CIRCUS STARTS FRIDAY

Ten Bengal and Siberian tigers and truckloads of elephants, ponies and clowns are on their way to Cape Girardeau this week.

The Franzen Bros. Circus will give performances at 7 p.m. Friday, at 2 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday and at 2 and 4:30 p.m. next Sunday at the old Central Hardware parking lot at 350 S. Broadview.

Friday night's performance will offer a special attraction, a 10th birthday party for Megu the elephant.

The second annual appearance by the circus is sponsored by the Cape Shrine Club. Proceeds will be used to fund Shrine Club projects.

"Eventually all our efforts go to support the Shrine Hospitals," said Jess Hopple, the club's publicity chairman. "The whole idea of the hospitals is children."

Wayne Franzen and his brothers Gary and Neil grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Wayne started training animals early on, beginning with the family dog, the cat and cows.

Accepting his father's conviction that the American circus belonged to a bygone era, Wayne attended college and taught industrial arts of six years. But all the while he was training animals and building circus equipment.

When the brothers bought an old used tent and truck in 1974, the Franzen Bros. Circus was born. Gary and Neil retired after one season, but Wayne has continued building the circus.

A coloring contest is part of this year's circus presentation. Children who color the clown face available at ticket outlets are asked to bring their creation to the circus. A panel of judges will select three winners at each performance.

The winners will get to meet the clowns and animals.

Elephant rides also will be available.

Admission is $5 in advance and $7 at the gate for adults and children over 2. Tickets are available at Schnucks on Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, Albert Sanders Hardware in Jackson, Circle S Saddle Co. in Gordonville and Bigalow Surplus Store in Marble Hill.

They also are available at the Shrine office in the Plaza Galleria or by phoning 651-0691.