Posted 5/17/2005 7:41:37 AM by Ed Limbach
News from James Judkins viewed 3145 times
Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - San Jose, California
A great update on Circus Chimera
2005 Circus Chimera Route Sheet #51/2
We hope that this letter finds you and your family doing well, that you are
doing what you want to do and enjoying life. Those of us in the circus live
very protected lives, in our own little community, and we are always
surrounded by joy and happy people. It is a great life - if you don't
weaken!!
As we enter our 16th week on the road, please forgive me for getting this
letter out late! We have had several weeks of 2-day stands and this tends
to cut into the time we have available for WORK. Also, in Oakhurst we were
blessed with 2 days of rain, which turned our lot into a bit of a mess. Roy
Ordaz, Martin Romo, Jay Summers and the rest of the team worked all night
getting the show pulled out of the mud so we could make it to Turlock. We
made it to Turlock, set up, and had our 7:30 show on time! Thanks to
everyone who was up all night and most of the next day to make this happen!!
Those of you who were cranky for the next few days - all is forgiven!
Speaking of Jay Summers, one of our winches messed up and he was in the
cupola fixing it. Of course, he has to be a macho-man and not use the
safety belt - and he fell. We are all very lucky that he ended up catching
the trapeze bar and hanging there until he was rescued. I finally made him
go to the doctors (once again, Mr. Macho did not want to go) and he ended up
with 4 stitches in his butt and promised to never go up onto the top of the
tent without a safety harness again. His wife immediately went out and
doubled his life insurance policy.
The show is great this year - I hope that you all get the chance to see this
year's production. We are currently in San Jose, presented by the
Children's Discovery Museum. The ladies who run the museum and sponsor the
circus are incredible - it was their vision and drive that built the museum
from the ground up and they put the same energy and care into sponsoring
Circus Chimera. We are proud to be associated with them. If you are ever
in the San Jose area, take the time to visit the Museum. You don't have to
be a child to enjoy the San Jose Children's Discovery Museum.
We now offer on-line ticketing at our web site - www.circuschimera.com. You
can also get to it by accessing www.bestcircus.com - the site was built and
managed by JD Barton of Austin, Texas. Instead of going with some big
company that offers on-line ticketing (but charges the customer a per ticket
and per order ticket fee) JD built a great web-ticketing section. The fee
to order tickets is only $2.00 per order - the same as what is charged by
calling 1-888-ONE-RING and it keeps the Circus Chimera Experiences
affordable for every family. Also, a $3.00 discount coupon is available on
the website - making the show the best family entertainment value around.
Mike Gorman is doing a great job of getting the show routed and booked. We
are currently re-evaluating how we market and promote the show - and are
looking for a couple of people to be publicists for the show. This involves
working the media and the Internet to create a BUZZ in each community before
we come to town. If any of you are interested please email me your ideas
and resume to JKJudkins@circuschimera.com. Be as detailed and inventive as
possible - how can we take Circus Chimera to the next level of promotion,
corporate sponsorship and professionalism.
There are many great circus fans and friends. I want to thank Jessee Alread
of Chico California. Jessee is one of Gracie Alread's (former Circus Owner
and current Gift Shop Owner) sons. We had an open date that we needed
booked NOW and Mike Gorman contacted him. Within 24 hours he lined up the
sponsor, the lot and even prepaid the city permits for the show!! Thanks
Jessee - and when we get to Chico, you can get $3.00 off on any ticket you
buy!! All you have to do is download one of the discount coupons from our
webpage.
This show has survived and grown over the years due to the assistance, love
and care of many of our friends throughout the USA. I want to thank all of
you for your support - and ask for your help again. Please, watch our route
and when we come to your area, go ahead and order your tickets (at a
discount!). Also, please contact your friends and associates who live in
areas where the show is going to play and let them know that the Circus
Chimera family experience, where the performers jump out of the ring and
into your heart, is not to be missed.
