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Big
John Strong's Circus Gallery
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4 1973
& 1974
AFTER TALKING TO MY OLD FRIEND JOHN JR. I AM HAPPY THAT WE ARE PAYING TRIBUTE TO THIS GREAT MAN. I COULD WRITE A BOOK ON HIS FAMILY AND CAREER.
I WILL TRY TO BE BRIEF BECAUSE I PLAN A CHAPTER(S) IN MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY...
THE DAY THEY FIRED THE BAND!
I FIRST MET BIG JOHN BACKSTAGE AT JOHN ASCUAGAS NUGGET IN SPARKS, NEV. 1973. HE WOULD VISIT SLIVERS MADISON WHO WAS THE ELEPHANT HANDLER. I WAS THE BACKSTAGE GROOM.
SLIVERS TOLD HIM I WOULD MAKE A GREAT GAZOONIE. (A NEWLY HIRED KID...FIRST OF MAY, ETC.) I SENT A LETTER TO BIG JOHN ASKING FOR A JOB. I WAS RECENTLY DIVORCED AND WANTED TO 'HIT THE ROAD' BOY I DID!
I MET HIM IN A TERRIFIC RAIN STORM IN PHOENIX. HE LET ME SLEEP IN HIS OFFICE TRAILER.
MY JOB WAS TO DO A BRIEF MAGIC ACT AT $150 A WEEK...AND RUN THE BALLOON STAND. I MADE MORE MONEY SELLING BALLOONS THAN THE MAGIC. I HAVE LEARNED FROM THAT.
IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS HE "PROMOTED?" ME TO ADVANCE MAN...ADS, RADIO, SCHOOL TICKETS, POSTERS, ETC. HE PAID ME TO SEE THE COUNTRY.
BILL BIRCHFIELD
Photographs
©
copyright Ron
Sanford, all rights reserved.
Post here courtesy of John Strong
III
I would like to thank Linda for the
descriptions found on each of the
photographs.
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Click On The Photos Below To View
Full Size. |
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Black & White Images - Lincoln
Nebraska 1973 |
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The Cannestrelli
Kids |
Circus pony |
Prop boy ?
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Circus clown ?, Big
John, Sandi Strong, Tex ? |
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"The Wendany Family"
Heidi, Papa & Betty |
Heidi Wendany & the
Circus Doggies |
Circus Clown aka
Harry ?
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Harry the Gorilla
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Big John & circus fan
?
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Betty Wendany &
circus fan ? |
Little John, circus
fan ?,
& Julius Squeezer |
Julius Squeezer
wrapped around circus
fan ? |
Little John, circus
fan ?,
& Julius Squeezer |
Baby Neena II
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Baby Neena II |
Circus Light-Plant |
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Circus Sleeper Truck |
Sleeper Truck |
Baby Neena II |
Baby Neena II |
Baby Neena II |
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Baby Neena II |
Circus Pony |
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Circus Main Entrance |
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Mr. Canestrelli
blowing ball of fire |
Mr. Canestrelli
blowing ball of fire |
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Little John selling
S.S. tickets
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Little John & Julius
Squeezer
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