Star-Phoenix from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada • 39

the STAR-PIIOENIX Saskatoon, Thursday, April 17, 1975 39 Canadian was first to motorize circuses Brothers Motorized Circus Andrew was the only brother behind the title which became the first successful road-based outdoor show. The show thrived until the end of the 1938 season although Downie sold the rights and title to Charles Sparks in the spring of 1930 and retired to his home in Medina, N.Y., where he died the following December at the age of 67. "Next season he was out on his own with a 10-car railroad show called the La Tena Wild Animal Circus. He enlarged it to 15 cars and toured central Canada in 1916. Downie leased the Walter L.

Main Circus from the veteran showman and ran it for seven years, engaging the celebrated Mae Wirth equestrian troupe as a centre-ring feature at the then fabulous salary of $1,200 a week. The great experiment came in the spring of 1926 with the STRATFORD, Ont. (CP) -The man who took the circus off the railroads and put it on motor vehicles spent his boyhood here. Andrew Downie McPhee was born in Stephens Township near Exeter, in 1863. In his early boyhood the family moved to Stratford, where he learned tumbling in his fathers bam.

He got into vaudeville doing spade dancing and breakaway ladder acts and filling in as an acrobat, wire-walker or juggler. In a pinch he could even work animals. Andrew Downie, as he was known in the show world, tried his first managerial venture at 21 when he and a partner launched the one-ring Downie and Austin Parlor Circus. Two years later he went back to performing. Late in 1889 he joined a man from Greenville, to form the Rich and Downie Circus.

During the 1 1890 tour, he married Christina Hewer, known professionally as Millie La Tena, at Guelph, Ont. In 1891 Downie bought out Richs share and renamed the show Andrew Downies Dog and Pony Circus. He played all the towns along the Erie Canal, moving the show boat. In 1894 he was a partner in the Downie and Gallagher Wagon Show and for several years he held executive posts on the Great Wallace Show, operating out of Peru, Ind. In the off-season of 1902-3, Downie organized a repertory Saskatoon Music Festival programs available April lti COLLIERS MUSIC HOUSE and at all performances starting April 21st Programs $1 ANDREW DOWNIE (IN STRAW HAT) WITH 1927 CIRCUS TRUCK record of further activity until 1910, when the Downie and Wheeler Show began a run that lasted until the end of the tenting season in 1913.

sell-out audiences In the old Lyric Opera House and returned to spend the summer in Eastern Canada, finally closing in October at Canajo-harie, N.Y. A Downie wagon show closed in 1904 and there is no company and took it from Winnipeg to the Pacific Coast, complete with scenery, wardrobe and portable bleachers that could be set up in vacant stores, warehouses or bams and, for two nights, in the Ca-n a 1 a Pacific Railway roundhouse in Red Deer, Alta. Reaching Vancouver, the company played a week to An Outstanding Value featuring The Royal Hours We Treat You Like Kings and Queens ling (corgt presents aarv MoviESwpwwwti PARKT01I MOTOR HOTEL 924 Spadlna E. TONIGHT BILL RUSSELL From Manitoba Radio-TV CFQC TV At 12:00 -MASQUERADE CBKST At 11:40 OWEN MARSHALL Channel 11 CBKST, Saskatoon Channel 8 CFQC, Saskatoon Channel 5 Prince Albert Channel 3 Yorkton Channel 2 Lloydminster TONIGHTS TV 6:00 News (3) (5) (11) NHL Playoffs (2) Definition) BINGO TONIGHT 7:45 St. Mary's Hall Ave.

and 20th St. BLACKOUT $250 54 Numbers Proceeds to Charity 6:30 News (8) Chico and the Man (3) Manhunter (5) 7:00 Karen 48) NHL Playoffs (11) (5) (3) 7:30 Funny Farm (8) 8:00 The Streets of San Francisco (8) 8:30 All Around The Circle (2) 9:00 Apples Way (2) Police Surgeon (8) 9:30 All Around The Circle (11) (3) (5) Maclear (8) 10: 00 Lawrence Welk (5) (3) Barney Miller (11) Moving On (8) 10:30 Salty (11) 11:00 News (8) (11) (5) (2) (3) 11:20 Local News (8) (5) (3) (2) Viewpoint (11) 11:30 Sportsday (11) TONIGHT AT THE MARIGOLD CHINA DOLL 2 Nights BRIGHTER STARS Comprised of 4 guys nd 2 girls playing middle of the road music plus a rock and roll set. 253 3rd S. 243-3133 JohnS Under one big tent LAS VEGAS CAN A YOUNG FAMILY find happiness in a city which primarily caters to the over-21 gambling crowd? Yes. if you find the right place.