When we were in San Diego, we had the pleasure of visits from Don Covington
(an old friend of mine, current Fern Street Circus Associate and former Big
Apple Circus Associate) and his family. His wife works for the number one
orthopedic surgeon in San Diego - who happily took off Alex Chimal's cast
and pronounced him well on the road to recovery. I was also visited by my
even older friend Richard Lederer. Richard is a linguist, author (Anguished
English), radio commentator (PBS) and all around EUI [Extremely Unique
Individual]. He taught me for only 8 weeks during a summer program in High
School, but ended up being an extraordinary influence on my life. He is one
of 3 individuals (or sets of individuals) who really shaped my value system
and can be blamed for me ending up running a circus. His own family has
been very successful - his son and daughter are the number 1 and number 2
poker champions in the World. Now that I have turned this Friend of the
Circus Letter into a ramble, how did he mold my life? Well, he taught me in
a course called Man & Media and got me thinking about how someone who is not
artistic in any sense of the word could be an artist working with other
peoples skills. He also convinced me to go to Haverford College, a great
Quaker based school - and the Quaker influence of family, friends and
consessus has shaped how I run my business. Also, I got into the circus
business by joining a student circus based in Pennslyvania. If I had gone
to another school, Dartmouth or Harvard I probably would be a billionare
search engine owner or a famous politician, instead of a struggling circus
owner.
Who are the other 2 people who really shaped my life? Do you really care?
Probably not, but I will tell you anyway - Robert Whitehead - my senior
English professor. He failed me on my final exam - it was the best exam in
the class - but he gave me the worst grade. When I confronted him, he told
me it was the best exam but I was not being judged by what everyone else had
done - I was being judged by what my potential was - and in this respect I
had failed. Of course, he gave me another chance to write an essay - and
this one got a better mark - but the lesson was learned and burnt into my
character.
And, George and Carol Stone. When I was about 14 I had problems at home and
found refuge at their dairy farm in New Hampshire. They gave me a job
painting their house that summer - and did not fire me even after I painted
all of the windows so that when the paint dried the windows would not open.
I helped George with the dairy - milking in the morning and evening - helped
with the hay and the gardens - and learned the value of hard work and
honesty. George was the strong, silent type and Carol, his wife (who tells
everyone that she is my Mother) was (and is) a free spirit and inspiration.
When George was slowly dying of Alzheimer's, Carol devoted herself to caring
for him and still had time to be a mother and friend to many people - myself
included.
Of course, now that I limited this to 3 people as the major influences in my
life, I know that there are many more. Individuals who have been tremendous
friends to the show and to me personally. Circus Chimera would not exist
without the support of Bill & Jan Biggerstaff, Rich Brooks, Richard Tuck,
Tim Sauer & Frank Biafore and Manuel King. And, the lessons that I learned
from DR and Isla Miller could never have been taught in any school - and
were lessons in life. And the examples that are taught to all of us in the
circus business by the quiet and selfless service by the Little Sisters of
Jesus, Pricilla and Jo have shaped many lives. More, many many more.
This is a Friends of the Circus Chimera letter - it is supposed to tell you
about the show - and what goes on behind the scenes. I guess that it went
deeper this time, hope that you enjoyed it - see you down the road.
