Disaster
In the 1984 tour of Fossett’s Circus, in which the Van Buren’s were starring, the big top was totally destroyed in a violent storm that raged through Dublin in the early hours of 18 October. Several members of the company were injured as they tried to rescue props and equipment. Van Buren received a bad arm injury and had to have three stitches in a bloody cut above his eye. A few days later, however, all was repaired and replaced so that the show could go on.
Following many years captivating audiences in variety and circuses (including performances for Bob Gandey’s grandson Phillip), on cruises and cabarets worldwide, and performing before royalty, the Van Buren’s toured with their own full illusion show with a 3,000 seater circus tent until 1992.
For Christmas 1992, Van Buren took the illusion show into Wembley arena in conjunction with fellow showman Gerry Cottle’s Circus and indoor fun fair. The circus was ring mastered by television celebrity Jeremy Beadle and featured circus artistes from all over the world. A giant fun fair filled the surrounding halls and the Van Buren illusion show prominently featured as a stand-alone show alternating with the circus.
Read more about this topic: Fred Van Buren
Famous quotes containing the word disaster:
“When disaster waves, I try not to wave back.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“The opposition is indispensable. A good statesman, like any other sensible human being, always learns more from his opponents than from his fervent supporters. For his supporters will push him to disaster unless his opponents show him where the dangers are. So if he is wise he will often pray to be delivered from his friends, because they will ruin him. But though it hurts, he ought also to pray never to be left without opponents; for they keep him on the path of reason and good sense.”
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974)