And the right place is Circus Circus, a hotel which is unique because its huge pink and white-striped, tent-like structure houses orld-famous circus acts, from 11 a.m. to midnight, midway games, fun for the youngsters, gift shops plus the normal gambling conveniences. The Circus Circus HoteLCasino Spa was introduced to the Las Vegas scene in October. 1968. Two years ago, a 400-room 15-storey hotel tower as added to the facility.

ithin the next year, another tower will be completed, providing another 400 rooms. It is a fantasy land along The Strip, an eye-catcher becaus of its tent-like shape and color, the three spouting fountains in front of the building, and the gaily-colored merry-go-round, with animals of all shapes and sizes, operating on the corner. The main floor includes most features for the adult especially the casino games, and the second floor is the delight of the children. Right in the centre is a stage, where circus act perform every 30 minutes, people like Charles a bicycle routine. The Staneks and the Seven Endress, who do stage acrobatics, The Flying Medallions, trapeze artists, Toly, a French juggler.

The Flying Torrels, who pass in the air. The Castors, who do foot juggling and Risley acrobatics, and a special treat, the Clown Carousel. Every so often, three girls appear on stage, call for three prancing, party-painted steeds, climb aboard and then make an airborne swing above everyone on the daring monorail. On the second trip, they unload balloons to the crowd below, with youngsters and even oldsters reaching, scrambling, jumping in effort to catch the drifting prizes. It almost happens too quickly but thats the joy of an act.

THE CIRCUS PEOPLE LOVE THEIR WORK in what the Guinness Book of Records calls the largest permanent circus in the world. Acts are maintained on a year's contract, often longer, because as public relations director Mel Larson explains Most crowds are transients and might not be in the building more than once 3 year. And even if they are, they thrill to the repeat shows. Charlie Charles loves the setting. Ive worked in New York's Madison Square Garden in front of 25,060 people, and in my bicycle act, I felt like a small fly among so many people.

Here, Im close to everyone and can get the feel of the crowd. Charles, who is acquainted with Saskatchewan through past circus tours and acquainted with Quebec because of some television commercial exposure, grew up in a French circus family, studied mechanical engineering, but then fell back to his first love. But his knowledge as an engineer has blended into his act. He has constructed bicycles, which are four inches high, five inches high! nine inches high, and 15 inches high. He rides them all.

And then puts the finishing touch by carrying his wife and teen-age son in a three-man high routine on the 15-inch cycle. He has been able to meet the challenge of constructing a 3-pound bike which will support a 390-pound weight and keep perfect balance. The smallest bike he uses at Circus Circus is five inches in height, with a diameter of two inches. A smaller four-inch bike is used only in front of TV cameras, a feat which Saskatonians may soon see because Charles taped a Merv Griffin show in Vegas last week. Some have tried to make bicycles as small but they have all needed to raise the seat higher than Charles.

He and his young family have performed in 26 countries, appeared with Ed Sullivan, done all of the major TV shows, and has been invited to be a warm-up act whenever Dean Martin stars at the MGM show room. As a boy. Charlie worked with his family on stages with Edith Piaf and Maurice Chevalier and show business glory rubbed him so deeply he couldn't ignore it as a career. THE ACTS INVOLVE HIGH-WIRE ACTIVITIES, acrobatics or stage presentations and, at the moment, there arent any animal routines The centre stage is the focus point but there are other things for the children to do. The moon walk tent is popular, a miniature speedway is an attraction, and there are all kinds of dart tosses water pistol shoots, greyhound races, and midway games which can be fun for the youngsters, without being in competition against the adults.