James Judkins
Week #14
Fri, May 06 ( 7:30)
Sat, May 07 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Sun, May 08 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Tulare, CA
Tulare Country Fairgrounds
215 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue
24 Miles
Week #15
Mon, May 09 (7:30)
Tue, May 10 (4:30 & 7:30)
Oakhurst, CA
Rd. 426 Oakhurst Shopping Center (Behind Sierra Star)
95 Miles
Wed, May 11 (7:30)
Thur May 12 (4:30 & 7:30)
Turlock
Stanislaus County Fairgrounds (900 North Broadway)
92 Miles
Fri, May 13 ( 7:30)
Sat, May 14 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Sun, May 15 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
San Jose, CA
Eastridge Mall Parking Lot
93 Miles
Week #16
Mon, May 16 (7:30)
Tue, May 17 (4:30 & 7:30)
Wed, May 18 (4:30 & 7:30)
Hollister, CA
McCray between Meridian & McCrathy
Adjacent to Albertson's Supermaket
47 Miles
Thur, May 19 ( 7:30)
Fri, May 20 ( 4:30 & 7:30)
Sat, May 21(1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Sun, May 22 (12:30 & 3:30 & 6:30)
San Jose, CA
Children's Discovery Museum
Discovery Meadow - corner of San Carlos & Woz Way
47 Miles
Week #17
Mon, May 23 (Set-up & Repairs)
Tue, May 24 (4:30 & 7:30)
Wed, May 25 (4:30 & 7:30)
Thur, May 26 ( 4:30 & 7:30)
Scotts Valley, CA
SkyPark
361 Kingsvillage Road
28 Miles
Fri, May 27 ( 7:30)
Sat, May 28 ( 4:30 & 7:30)
Sun, May 29 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Mon, May 30 ( 1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Santa Rosa, CA
Sonoma County Fair & Expo Brookwood Lot
123 Miles
Week #18
Tue May 31 (7:30)
Wed, Jun 01 ( 4:30 & 7:30)
Thur Jun 02 (4:30 & 7:30)
Petaluma, CA
Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds ( 175 Fairgrounds Drive)
(Exit west on Washington from HWY 101
17 Miles
Fri, Jun 03 ( 7:30)
Sat, Jun 04 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Sun, Jun 05 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Novato, CA
St. Vincents Ground ( Marin wood? St. Vincent's
Drive exit from Hwy 101 just south of Hwy 37
14 Miles
Week #19
Mon, Jun 06 (7:30)
Tue, Jun 07 (4:30 & 7:30)
Vacaville, CA
Next to the Cultural Center at 1000 Ulatis
46 Miles
Wed, Jun 08 (7:30 )
Thur, Jun 09 (4:30 & 7:30)
Elk Grove, CA
Elk Grove Regional Park 9950 Elk Grove Florin Road
51 Miles
Fri, Jun 10 ( 4:30 & 7:30)
Sat, Jun 11(1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Sun, Jun 12 (12:30 & 3:30 & 6:30)
Antioch, CA
Williamson Ranch Plaza & Lone Tree Way
Between Wal-Mart & OSH)
58 Miles
2005 Circus Chimera Route Sheet #51/2
We hope that this letter finds you and your family doing well, that you are
doing what you want to do and enjoying life. Those of us in the circus live
very protected lives, in our own little community, and we are always
surrounded by joy and happy people. It is a great life - if you don't
weaken!!
As we enter our 16th week on the road, please forgive me for getting this
letter out late! We have had several weeks of 2-day stands and this tends
to cut into the time we have available for WORK. Also, in Oakhurst we were
blessed with 2 days of rain, which turned our lot into a bit of a mess. Roy
Ordaz, Martin Romo, Jay Summers and the rest of the team worked all night
getting the show pulled out of the mud so we could make it to Turlock. We
made it to Turlock, set up, and had our 7:30 show on time! Thanks to
everyone who was up all night and most of the next day to make this happen!!
Those of you who were cranky for the next few days - all is forgiven!
Speaking of Jay Summers, one of our winches messed up and he was in the
cupola fixing it. Of course, he has to be a macho-man and not use the
safety belt - and he fell. We are all very lucky that he ended up catching
the trapeze bar and hanging there until he was rescued. I finally made him
go to the doctors (once again, Mr. Macho did not want to go) and he ended up
with 4 stitches in his butt and promised to never go up onto the top of the
tent without a safety harness again. His wife immediately went out and
doubled his life insurance policy.
The show is great this year - I hope that you all get the chance to see this
year's production. We are currently in San Jose, presented by the
Children's Discovery Museum. The ladies who run the museum and sponsor the
circus are incredible - it was their vision and drive that built the museum
from the ground up and they put the same energy and care into sponsoring
Circus Chimera. We are proud to be associated with them. If you are ever
in the San Jose area, take the time to visit the Museum. You don't have to
be a child to enjoy the San Jose Children's Discovery Museum.
