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Mr. Jiggs gives kids a sneak peek at the Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus, which performs this weekend at Crystal River Mall.
By JORGE SANCHEZ
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 2, 2001
CRYSTAL RIVER -- After being a clown for more than 40 years, Mr. Jiggs remains as enthused about his profession today as he was the first day he glued on his funny red nose.
Mr. Jiggs (real name Bob Marsh of High Point, N.C.), works for Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus, which will set up its big tent on the grounds of Crystal River Mall Saturday and Sunday. His job title is a comic blend of bureaucracy and bozo. In other words, Mr. Jiggs is the "advance clown."
That means Mr. Jiggs blows into town a week or so before the circus and visits schools, newspaper offices and malls. While in Citrus last week, he performed two clown shows at the mall.
"I mainly inform and entertain, and make sure the children get plenty of free tickets," he said.
Mr. Jiggs said the histories of America and of the circus are intertwined. If anything, he said, the circus industry is in better shape than before.
"Our performances are so much more exciting, we have better performers, better lights and sound systems than before," he said.
The circus was on tour near Baltimore when the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks occurred. Mr. Jiggs said the crowds thinned out for a day or two, but they quickly came back.
"I spend nine months a year on the road, so I really get to see the country and meet the people. After the attack, people soon sensed the need to get on with their lives, to live and laugh and that's why they started coming back to the circus," he said. "And the circus is still a good value."
The circus tour takes the show into big arenas, but Mr. Jiggs said he prefers the smaller performances under the big top.
"When you go somewhere like the Ice Palace and see the circus, you see a circus show," he said. "When you come here to the tent, you see the real circus. It's more intimate. You can hear, see and yes, even smell it. That's the way it's supposed to be."
Performance times for the circus are 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available at the customer service booth of the mall.