Clifford was the fifth and youngest son born to Virginia (Marshall) and Joseph Pereira Vargas on a ranch located on Santa Rita Road in Pleasanton, California. All five of the Vargas brothers helped with the family ranching business during their younger years, some longer than others. Clifford, by far, made his way furthest from home, and became quite well known for following his dreams and being the successful owner of Circus Vargas. Clifford bought, the then named "Miller Johnson" circus, and renamed it in 1972. The circus consisted of three rings, three tents and some battered equipment. At his death in 1989, the company had 30 tractor trailer rigs, 58 mobile homes, 150 animals and over 300 employees.
Some news accounts say that his grandparents were circus owners in "Portugal, where his father was raised in the circus before he came to this county". Family research has shown that this story is doubtful as Clifford's father was born in the small locality of Lombega, part of the small village of Castelo Branco on the tiny island of Faial in the Azores Islands. His grandparents, Antonio Pereira Vargas and Anna Luiza Silva, were born, had 11 children, and lived their entire lives on this island. Clifford's love of the circus more likely could have aligned with this newspaper account (Sacramento Bee, April 5, 1979-writer Jim Caries) "Dad took us to see every circus that came around. We would help set up, cause we couldn't really afford to buy the tickets to get it, and that was one way of getting admission, to help set up the tent" Another account (The Stockton Record, Nov 6, 1983, Linda Yoshikawa) "Our family had no money but we walked 7 miles into town to sneak under the tents. I was fascinated by the magic and the majesty."
An earlier newspaper story (Tri-Valley Herald-January 16, 1975, by Don Shoecraft) tells a most detailed story of Clifford Vargas' life. Here are excerpts: Having been born on a farm on Santa Rita Road, Vargas grew up with a great love of animals. Subsequent family moves fostered that love. The Vargas' took up a ranch on the old Quickly Ranch in Livermore, then returned to the old Joseph Ranch in Pleasanton and then moved into town to a house on Angela Street before the building boom of the 1960's.
Vargas is a graduate of Inman School in Livermore (demolished now....) of May School (closed now) and of Livermore High School. He stayed on the farm until he was 20, then went to San Francisco........He became a salesman in a clothing in San Francisco, and struck up a friendship with some Chicago natives who decided one day to return to the Midwest. Vargas recalled that the wanderlust struck him then too and he decided to go back with them "I've never been anywhere but here." he said. He worked summers at a resort on Lake Illinois and worked the winters in Chicago. He was a manufacturing plant worker at Brach's Candy Company in Chicago.He became a Fuller Brush Man, got together enough capital to go partners in a cocktail lounge and became "fairly successful." But he said, "It all seemed so hectic-staying up all night and all..." so he switched and went to work for an advertising firm. "that" he observed with relish, "was my ground floor." He became the promoter for the Rudy Brothers Circus and moved back to California eight years ago. The opportunity arose for him to put together his own promotional company and go partners, five years ago, with Charles Germaine, owner of the Miller Johnson Circus. Because of poor health, Germaine became unable to travel with the circus, and sold it to Vargas. That was two years ago when the old circus worked only 14 weeks of the year on the road, and possessed only the big top, three trucks, and a few inadequate bleacher seats. That was the birth of Circus Vargas, a rambunctious enterprise dedicated to bringing the circus to America in the form grandfathers will remember.
Although Clifford's path took him far from his ranching roots, and set him apart from the path of the descendants of most Azorean Portuguese, he shared with them a common gritty work ethic.
To quote again the aforementioned news article by Linda Yoshikawa: To make his vision come true, he sold his Pacific Heights home, and all its contents. He became, as he acknowledges, a workaholic. "There were no Christmases for me. There were no nice vacations. I had no nice vacations. I had no nice possessions. I believed in my circus. And I believe if you stick your nose to the grindstone, you're going to get something back." Clifford had successful heart by-pass surgery in 1977, and was the only patient, he said, to be discharge from Los Angeles' St. Vincent's Hospital, from that surgery without a prescribed medication. It was the only time, during his years owning the circus that he took time off from his work until he became sick with his final illness.
Copyright Susan Vargas Murphy. All rights reserved.
Some news accounts say that his grandparents were circus owners in "Portugal, where his father was raised in the circus before he came to this county". Family research has shown that this story is doubtful as Clifford's father was born in the small locality of Lombega, part of the small village of Castelo Branco on the tiny island of Faial in the Azores Islands. His grandparents, Antonio Pereira Vargas and Anna Luiza Silva, were born, had 11 children, and lived their entire lives on this island. Clifford's love of the circus more likely could have aligned with this newspaper account (Sacramento Bee, April 5, 1979-writer Jim Caries) "Dad took us to see every circus that came around. We would help set up, cause we couldn't really afford to buy the tickets to get it, and that was one way of getting admission, to help set up the tent" Another account (The Stockton Record, Nov 6, 1983, Linda Yoshikawa) "Our family had no money but we walked 7 miles into town to sneak under the tents. I was fascinated by the magic and the majesty."
