“Welcome ladies and gentlemen…. to THE BIG TOP!!!”

Those were the words that thundered from our fanciful and magnanimous impresario, the master of ceremonies waved to the crowd filling the center tent of Carl’s Clowns, Creatures, and Chaotic Creations. My little wide eyes tried to take in everything happening around us; the trapeze artists flying through the air, the congo line of hilariously klutzy clowns entertaining old and young alike, the professionally trained circus animals performing tricks that should it have been possible to coax from them. And to wrap up the night’s gala of wonder a magician of world renown wowed us with illusions and feats that defied explanation.

It was truly a time that a poor boy from Brooklyn would never forget. As the German bombs burst overhead, raining fire and shrapnel down onto our company it’s the only time I ever thought of anymore.