American Crown Circus 1999

In the spring of 1999, after four years away from the circus, we took the job of advance clowns for the American Crown Circus which was owned and operated by the Osorio family of Las Vegas. As advance clowns we'd travel ahead of the show performing in a wide variety of venues and talk up the show. We did it for two months and then returned to Dallas for our summer work there.

Pammy and I have the greatest respect for anyone that decides to put together their own show and take it on the road like the Osorio family did. It's not meant for the weak and timid. Be aware, it involves not only performing but means you would be setting everything up from the sidewalls to the bleachers and all the equipment used in the show not to mention the concessions as well. THEN you had to sell the tickets AND concessions until showtime at which point you performed in the show. At intermission it was back to selling concessions until the second half began and you were on again. At the end of the night you took everything down and it's off to the next town to do it all over again. That is what you call love for the art. By comparison, theater people have it easy wheezy. So get to work thespians!

The Osorio family's circus had a side wall set up. That is, it was performed in the open air and not under a tent just like at the end of Cecil B. DeMilles"s "The Greatest Show on Earth" but without all the technicolor and Betty Hutton. Vavavooom!

Try to picture the both of us chugging along in our 1989 Ford Areostar van, in a city we don't know trying to find our way to our next destination with only the questionable directions given to us. Getting lost was not an option.

The long and winding road begins in what will prove to be one of our most unique adventures. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

We gave out so many of these daily leaving them at businesses and libraries. Back in Dallas we kept finding then in our van, luggage, our hair, beach towels, etc. They were multiplying like tribbles! Yes, I'm a Star Trek nerd.

We always looked for a locally owned restaurant so we could try out the local cuisine.We definitely favored the Mexican food.

One more month to go before our circus odyssey concludes just before summer.


We spent almost two wonderful weeks at this campground. Normally we would arrive the night before and leave the following afternoon. We were in paradise, baby!!

Pammy and I clowning in Oregon House, California for a group of school children.It was up in the hills of northern California. Time definitely slowed down up there. Weird.