Circus Performers

Troupes of circus performers arrived in Bloomington as early as the 1860s. It wasn’t long afterwards that area youth began careers as trapeze artists.

Featuring:

Fred Green, (1858 – 1897), aerialist circus performer
Howard Green, (1867 – 1952), aerialist circus performer
Harry Green, (1867 – 1952), aerialist circus performers
George Valentine, (1898 – 1955), aerialist circus performer
Lorraine Mather Valentine, (1914 – 1987), aerialist circus performer

Brothers Fred (1858-1897), Howard (1867-1952), and Harry Green (1867-1952) grew up helping at their father’s confectionery.

But when it came time for them to venture out on their own, they chose a very different career. Fred and Howard built a rig in the family barn and soon mastered aerial stunts, which they modeled after those done by the trapeze artists they admired.

Grainy black and white portrait of a light-skinned man wearing a suit and vest. His hair is medium length and combed to the side. He has a mustache.

Fred Green

Grainy black and white portrait of a light-skinned man wearing a suit and vest. His hair is medium length and combed to the side. He has a mustache.

By 1878 Fred and Howard, known as the “Brothers LaVan,” had an act with the Pullman and Hamilton Circus. 

In the winter they returned to Bloomington to prepare and practice for the next season. They attracted other aerialists to Bloomington who also used the family barn. Thus began the practice of aerial artists wintering in Bloomington, which soon became known as the “Aerialist Capital of the World.”

Flyer for The Brothers LaVan.

Fred and Howard’s father did not like their career choice, but could not stop them from doing what they loved. But something else could.

What might that have been?

In 1880 Howard suffered a serious injury that ended his circus career, but Fred continued to perform and teamed up with two other aerialists known as the “Royal Russian Athletes” (although none were Russian).

The youngest Green brother, Harry, joined the circus too. In 1889 he and Fred revived the “Brothers LaVan” name and performed across the U.S. until ill health forced Fred to retire in 1896.

After Fred’s retirement, Harry was joined by his wife, Amy, and various other flyers in the renamed act, the "Flying LaVans." After perfecting their skills with Harry, many of these “other flyers” left to start their own acts.

Black and white portrait of a light-skinned man with wavy dark hair parted down the middle, and a large handlebar mustache. He is wearing a very tight white shirt with no collar, possibly stretchy material.

Harry Green

Black and white portrait of a light-skinned man with wavy dark hair parted down the middle, and a large handlebar mustache. He is wearing a very tight white shirt with no collar, possibly stretchy material.

Amy and LaVan promotional flyer.

Illinois State University’s Special Collection, Milner Library.
Full-length black and white photograph. The brothers are standing on either side and Amy is seated on something tall in the center. She is wearing a light colored off-the-shoulder ruffly shirt and ruffly short shorts, with a bead or sparkle detail around the hips. Tights cover the entire length of her legs. The men are wearing long-sleeved very tight lightly colored shirts and very short tight shorts. They are also wearing tights that cover the entire length of their legs and feet.

Tom Kitchen, Amy LaVan, and Harry LaVan, circa 1900.

Illinois State University’s Special Collection, Milner Library.
Full-length black and white photograph. The brothers are standing on either side and Amy is seated on something tall in the center. She is wearing a light colored off-the-shoulder ruffly shirt and ruffly short shorts, with a bead or sparkle detail around the hips. Tights cover the entire length of her legs. The men are wearing long-sleeved very tight lightly colored shirts and very short tight shorts. They are also wearing tights that cover the entire length of their legs and feet.

Harry retired in 1937. But until his death in 1952, he continued to train aerial artists at Bloomington’s YMCA and contribute to Bloomington’s legacy as the aerialist capital of the world.

George and Lorraine Valentine

George Valentine (1898-1955), like so many others, became a flyer after being enthralled by circus aerialists. George’s brothers, Bill, Fred, and Roy, also became flyers and performed together in various acts. But George wanted to have his own act. In 1932 he was introduced to a young lady who, having watched many practices at Bloomington’s YMCA, was also interested in flying. Soon after that George began training Lorraine Mather Valentine (1914-1987). They were married in 1935.

