The Human Cannon Ball talks Ringling!
With the announcement of The Greatest Show on Earth, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, closing its doors in May 2017, we thought it would be a good time to celebrate the immense amount of enjoyment it has brought the world! In the next couple of weeks, we will be interviewing performers who have worked for the Ringling Bros Circus. They will reflect on the good it has brought them and what the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has contributed to the future of Circus Arts!
Long live the circus!
Next up in our series of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performers is Jon Weiss, The Human Cannonball! We were lucky enough that Jon Weiss had a few moments to sit down and answer some of our questions.
Q: What is your name?
A: Jon Weiss
Q: When were you with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus?
A: 1981-2007
Q: What did you do with Ringling?
A: Clown, Human Cannonball, host
Q: If you are not with Ringling anymore, what are you doing now?
A: I'm a general manager in Las Vegas, NV & a freelance performer.
Q: What was your most memorable moment with Ringling?
A: Getting married in Madison Square Garden.
This is so fantastic that I have to step in here and share a story that was run about the Weiss marriage. This is from an article in the NY Times in 1982...
...Last May, when the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus appeared at Madison Square Garden, the two performers exchanged vows in a special wedding ceremony that was staged in Ring 2, just before the afternoon show. The bridegroom, who joined the circus as a clown in 1981, wore a tuxedo that dazzled with rhinestones and sequins. The bride, a dancer, wore a shimmery wedding gown and a headpiece of 300 baby feathers.A real bear, Peggy, was the ring bearer, clowns and dancers formed the wedding party, and an elephant carried the happy couple to the reception...
Q: Is there anything special that you carry on with you from Ringling?
A: Change is inevitable.
Q: When you watch the show, what is your favorite part?
A: Love it all!
Q: How have you continued circus arts beyond your time with Ringling?
A: After 26 years, I went on to perform with Circus Vargas & Cirque Musica.
Check out some highlights of The Human Cannon Ball!
We send out a HUGE thank you to the one and only Human Cannonball! Jon Weiss can now be seen performing in Las Vegas, NV. Check out his YouTube page from the video above.
Thanks, Jon!
Is there something you want former performers from Ringling Bros. to answer?! Leave a comment below!
Get your tickets for the remaining Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey shows here!