There are food bars, designed with the young people in mind, and the prices are reasonable. Like most Vegas hotels, there is a wide range of food services, from the Weener Wagon hot dog bar to the Bon Vivant Gourmet Room. In a medium-price level are the Cowboy Steak and Bean House, which overlooks the circus stage and which, among other things, serves 66 cent breakfasts and 88 cent Wrangler lunches, plus a Buffet Internationale which has $2.25 lunches and $3.25 lunches. One thing that tourists lbarn early in Vegas is that its the worldest greatest city for breakfasts. Two eggs, bacon or sausage, and three pancakes come priced anywhere from 66 to 77 to 99 cents and you cant beat those kind of prices.

The catch, is, that theyd like you to start the day in their building. Among the public relations types in Vegas hotels, Larson, at Circus Circus, is probably more aware of Canadian potential than others. His family grew up around Wynyard but moved to Michigan, where Mel was raised. He still has relatives in Saskatchewan. Other attractions for young tots are minimal in Las Vegas but Circus Circus is certainly the place which can hold their attention for any three-day span, at least.

$rtme I)ouSf Paper sales on increase TORONTO (CP) Latest available circulation figures for 1974 show that Canadian daily U.N.F. BINGO Avenue Hall FRIDAY, FEB. 18 7:30 p.m. Jackpot S200.M Holiday 1171 Baby Jackpot 125.00 Early Bird Special Share The Wealth Door Prizes Admission (20 Games) 11.00 newspapers sold an average of Owen Marshall (11) Movie (2) (5) (3) Merv Griffin (8) 12: OO-Movie (3) Are pleased to announce for your dining pleasure that we are open every SUNDAY 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. ALSO In Our New Templars Room Featured Every Friday and Saturday From 9:00 to 12:30 a.m.

Supper Club Dining and Dancing Music Featuring RAY DAHLENS TRIO Enjoy soft low keyed middle the root Dancvig and Umtng Music 401 21st St. E. 244-6384 4,902,510 copies each weekday, an increase of 73,510 or 1.8 per cent over 1973. Of the total, 3,999,910 copies are printed in English, 871,400 in French, 21,200 in Italian and 10,000 in Chinese. The number of newspapers publishing five or more days weekly is 122, of which 102 are CKSA, Lloydminster, 1080 in English, 14 in French, five CBK, Saskatchewan, 540 Chinese and one in Italian.

The total is up one from 1973. In addition to the daily papers, about 765 weekly papers sell about 3,800,000 copies a week. CJVR, Melfort, 1420 CJNB, North Battleford, FM-RADIO CFMC, Saskatoon, 103.9 megacycles 1050 a (MI 05 JACKPOT BINGO Tonight Legion Hall 7:30 p.m. JACKPOT S100 50 NOS. Sponsored by the Ladles' Auxiliary to the Royal Canadian Legion No.

63 CJUS, Saskatoon, S9.7 megacycles Tonight at the A. Four 215 2nd So. In Concert This Week Only! LORD CHARLES A Tribute To The Beatles Lord Charles brings to the stage set routine of England's "today" super-hits and stars. For Reservations Call 212-4225 Tickets: All Saskatoon BOSTON PIZZA Locations SOUND CITY Music Stores JUST JEANS SASKATOON ARENA 8:00 P.M. SATURDAY, APRIL 19 TOOliS KITCHEN 424 20th St West Chinese Foods and Dixie Lee Fried Chicken DINING ROOM Phone 652-6353 FREE DELIVERY SBBP3 Havent Had My Piano Tuned For Five Years and it is still in tune.

All piano dealers hear this from people who are not aware of what harm is being done to their piano by not having it tuned regularly. On the strings-there is approximately 22 tons of pressure that passes over the bridges and soundingboard. A drop of half a tone or more can be harmful to your piano. Your piano is a lifetime investment, so please look after it. Phone your favourite tuner and get further information as to why you should get your piano tuned on a regular basis, or iphone TOMORROW Of! 8th Street on Grosvenor Ave.

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