Established in 1988, The Circus Ring of Fame Foundation was founded to formally recognize Sarasota, Florida’s vibrant circus heritage and pay tribute to the individuals who have made significant contributions to the performing arts and circus industry throughout their careers. With over 150 inductees hailing from various diverse disciplines and backgrounds, the “Ring” celebrates their remarkable achievements and pioneering journeys in the circus arts. Inductees are selected through an annual nomination process open to the public, followed by voting by current Ring members, industry professionals, local historians, and representatives from the global circus community. Upon induction, each honoree receives a bronze circus wagon wheel plaque, displayed alongside fellow Ring members at Sarasota’s St. Armands Circle Central Park. Recently introduced QR codes on the plaques allow visitors to scan and watch videos showcasing the best moments of the Ring’s members, adding a technological enhancement to their awards.

On February 10th, 2024, in Sarasota, Florida, at the Circus Sarasota Big Top located at Nathan Benderson Park Regatta Center, the highly anticipated week-long adventure of events of Circus Sarasota Heritage Days commenced. This year’s events are especially prominent, as they circled around the theme, Circus Is Art. This theme establishes the idea that performing in the circus area is an exceptional form of art and entertainment, one that should be locally and globally respected and protected.

Having grown up as a performer in the Sailor Circus Academy of The Circus Arts Conservatory, a cherished component of the extensive Sarasota circus community, I was overjoyed to travel back to my hometown to attend this history-making event. In a public press conference prior to the award ceremony, I had the extraordinary chance to personally meet this year’s remarkable inductees and engage in a conversation with some of the biggest names in the industry—alongside some up-and-coming ones—and inquire about their empowering experiences in the performing arts and their reflections on receiving their well-deserved honors. Without further ado, let’s jump into how these circus icons have made their mark on the industry for generations to come!

To begin, the Circus Ring of Fame Class of 2024 is adorned by Her Serene Highness Princess Stephanie of Monaco. This special honoree followed in the footsteps of her father, Prince Rainier III (also a Circus Ring of Fame Inductee!), to support traditional circus artists and their families through anannual festival. Fifty years after its establishment, the Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo is produced by Princess Stephanie and remains the world’s highest competitive platform for circus arts. Through Princess Stephanie’s tireless work, dedication, and advocacy, she honors and sustains the circus arts and culture, as well as artists and families worldwide. As a testament to the legacy of commitment to supporting the arts, Princess’s eldest daughter Pauline now presides over Festival New Generation, a thriving promise to uplift the global circus community that will never be forgotten.

Next, joining the Ring is the late and great Catherine Hanneford Carden. Catherine was a seventh-generation performer having started with her family at age five as a ballerina on horseback, following in the footsteps of her great uncle, the legendary Poodles Hanford. She not only trained elephants and horses in her teens, but also learned skills as an acrobat, aerialist, trampolinist, dancer, and later vocalist and announcer. While I was interviewing her husband, Brett Carden, he described his fascination with Catherine, saying, “I was starstruck by her, she was this big movie star to me. Usually in the circus business, you’re either a good trainer or a good performer, but Cathy was both.” She appeared with Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey starting in 1998 with her featured liberty horses in The Living Carousel, followed by four years with the Ringling Gold Unit alongside Brett. Later, they toured their own circus presenting over 200 shows a year.

After her passing in early 2023, her empowering spirit, talent, and unwavering devotion to her work and her family will forever be etched in the hearts of those who witnessed her brilliance, on and off the stage. Her legacy, safeguarded by her proud family, beloved husband, and two remarkable sons, George and Cash, will serve as an inspiration for future generations, reminding us all to pursue our dreams with steadfast determination and to value the love and connections that are truly meaningful.

The Ring’s next inductees are one of the most iconic daredevil father-and-son duos the world has ever seen. Meet David Smith, Sr. and David “The Bullet” Smith, Jr.

Before learning the flying trapeze and forming the Rock Smith Flyers, Smith Sr. was an accomplished gymnast. He built his first cannon in the early 1980s debuting in the Hubert Castle Circus. Davids Sr. and Jr. hold the Guinness World record for cannonball height and distance appearing with circuses and events worldwide and on numerous television shows such as America’s Got Talent Extreme. For three decades they have thrilled audiences with their daredevilry. Hand in hand, the pair received this award with much humility and respect for the other, acknowledging the teachings and history of an older generation and the inspiration and legacy carried on by the younger generation.

