James Houston (Guitar, Vocals)
Al Palmquist (Guitar, Vocals)
Al Spencer (Bass)
Roz Parks (Drums)
+
Colin Walker (Drums)
The Magic Circus were best known for containing future Paupers’ members Roz Parks (b. 15 April 1945, Picton, Ontario) and James Houston (b. 25 May 1946, Belfast, Northern Ireland).
Houston, Parks and Spencer (b. 7 March 1947, London, England), had previously been members of The Creeps but changed name in early 1967 when guitarist Al Palmquist replaced Dave Morgan.
The band was best known for the 50-minute rock symphony, ‘March of The Mushroom’, written largely by Houston. Aside from playing other original material, the group also played Beatles, Beach Boys, Association and Mamas & The Papas covers.
The band was popular on Toronto’s club scene and opened for many of the top artists of the day, including Del Shannon, Wilson Pickett, The Turtles, Mitch Ryder, Eric Burdon & The Animals, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Ronnie Hawkins and The Left Banke. They also toured widely throughout Ontario playing high schools and dance halls.
Parks left in July 1968 to play with Edward Bear briefly before replacing Skip Prokop in The Paupers in October.
Australian Colin Walker from the Australian band, The Flying Circus joined in his place. The band then played as The Carnival (apart from a couple of shows, including the ‘Time Being’ held at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto in September where they played as The Magic Circus).
Houston also joined The Paupers in April 1969 after turning an offer down from Skip Prokop to play bass in Lighthouse (he may also have fronted Wizard’s Hand for a while).
Palmquist and Spencer carried on as The Carnival on TV shows and then resumed the Magic Circus name.
Advertised gigs
18 March 1967 – Lakeshore Lions Arena, Toronto with The Strays
24 March 1967 – Queen’s Park, London, Ontario
25 March 1967 – Hidden Valley, Huntsville, Ontario with The Left Banke
27 March 1967 – St John’s Church, Niagara Falls, Ontario
28 March 1967 – The Night Owl, Toronto
29 March 1967 – The Castle, St Catherine’s, Ontario
30 March 1967 – Brant Inn, Burlington, Ontario
31 March 1967 – Royal Plaza, Clarkson, Ontario
1 April 1967 – Huntingdon Park Commercial Centre, Hamilton, Ontario
3 June 1967 – The Flick, Toronto
10 June 1967 – Scarborough Arena Gardens, Scarborough, Ontario with Eddie Spencer & The Mission, Roy Kenner & The Associates, The Tripp, Bobby Kris & The Imperials, The Lords of London and others
5 July 1967 – Muskoka Pavillion, Bala, Ontario
21 July 1967 – Huron Park Recreation Centre, Cooksville, Ontario
9 August 1967 – Cobourg Pavilion, Cobourg, Ontario
27 August 1967 – Summer Gardens, Port Dover, Ontario with The Federations
1 October 1967 – Paradise Gardens, Guelph, Ontario with Three to One
16-18 October 1967 – The Flick, Toronto
19 October 1967 – The Flick, Toronto
2 November 1967 – Stratford College Institute, Stratford, Ontario
3 November 1967 – Crosby High School, Forthill, Ontario
4 November 1967 – Belleville Arena, Belleville, Ontario
5 November 1967 – Club Shingaling, Welland, Ontario
21 December 1967 – Annandale High School, Ontario
22 December 1967 – Brampton High School, Brampton, Ontario
23 December 1967 – Pelham District High, Fenwick, Ontario
26 December 1967 – St Nick’s Church, Hamilton, Ontario
27 December 1967 – Kitchener College Institute, Kitchener, Ontario
28 December 1967 – The Night Owl, Toronto
29 December 1967 – St Martin’s Church, Niagara, Ontario
30 December 1967 – Haileybury High School, Haileybury, Ontario
31 December 1967 – Kirkland Lake, Ontario
6 January 1968 – Broom and Stone, Scarborough, Ontario
12 January 1968 – York University, Toronto with The Paupers and The Last Words
12 January 1968 – Brantford Collegiate Institute, Brantford, Ontario
1 February 1968 – University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
2 February 1968 – Forrest Hills Collegiate, Forest Hills, Ontario
3 February 1968 – Forest Hills CI, Kitchener, Ontario
4 February 1968 – St Martin In The Field Church, Toronto
6 February 1968 – St John’s Church, Niagara Falls, Ontario
5 April 1968 – Cayuga High School, Cayuga, Ontario
6 April 1968 – Barton High School, Hamilton, Ontario
11 April 1968 – Port Dover Composite School, Port Dover, Ontario
12 April 1968 – Club Shade Blue, Toronto
13 April 1968 – Wallaceberg Teen Club, Wallaceberg, Ontario
18 May 1968 – Sauble Beach Pavilion, Sauble Beach, Ontario
13 June 1968 – Waterford Arena, Waterford, Ontario
14 June 1968 – Elmiria District HS, Elmiria, Ontario
15 June 1968 – Crystal Beach Pavilion, Crystal Beach, Ontario
16 June 1968 – St Gabriel’s Church, Burlington, Ontario
18 June 1968 – Glenbriar Arena, Kitchener, Ontario
20 June 1968 – East Hamilton Kiwanis Club, Hamilton, Ontario
21 June 1968 – Brantford Collegiate Institute, Brantford, Ontario
22 June 1968 – Rideau Ferry Inn, Smith Falls, Ontario
25 June 1968 – Dundas Arena, Dundas, Ontario
26 June 1968 – Georgetown Arena, Georgetown, Ontario
27 June 1968 – Stratford Arena, Straford, Ontario
28 June 1968 – Cobourg Pavilion, Cobourg, Ontario
29 June 1968 – The Gette, Oshawa, Ontario
2 July 1968 – Toronto City Hall, Toronto
3 July 1968 – Wallaceburg Arena, Wallaceburg, Ontario
5 July 1968 – Pav-Orillia, Orillia, Ontario
6 July 1968 – Kee-to-Bala, Bala, Ontario (Roz Parks’ last gig?)
10 August 1968 – Sauble Beach Pavilion, Sauble Beach, Ontario
1-2 September 1968 – ‘Time Being’ at CNE, Toronto
14 February 1970 – The Get (O’Neill Collegiate), Toronto
7 March 1970 – The Hawk’s Nest, Toronto
16 May 1970 – Hidden Valley, Huntsville, Ontario with Beadree
17 May 1970 – Hidden Valley, Huntsville, Ontario
5 June 1970 – Jubilee Auditorium, Oshawa, Onatario with The Poor Souls (billed as Majic Circus)
Most of these gigs were taken from the After Four section of the Toronto Telegram. Thanks to Roz Parks, James Houston and Al Spencer for their input.
Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author