We now offer on-line ticketing at our web site - www.circuschimera.com. You
can also get to it by accessing www.bestcircus.com - the site was built and
managed by JD Barton of Austin, Texas. Instead of going with some big
company that offers on-line ticketing (but charges the customer a per ticket
and per order ticket fee) JD built a great web-ticketing section. The fee
to order tickets is only $2.00 per order - the same as what is charged by
calling 1-888-ONE-RING and it keeps the Circus Chimera Experiences
affordable for every family. Also, a $3.00 discount coupon is available on
the website - making the show the best family entertainment value around.
Mike Gorman is doing a great job of getting the show routed and booked. We
are currently re-evaluating how we market and promote the show - and are
looking for a couple of people to be publicists for the show. This involves
working the media and the Internet to create a BUZZ in each community before
we come to town. If any of you are interested please email me your ideas
and resume to JKJudkins@circuschimera.com. Be as detailed and inventive as
possible - how can we take Circus Chimera to the next level of promotion,
corporate sponsorship and professionalism.
There are many great circus fans and friends. I want to thank Jessee Alread
of Chico California. Jessee is one of Gracie Alread's (former Circus Owner
and current Gift Shop Owner) sons. We had an open date that we needed
booked NOW and Mike Gorman contacted him. Within 24 hours he lined up the
sponsor, the lot and even prepaid the city permits for the show!! Thanks
Jessee - and when we get to Chico, you can get $3.00 off on any ticket you
buy!! All you have to do is download one of the discount coupons from our
webpage.
This show has survived and grown over the years due to the assistance, love
and care of many of our friends throughout the USA. I want to thank all of
you for your support - and ask for your help again. Please, watch our route
and when we come to your area, go ahead and order your tickets (at a
discount!). Also, please contact your friends and associates who live in
areas where the show is going to play and let them know that the Circus
Chimera family experience, where the performers jump out of the ring and
into your heart, is not to be missed.
When we were in San Diego, we had the pleasure of visits from Don Covington
(an old friend of mine, current Fern Street Circus Associate and former Big
Apple Circus Associate) and his family. His wife works for the number one
orthopedic surgeon in San Diego - who happily took off Alex Chimal's cast
and pronounced him well on the road to recovery. I was also visited by my
even older friend Richard Lederer. Richard is a linguist, author (Anguished
English), radio commentator (PBS) and all around EUI [Extremely Unique
Individual]. He taught me for only 8 weeks during a summer program in High
School, but ended up being an extraordinary influence on my life. He is one
of 3 individuals (or sets of individuals) who really shaped my value system
and can be blamed for me ending up running a circus. His own family has
been very successful - his son and daughter are the number 1 and number 2
poker champions in the World. Now that I have turned this Friend of the
Circus Letter into a ramble, how did he mold my life? Well, he taught me in
a course called Man & Media and got me thinking about how someone who is not
artistic in any sense of the word could be an artist working with other
peoples skills. He also convinced me to go to Haverford College, a great
Quaker based school - and the Quaker influence of family, friends and
consessus has shaped how I run my business. Also, I got into the circus
business by joining a student circus based in Pennslyvania. If I had gone
to another school, Dartmouth or Harvard I probably would be a billionare
search engine owner or a famous politician, instead of a struggling circus
owner.
Who are the other 2 people who really shaped my life? Do you really care?
Probably not, but I will tell you anyway - Robert Whitehead - my senior
English professor. He failed me on my final exam - it was the best exam in
the class - but he gave me the worst grade. When I confronted him, he told
me it was the best exam but I was not being judged by what everyone else had
done - I was being judged by what my potential was - and in this respect I
had failed. Of course, he gave me another chance to write an essay - and
this one got a better mark - but the lesson was learned and burnt into my
character.
And, George and Carol Stone. When I was about 14 I had problems at home and
found refuge at their dairy farm in New Hampshire. They gave me a job
painting their house that summer - and did not fire me even after I painted
all of the windows so that when the paint dried the windows would not open.
I helped George with the dairy - milking in the morning and evening - helped
with the hay and the gardens - and learned the value of hard work and
honesty. George was the strong, silent type and Carol, his wife (who tells
everyone that she is my Mother) was (and is) a free spirit and inspiration.
