Circus Mom's Mom & Dad



Kathy 1970

 Since I was about four or five I knew I wanted to be in the circus.  Some of my earliest memories are of seeing my dad perform his magic act and ringmaster for Hoxie Bros. and Carson & Barnes.  (To this day people still comment about the elaborate Wizard of Oz themed magic routine Dad put together for Carson & Barnes.)  When my sister Lauren & I were very young, we'd play circus in the back yard at our grandparents' house.  I would start the show pretending to be my dad as ringmaster and announce, "The 1975 edition of the Hoxie Bros.Circus!"  (Little did I know I would follow in those footsteps many years later.  I did NOT set out to be an announcer, it happened very much by chance.)  Then I would climb on the very top of our swing set where Lauren was already perched waiting for me to "ride the elephants" with her.  Then she'd usually get on the trapeze bar or something and I'd hop on the two-seated ride that slid back & forth and pretend to be ZoeAnna Henry.  Although, I have to admit, my favorite of all performers was the glamorous Margurita Michelle.  I can remember her act from start to finish, even the music sticks in my memory. (Who could forget the theme to Hawaii-50?) 

 Back in the 1960's, my dad and his business partner travelled the country performing their ghost shows in theaters.  The performance included everything from big scary illusions like the burned alive to the showing of horror movies (usually The House on Haunted Hill). There was a 'seance' where the audience would "feel spirits" touch their shoulders during a black-out and an appearance by the featured monster.  Usually no one knew what the featured monster was until they referenced the marquee in front of the theater.  Featured monsters included "Gargantua the Gorilla", Frankenstein's monster or sometimes my dad would dress as Count Dracula.  (He made a convincing Dracula.)  In every town they'd take an ad out in the local newspaper for the temporary position of a magician's assistant.  I don't remember him mentioning having problems getting help...who wouldn't want easy money for a night's work as a glamorous "box jumper"?  One rainy day during set-up a pretty blond answered their ad.  She came into the theater and approached my dad about the help wanted ad.  After one quick glance at the girl who looked like a "drowned rat," he pawned her off on his partner to deal with. He told me that later when he saw her ready for the show it was,. "love at first sight."  He told his partner he was going to marry her.
  I'm certain when 16 year old Kathy Parson, from Terre Haute, Indiana answered the newspaper ad, she had no idea she would get a glimpse into what the next 10 years of her future would hold.  There are conflicting stories as to how long they knew each other before they married.  I've heard a week and I've heard a month.  In any case, it wasn't a long time before my dad made good on what he told his business partner.
  After the ghost show circuit died out my parents traveled with tent shows.  Dad of course ring mastered and they performed their magic act while Mom also performed show girl routines: web, swinging ladder, etc.  During the 10 years they were together there were five kids and a few attempts at town life.  My dad actually did a brief stint managing a drive-in theater.  He hated town life and never lasted long in it.  My mom had had enough of the road which led to their ultimate amicable split.  They remained friends until she passed away in 1980.  We'd often see my dad if the show he was with came close to Dayton.  He'd also spend the winters in Ohio and visited us kids frequently around the holidays.

Phil 2002

  My dad worked his entire adult life in show business.  He used to tell me he wanted to work until he died.  He pretty much got his wish.  Dad passed away October 10th, 2002, only 10 days after he closed with Hendricks Bros.  Many years of smoking led to a multitude of health complications, one of which included oxygen levels in the brain being compromised.  Because of this, he would have occasional delusions and act out getting ready for his magic act.  He was really in my sister's living room, but in his mind he was on the show.  He went to sleep one night and didn't wake up.  My brother, sisters and I count it a blessing that Dad died peacefully in his sleep and "on the circus."

  His ashes were spread in Colon, Michigan near Abbot's Magic shop and the graves of Harry Blackstone, Sr. and Jr.  Our mom is buried near our old home in Springfield, Ohio.

"I knew I wanted to be a magician from the time I was three years old."  - Phil Chandler



"I'd just had enough of the road, that's all." - Kathy Barone