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Circus
History
Peru's Circus History began in 1884, when Ben
Wallace, owner of a livery stable, acquired a circus due to non-payment for
boarding the animals.
It was in 1956 that the Circus Historical Society
chose Peru, Indiana for their convention. The Peru Jaycees sponsored the
event with a welcome committee, wagon tours, exhibits and a banquet, and that's
when things started to happen in our town.
A circus parade and downtown Festivities, which
included some circus acts on the Court House lawn was held in 1958 and 1959 and
paved the way for our annual Circus City Festival as we know it today.
The Circus City Festival incorporated in 1959,
with Ollie Miller, Bob Weaver, and Bob Mathes signing the original
charter. In 1960 the festival group decided to stage their own amateur
circus. They sought out former circus performers, Tom and Betty Hodgini,
Harry Parkhurst, Karl "Snowy" Hartisch, Lina and Marvin Johnson, Maria
McCloskey and Carl Solt, to work with a group of untrained, but wiling youths,
ages 14 - 20 to perform. James Noble was the bandmaster and Walter J.
Bixler was ringmaster. The performances were held in a tent, which was
rented from the Indiana State Fair for $985 and was erected at Thrush Field,
between Second and Canal Streets, east of Benton in Peru, Indiana. Over
2,500 people attended the circus and 50,000 visited Peru.
The first three ring circus was held in 1962 and the Peru Lumber
Company building was purchased in late 1967 and the 1968 performances were held
"open air", as there was no roof on the building. Architects and
local artist, Bob Weaver, one of the originators of the Festival, designed a
roof that gives the building the look of a huge tent and the building was roofed
for the 1969 circus.
Each year we have made improvements in the
building to bring it to its present state, through generous contributions from
organizations and individuals. This will be our 43rd year and we have
installed air conditioning in the arena and the back lot rooms for the
performers, installed new bleachers, cemented the floor and redone the
concession stand.
At the end of 1966, the Festival Board took a
first step toward hiring a head trainer and in 1967, they hired Larry Camp, who
had studied circus at Florida State University, where he performed for four
years. Later, trainers include Bill Lee and daughter Terry in 1968, Bill
and Betty Clutter in 1969; Vince Dillman 1970; Joe Anderson from Wenatchee
Circus 1971 through 1974; Mike Parson, also from Wenatchee 1975-76; Bill
Anderson, a Peru native and former circus performer, returned from studying in
Florida and Ohio 1977-78; Darrel Medley, a performer with Mariott's Great
America and Redlands Youth Circus in California 1979-80.
Bill Anderson return as head trainer in 1981, he
retired as head trainer in 1994, after his 17th year to spend more time with his
family. At that time, no head trainer was hired and several of the local
trainers handled the job. In 1997, Bill Anderson returned to be the head
trainer and still holds that position today.
Mrs. Ferol Meeker and her husband, Dr. George
Meeker began collecting circus artifacts in 1965; the first step towards our
permanent circus museum. These items were displayed in various downtown
buildings until they were moved to their present location in the museum located
in the circus building in 1972.
We have hundreds of volunteers we are so proud
of, the greatest band, wardrobe, back lot helpers, ushers, ticket takers and
sellers, riggers, Parents Club, program book members, concession stand members,
parade workers, festival helpers, and all Peru people who make it a
success. Our Board has 18 voluntary members who devote much time and
energy preparing for a bigger and better Festival.
Of course our circus would not be possible
without the hundreds of Miami County youth, ages 7 - 18, who sign up for acts
they want to try out for at "Round Up". Practice starts the
first of April. After many hours of practice and the desire to be in the
circus in July, they put on a two and one-half hour spectacular show. This
is an outstanding program for the young people who usually return until they
graduate and CCFI awards all who, scholarships.
In 2001 we were invited to send one of our acts,
for the second time, to Monte Carlo to perform in the annual Premier Rempe,
which is hosted by Prince Rainier and the royal family and we sent the
"Flying Butterflies".
Information compiled from past articles
by Beta Sigma Phi sorority sister, Joyce Ferguson.
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