Remember when Circus City Festival started out on the vacant lot. Remember
when we were able to move to a tent on Canal Street. Remember when in 1968
we performed in the circus building without a roof. In 1969 the building had
a roof, and we didn’t have to worry about the weather. Many changes have
occurred since the tent days. Many wonderful people have been a part of our
program. We are looking for those wonderful people.Circus City Festival will be doing a lot of remembering as we look forward
to our 50th anniversary. July 11 through July 18, 2009 will be our
anniversary celebration, and we would like to have as many former performers
as possible attend the celebration. We are also looking for former board
members and volunteers to add to our data base.

If you have worked with the circus in years past, please contact us with
your current information. If you know of someone who should be included,
please have them contact the circus office. We would like to see many
familiar faces in 2009.

To make contact with the circus office:

E-mail

perucirc@perucircus.com
Phone 765-472-3918
Fax 765-472-2826
154 N. Broadway
Peru, IN 46970

    The Hall of Fame is involved in many different events throughout the year and the 5th annual Gala and Art Auction at the Eagles Club in downtown Peru, was once again a real winner. All the art work is created by local area artists and then donated with the proceeds going to help the Hall of Fame.

    The Hall of Fame once again sponsored a work week that allows any and all who want to come help, the opportunity to clean up the grounds, repaint wagons, restore, and visit with a huge group of Circus Fans, Model Builders, and Historians all enjoying the opportunity to participate on a volunteer basis. The old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey cage # 74 is next on the list of wagons to be restored to its former glory.

    West Baden, Indiana was the home of Ed Ballard, one of the owners that bought the greatly enlarged Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus from Ben Wallace in 1913. His original home and the two show owned hotels downtown still survive even though the entire winter quarters no longer exists. With Bill Cook buying the two hotels and restoring them at the tune of $450 Million dollars, the West Baden area is re-developing their circus heritage. The International Hall of Fame was able to present a huge show there doing 15 performances in one week. The show included Brian Franzen with his tigers and elephants, his wife Irene Franzen and her Lady in the moon aerial act, the Alvarez family with their teeterboard act, single Trapeze act, and a hula hoop routine, Pat Kelly was the resident clown again this year and they added David Zoppe’s dogs and Monkeys, The Juggling Kim Bros. and the Zachinni family’s aerial acts.

    Their summer peformance season gave three fun filled weeks of live performances featuring the Franzens, the Alvarez family and Pat Kelly. The Circus City Festival also occurs during the July activities and the Hall of Fame provided many of their wagons and performers in the grand parade on Saturday Morning where they had 40 units in the parade. The Hall of Fame was also honored to return to the Indiana State fair again this year for the 5th time giving 30 minute “Free Attraction” shows through out the duration of the Fair.

   This years inductees to the International Circus Fall of Fame were Circus performer and show owner, Tommy Hanneford and the legendary one finger stand artist “Unus”. Next year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Circus City festival. The Circus Model Builders will be having their National Convention in Peru next year along with the many other fine events going on. You can visit the International Circus Hall of Fame at http://www.circushof.com/ or call them at 1-800-771-0241.

The new show, on a nearly yearlong, 10-city tour, is called “Play On!” and will run Oct. 23-Jan. 18 at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park. Presided over by ringmistress Carrie Harvey, “Play On!” features Grandma, one of the best-known smile masters in clown world, played by Barry Lubin.

Other performers are drawn from countries around the world including Russia, Italy, Belgium, China, Germany and Columbia.

Tickets are available by calling 212-962-5471, 888-541-3750, or at the Web site, http://www.bigapplecircus.org. The show’s box office, located at Damrosch Park, opens Oct. 18. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday and Monday. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.