The end of the school year always brought the thoughts of the circus to our minds.
Being a little gal I remember going to the circus when it was out at the race track, which now is pretty much where the rodeo grounds are. Getting to walk under the grandstands, seeing betting tickets and nabbing a few, from the last horse races there. Then the climb into the stands to get ready for the circus to begin. While reading our souvenir program, the stands would be covered with people selling peanuts, popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones and strange toys on sticks.
Then the big moment would come and against the back drop of the Sandhills, the ring master would step out in his fancy suit and announce the circus was beginning. Out would come the elephants, horses, puppies, beautiful ladies and handsome men, carriages and clowns. This was big time for a little kid. It still is.
Once they removed the race track, the circus moved to Bulldog Stadium. Their vehicles parked all the way around the block with the animals standing at the curb, eating, drinking and being cared for. Giving kids a close up look if your folks drove slow enough past. Then finally the time to go to the circus. All the amazing things that would happen in those rings, and an occasional ride on a camel, elephant or pony, and maybe that rare picture with a real bear!
I think the only thing that really ever scared me was those dang lions and tigers. They seemed pretty mad to me. Then the tamer in there cracking a whip. Didn’t seem to help at all. Bet they had dreams at night of lion tamer soup. The trapeze artists were so amazing. I think my favorite part though, was those silly clowns. How did they get so many in that little car, funny to watch the confetti fly on the crowd when you thought it was a bucket of water, and there was always a little clown dog with a cute clown color on. He was my favorite.
The circus was always something so important to the children and us big kids here in town. But moreover, what the folks didn’t think a lot about, was the proceeds of the show went to Children’s Hospital. The local merchants supported it, bought tickets. The town folks bought tickets. The children in the hospital had a difference in their lives because of every show that came to town,
The day after the circus left, we would ride our bikes past the stadium. To be completely amazed that there was no sign that anything so wonderful had happened the night before. But you could still feel the music and smiles in the air.
Ah well, next came the huge Shriner hat float in the Heritage Days Parade and many times those nifty little Shriner cars. I still remember seeing Chauncy Hoffman grinning as he made the turns in the parade.
And, of course, don’t forget the Shriner’s Onions in the fall from the Masonic Temple. Those folks after all these years are still supporting Children’s Hospital. Truly amazing folks. Makes a town proud doesn’t it?