Evening star., 1942-02-10
5000 Attend Opening
Performance Of Shrine
Benefit Circus Here
Mrs. Wallace Shares
Box With Daughter
OF Bumpsy Anthony
Bv w. H. SHIPPEN. Jr.

Tigers howled last night and ele-
plants stepped in the faces of lady
trainers in an arena ordinarily de-
voted to the gentle" sport Of hockey
Washington's traditional Shrine
circus was back, more stupendous
and hair-raising than ever. A mixed
crowd of 5000 saw the opening per-
formance in Uline Arena, Third and
M streets NE.
In the same box with Mrs. Henry
Wallace sat the small but critical
daughter of Bumpsy Anthony, a
star Joey who kept hanging himself
with his suspenders while engaged
in tucking both feet in the same
pants leg, much to the delight of the
juveniles.
Guest Of Local Fans.
Both the wife of the Vice Presi-
dent and Bumpsy's young daughter,
who we're among guests of local cir
Gus fans, were alarmed, if for diff
ferent reasons, when the clowns
rushed over to their box with water
pals and showered thers with con-
fetti. Mrs. Wallace obviously was
happy about the way the stunt
turned out, but Miss Bumpsy was
not so easily pleased. 1t was an old
gag to her.
Bumpsy, incidentally, is now a
Washingtonian, with a Government
job, but somehow he always turns
out, when the band begins to play,
with his trick suspenders and bar
rage balloon pants bundled under
his arm.
Clyde Beatty came through last
night with whirling tiger act
which drew snarls of contempt from
% big cats temporarily crowded out
of the spotlight. The tiger whirled
in the sawdust like fiery pin wheel
while Mr.. Beatty perspired gently
with the strain of keeping one eye
on his revolving star and the other
on 20 jealous feline spectators
ready to take a hand at the first
opportunity.
Glowing Elephants.
The elephants which put their
feet in the face Of lady were tame
by comparison. They were members
of the Powers troup of performing
pachyderms which have played the
tan-bark circuit for generations,
clowning, dancing, pretending in
toxication, even shaving each other
with blow torch.
Among hosts at party given by
the circus fans of Washington were
Zoo Director William M. Mann, At
torney Melvin Hildreth and Fred
Orsinger, director of the aquarium
in the Department of Commerce
Building. Their guests included
diplomats, Army and Navy officers
and retired circus troupers.
Bears rode bicycles and motor
cycles or skidded about on roller
skates, seals played Yankee Doodle
on bugleS, and trapeze artists COM
peted for the spotlight with tight.
rope rumba dancers and tumbline
acts. One feature of the show was
a precision ring drill put on by 10
crillo horses Of the Christensen
troupe.
Shrine Fund to Benefit.
The circus will continue through
Saturday with shows each night at
8:15 O'Clock. Matinees at 2::30 O'Clock
will begin tomorrow. A special per-
formance for newsboys will be held
Saturday morning. Profits will &c
to the charity fund of Almas Temple
of the Shrine.
At least 10000 of Washington's
underprivileged children, including
inmates of crippled children's
homes, will be guests of Shriners
along with some 5000 soldiers
sailors and marines.
Howard P. Foley, potentate o1
the Shrine, is director Of the circus
and United States Commissioner
Needham C.. Turnage Is chairman
of the committee providing enter.
tainment for the juvenile guests.