When Wirths’ Circus arrive in Harvey at an early hour on Monday, September 2, in their two special trams, they will bring with them the thrill of the Big Top, which nothing else on earth can equal. With the tent crew hanging on to the ropes for dear life and others hammering down the iron pegs with a sledge hammer, it is only a matter of moments before the Big Top blossoms out and everybody for miles around knows that Wirths’ Circus has come to town.
When the huge canvas marquee is finally erected at their location in the Recreation Reserve the whole of the enormous show will be housed under it. Seven trained lions have their quarters, and a host of wild animals that would stock a zoo are accommodated in the menagerie tent. Fortyeight horses and a troupe of nine elephants are other “star boarders” of the big show, and the artists themselves number more than seventy.
The war in Europe has released a number of star acts that it would otherwise have been impossible to get to Australia, among which the Flying Covets will hold you spellbound as they swing and dive and leap in mid-air above the heads of the audience. The Francois Troupe of international clowns, the Myrons, the Oriens, Les Trois Majestique and several American artists all find a place in the most spectacular show known to Australia. An added attraction is Wirths’ super menagerie and zoo of eighteen cages of wild animals, school of trained horses and ponies, and an assortment of animals coming from the widely scattered lands of the world. This attraction is open for inspection between 4 and 5 in the afternoon, and the animals are fed at 4.15. Admission, 1 /- adults and 6d. children. The box plan for reserves is now open at the Kia Ora Cafe. The circus will also play for one night only, on Tuesday, September 3, at Pinjarra. (Harvey Murray Times, 22 August 1940, p. 3.)
Sole Brothers & Wirths Combined Circus and Zoo, Neptune Service Station, South West Highway, Harvey, late 1960s.
…………………………………………………………..…..