Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-08
A. {. F. HAS REAL CIRCUS,
EVEN TO PINK LEMONADE
Army Show Is Now Touring Service
Of Supply Areas in
France.
ALL ACTORS ARE SOLDIERS
Rally Of Every Circus Man in Over.
seas Forces Turns Out First
Class Outfit OF Sawdust Comedy
and Thrill Producers.

y R1s. June Observation-Disclosures
american expcditionary force has "a
Throughout the length and breadth
OF France. and even III the wilderness
OF tie kline Nallcy-wherever Ameri-
can troops are stationed-brightly
Eoiored iithographed three sheets"
have been posted. advertising the big
Eest show in the army" Everywhere
over there" Uncle Sans doushbovs
are eagerly anticipating the coming Of
me big show. and those who are not
certain of liberty on circus day are
planning to play hockey. The circus
posters have brought back thoughts Of
eoNhood TO the husky soldiers.
me army circus is now touring the
: . sections. 1t was organized in
Bordeaux by troupe Of soldiers who
were circus performers in civil life.
Lieutenant Colonel Robert B. Gamble
ana the staff OF the entertainment
bureau directed the show and arranged
for the bookings. Plans for this UNIQUE
enterprise were evolved by Herbert
tlanshurEh, OF the Y. NJ. c. A., vet
eran Snowman. The knights of CO.
!uinbus donated enough money to pay
expenses. and all the performers were
recruited from the ranks.
Even TO Pink Lemonade.
BY rallying all the circusmen who
could be found in the y. L. F. it was
possible to organize circus exactly
Ike the shows that delight the hearts
clowns, acrobats. roughriders. tum-
hlers. juEglers trick bicycle riders.
strong men, NnaCicians and bareback
riders The circus is given in an inn
mcnSe open-ar ring, around which
grand stands are placed. Admission is
free TO all men of the American army.
Leading 10 the entrance of the big ring
is a midway. typical of the midways OF
circus grounds and amusement parks
IN America. There are side shows with
their shouting bankers and dozens of
little booths where the soldiers may
buy long glasses of cold, pink lemon
adc and even peanuts.
Like breath of home sweet home
the American army circus is spreading
cheer and real American fun as IL
travels through the areas in France
and Germany that are occupied by our
troops.
Among the soldiers in the big army
circus troupe are many men who have
won fame in the three-ring circuscs at
home
Novel Aerial Features. 4.
There is Sam Patton. equestrian. one
OF the famous Patton family. known as
the best riders of the show world.
Soldier Sam is an unusually versatile
performer. He has been 4 horscma n
since childhood, having spent his baby
days under the big top" one of Sol
der Sans notable featS is the riding
Of five horses abreast in Roman style.
lie also is an acrobat, a slack-wire
walker traDcZc performer and n
I strong man. The sensational strong
man act that Sam uses TO amaze his
audiences il the lifting of four horses.
Then there is Memo Ben Hamo and
| Hadji Ben lIamo. Arabians who have
/ been serving with the American army
and are now in the circus. The IIamo
brothers are wonderful acrohats. They
| with thirteen other acrobats present
! novel aerial feature.
Another team of performers i'm.
pressed into the circus from the labor
/ camp at SouGc. near Bordeaux, con.
| sists Of twelve Cinnamon. These
| Cinnamon are expert jugglcrs, bal
| anccrs and acrobats.
| Gus Castellano, the famous daredevil
! bicyclist, who is we'll known in the
United States as the man who does the
double loop the loop on bicycle, also
Il eft the army ranks to enter the army
! circus. Castcllano thrills hundreds o.
soldiers each day with his loop-the-
loop stunt.
Among the other noted circus per-
formers who are on duty with the
army circus are Francis EssiG slack
wire walker; Corporal &. +. Parker.
Jr., slack-wire walker and halancer
w. NJ. Jacobson, eX- BarnuM & Bailey
clown: SERGEANT J. j. Horton, wrestler
and strong man; Ed Lane, aerial per-
former and a member of the famous
Flying Wards; T.. T.. Mcintyre. acrobat
and aerial worker; Corporal Jack Ray
champion roper of the world and
formerly a star with the Buffalo Bill
and iOl Ranch Wild West shows.