Well, I am far from being a child anymore, but still my heart yearns for the adventure that a circus can bring.  It has been over 30 years since I have seen one, and I thought, “I believe I am overdue to see one!” I sought to check it out, and maybe write a light-hearted story about it. It was a good excuse to “play hooky.” 

The big tent was going up for the Kelly Miller Circus of Hugo, Oklahoma.  It was like a small town of 77 dedicated, and talented persons that travels about to 36 states. They perform 546 performances a year. They hail from 7 foreign countries. Twelve acts do in two hours what many of us just daydream about in our past time.

Well today was my day to run off and join the circus!

I watched the many workers set things up.  Then once the canvas tent was laid out on the grassy field, 12 men and 8-canvas crew had the stakes laid out.  With the help of a rare Asian elephant, they put up the 55-foot tall tent.  (It was well worth it just to see the elephants.) A female Asian elephant was named Viola moved 36 quarter poles, 12 side poles, and 4 huge “king” poles like they were matchsticks. 

My guide was a clown named Harlo Conn. He was quite the public relations person as he told other people who had come to watch the 160 by 160- foot tent going up. This was just the tent, as the best was yet to come!

Well playing hooky was fun with others who were as intent as I was to

escape the everyday life and look into what a circus performer’s life was like.

Many performers had been with the circus from 10-24 years.  I had stayed with a job that long, but I do not feel that it was as exciting, or as much a feeling of accomplishment as these persons of Kelly Miller Circus.

There were all the midway rides, the acrobats, the trapeze artists, the animal performers, and my favorite, the clown acts. Besides Harlo, there was Clara, and Tony whom are all very accomplished in getting the crowd revved up between the acts, and helped keep things interesting as people were getting setup to perform. The ringmaster was out in his top hat, tall, black boots and long coat tails. They had a live band that played the daylights out of some popular music that added much to the atmosphere. People rode the elephants during the intermission. It all came together to make for an evening of performances that my wife and I enjoyed along with several hundred other persons.

So we all get a chance to escape, and enjoy the wonder of the circus.  They had been to Royce City, Farmersville, and Whitesboro. This Good Friday, March 24th, and Easter Saturday, March 25^th, the Kelly Miller Circus was in the town of Frisco.   So if you happen to be in the Frisco area this Friday or Saturday, then please, go play hooky, put those important things on the back burner for a while. Have some popcorn, cotton candy, and the peanuts.  Take the kids, (and the kids at heart) for an adventure, and a wonder.  Escape to the circus and see the wonder of it all. Go run away and join the circus, if only for a day! 

Send questions and comments to Joe Blevins.

http://www.texasjoe48@cs.com/

This elephant assist with tent poles.

The Big Top

Pony midway.

Harl the clown.

German wheel revolver.

Families enjoying elephant rides between intermission.

Clara the cartoon clown.

Lots of circus goodies.

Acrobatic handstand.

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