The Circus Diaries

Dr Lemon At Last!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 09:10:00 +0000

Yes! Dr of Clowns. Or is that Clown Doctor? It's done and dusted, written and printed. And I am enjoying the recovery from Tough As Buggery: Traditional Australian Circus Community and Belonging.

Hallelujah!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:50:00 +0000

I finally submitted my PhD thesis on 22 Dec 09. Can't believe it. Apologies to all I have not seen or been in contact with for far too long. Have been disappeared inside my laptop writing and editing and rewriting and re-editing. But the 100,000 words and numerous pics have gone off to be examined and I am released! Hallelujah! Next I must think about publishing....

Cirque du New Orleans

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:08:00 +0000

I'm packing my bags for New Orleans. I'm off to the American Popular Culture Association conference, to meet up with a grab bag of American circus researchers, and find out all about those three ring spectaculars. Might even get to see one if I'm lucky.. although time will be short.

Then I'm off to Las Vegas to visit my mates, Julie Macinnes (cellist and vocalist, ex-musical director of Circus Oz) and composer and pianist, Janine de Lorenzo, both musicians with KA by Cirque du Soleil. I'm gonna see what kinda show I could make if I had a budget of squillions and a whole casino to play in!

Then it's off to see another mate Patricia Murphy in Los Angeles.

Writing the Circus on Fire Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:16:00 +0000

Have just crawled back to Melbourne through the worst bushfires in history. Nearly 200 people are dead. Whole historic towns are razed. Forests gone.

A shattering end to an amazing week spent at the top of Mt Hotham, Victoria's highest mountain, and major snow scene - when it's snowing.

But here, in the middle of summer it is alpine meadows, green bush, and silvered trees. Swathes of mountains with dead trees from the last bushfires a few years ago.

I was participating in the Narrative Network writing retreat, with Boston professor, Cathy Riessman - fondly known as the 'grandmother of narrative research'.

Organised by Ruth Ballardie, who convenes the Narrative Network of Australia, the retreat was a fantastic 5 days of writing, laughing, walking, talking, reading and eating with women from as far afield as flooding north Queensland, and Chile. Then the fires broke out.... we watched from a distance. By Sunday morning the mountians were covered in smoke, and driving down the winding roads was eerie and worrying. Then through the smoke from the Myrtleford fires. Then through the smoke from the Kilmore fires. We all got home safely. We fared better than many..

Circus Diaries Goes to Kalgoorlie

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:05:00 +0000

I presented a paper at the Cultural Studies Association of Australia conference, in the big dusty bowl of Kalgoorlie. I haven't been here since 1978, and my... it's changed! It's much more civilised, but still deeply fascinating. I watched the annual parade, featuring lolly throwing miners, belly dancing miners' wives, Scotty bands, bmx bandits (also throwing lollies) and the hugest bloody mining trucks you've ever seen. Two or three stories high, trying to maneouvre down the main street, past the light poles, and around the roundabouts. Thrilling. And I have an idea for my next research project.... Nearly got blinded by a flying lolly that felt like a rock when it hit my eyebrow. Big lump for two days. Who says sugar won't hurt you?

Here's an excerpt from my paper, delivered just before I skived off to tour the Questa Casa brothel - one of the last three brothels in town. Kalgoorlie used to be famous for its hard drinking and hard... well you know.. culture. Bureaucracy is closing this town down as much as it is circuses it seems...

Belonging and Survival: the future of family circuses in Australia.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a circus that came to town. Now it doesn’t. Not so much. It’s too far. The travel is too expensive. The council might ban the circus if it has dogs or ponies. Kids are too busy gaming on the web. Communities are isolated by online networking. Sharing time under a bigtop with family and friends, marvelling at the skill of artists who train for thirty years or more to entertain their audiences, pales when compared with the cybernetically enhanced feats of Lara Croft.

The odds are mounting against traditional circuses in Australia. Circus fortunes mirror those of the communities through which they travel, and in which they perform, and like the broader community they are facing numerous financial and environmental challenges. However, they are also facing other challenges unique to circus culture. Drought is driving up the price of animal feed, and affecting rural audiences’ ability to afford tickets. Rising fuel prices are making long haul travel less feasible. Urban, regional and industrial development is swallowing up traditional sites, leaving circuses to put up their big tops on marginal lands further and further from their audience base. High-density residential developments are causing conflict with residents over issues of noise, privacy and perceived animal smells.

Changing attitudes in some areas towards performing animals is creating conflict, and occasionally the banning of circuses in council areas, restricting access to audiences, and creating vast areas through which they must travel without earning income. Competition for the entertainment dollar is contributing to dwindling audience numbers. Spiralling insurance costs and conflicting federal, state and council regulations are creating an expensive bureaucratic maze out of which some circuses cannot find their way.

