Circus Vargas
Encyclopedia
Circus Vargas is an American circus
based in California. It was built on the premise to bring an old time circus to everyone; currently it has been billed as one of the world’s biggest traveling circuses still using a big top tent. Owned and operated by Tabares Entertainment, the circus currently produces a truck circus show, throughout the western United States.
Vargas’ mission to rejuvenate the Big Top
was undoubtedly influenced by his childhood fascination with the circus. He was a frequent spectator at circuses that every year visited his hometown of Livermore, California
, where his Portuguese-descended family maintained a farm. Vargas began as the ticket seller, doorman and ringmaster. During his life with the circus, he transformed it into a three-ring spectacular, traveling the world and competing with the best of the best, all the while in old circus style canvas tents.
After the death of Clifford Vargas in 1989, the show was left to Jack Bailey, long time Vice President of the company and Joseph Muscarello, the show's general manager. Bailey sold his interest to concession manager Roland Kaiser and the both Kaiser and Muscarello, both longtime friends of Vargas and management executives with the show, joined forces and took the reins of the Circus. Through their tenure, there were many obstacles; rising costs and declining attendance were just a few. There were numerous incidences of animal cruelty during this decade; some cite changing management attitudes while others say the more educated circus- (and zoo-) goer's attitude about animal care spurred these complaints. Kaiser and Muscarello were instrumental in transforming the circus into a more intimate one-ring ‘European style’ circus. They continued running the circus until they retired in 2003.
It was then that the Circus went on hiatus looking for a buyer. Two years later the Tabares Family stepped in and have been running Circus Vargas ever since.
When the Tabares family heard of the closing of Circus Vargas, the circus that launched their career, they were truly saddened. They became US citizens and launched Tabares productions to become the new proud owners of Circus Vargas. During their tenure they have brought back the family friendly
feeling of the show, as well as steering away from wild animal acts and concentrating on the human spectacles.
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
based in California. It was built on the premise to bring an old time circus to everyone; currently it has been billed as one of the world’s biggest traveling circuses still using a big top tent. Owned and operated by Tabares Entertainment, the circus currently produces a truck circus show, throughout the western United States.
History
In the mid-1960s Clifford E Vargas began laying the foundation that would lead, not only to his recognition, but also to his domination of the world of circus.Vargas’ mission to rejuvenate the Big Top
Big Top
Big Top may refer to:* Big top , the biggest tent in early-20th century circuses, where the circus itself took place* Big Top , a Transformers character* Big Top , a children's television series in the 1950s...
was undoubtedly influenced by his childhood fascination with the circus. He was a frequent spectator at circuses that every year visited his hometown of Livermore, California
Livermore, California
Livermore is a city in Alameda County. The population as of 2010 was 80,968. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area....
, where his Portuguese-descended family maintained a farm. Vargas began as the ticket seller, doorman and ringmaster. During his life with the circus, he transformed it into a three-ring spectacular, traveling the world and competing with the best of the best, all the while in old circus style canvas tents.
After the death of Clifford Vargas in 1989, the show was left to Jack Bailey, long time Vice President of the company and Joseph Muscarello, the show's general manager. Bailey sold his interest to concession manager Roland Kaiser and the both Kaiser and Muscarello, both longtime friends of Vargas and management executives with the show, joined forces and took the reins of the Circus. Through their tenure, there were many obstacles; rising costs and declining attendance were just a few. There were numerous incidences of animal cruelty during this decade; some cite changing management attitudes while others say the more educated circus- (and zoo-) goer's attitude about animal care spurred these complaints. Kaiser and Muscarello were instrumental in transforming the circus into a more intimate one-ring ‘European style’ circus. They continued running the circus until they retired in 2003.
It was then that the Circus went on hiatus looking for a buyer. Two years later the Tabares Family stepped in and have been running Circus Vargas ever since.
Management
- Clifford E. Vargas
- Joe Muscarello (VP and GM)
- Jack Bailey (VP and locations director)
- Roland Kaiser
- Tabares Entertainment, Inc.
When the Tabares family heard of the closing of Circus Vargas, the circus that launched their career, they were truly saddened. They became US citizens and launched Tabares productions to become the new proud owners of Circus Vargas. During their tenure they have brought back the family friendly
Family-friendliness
Entertainment or information is called "family friendly" if it is considered suitable for all members of the average family. In particular it means that it is not considered inappropriate for children, which may imply restrictions on engagement in, or depiction of, nudity, sex, violence, horror,...
feeling of the show, as well as steering away from wild animal acts and concentrating on the human spectacles.
Television and movie appearances
(Note that this list is by no means exhaustive)- Water for ElephantsWater for Elephants (film)Water for Elephants is a 2011 American romantic drama film based on Sara Gruen's novel of the same name, directed by Francis Lawrence, from a screenplay by Richard LaGravenese...
(2010) - MTV "True Life" (2008)
- "La Feria de Los Ninos" (Univision)
- "The Nick CannonNick CannonNicholas Scott "Nick" Cannon is an American actor, comedian, rapper, entrepreneur, record producer, radio, and television personality. On television, Cannon began as a teenage sketch comedian on All That before going on to host The Nick Cannon Show, Wild 'N Out, and America's Got Talent...
Show" (2002) - MTV "Dismissed" (2001)
- "Primera Edicion" (Univision)
- "De Mañanita" (TeleMundo)
- "Agrandaditos (TeleMundo)
- "Super El club de los tigritosEl Club de Los TigritosEl Club de Los Tigritos was a Spanish-language children's variety program originating in Venezuela on the Venevision television network beginning in 1994, and syndicated to other stations and networks around the world. In 2000, the show became Rugemania...
" (1999) - KidsongsKidsongsKidsongs is an American award-winning children's media franchise which includes Kidsongs Music Video Stories on DVD and video, The Kidsongs TV Show, CDs of favorite children’s songs, song books, sheet music, toys and an ecommerce website...
: A Day At the Circus (1987) (direct-to-video) - Hollywood SquaresHollywood SquaresHollywood Squares is an American panel game show in which two contestants play tic-tac-toe to win cash and prizes. The "board" for the game is a 3 × 3 vertical stack of open-faced cubes, each occupied by a celebrity seated at a desk and facing the contestants...
(1987) - Side Show (1981) (TV Movie)
Featured performers
- Nelson Quiroga
- Katya Quiroga
- Alberto Marinelli
- Patricia Marinelli
- Stoyan Bachliyski
- Andrea Bachliyski