Family's been clowning around for 25 years

A giant dinosaur did battle with tiny monsters for an art exhibition. The monster, which has spent the last six weeks at Blackpools Grundy Art Gallery, came alive for an epic battle in The Blackpool Tower Circus, as the finale to a procession along the Promenade involving children from St Johns CE Primary School, Blackpool. The youngsters, dressed as half-human half-monster creatures, battled the monster, filling the circus stage.

And now they want locals to share their memories of the legendary show to help mark that milestone.

When the new circus season gets under way the Endresz family will celebrate 25 years at the helm of the resort’s most enduring show.

Hungarian-born Laci and wife Maureen came to the resort in 1991, although their ties to the Blackpool ring were forged decades earlier when Laci’s father, Hungary’s first flying trapeze artiste, performed in Blackpool in the 1920s and Maureen’s father - Bobby Robert Snr - thrilled the crowds some 20 years later.

Blackpool Tower Circus clowns Mooky and Mr Boo attempted to break the world juggling record by passing six clubs between them 120 times in two minutes.
Mooky (right) and Mr Boo during the attempt. PIC BY ROB LOCK
17-4-2014 — Blackpool Tower Circus clowns Mooky and Mr Boo attempted to break the world juggling record by passing six clubs between them 120 times in two minutes. Mooky (right) and Mr Boo during the attempt. PIC BY ROB LOCK 17-4-2014

And sons Laci Jnr and Bubu – now best known as Mr Boo in his clowning guise – have followed in their footsteps and are the mainstays of the show these days.

Tower management hopes residents will tell their stories of watching their shows over the years, as well as bringing forward pieces of memoriabilia for possible display.

Head of Tower operator Merlin’s cluster of attractions in Blackpool, Kate Shane said: “I didn’t move to Blackpool until the 80s but I still have my own memories of the Tower Circus like everyone does.

“We are so proud of the circus; who else has something like this, outside the big cities?

“When you’re a local, there’s always that feeling that the attractions are for tourists or when you have people visiting, but there’s fun and entertainment opportunities to make memories for local families - and it’s part of our heritage.

“And the circus really does draw in people from Blackpool, the Fylde and Wyre. It’s got the history of the summer show and the panto, with things like the tradition of families bringing their children to the show on the last day of the summer show.”

During his time running the circus director Laci has been called on to develop Take That’s £50million The Circus Tour, teaching the stars to ride a unicycle and recruiting many of the circus acts to appear, and working on both the Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies for London 2012.

The Tower Circus opened with the Tower back in 1984, right underneath the Tower itself between its four legs of steel and has never missed a season since.

The arena was designed by Frank Matcham, and was completed six years later.

It is famous for the ring being able to be lowered into a pool of water, at up to 4ft 6ins deep, with spectacular dancing fountain finales to its show.