Honored next is Wayne McCary, the highly regarded entrepreneur who produced shows for Shrine Circus and oversaw the Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) for more than 30 years as President and Executive Director. In that position, he was instrumental in establishing and producing the annual Big E Circus. His lifetime ambition to entertain millions of enthusiasts and accomplishments has received global recognition, and it’s not about to end there! The Ring is overjoyed to welcome McCary into their ranks and cement his place as a key figure in the entertainment industry.

In an interview before the award show, McCary dotes on the loyalty of the circus community: “There’s nothing like this wonderful community of people. It’s incredible. I didn’t have the luxury of coming from generations of circus performers. I came in from the outside and wow, I have to say I was pretty well accepted.”

Also honored for his lifelong contributions to circus arts coaching is Brayton “Bob” Yerkes. Presented at the Award Ceremony, Yerkes received the Willie Edelston Coach of the Year Award. The award is named after Willie Edelston, the first coach ever to be inducted into the Circus Ring Of Fame in 2022.

As everyone will tell you, Bob Yerkes is truly a legend in the circus industry. Even from the start, his career has been a whirlwind of adventure, when he tumbled down Santa Monica’s Muscle Beach at age 11 and ran away to join an acrobatic troupe with Clyde Beatty Circus at age 15. Yerkes then formed several trapeze acts for the circus and shortly after began his movie stunt career in LA in 1948, where he split his time between circuses and movies. Yerkes became even more well known in the 70s and 80s, stunt doubling for such stars as Paul Newman and Arnold Schwarzenegger, among many others, and coaching an endless number of celebrities forCircus of the Stars. “He taught them how to fly the trapeze, walk the high wire, climb the giant wheel of thrills, dive into airbags, stuck them on the sway pole… us industry folks have always had the utmost respect for Bob,” describes life-long circus performer and Ringmaster Joseph Baur, Jr. Baur also commends Yerkes on the award, noting that recognition for a stunt double or coach is often overlooked. “This award is especially incredible because as a stuntman, the job is not to make yourself famous but to make the actor look good. You have got to be humble and proud of what you do.”

As is tradition, in addition to honoring these four incredible circus figures, two young performers will also be recognized for their commitment to the arts and receive an award. The Circus Ring Of Fame’s Generation NeXt award is bestowed upon performers who have significantly impacted the circus community and represent the exciting future of the performing circus arts and culture. 

In the words of Joseph Baur Jr., “There’s no bigger reward in the circus [than] when the next generation decides to carry on what your family has done for more than 100 years. I am so excited for the presentation of this award to these young performers and the chance to inspire the next generation of the arts everywhere.”

This year’s honorees include Emma Grace Clarke, a local Sarasota circusperformer of the Sailor Circus Academy who now performs her dazzling aerial pole act professionally, alongside Brando Anastasini, a spunky wire walker hailing from a long line of professional circus performers. In an exclusive interview with Anastasini before the show, he treasures the honor of performing in the Circus Sarasota Big Top, and dreams of being inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame, following in the footsteps of his mother before him. “It’s a dream come true to perform in the same ring as so many amazing performers who leave an incredible legacy for others to follow.”

Don’t forget to tune in to CircusTalk News on April 20th to view the full-length recording of the 2024 Circus Ring of Fame Award Show! Link coming soon! 

All photos courtesy of The Circus Ring Of Fame Foundation archive and Sorcha Augustine Photography.

Julia Grace Lumpkin

Performer, Social Media and Content Intern -UNITED STATES

Currently based in Tallahassee, FL, Julia Grace is in her third year at Florida State University pursing a Bachelor's of Science in Business Marketing. Alongside this degree, she holds a completed Minor in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Aside from her academics, Julia Grace performs with the FSU Flying High Circus, a globally renowned collegiate circus in the United States. Within the arena, her talents include Spanish web, aerial lyra, and triple trapeze—all of which she has performed since her training in the Sailor Circus Academy of the Circus Arts Conservatory in Sarasota, FL. Julia Grace is now happily a part of the CircusTalk team as a Social Media and Content intern, in which her passion for circus and marketing skills brightly shine through her work.