The Kelly Miller Bros. Circus, founded during the Depression, is marking another milestone this year as it celebrates its 74th anniversary. Founded in 1938 by Obert Miller and his sons, Kelly and Dores, this traditional tented circus has seen the passing of the millennium and still offers the same great family entertainment it presented in its humble beginnings. While the show in 1938 was little more than the Miller family, some ponies and a couple of monkeys, they still moved through the country, as they do today, in trucks and went through the same route each day of setting up and giving performances in a new town.
The all new 2012 season will feature elephants, horses, llamas, camels, clowns, and a host of international circus stars, but each morning the public gets an altogether different kind of show as the circus lot comes to life. Circus trucks pull onto the lot in the early morning hours, animals are unloaded, stakes are driven and elephants lift the giant Big Top into the air. Best of all, the public is welcomed to watch the entire spectacle free of charge.
In fact, after the first of the four massive poles that support the Big Top are set in place, the public is invited to step into the tent and see men and beasts complete their work. A knowledgeable circus veteran will be on hand to explain the action and answer questions about circus life.
CIRCUS IS A CITY ON WHEELS
Facts about the Kelly Miller Family:
Number of people on the road with Kelly Miller Circus- 72
Personnel in the home office & marketing department- 15
Total number of animals- 24
The cast on the road includes a cook, a school teacher, and even a mayor (Kelly Miller’s president, David Rawls, was once mayor of Hugo, Oklahoma)
Circus Equipment
Show-owned semi-trucks- 6
Other show-owned trucks and vehicles- 9
Staff and performers vehicles-18
Size of vinyl roof of the Big Top- 11,824 square feet
Area of the vinyl wall of the big top- 3,912 square feet
Weighty Issues:
The Kelly Miller Performing Elephants
Viola- 9,540 lbs • Libby-7,820 lbs • Nina- 6,520 lbs
Tent material (vinyl only, no poles or cables)- 7,297 lbs
This season the Kelly Miller Bros. Circus will travel nearly 10,000 miles and give performances over 200 cities and towns as it winds across North America from March through October. The all-new edition promises a more exciting and extravagant exhibition than ever. Everyone is invited to step back in time as the Kelly Miller Bros. Circus brings the history and tradition of the old fashioned circus to Windham on Monday, July 30, 2012 thanks to the sponsorship of the Windham Historical Society.
Performances will begin at 4:30 & 7:30 p.m. on Monday at the KT School Grounds- 9032 Maple Grove Rd, and the tent raising will begin at approximately 9:00 a.m.
Advanced tickets available at Windham G & F Mini Mart, Monica’s Café, Renaissance Family Center, Cortland Bank & Circle K, At Garrettsville: Skylane Bowling, Tickets bought in advance are $10.00 for Adults and $6.00 for Children. Tickets purchased on show day at the Circus Box Office are $15.00 for Adults and $7.00 for Children.