They are standing outdoors in the grass. They are wearing matching outfits, skin tight leotard with a tank top style at the top, shorts at the bottom. On their chest is a heart design with an arrow through the middle. They have a decorative ribbon belt around their waists, and tights cover their entire legs and feet.

Lorraine and George Valentine

They are standing outdoors in the grass. They are wearing matching outfits, skin tight leotard with a tank top style at the top, shorts at the bottom. On their chest is a heart design with an arrow through the middle. They have a decorative ribbon belt around their waists, and tights cover their entire legs and feet.

That year George, Roy, and Lorraine toured as the ”Flying Valentinos.” Their “thrilling” performances included blindfolded leaps and other daring and dangerous moves.

“The most wonderful artists on the circuit . . . put on a ‘hair raising’ show. . . Mrs. Valentino who has won for herself the name of ‘Mrs. Take-a-chance Valentino,’ in her part of the death defying act, is only 20 years of age.”

— Hearne Democrat (TX), May 24, 1935

Two sleeping trailers are parked in the valley, mountains can be seen in the background, blocking the sky. A man stands on a wooden folding chair to attach or fix an awning attached to one of the trailers. A car is parked on the left.

The Valentines traveled across the United States, moving from location to location every few days during the circus season. Lorraine pulled their mobile home behind the car, while George and Roy pulled the trailer with their rigging and additional sleep space behind their truck.

Two sleeping trailers are parked in the valley, mountains can be seen in the background, blocking the sky. A man stands on a wooden folding chair to attach or fix an awning attached to one of the trailers. A car is parked on the left.

Sue Pelto joined the Valentinos as a flyer in 1935. By then Fred had his own act, the “Flying Valentines,” and Roy, the “Flying Romas.”

Portrait of two women on either side of one man. The woman on the left has short dark hair, the man has short dark hair, and the woman on the right has short light hair. They are all smiling and looking to the right of the camera. They are wearing matching outifts, white skin tight fabric with a butterfly shape in sequins on the chest. The ladies have a fringe detail on the shoulder.

Lorraine and George Valentine with Sue Pelto (left), circa 1938.

Portrait of two women on either side of one man. The woman on the left has short dark hair, the man has short dark hair, and the woman on the right has short light hair. They are all smiling and looking to the right of the camera. They are wearing matching outifts, white skin tight fabric with a butterfly shape in sequins on the chest. The ladies have a fringe detail on the shoulder.

In 1947 George and Lorraine purchased the Happy Acres Stables in Normal and converted the barn into an aerialist training center, which they named Circus Haven.

George and Lorraine’s daughter Cherie was born in 1948. Four years later she had her official circus debut, performing a bird’s nest on a trapeze.

A very long building with a curved roof. Entrance is right int he middle of the long side of the building, a sidewalk leads up to the door. Around the building are trees, bushes, and corn fields.

The Valentines’ Circus Haven, in west Normal, became a popular location for aerial artists to develop and practice their new acts for the coming circus season.

A very long building with a curved roof. Entrance is right int he middle of the long side of the building, a sidewalk leads up to the door. Around the building are trees, bushes, and corn fields.
A young girl is holding on two ropes of a trapese, but she is high above the trapese bar. Her feet are above her head and she looks forward with a smile. She has chin-length curly light colored hair and is wearing regular clothes. Her parents are holding the trapese bar, looking up to her, and smiling.

Cherie Valentine’s first performance trick was a bird’s nest in 1952. She performed this trick for photographers the following year, with her proud parents below.

A young girl is holding on two ropes of a trapese, but she is high above the trapese bar. Her feet are above her head and she looks forward with a smile. She has chin-length curly light colored hair and is wearing regular clothes. Her parents are holding the trapese bar, looking up to her, and smiling.

George Valentine “Flying Valentinos” costume, Lorraine Valentine “Valentino Sisters” costume, Cherie Valentine costume, circa 1953

View this object in Matterport

Lorraine made all the costumes used by the “Flying Valentinos,” as well as Cherie’s costumes.

Donated by: Cherie Valentien
2017.01.1-3

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