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It ain’t over ’til the fat lady bumps and grinds

Welp, there it is: the official end of Summer. The circus has come to town. Actually, this circus comes to towns all around us beginning in about June, but we traditionally go when it reaches Rye, and we look upon it as the end of the fête season (and the beginning of the bonfire season).

We went last night. It’s a week early this year. That seems about right for this Summer (it’s been gorgeous for the most part, but it’s suddenly gotten chilly).

Every year, this one gets smaller and sadder and we wonder if we’ll see it again. This year, there’s a definite rumor that they won’t be able to use this field again. But if they turn up at all, we’ll go see them in some other town.

I didn’t bother taking a good camera this year. I never get any decent pictures, and last year they fussed at me for trying. I like this grainy cellphone picture Uncle B took anyway. This fat chick had a hula hoop act, and she was awesome. Seriously one of the biggest applause getters of the night.

So there you have it. There she is. Pack up the shorts, folks — it’s over.

Comments


Comment from S. Weasel
Time: August 22, 2014, 8:00 pm

I kind of stepped on my own post tonight. We’ve been trying for years to find the name of the theme they play at the end of the performance. We’ve scoured YouTube for circus music, to no avail.

This year, Uncle B recorded the song and I was going to post it and see if any of you recognized it. As I was editing the audio, I wondered aloud if it might be the theme to the movie The Greatest Show in Earth.

Yup.


Comment from p2
Time: August 22, 2014, 8:23 pm

its not over til the fat lady hulahoops?


Comment from Carl
Time: August 22, 2014, 8:53 pm

There are several music recognition apps around. Shazam and Soundhound appear to be the most popular. There are free versions of both.

They are used mostly for songs but they will work for music generally.

There are Android versions that you could use on your Nexus 7.


Comment from S. Weasel
Time: August 22, 2014, 9:59 pm

We tried Shazam, Carl. And the “what’s that song?” app built into Android. I think part of the problem is that the ringmaster talked over the music, confusing the app.


Comment from Bob
Time: August 23, 2014, 12:35 am

Off topic: I saw this link in the side bar Ace of Spades HQ and immediately thought of all the chicken lovers here. Fluffy chicken and a two-legged dog are buddies. Enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4etgEel02M

-Bob


Comment from LesterIII
Time: August 23, 2014, 1:24 am

Last small(ish) circus I went to see was The Shriners here in Ohio. Heartily disappointing. It was mostly a pitiful-clown fest of guilt-wielding dollar store toy salesmen. Poorly run, tedious, and BORING.

Pack up the shorts?! My M.O. is Boots-n-Shorts ’til the first hard frost, daggumit.


Comment from Deborah
Time: August 23, 2014, 2:44 am

I’m in south Texas; I’ll be in shorts until Thanksgiving 🙂
But in my heart I’m longing for Autumn. It was 103 today, for a high. It’s 92 right now (nearly 10 pm). The A/C is set on meat locker.


Comment from Nina
Time: August 23, 2014, 3:49 am

Here we can wear shorts year around. But it does cool off. 🙂


Comment from drew458
Time: August 23, 2014, 3:52 am

Stoaty, is the tune you’re looking for called Entry of the Gladiators?


Comment from S. Weasel
Time: August 23, 2014, 10:17 am

Nope. That’s the first tune that pops up under a circus music search, drew. If you search for the trailer to the Greatest Show on Earth, that’s the music.

But then you have to listen to CB deMille blather at your for six plus minutes.


Comment from Deborah
Time: August 23, 2014, 3:50 pm

The topic of circus music sent me down the bunny trail, which lead me Richard Whitmarsh and The Circus South Shore Band, and their 50+ albums of circus music: http://www.euchronia.net/sotc/.

That lead me to military bands and marches, American war movies, English war movies, and now I am all weepy from memorable and evocative music.

Stoaty, the google music store has a link where you can buy the The Greatest Show on Earth theme (#18 in the list) from “Sounds of the Circus South Shore Band.” It’s 99 cents, and there’s a short clip. I’d link to it but I don’t want to end up in the spam filter!


Comment from Stark Dickflüssig
Time: August 24, 2014, 6:38 pm

But then you have to listen to CB deMille blather at your for six plus minutes.

Holy cow, you’re right he’s insufferable.

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