Cole Bros Circus
July 12, 2006 @ 2:40 pm
This is a bit belated, but I had the best 4th of July ever. Jessica's friend Hannah ran away and joined the circus, and it came to Pittsfield for the 4th. So we went down and partied under the big top with her and her circus friends on the night of the 3rd.
Then we went and toured her trailer. I was imagining a movie star trailer, but this was a bit smaller. In the photo, you can see Hannah standing by her fabulous spandex uniform while Jessica and Christine sit on the bed.
My hand is in the shot because I had to step out the door to get enough distance to take the picture, and I was trying not to fall backwards down the steps.
That night we rescued Hannah from the circus life for a while. She was desperately in need of some intellectual stimulation, so we all went back to Williamstown and the next morning she visited the Williams College Museum of Art.
By the same token, all of us Art Historians (and groupies) were in desperate need of some baser stimulation, so it was back to the Circus to deliver Hannah for her show and catch the act.
I went a little nuts on the circus food, what with no parents around to stop me. Coke, funnel cake, popcorn, cotton candy, and a snow cone made for a lovely first half. Then for some reason I got a tummy ache, so no hot dogs or pretzels. At least I was able to resist buying a shamelessly promoted "Spidey Sword."
All the sights and smells triggered some strangely powerful childhood flashbacks. I remember seeing Ringling Bros. at the Keil Center in St. Louis and being really amazed at the spectacle of the whole thing. What with the PETA hecklers and the declining attendance it seems like the circus as we know it might be fading into history, but I hope not. In the words of my buddy Jacob, "It's the X-Box of the 19th century."
Replies: 4 Comments
You got a tummy ache because you DIDN'T get a hot dog and pretzels. ...oh, you!
Allison said on July 12, 2006 @ 7:46 pm
what's her circus act??
laura b said on July 14, 2006 @ 7:27 pm
She's a showgirl - she and seven others climb up rope ladders and does various spins and twirls high above the crowd while the trapeze artist does his thing in the center. She's also working on some silk routines but those aren't ready for the show yet.
Nick Baker said on July 14, 2006 @ 7:46 pm
Oh man, I just got a comment on this page that reads: "I am interested n information on havin gyou to come to Laurel,Ms Please give me a call at..." Um, I'm not the Cole Bros. Circus. I just went to the circus. It's like that guy who commented on my post about Tom Selleck asking me for Tom's contact info. He wanted to sell him a rifle because he saw Tom on The View and Tom mentioned that he collects rifles. And he thought I would be a good way to get in touch with him. Because I had a dream about Tom two years ago. Clueless, people, just clueless.
Nick Baker said on July 28, 2006 @ 6:18 pm
