“The Future Karnies of America Podcast is seeking recorded karnie related news, stories (fact or fiction), poems and original music to include in future podcasts.”

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The Future Karnies of America have released a podcast just in time for Christmas.

In episode one you’ll hear the “Karnie Christmas Classics”; Randolf the One-Armed Karnie, Carnie Wonderland, Pitchmen We Have Heard on High, 12 Karnie Days of Christmas, The Carnival is Coming to Town &Randolf (‘munk re-mix).

ESSEX — Officials at Circus Smirkus, Vermont’s premier circus organization, said Tuesday they were investigating how the organization fell into the “very precarious position” that forced a sudden shutdown of operations last week.

As Circus Smirkus evaluated its situation, a group of circus parents said it will strive to bring a new vision of circus training and performance to would-be students.

“We want very much for the community to have it,” said Ron Redmond, a member of the parent group, referring to a new circus training program. “We want to bring the magic of circus to the community so they can be bitten by the bug.”

[continue story...]

A monkey runs away from the circus but is later found.

SPRINGDALE – It wasn’t your usual missing person description released Monday by Springdale Police.

They are looking for little Dillion clad only in blue pants, standing just two feet tall and weighing eight pounds and prone to sleeping in trees like any other Capuchin monkey.

If you spot him don’t imitate a train whistle because that is what sent the circus monkey leaping from his owner’s shoulder early Monday at the General Electric Park near the railroad tracks that cross Ohio 747.

[story]

Interesting…

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CHESTERTON | The Space Age carnival ride at Chesterton’s Fourth of July Festival broke Monday, sending one of the helicopter cars toppling to the ground, police said. The incident occurred three days after a Gary boy fell to his death during a carnival in Highland.

The fallen helicopter was then struck by the car directly behind it, but no injuries occurred because both cars were unoccupied, police said. There were children in some of the other cars, but they were gone when police arrived moments later to investigate.

[via Northwest Indiana News]

A livid Mayor McKenzie was obviously not amused with the fact that the operators of the circus embarked on an advertising campaign without first soliciting an amusement licence from the KSAC. Additionally, the mayor gave the operators of the circus 48 hours to remove “their illegal signs that are defacing the city.”

[via Jamaica Gleaner]

WEST HAVEN — A feud between teenagers erupted into a riot at a church carnival Thursday night, ending with the arrests of five men, including a Latin Kings gang member, police said.

[via Connecticut Post]

This 1999 graduate of Maryville High School and a classmate, Forest Gregg, have started their own touring show aptly named The Runaway Circus, and they have been from East Coast to West. Juggling, riding unicycles, clowning around, balancing and acrobatics — what they do best — is all part of the high-energy act.

The troupe now includes five members. Meghan Holtan, Shawn Lavoie and Eden Reinstein have joined in the antics, who fellow fun-seekers Johnson and Gregg have met on their incredible journey. The Loose Cabooses, a group of puppeteers and musicians, also travels and performs.

Have bus, will travel

[via The Daily Times]

An incident in which a man was seriously injured by an elephant at a circus in Ireland on Sunday (June 26th) has prompted animal rights campaigners to call for a ban on this type of use of animals. The employee of Circus New York, which was at Tramore in County Waterford, was trampled and gored by an elephant after it became unsettled. After undergoing emergency surgery at Waterford Regional Hospital the man’s condition was described as ‘serious’.

[via Green Consumer Guide]

Late Friday night, 19-year-old Clarence Mills was shot to death in the midway. Police on Monday said they are following some leads, but don’t have any suspects in the shooting.

…

Ironically, it was a fatal shooting that ended the Barnum Festival’s participation in the midway carnival in 1984.

[via The Connecticut Post]

Extra police officers were drafted into a Shropshire carnival after gangs of youths gathered on the streets, frightening hundreds of visitors to a street fair.

[via The Shropshire Star]

What’s up with all of the carnival crimes this past weekend?

Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.

A carnival to raise money for the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church ended in bloodshed Saturday night when a 21-year-old man was fatally stabbed in the back.

[via The Detroit Free Press]

Detectives on Sunday evaluated leads in the wake of a shooting at the midway carnival while Mayor John M. Fabrizi planned discussions that might lead to banning the annual attraction at Seaside Park.

[via The Connecticut Post]

The management of Circus New York says the 26-year-old African elephant which gored a Kerryman in Tramore, Co Waterford, yesterday will continue to perform at the circus.

It says the animal poses no threat to the public.

The injured man, who is not the elephant’s trainer, is said to be critical but stable in hospital.

[via RTE News]