When George was slowly dying of Alzheimer's, Carol devoted herself to caring
for him and still had time to be a mother and friend to many people - myself
included.
Of course, now that I limited this to 3 people as the major influences in my
life, I know that there are many more. Individuals who have been tremendous
friends to the show and to me personally. Circus Chimera would not exist
without the support of Bill & Jan Biggerstaff, Rich Brooks, Richard Tuck,
Tim Sauer & Frank Biafore and Manuel King. And, the lessons that I learned
from DR and Isla Miller could never have been taught in any school - and
were lessons in life. And the examples that are taught to all of us in the
circus business by the quiet and selfless service by the Little Sisters of
Jesus, Pricilla and Jo have shaped many lives. More, many many more.
This is a Friends of the Circus Chimera letter - it is supposed to tell you
about the show - and what goes on behind the scenes. I guess that it went
deeper this time, hope that you enjoyed it - see you down the road.
James Judkins
Week #14
Fri, May 06 ( 7:30)
Sat, May 07 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Sun, May 08 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Tulare, CA
Tulare Country Fairgrounds
215 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue
24 Miles
Week #15
Mon, May 09 (7:30)
Tue, May 10 (4:30 & 7:30)
Oakhurst, CA
Rd. 426 Oakhurst Shopping Center (Behind Sierra Star)
95 Miles
Wed, May 11 (7:30)
Thur May 12 (4:30 & 7:30)
Turlock
Stanislaus County Fairgrounds (900 North Broadway)
92 Miles
Fri, May 13 ( 7:30)
Sat, May 14 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Sun, May 15 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
San Jose, CA
Eastridge Mall Parking Lot
93 Miles
Week #16
Mon, May 16 (7:30)
Tue, May 17 (4:30 & 7:30)
Wed, May 18 (4:30 & 7:30)
Hollister, CA
McCray between Meridian & McCrathy
Adjacent to Albertson's Supermaket
47 Miles
Thur, May 19 ( 7:30)
Fri, May 20 ( 4:30 & 7:30)
Sat, May 21(1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Sun, May 22 (12:30 & 3:30 & 6:30)
San Jose, CA
Children's Discovery Museum
Discovery Meadow - corner of San Carlos & Woz Way
47 Miles
Week #17
Mon, May 23 (Set-up & Repairs)
Tue, May 24 (4:30 & 7:30)
Wed, May 25 (4:30 & 7:30)
Thur, May 26 ( 4:30 & 7:30)
Scotts Valley, CA
SkyPark
361 Kingsvillage Road
28 Miles
Fri, May 27 ( 7:30)
Sat, May 28 ( 4:30 & 7:30)
Sun, May 29 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Mon, May 30 ( 1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Santa Rosa, CA
Sonoma County Fair & Expo Brookwood Lot
123 Miles
Week #18
Tue May 31 (7:30)
Wed, Jun 01 ( 4:30 & 7:30)
Thur Jun 02 (4:30 & 7:30)
Petaluma, CA
Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds ( 175 Fairgrounds Drive)
(Exit west on Washington from HWY 101
17 Miles
Fri, Jun 03 ( 7:30)
Sat, Jun 04 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Sun, Jun 05 (1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Novato, CA
St. Vincents Ground ( Marin wood? St. Vincent's
Drive exit from Hwy 101 just south of Hwy 37
14 Miles
Week #19
Mon, Jun 06 (7:30)
Tue, Jun 07 (4:30 & 7:30)
Vacaville, CA
Next to the Cultural Center at 1000 Ulatis
46 Miles
Wed, Jun 08 (7:30 )
Thur, Jun 09 (4:30 & 7:30)
Elk Grove, CA
Elk Grove Regional Park 9950 Elk Grove Florin Road
51 Miles
Fri, Jun 10 ( 4:30 & 7:30)
Sat, Jun 11(1:30 & 4:30 & 7:30)
Sun, Jun 12 (12:30 & 3:30 & 6:30)
Antioch, CA
Williamson Ranch Plaza & Lone Tree Way
Between Wal-Mart & OSH)
58 Miles
Email sent to: ELim784586@aol.com
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