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Thanks for the Memories as
the theme song of Bob Hope stated so eloquently.
And like the big "Ta Da" chord at
the end of an act, here goes "Ta" and "Da".
If I turn to random bits of road
stories at this point, I kindly thank you ahead of time for
your indulgence. I suppose indulgence is what could be
expected from you all, being the seasoned troupers along the
sawdust trail you are. Whether you're on the
performing side or in the stands, please consider this my
humble ante into the ever expanding circus ring.
In so much as many of the have
puzzled about, "what is the bit about why flying is easier"?
Well my answer would be it's all about the safety net.
It's only there in the circus as a real backup device.
In life outside the center ring we
have to construct our own safety nets - so to speak - and
most of the time there are no guarantees, just faith that it
will all work out. In the circus, for a flyer,
highwire performer or any aerialist, with the employment and
safety of a net or other safety rigging we take on
"acceptable risk". Thanks to my friend and the fist
catcher I ever flew across to - Joe Anderson - for the one.
He should know since for many years now he's been on a
"search and rescue" team in the pacific Northwest and
witnessed a myriad people who took on "unacceptable risks"
only to find themselves in need of a safety net as it were.
As it turns out, with the
advantage of age and a dash of wisdom accompanied with a
healthy dose of perspective, one begins to see other
examples of safety nets. For me these would be in the
form of so many of the amazing, wonderful and colorful cast
of characters that I've been privileged to share the circus
life with.
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The Big John Strong Circus
playing in David's
hometown of Wenatchee, WA in 1971. |
Chester Cable; Jack of all trades,
master of none; I think not!
Chester was more like Jack of all,
journey of several and wizard of more than a few! On
the Big John show of 1972 and '73, Chester was the "go-to"
guy for everything. Besides doing a great risley act,
he & his family were like a second family for several of us
that were with the show at the time. He taught us all
by example that almost nothing that breaks can't be fixed -
those were also know |
as the "duct tape days". When
everyone was sick and still having to do shows in December
of '72, Chester just said, "Hey, David here's twenty bucks,
Go to the liquor store and grab some Courvoisier"!
Believe me it did the trick. We
got the tent up and the show went on.
Then on many occasions his wife
Banda (nee Cristiani) would call to a couple of us in her
thick Italian accent, "Hey Ricky, Davey come in the trailer
here a minute," at which time she'd get a few big bites of
her famous chicken cacciatore or lasagna or minestrone into
us and then shoo us back out with some half hearted
admonition so that nobody else would know what she was up to
in spoiling us.
Of course they both came loaded
with all kinds of circus stories, too, and so there was
never a dull moment. One of my favorite's of Vanda's
was her telling of one time during her early years with
Ringling when they were doing spec and as a showgirl was
riding one of the elephants. Well anyone who knows
Vanda is award of her ample endowments. On this
occasion her elephant was bouncing along when one of the
straps on her two piece costume top broke and she found
herself riding along putting on quite a show fro all to see.
Then there was another couple of
great women - this one goes back to the first 40 years or so
the Wenatchee Youth Circus. "Mama" Gwen Endrizzi was the
head cook, mother of twin performing sisters and an
expansive family of her own with her husband Chester, who
was Dad's right had man as well as his other identity as
"Chula" the clown. Gwen, along with my own mom Kay
(aka "Mama Guppo") were always there (safety net) for all
the kids on the show. From cooking all the meals to
being a shoulder to lean on or a sympathetic ear when the
situation called for it, both these class acts were not only
very necessary, but an invaluable and much appreciated part
of the youth circus.
The circus itself can provide the
security and safety at any given moment for all those that
travel with it. One example that comes to mind is when
Big John played in the heart of Detroit during the summer of
'72. This was a particularly heavy year for arson and
as it turns out, our setup was right in the heart of the
"arson district".
Therefore Chester had us
completely cordoned off. We "circled the wagons" and
battened down the hatches" around the tent and
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