An earlier newspaper story (Tri-Valley Herald-January 16, 1975, by Don Shoecraft) tells a most detailed story of Clifford Vargas' life. Here are excerpts: Having been born on a farm on Santa Rita Road, Vargas grew up with a great love of animals. Subsequent family moves fostered that love. The Vargas' took up a ranch on the old Quickly Ranch in Livermore, then returned to the old Joseph Ranch in Pleasanton and then moved into town to a house on Angela Street before the building boom of the 1960's.
Vargas is a graduate of Inman School in Livermore (demolished now....) of May School (closed now) and of Livermore High School. He stayed on the farm until he was 20, then went to San Francisco........He became a salesman in a clothing in San Francisco, and struck up a friendship with some Chicago natives who decided one day to return to the Midwest. Vargas recalled that the wanderlust struck him then too and he decided to go back with them "I've never been anywhere but here." he said. He worked summers at a resort on Lake Illinois and worked the winters in Chicago. He was a manufacturing plant worker at Brach's Candy Company in Chicago.He became a Fuller Brush Man, got together enough capital to go partners in a cocktail lounge and became "fairly successful." But he said, "It all seemed so hectic-staying up all night and all..." so he switched and went to work for an advertising firm. "that" he observed with relish, "was my ground floor." He became the promoter for the Rudy Brothers Circus and moved back to California eight years ago. The opportunity arose for him to put together his own promotional company and go partners, five years ago, with Charles Germaine, owner of the Miller Johnson Circus. Because of poor health, Germaine became unable to travel with the circus, and sold it to Vargas. That was two years ago when the old circus worked only 14 weeks of the year on the road, and possessed only the big top, three trucks, and a few inadequate bleacher seats. That was the birth of Circus Vargas, a rambunctious enterprise dedicated to bringing the circus to America in the form grandfathers will remember.
Although Clifford's path took him far from his ranching roots, and set him apart from the path of the descendants of most Azorean Portuguese, he shared with them a common gritty work ethic.
To quote again the aforementioned news article by Linda Yoshikawa: To make his vision come true, he sold his Pacific Heights home, and all its contents. He became, as he acknowledges, a workaholic. "There were no Christmases for me. There were no nice vacations. I had no nice vacations. I had no nice possessions. I believed in my circus. And I believe if you stick your nose to the grindstone, you're going to get something back." Clifford had successful heart by-pass surgery in 1977, and was the only patient, he said, to be discharge from Los Angeles' St. Vincent's Hospital, from that surgery without a prescribed medication. It was the only time, during his years owning the circus that he took time off from his work until he became sick with his final illness.
Copyright Susan Vargas Murphy. All rights reserved.
Clifford was the fifth and youngest son born to Virginia (Marshall) and Joseph Pereira Vargas on a ranch located on Santa Rita Road in Pleasanton, California. All five of the Vargas brothers helped with the family ranching business during their younger years, some longer than others. Clifford, by far, made his way furthest from home, and became quite well known for following his dreams and being the successful owner of Circus Vargas. Clifford bought, the then named "Miller Johnson" circus, and renamed it in 1972. The circus consisted of three rings, three tents and some battered equipment. At his death in 1989, the company had 30 tractor trailer rigs, 58 mobile homes, 150 animals and over 300 employees.
Some news accounts say that his grandparents were circus owners in "Portugal, where his father was raised in the circus before he came to this county". Family research has shown that this story is doubtful as Clifford's father was born in the small locality of Lombega, part of the small village of Castelo Branco on the tiny island of Faial in the Azores Islands. His grandparents, Antonio Pereira Vargas and Anna Luiza Silva, were born, had 11 children, and lived their entire lives on this island. Clifford's love of the circus more likely could have aligned with this newspaper account (Sacramento Bee, April 5, 1979-writer Jim Caries) "Dad took us to see every circus that came around. We would help set up, cause we couldn't really afford to buy the tickets to get it, and that was one way of getting admission, to help set up the tent" Another account (The Stockton Record, Nov 6, 1983, Linda Yoshikawa) "Our family had no money but we walked 7 miles into town to sneak under the tents. I was fascinated by the magic and the majesty."
An earlier newspaper story (Tri-Valley Herald-January 16, 1975, by Don Shoecraft) tells a most detailed story of Clifford Vargas' life. Here are excerpts: Having been born on a farm on Santa Rita Road, Vargas grew up with a great love of animals. Subsequent family moves fostered that love. The Vargas' took up a ranch on the old Quickly Ranch in Livermore, then returned to the old Joseph Ranch in Pleasanton and then moved into town to a house on Angela Street before the building boom of the 1960's.
