- January 12, 2010
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The Sarasota Circus Concert Band performed before and during the induction ceremony.
Kay Rosaire, the master of ceremonies, presents the plaque to Rosie Rode of the Rodos Troupe and Palace Duo.
Kay Rosaire, the master of ceremonies, presents the plaque to Rosie Rode of the Rodos Troupe and Palace Duo.
Tony Hernandez speaks of his parents’ circus career. The Hernandez Troupe was one of the four inductees.
Lisa Hernandez smiles for the crowd as she accepts the plaque for The Hernandez Troupe.
Master of Ceremonies Kay Rosaire, Timmy Gaga Hernandez, Tony Hernandez and Sylvia Hernandez DiStasi
Isaac Morris speaks on behalf of his late father, Ron Morris, who was on of the inductees.
Arlene Morris shares memories of her late husband, Ron Morris, a 2019 inductee, with the crowd.
Master of Ceremonies Kay Rosaire, Arlene Morris, Isaac Morris and Ceres Morris Hill
Carla and Rick Wallenda
Rietta, Karla and Rick Wallenda
The 2019 class of inductees reveal their plaques on the Circus Ring of Fame surrounded by friends, family and fans.
The 2019 class of inductees reveal their plaques on the Circus Ring of Fame surrounded by friends, family and fans.
The 2019 class of inductees reveal their plaques on the Circus Ring of Fame surrounded by friends, family and fans.
Arlene Morris and Rosie Rode
For some, the word circus is being used incorrectly today.
Isaac Morris, son of the late Ron Morris, said Jan. 13 at the Circus Ring of Fame induction that too often, the word circus is used pejoratively to mean chaos.
When really, to those who have grown up in the circus world, it means family.
That was evident by the crowd gathered in St. Armands Circle Park Sunday afternoon when the 2019 class was inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame.
This year’s class included Ron Morris, former owner of Sarasota Spotlight Graphics and Ring of Fame board member; Rodos Troupe and Palace Duo, a family aerialist team that included Hans and Rosie Rode who eventually opened Heidelberg Castle in downtown Sarasota, which featured Bavarian-style food, music, dancing and acrobats; The Hernandez Family, an acrobatic act started by Lisa and Manuel Hernandez that expanded to include their children Randy, Sylvia, Danny, Timmy and Tony; and Carla Wallenda, the only daughter of Helen and Karl Wallenda who had a 78-year career beginning at the age of four. Her career included acts on the high wire, sway pole, cloud swing and more.
As each act was inducted, they were cheered on by family and friends in the crowd, continuing the family theme.
As Tony Hernandez took the stage, he said that his father pushed him and his siblings and made them the performers they came to be. He also said none of their success would have been possible without their mother.
“If our dad was the driving force that kept our act going, then our mother was the heart and glue,” he said.
Along with family, the tales of grit and perseverance shone through, indicating why each of these acts was earning a spot on the Ring of Fame.
Later in his speech, Isaac Morris continued to say what many of those involved in the circus know to be true.
“Life on tour is not for the easily queasy,” he said. “The show must go on. Keeping it going on was my dad’s specialty.”