

Let's get started!

This forge is located inside the wagon sheds at the International Circus Hall of Fame. As you can see, when they were building the wagons they were doing their own fabricating of steel at the same time.

Lot's to do in Peru!

 

If you are coming to Peru during Circus week, you HAVE to see the Youth Circus.

Lot's to do in Peru!

You won't want to miss the Miami County Museum's collection. The Museum is housed in the old Ben Wallace owned Dept. Store. They have quite a circus collection to do research in as well. I've been there most of the day myself.

Lot's to do in Peru!

 

Art and Grace Johns were good friends of my aunt and uncle, Bill and Gen Lerche. We had the chance to meet them when we were young. Many of you remember Art as a show painter who painted above all the cages at the Kelly farm / Terrell Jacobs barn.

Lot's to do in Peru!

You should go see the International Circus Hall of Fame members board while in Peru. You'll see the names of some circus legends there.

Lot's to do in Peru!

Perhaps you would like to get your tickets here. Dom Yodice will be glad to give you a ticket you can exchange for a paint brush and a gallon of paint.

Peru - here we come!

 

The day has finally arrived when the train heads for Peru, Indiana. Having spent two glorious days at home again with my mom and my brother, it's time to head for the huge Circus Historical Society Convention in Peru. Come on, let's go!