Vargas is a graduate of Inman School in Livermore (demolished now....) of May School (closed now) and of Livermore High School. He stayed on the farm until he was 20, then went to San Francisco........He became a salesman in a clothing in San Francisco, and struck up a friendship with some Chicago natives who decided one day to return to the Midwest. Vargas recalled that the wanderlust struck him then too and he decided to go back with them "I've never been anywhere but here." he said. He worked summers at a resort on Lake Illinois and worked the winters in Chicago. He was a manufacturing plant worker at Brach's Candy Company in Chicago.He became a Fuller Brush Man, got together enough capital to go partners in a cocktail lounge and became "fairly successful." But he said, "It all seemed so hectic-staying up all night and all..." so he switched and went to work for an advertising firm. "that" he observed with relish, "was my ground floor." He became the promoter for the Rudy Brothers Circus and moved back to California eight years ago. The opportunity arose for him to put together his own promotional company and go partners, five years ago, with Charles Germaine, owner of the Miller Johnson Circus. Because of poor health, Germaine became unable to travel with the circus, and sold it to Vargas. That was two years ago when the old circus worked only 14 weeks of the year on the road, and possessed only the big top, three trucks, and a few inadequate bleacher seats. That was the birth of Circus Vargas, a rambunctious enterprise dedicated to bringing the circus to America in the form grandfathers will remember.
Although Clifford's path took him far from his ranching roots, and set him apart from the path of the descendants of most Azorean Portuguese, he shared with them a common gritty work ethic.
To quote again the aforementioned news article by Linda Yoshikawa: To make his vision come true, he sold his Pacific Heights home, and all its contents. He became, as he acknowledges, a workaholic. "There were no Christmases for me. There were no nice vacations. I had no nice vacations. I had no nice possessions. I believed in my circus. And I believe if you stick your nose to the grindstone, you're going to get something back." Clifford had successful heart by-pass surgery in 1977, and was the only patient, he said, to be discharge from Los Angeles' St. Vincent's Hospital, from that surgery without a prescribed medication. It was the only time, during his years owning the circus that he took time off from his work until he became sick with his final illness.
Copyright Susan Vargas Murphy. All rights reserved.
Some news accounts say that his grandparents were circus owners in "Portugal, where his father was raised in the circus before he came to this county". Family research has shown that this story is doubtful as Clifford's father was born in the small locality of Lombega, part of the small village of Castelo Branco on the tiny island of Faial in the Azores Islands. His grandparents, Antonio Pereira Vargas and Anna Luiza Silva, were born, had 11 children, and lived their entire lives on this island. Clifford's love of the circus more likely could have aligned with this newspaper account (Sacramento Bee, April 5, 1979-writer Jim Caries) "Dad took us to see every circus that came around. We would help set up, cause we couldn't really afford to buy the tickets to get it, and that was one way of getting admission, to help set up the tent" Another account (The Stockton Record, Nov 6, 1983, Linda Yoshikawa) "Our family had no money but we walked 7 miles into town to sneak under the tents. I was fascinated by the magic and the majesty."
An earlier newspaper story (Tri-Valley Herald-January 16, 1975, by Don Shoecraft) tells a most detailed story of Clifford Vargas' life. Here are excerpts: Having been born on a farm on Santa Rita Road, Vargas grew up with a great love of animals. Subsequent family moves fostered that love. The Vargas' took up a ranch on the old Quickly Ranch in Livermore, then returned to the old Joseph Ranch in Pleasanton and then moved into town to a house on Angela Street before the building boom of the 1960's.
Vargas is a graduate of Inman School in Livermore (demolished now....) of May School (closed now) and of Livermore High School. He stayed on the farm until he was 20, then went to San Francisco........He became a salesman in a clothing in San Francisco, and struck up a friendship with some Chicago natives who decided one day to return to the Midwest. Vargas recalled that the wanderlust struck him then too and he decided to go back with them "I've never been anywhere but here." he said. He worked summers at a resort on Lake Illinois and worked the winters in Chicago. He was a manufacturing plant worker at Brach's Candy Company in Chicago.He became a Fuller Brush Man, got together enough capital to go partners in a cocktail lounge and became "fairly successful." But he said, "It all seemed so hectic-staying up all night and all..." so he switched and went to work for an advertising firm. "that" he observed with relish, "was my ground floor." He became the promoter for the Rudy Brothers Circus and moved back to California eight years ago. The opportunity arose for him to put together his own promotional company and go partners, five years ago, with Charles Germaine, owner of the Miller Johnson Circus. Because of poor health, Germaine became unable to travel with the circus, and sold it to Vargas. That was two years ago when the old circus worked only 14 weeks of the year on the road, and possessed only the big top, three trucks, and a few inadequate bleacher seats. That was the birth of Circus Vargas, a rambunctious enterprise dedicated to bringing the circus to America in the form grandfathers will remember.
Although Clifford's path took him far from his ranching roots, and set him apart from the path of the descendants of most Azorean Portuguese, he shared with them a common gritty work ethic.
To quote again the aforementioned news article by Linda Yoshikawa: To make his vision come true, he sold his Pacific Heights home, and all its contents. He became, as he acknowledges, a workaholic. "There were no Christmases for me. There were no nice vacations. I had no nice vacations. I had no nice possessions. I believed in my circus. And I believe if you stick your nose to the grindstone, you're going to get something back." Clifford had successful heart by-pass surgery in 1977, and was the only patient, he said, to be discharge from Los Angeles' St. Vincent's Hospital, from that surgery without a prescribed medication. It was the only time, during his years owning the circus that he took time off from his work until he became sick with his final illness.
Copyright Susan Vargas Murphy. All rights reserved.
