The Magic Of The Circus...

Well i'm off again with one of my blog-posts..i'm realy starting to enjoy this creative writing lark and the smashing feedback i'm getting too..

CIRCUS....Yes i'm going to cover my passion for circus and also magic..My first ever memory of going to the circus is way back around 1971/72. i remember going to blackpool with my nana on a short holiday and to meet up with two of her sisters (my great aunts) who had travelled over there from bradford.
My memory is a bit vague but i do remember being at the tower circus and seeing a "charlie chaplin" type fella perform there..I now know from a bit of research that this fella was the late great CHARLIE CAIROLI (king of the clown world in his day), and highly acclaimed all over the world.The other memory was strangely one of not feeling too well, and for some reason the smell of popcorn in the famous arena may have had something to do with that..

The next time i went to the circus was around 1982 when the Roberts Bros Circus came to middlesbrough on clairville common...Yes i remember the great billy smart circuses on tv around christmas time, i'm sure some of you do too, and i so wish the bbc or whoever would bring them back instead of all this bloody x-factor, britains got talent, plastic nauseous bullshit..SORRY but if thats your idea of entertainment you realy do need to take a long hard look at yourself and have your bumps read..

Anyway the circus in middlesbrough is the only real outside BIG-TOP circus i've seen and although a bit smelly from the animals, was otherwise excellent with all manner of performers and of course lions and tigers caged in the ring..

I have to add that i'm also a big fan of MAGIC from getting my first magic set when i was around 6 or 7 years old..One of the greatest things in recent years has been the inclusion of illusion into circus shows here at the HIPPODROME CIRCUS in great yarmouth..As a kid i'd sit amazed at magicians on telly, the paul daniels magic show being a big favourite of mine..Books about magic and illusion are in my collection and often browsed..

                                       

Speaking of THE HIPPODROME CIRCUS GREAT YARMOUTH..Its got to be one of the finest examples of a permanant circus arena in the world..yes the tower circus is very impressive under the blackpool tower, but this piece of fine architecture realy is one of the jewels in the circus crown..Lovingly looked after by the Jay family for over 30 years who have put in extortionate amounts of time and effort to bring the public the finest acts from around the world to the circus ring...Often described as the mini royal albert hall..it realy is a magical experience to go see the circus here in great yarmouth.

One of the outstanding performers in recent years has been the amazing Robert Foxhall with his breath-taking arial displays, Also who could forget the brilliant clown Danny Adams along with his "old fella" Clive Webb..Side splitting stuff and a bag full of slapstick comedy that has had me and my family doubled up laughing many many times...Magic & Illusion too has been brought into the shows and although a bit wierd when first witnessed in a circus ring, is now pretty much a part of every show peter jay now puts together.

If by chance you find yourself in great yarmouth visiting or on holiday and you have never experienced the magic of the circus...Please get yourself there, i promise you you'll enjoy every minute and will leave the arena in a daze of amazement at what you've just seen..

I'd like to close this blog by paying a massive tribute to Peter Jay (above) and his family..They realy do give so much and are one of the reasons Great Yarmouth is exactly that.......GREAT, It truly baffles me that peter has not been awarded an MBE or similar for his dedication to the entertainment industry......Maybe someone 

somewhere should be putting his name forward. because he truly is one of the greatest impresarios the world has ever seen...