Posted 8/13/2003 4:49:06 PM by Editor
News from Bruce Johnson viewed 1814 times
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - East Longmeadow, MA
Wally is currently recovering from cancer surgery. Cards, letters, prayers and phone calls are most welcome. His direct phone line is 413 525 9085. He is a "resident" at the Chestnut Hill Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 32 Chestnut Street, East Longme
Wally Beach, a lifelong resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, began hanging around with his grandfather, a clown on Ringling, as a mere youngster. His affection for the traditional circus runs about as deep as one can imagine.
He was a press agent for Ringling back in the '50's and tells a great story about "the long, slow teardown" in Pittsburgh in July, 1956, when John Ringling North decided to pull the plug and bring the show back to Sarasota. Wally was there!
Wally also worked for Beatty/Cole. It was his young son's approval that Dave Hoover sought as he left the steel arena after the evening show. "The Kid" was the ultimate critic, apparently. Wally, Jr. simply had to see the cats perfom before his father could get him to bed at night, while on the show.
Wally Beach is a font of great stories. His life has been a life of intense involvement in the circus and other performance venues, a successful music tent theater among them.
Wally is currently recovering from cancer surgery. He is in a nursing home. I visited him today, August 12. To say that 2003 has been a "challenging" year for him would be an understatement. Cards, letters, prayers and phone calls are most welcome. His direct phone line is 413 525 9085. He is a "resident" at the Chestnut Hill Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 32 Chestnut Street, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. The main phone number for the Center is 413 525 1893.
Bruce Johnson Director
District 2 CFA
Providence, Rhode Island
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