All these changes and attitudes take their toll on this unique culture. Three of Australia’s largest and most popular traditional circuses closed during the past ten years. Can those remaining survive into the future? Should they survive? And if so, how?

Traditional circuses are perhaps the oldest, non-indigenous, mobile community in Australia. However the term ‘mobile community’ is a contemporary concept, and traditional circuses is more aptly described as a nomadic culture – not the aimlessly wandering tribes of anthropological fancy, or the disturbingly unsettled of medical discourse, but a deep culture with history, traditions, genealogy and identity framed by constant and necessary movement. There is much we can learn about community from this extraordinary culture, and much it can offer in the debate about ‘belonging’ – a concept too often argued in terms of ‘place’............

Thanks to Julia Horncastle for making everyone's time in Kalgoorlie so fabulous, and to the CSAA for proving that culture is also rich outside our cities..

Jonaas comes to Melbourne University

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:07:00 +0000

Back at Melbourne Uni I presented a piece about the marvelous and enigmatic Jonaas Zalinskas - Lithuanian circus strongman and dental trapeze artist.

The conference, called Identity and Its Discontents featured Ghassan Hage and Tony Birch discussing Palestinian / Israeli, and Aboriginal identities.

I presented a piece based on a series of photos I took of Jonaas at his caravan on a property in northern New South Wales. The photos focused on Jonaas's art works made from thousands of keys and cupie dolls. I asked questions about the disjuncture between his performed identity as the circus strongman, still to the fore even at the age of 90 or so, and his private, unknown but glimpsed identity as an elderly man living without his circus, in a caravan with no amenities.

Circus Diaries in London

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:04:00 +0000

I brought the Australian circus to London, presenting a paper for the British Australian Studies Association conference at Royal Holloway University. Here's a snippet of my paper, about the challenges facing traditional circuses in Australia:

Traditional circus in Australia: Survival in a Strange land

"There’s no bloody travelling circuses now! They’re all hangin' round the cities! They’re all scared to have animals! Which I don’t friggin' blame 'em! With all the bullshit and the rules and that!!"
Lindsay Perry, ex-Sole Bros Circus

In the past 20 years contemporary circus and sideshow have become areas of burgeoning audience interest in the west. Over this same period traditional circuses in Australia have faced greater changes and challenges than ever before, and are finding survival a risky business.

Since the early 1990s, three of Australia’s longest running and most popular circuses – Ashton’s, Sole’s and Alberto’s – have closed. Operating without the benefit of government or philanthropic support, and without development or production budgets, traditional circuses eek an existence playing out an historic role whilst searching for a modern identity. Whilst contemporary circus artists perform a cultural fantasy of circus freaks and misfits, traditional circus families perform conservative identities, fighting the continuing social misconception that traditional circus people are criminals, vagrants and women of loose morals.

In entering the big top of a traditional Australian circus today, one witnesses a spectacle that has not changed dramatically from a hundred years ago - a string of acts performed in a small arena, linked by a ringmaster or ring-mistress, with acts highlighting physical or animal skill. Many circuses still travel from town to town or site to site following routes laid down by great, great grandfathers. They still erect ‘big tops’ and depend on ‘bums on seats’ to ‘make a buck’. The circus is still the same beast it has always been, performing its moves with strict ritual, discipline and routine.

However, traditional circuses are far more than just their show. They are a complex nomadic culture, embodying deep traditions handed down through many generations. And like many nomadic groups across the world, they are facing major challenges to their ongoing culture. In this paper I examine some of the changes affecting this unique community...............

Oh and there were some lovely photos - but not on my camera. Other people were presenting their research on areas of Australian popular culture, including circus academic, Peta Tait.

Writing on the North Coast

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 07:08:00 +0000

I have been out of touch as I am up here in Brunswick Heads in Northern NSW( thankyou Mary Maher for lending me your wonderful house here), starting the looong process of writing up my circus research. I drove up here in the trusty campervan about 5 weeks ago, and have another few weeks to go.

The aim is to have a thesis (and hopefully a book) by later next year. Then I will become Dr Lemon of Circus - still makes me laugh.

Here is my trusty research assistant Daisy McPhee (pedigreed scruffy mutt, seen here in her 'hard-drive under computer' position).

I am spending my days writing, reading, walking on the beach discussing ideas with my research assistant, writing, throwing balls to inspire the research assistant, reading, surfing (much to the consternation of research assistant who waits on the beach with phone to take important calls), reading, writing... tough life.

