Vargas History
It was not until the mid-1960’s that Vargas began laying the
foundation that would lead not only to his recognition but also to his
domination of the world of circus.
Vargas’ mission to rejuvenate the Big Top was undoubtedly influenced
by his childhood fascination with the circus. He was a frequent spectator
at circuses that every year visited his home town of Livermore, California,
where his Portuguese-descended family maintained a farm. It was always
the Big Top itself that intrigued Vargas the most, capturing his heart
and imagination.
“To me, the Big Top was quite a sight, sitting splendidly on some
vast flat field that only the day before was totally vacant and lifeless,” he
often said. With the sawdust, spangles and billowing canvas, Circus Vargas
is a time machine that transports its audience back to the glamour and
heart-pounding excitement of the authentic old-time circus.And we’ve
never looked back!
Tabares History
The “FLYING
TABARES” trapeze act was created over 20 years ago in Argentina
by fourth generation circus performers and brothers Nelson and Alberto.
When Clifford Vargas saw them perform to standing ovations in South America,
he wasted no time in hiring them for his 20th anniversary edition of
Circus Vargas. During their three extraordinarily crowd-pleasing years with
Circus Vargas, Nelson Tabares met and married seventh generation
circus performer Katya Arata, whose outstanding talent and beauty made
her a vital part of the Flying Tabares.
During the following years, the Flying Tabares continued an outstandingly
succesful career in places like Circus Circus Hotel and Casinos in Las
Vegas and Reno, with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus all
over the United States, Circus Victor Hugo Cardinali in Portugal, and
The Monte Carlo International Circus Festival in Monaco. In
2004, they were awarded the "GOLDEN CLOWN" (the
circus equivalent of the Oscar) for their amazing flying act!
In the 2006 all-new Circus Vargas, the Flying Tabares continue to thrill
the audience with their breathtaking flying act, featuring their
newest and brightest high-flying star, Josue, the son of Alberto
and Patricia Tabares.
In 2005, the Tabares Family proudly became United States citizens,
and founded their production company, Tabares Entertainment, Inc.,
which now proudly presents CIRCUS VARGAS, America’s Favorite
Big Top Circus!
CARRYING ON THE DREAM
After
the death of Clifford Vargas in 1989, Roland Kaiser and Joseph Muscarello,
both longtime friends of Vargas and management executives with the show,
joined forces and took the reins of America’s Favorite Big Top
Circus, until they retired in 2003.When the Tabares Family got word of
the closing of Circus Vargas, the company that had jump-started their
career, they were truly saddened. In 2005 the Tabares Family created
their production company and in 2006 Tabares Entertainment, Inc. became
the proud owners of Circus Vargas!
Due to the vision and dedication of all the people of Circus Vargas,
the words of Clifford E. Vargas live on: “…every generation
of Americans should experience, first-hand, the very special thrills,
the never-duplicated excitement, of the real circus under the Big Top.
THE CIRCUS VARGAS BIG TOP TENT
For those who fondly recall the rich tradition of going to the circus
under a Big Top, and for those who have never experienced the magic,
2007 is the year to enjoy the thrill of a real Big Top circus.
The “Star” of Circus Vargas was hand-made in Milan, Italy,
and is the most state-of-the-art Big Top tent in use today. The theater-style
tent seats 1,500 people comfortably.. The tent consists of 90,000 square
feet of fabric and is supported by 500 individually placed stakes and
over four miles of rope and cable weighing over 17 tons. The entire setup
represents an outlay of a cool million dollars!
Each set-up day, at the crack of dawn, 30 men start the seven-hour process
of raising the Big Top, and each tear-down night, by the light of the
moon, the same 30 men roll the tent up and pack it carefully to travel
to the next town, where the process begins anew.