‘My Unforgettable Birthday’ by Leonard W. Wilson

From ‘Whalley’s Corner’ Series

‘Popcorn!’
‘Peanuts!’
‘Programs! Get your Programs here for the PNE Shrine Circus!’
The voices rang out and I stared at everything, mesmerized as Billy kept yelling at me to hurry.

As I had done since we had left Whalley’s Corner earlier that day, I ran to catch up to Billy and Mama. To get to a place like the Pacific National Exhibition by a certain time in August of 1948 was twenty-percent planning and eighty-percent luck. Mama was giving my brother and I a special treat, a day at the circus. A late birthday present for Billy, his birthday was in May and an early present for me, my tenth birthday was the next day and we were equally excited.

The Pacific Stage Lines bus we caught shortly after breakfast should have got us easily to Vancouver by the two o’clock start time. But, after making the necessary transfers to the tram, then buying our tickets to get into the PNE, then into the Circus, most of the seats were already filled and the show had already started by the time we arrived. Searching for seats, Mama led us higher and higher, and Billy kept calling me to hurry, but I was so fascinated with what was happening, I ignored him. I stumbled on the stairs as I watched and laughed at three clowns at one end of the main floor shouting and chasing each other with water guns. A lady, riding a white horse came galloping out of the other end of the arena. As the horse’s hooves thundered she swung her legs skyward and rode around the arena standing on her head. I could smell the wonderful aromas of popcorn, cotton candy, peanuts and candied apples as vendors brushed past me in their rush to satisfy screaming customers.

‘Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages!’ The building darkened and spotlights circled the crowd finally resting on a man in a black suit, standing in the center of a huge ring. His voice echoed over the loudspeaker, ‘Now for your enjoyment in the center ring, swinging on thin cables one man will attempt the death defying acts of the trapeze’.
Racing, the spotlights swung upwards to silhouette a man in sequined trunks standing on a metal bar near the very top of the building. The crowd buzzed with anticipation as the man waved and began swinging, floating effortlessly back and forth.

Billy kept calling my name but I couldn’t take my eyes off the man on the trapeze. The announcer yelled, ‘The World’s Greatest Aerialist, Donny Dorsey is going to demonstrate his amazing ability for your pleasure this afternoon. Unlike any other performer in the world though, Mr. Dorsey is going to perform without a net so it is important we have complete silence.’ All the floodlights concentrated on the man, and except for the muffled sound of a drum, the building was silent.

I stared transfixed at the man floating high above, his body twisting one way then the other, swinging back and forth, hanging by his hands then by his legs. I knew Lyle and Eric my younger brothers would be thrilled to hear about the clowns and my sisters, Eleanor and Isabel definitely would want to hear about the animals. However, I knew my second oldest brother, Douglas would be most excited about anything to do with a man on a trapeze and would want to know everything the man did. Douglas and I loved to climb the huge trees in our back yard and I was always racing to keep up with him as he forever tried something new.

Slipping downward, Dorsey made me gulp as he slid until only his toes hooked the bar. Everyone clapped as he just as quickly righted himself and smiling and waving stood on the bar, floating easily. From a standing position, he leaned over as if to touch his toes but grabbing the bar let his feet slide free. Releasing the bar completely, spinning and grabbing the bar again he now faced in the opposite direction. Swinging his legs and releasing his hands, he floated back and forth hanging only by his heels. His hands and fingers barely touched the smooth shiny bar before he was flipping again and with movements so quick and smooth it was hard to follow everything. Now hanging by one leg and twisting, he tried to hook the bar with his other leg. Missing the bar, he flew back and forth, hanging only by one leg and one hand, appearing to wave to the crowd with his free hand. A few people began clapping but then let out a gasp and many of the adults were on their feet as his other hand slipped from the bar. Hanging by one leg and with fingers clutching at the smooth bar, he made one final effort to raise up but with arms waving frantically, crashed to the floor.
The man in the black suit yelled into the microphone, ‘Please remain in your seats!’
I stared at the man lying in the sawdust with one leg twisted awkwardly under his body and his face partly covered by one arm.
‘Please it is imperative you remain in your seats.’
‘Come on you little brat!’ Billy grabbed me by the shoulder, jerked me around and practically dragged me up the stairs. He hissed through gritting teeth, ‘You’re gonna get it for not coming when you’re called.’ As Billy dragged me past standing people, I could hear them asking each other, ‘What happened?’
‘Is there a doctor in the house?’ The echoing voice blared over the loudspeakers, ‘Is there a doctor in the house?’