Oh.. and I have almost completely missed Melbourne winter, in return for 23 degree days, sunshine and bird life. Even tougher...

The only tricky bit is the lack of access to internet and email (how dependent
have we become?). I have to drive 10 - 15 minutes to Mullumbimby to Lulu's wonderful cafe (Andi makes the best coffee) where they have free wireless access - a wonderful gift to those of us passing through town. Or I pay my 10c per min at the local video store or the library. Gets me out of the house every few days at least!

Cal lives nearby, and we are heading to Murwillumbah on Sunday for the Olive Cotton National Portrait Award. Cal's portrait of Lorraine Maynard from Perry Bros Circus is featured in the exhibition (maybe it will win??).

Have also been hanging out with wonderful photographer Sue Ford www.wattersgallery.com.au and multimedia artist Chris Knowles, screenwriters Paul Davies and Frank Chalmers.

The Circus Diaries goes national

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:35:00 +0000

(at Circus Joseph Ashton)

The Circus Diaries featured on two ABC Radio programmes in the past week - Australia Talks on Radio National, Fri 22nd June, and then on Queensland Regional ABC radio on Wed 27th. ABC is amazing.

It seems they all listen to each others' programmes and pick up ideas for their own programmes that way. And good on 'em I say.

So the Circus Diaries ABC stint actually started on Red Symons morning show at 6.30am Wed 9th May, even before the exhibition opened. Red and I chatted for maybe 10 minutes, and not long after I had a call from the producer of another local ABC programme who heard that interview.

So I did their show on Thursday 31st. Then my mate Frank Chalmers (the wonderful screen writer and exhibition designer and only other person I know whose work is as eclectic and crosses as many artistic forms as my own) happened to be in Melbourne from Brisbane for the opening. He suggested I ring Australia Talks, which I did. And then Queensland regional heard that programme and rang up wanting an interview too. Phew!

Australia Talks was a minor debacle, as the taxi driver decided to drive me straight through the centre of Melbourne in Friday peak hour traffic, so a trip that should have taken 20 minutes and got me to the ABC studios in plenty of time to settle in and do sound checks, took an hour. The whole plan of action for the programme went out the window it seems, but it went ok.

I was joined by the wonderful Doug Ashton (ex of Ashton's Circus), and Lorraine Maynard (Perry Bros Circus). And we chatted about life in the circus and how it has changed over the years.

Wonderful photographer Cal MacKinnon also joined us to tell a few yarns about being on the road taking photographs for the exhibition, and outed herself as someone who is actually scared of large animals. She didn't tell me this before jumping on board and taking photos within inches of large pachyderms, lions, llamas, and vicious tiny dogs.

Opening of The Circus Diaries exhibition, 18th May 2007.

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Sun, 20 May 2007 03:44:00 +0000

Cal MacKinnon and I out the front of the Arts Centre.

Cal MacKinnon in front of her portrait of Dollie Lennon - elder of Lennon Bros Circus.

Frank and Manuella Gasser of Circus Royale.

With Janine Barrand - director of the Performing Arts Collection, the Arts Centre, and Kate Darian-Smith - Australian Centre, Melbourne University.

Doug Ashton and Frank Gasser with portrait of Doyle Gill.

With Fred Braid - circus historian, and Doug Ashton - elder of the Ashtons circus clan. In front of portrait of Lorna Bilsborough - equestrienne.

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Sun, 20 May 2007 00:20:00 +0000

Laurel Frank (costume designer for Circus Oz), Sue Broadway (performer, Artistic Director of Strange Fruit) and Shirley Billing (musician and performer), with photo of Kitty Gill.

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Sun, 20 May 2007 00:11:00 +0000

Laurel, Sue and Shirley with Kathryn Niesche (aerialist and teacher at the National Institute of Circus Arts), all marvelling at the tiny size of Mary Gill's bikini. Mary performed with the Flying Waynes at Ringling Bros, Barnum and Bailey in the 1960s and early 70s. This is the bikini she was wearing when the platform broke away from underneath her, throwing her to the concrete floor. She actually died, but was brought back. As a consequence of this accident she suffered permanent brain damage, and is still paralysed on one side of her body.

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Sun, 20 May 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Lorraine Maynard and I laughing at one of her old photos. Lorraine is the current proprietor of Perry Bros Circus, and descendant of the original family who began Eroni's Circus in the 1830s.

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Sat, 19 May 2007 23:52:00 +0000

Mark Holden (musician, producer and television personality) launched The Circus Diaries exhibition as a descendant of the Holden Bros Circus. He was very warm and generous, and gave a wonderful opening speech acknowledging the circus royalty who were there to be celebrated. Jan Rodriguez is Doug's daughter, and a fine performer in her own right. She now has her own Circus Xzavia.

