Bedford, Virginia
"Worlds Best Little Town"
Page Eight
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"Those Dearing Young Men On The Flying Trapeze" |
!!! Here Comes The Parade !!!
Before the advent of Radio and Television, certain things loomed large in the minds of young people in Bedford. One of these was the arrival of the Circus, which usually came to town every summer. Sometimes it was a small circus, but often a Large, Three-Ring-Ones, like Ringling Brothers or John D. Robinson. In the early days circuses were conveyed from town to town by their own special trains.
On Circus Day
the young boys of town usually congregated at the railroad station to watch the arrival and unloading of the cars. People for miles around thronged into town and
lined the streets to watch the Big Parade,
which started at the station and wound its way through town to the lot where the large tent had been set up.
"Here Comes the Parade"
And such a Parade! A string of elephants attired in Brilliant Colors and often bearing Circus Queens in gaudy array; huge gilded cages on wheels carrying wild animals, such as lions, bears, or tigers; large white horses, upon whose backs acrobatic feats would be performed; exotic animals, like camels and zebras, being led by circus hands; troops of clowns engaging in endless horseplay; an ornate wagon bearing the calliope, that magical Old Steam Piano-all these things were a part of this wonderful circus.
