By Drake Lucas
Staff writer
July 03, 2008 01:21 am NORTH ANDOVER — The first applause for the Kelly Miller Circus yesterday came at 9 a.m., as the elephant heaved the poles into place to raise the big top. The next act wouldn't start for seven hours. By 9:15, the spectators who had gathered to see the tent go up had left except for a few people buying tickets for the two shows last night to benefit the Lions Club. The camel, ponies and horses were picking at the grass and lounging. The tigers had nestled into large tubs of water to cool off. Owner John Ringling North II — of the famous Ringling Bros. circus family — said the hours before the show are the quiet time, when children traveling with the show go to school in the food tent, performers rehearse and some people just need to head into town to find laundromats. "Sometimes we grab a nap," he said. "If you come by at one in the afternoon you won't find anyone." North, 67, said this is the other side of circus life, with one day in Townsend and the next day in North Andover, traveling through 18 states and putting on more than 440 shows in 220 days. Ask them to list off the most recent stops and it takes a minute. "When you are with the circus, you don't remember where you were," North said. North, like many who work for the circus, grew up in the business. His grandmother was the sister of the Ringling brothers and his father and uncle took over the circus, which is now the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. North left the circus to do cattle ranching in Ireland when the circus left the tents to perform in large buildings. When North found out the Kelly Miller Circus was for sale two years ago, he decided it was time to return to the family business. "When you are born in the circus, you might go away but you never forget," he said. He likes the big tops and going to the smaller towns where the circus "means more" to the people. His main act now is juggling 32 vehicles and 75 employees. Ringmaster John Moss wasn't raised in the circus, but he always sat in the front row when it came to town. By day, he is the performance director, rearranging acts if a performer is sick or injured. He also drives trucks in the morning. "In the circus life, one person wears many hats," he said. By night, he is the leader of the big top, with a style inspired by his favorite ringmaster, Harold Ronk. He has been performing in circuses since 1985 and said he still likes it. "I get a front row seat to the circus every day, just like when I was a kid," he said. The Kelly Miller Circus has four tigers, three elephants, dogs, ponies, horses, snakes, a camel, a llama and four pet cats. Casey McCoy is the tiger trainer, a job that means keeping the big cats comfortable during the day with water and fans. They mostly rest, but also train their eye on any dog or human that happens to walk by. McCoy said he doesn't interfere too much with them during the day except to break up fights. He grew up in the circus because of an uncle who was a dog trainer. At 12 years old, he had his first act with dogs and goats. Twenty years later, he has worked with every animal in the circus. Five years ago, he decided to take on the big cats to have something more "flashy" than the smaller animals. He shrugged at the idea that tigers are dangerous. "It's safer than driving a car," he said. "There is an inherent risk because they are predators by nature, but I don't feel threatened. It's not man against beast; it's like training any animal." North said he still gets requests from children who want to run off and join the circus. His friend from college, drummer "Lucky" Eddie Straeffer, has run off with the circus twice. North doesn't discourage it — develop a talent and you are welcome, he tells them. As long as they can handle eight months on the road, rain or shine. By now, yesterday's circus is already gone from town. The tent has been rolled up and stored away, the elephants and horses put into their trucks and a caravan of RVs where the performers live are on their way to Merrimac, the next town, the next show.
Box: Kelly Miller Circus 220 stops 75 performers and crew 32 vehicles 18 states 15 acts 7 ponies 4 tigers 3 elephants 3 horses 1 camel 1 llama 1 day in town
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