The Circus Diairies Exhibition

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Fri, 18 May 2007 07:09:00 +0000

One of the many walls of circus images at the Arts Centre Victoria.

A display case with memorabilia, including Fanny Espinosa's lion taming costume (Ashton's Circus 1970s), and a photo of Joe and Jean Perry (Sole Bros Circus 1950s).

The Circus Diaries slideshow and images.

Image of Topsy Hutchins, who was given away to Sole's Circus in approximately 1920 as a two year old child. She went on to become an aerialist and contortionist. Behind her the image of Lorraine Maynard of Perry Bros Circus.

Minyak, Perry Bros Circus. Deer Park, Vic.

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 06:47:00 +0000

Minyak is one of three elephants with Perry Bros Circus. She was originally with Sole Bros Circus, and was the sole elephant to survive when a truck ploughed into the back of the stationary circus vehicles in 1983. They were parked on the side of the Newell Highway, outside Moree, fixing one of the circus trucks that had broken down. Young clown, Doug Buchal was also killed. Minyak is now happily living with Lorraine and Fred Maynard.

Cleo Bullen, Wallacia April, 2006

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 00:29:00 +0000

I visited Cleo Bullen of Bullen's Circus (which closed in the 1960s) at her home about an hour out of Sydney. She still has huge pens out the back of her house with jaguars, lions, tigers and pumas. The family now work with their animals in film and television. I patted one of her pumas (very exciting!) and then my face blew up like a balloon. I forgot I have an allergy to cats, and it seems the bigger the cat the bigger the allergy!! Cleo was very circumspect about it. She suggested it might be fear rather than an allergy as she has never known anyone else to react like that. Great. It's nice to be special.

Andrea Lemon with Dollie Lennon and photographer Cal MacKinnon at Lennon Bros Circus.

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 00:59:00 +0000

Cal and I visited Lennon Bros Circus in Liverpool, Sydney in March 2006. Dollie Lennon is the matriarch of the family. This photo was taken not long before her 90th birthday.

Lorraine Ashton's Classic Circus, Mt. Gravatt. January 2006

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 06:02:00 +0000

Lorraine and Gary Grant and their family were camped at Mt Gravatt, Q when I spent time with them. It was crazy heat, and then suddenly crazy wet. Cal was going to join me but was flooded in at Lismore. So I used Lorraine's circus as the base from which to run around Sth Queensland interviewing circus folk.

Inside the big top

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 06:36:00 +0000

Inside, Lorraine Ashton's Classic Circus includes the original Ashton's Circus 'back door' or stage curtain.

Circus Joseph Ashton, Elizabeth, Sth Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 06:20:00 +0000

Pepe Ashton's show is a wonderful mix of traditional circus and theatricality, all run by a tiny team of 8 or 10 family members.

Storm over Bourke

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 23:49:00 +0000

Late on the evening of 15th August this storm hit Stardust Circus at Bourke in outback NSW. The tent was flapping like the clappers, and everyone went inside it to party and keep an eye on things. Not long after I took this pic the rain came down in buckets. The locals told me the next morning this was only the second decent rain they'd had in 5 years!! Who says there's no drought?

Stardust Circus big top

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 06:08:00 +0000

This was my first glimpse of Stardust Circus at Mitchell, in central Queensland. It was pretty damn exciting to see the big top rising up out of the bindies (prickles) of the local showground. I was very nervous, but was quickly made to feel at home by Jan and Lindsay Lennon, the proprietors. In fact Jan was cooking choko and cauliflower soup, and insisted on feeding me straight up. I thought 'this is going to be ok'. Then one of her daughters, Wonona turned up at the caravan door with her 'baby' Millie - a young Rhesus monkey, and I knew I had really arrived at the circus.

The Great Jonaas

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea Lemon) — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 05:59:00 +0000

Jonaas Zilinskas was the Ashton's Circus strongman and dental trapeze artist for almost 40 years. Originally from Lithuania, I met him on the north coast of NSW where he was living in his caravan on a friend's property next to the Pacific Hwy. An extraordinary visual artist as well as circus performer, he had transformed his tiny patch into a living art gallery of pieces he made from beach pebbles, cupie dolls, house and car keys, and his own hair. He showed me his daily exercise regime - throwing a loop around his neck, throwing the end of the rope over the limb of an enormous gum tree, and then hauling himself up the tree by his neck. Nearing 90, he still had all his own teeth, legacy of so many years of holding young women aloft on trapezes he held in his teeth as he hung from the circus rig. Jonaas has since returned to Lithuania to be with his sisters and their families.