The music began and four clowns in small cars emerged, performing stunts in and out of the cars. They soon had the crowd laughing especially when their backfiring cars drove off by themselves. Billy and Mama because they had been searching for seats hadn’t seen anything and wanted to know what had happened. When I said I saw the man fall, Billy was even angrier and his elbow in my ribs meant I would really pay for my ignoring him when we got home.

The rest of the circus was a blur of beautiful colours and heart stopping thrills. There was a man with a whip in a cage with lions and tigers. Another man and a beautiful lady had elephants doing amazing tricks. The lady with the white horse returned, galloping at top speed doing incredible stunts.

During intermission, the man with the microphone called out numbers, and boys and girls ran down from all over the audience to receive a Mickey Mouse watch. I prayed he would call my number but I wasn’t lucky.

The show continued with more clowns, animals, finally finishing with pretty ladies and strong men walking the tightrope. This time though, the people walking the thin wire did their act over a net and after walking back and forth using long poles to balance flipped off the wire into the net.

After the circus was over, we sampled the free food in the Pure Foods building and were amazed at the new inventions in The Show Mart Building. In other buildings, we picked up ideas on hobbies and our mouths watered at displays of baked goods and preserves. In the horticultural building we saw prize-winning vegetables and enjoyed the colours and pleasant aromas of the flower arrangements.

Dull yellow lights did little to brighten the dim interior of the barns with their dry leathery musty smells overpowered by the strong scents of damp straw and piles of animal droppings.

We walked by stall after stall of horses, cattle, goats, sheep, swine and caged displays of chickens, geese and ducks and were amazed at the numbers, their variety and size.

The midway was a blaze of color, enticing aromas and sounds of the music from spinning rides intermingling with screaming excited people. Loudspeakers blared with bingo numbers, astonishing sideshows to visit and thrilling games to play. We passed booths with their tantalizing aromas, cotton candy, candied apples, hot dogs, and the greasy grills frying hamburgers and onions.

Mama said she had enough money for Billy and I to go one ride each. Billy made up his mind quickly and exacting his revenge rushed off and soon was waving to us from the Ferris wheel. I would loved to have gone on the Ferris wheel as well, but the operator said I was too small to go on alone. I soon discovered I was too small for most of the exciting rides. Billy snickered with delight as he watched me mount a polished ebony pony for my ride on the merry-go-round.

Too soon, we were rushing to catch trams and city buses. At the bus station on Columbia Street, we boarded a Pacific Stage Lines Bus for home. Dozing, I vaguely remember passing through the tollgate on the Patullo Bridge. Billy’s elbow in my ribs woke me and I heard the bus driver call out, ‘Sandell!’ After a quick stop, the bus continued, winding its way up Peterson Hill. The driver announced, ‘Bolivars!’ and another quick stop and then the drive along the dark highway until we came around the curve at the top of the hill and the driver’s welcome announcement, ‘Whalley’s Corner!’

Walking home we saw a few businesses with flickering lights, the NuWay Inn, Whalley’s Garage, the Star Grocery, BillNor’s Café, the Silver Grill, but like our house most places were in darkness. I’d have to wait until the next day to tell my brothers and sisters about my most unforgettable birthday.

Previously Published
Len Wilson’s Weblog, 2009
‘Pioneer News’, Fall 1999