Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 1, 1995 TAG: 9507030050
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Leigh Heisinger never practices his act. It's too dangerous. But it had been seven months since the last time he was 50 feet in the air doing handstands on a rotating wheel, so he thought maybe he could use a refresher course.
But before he could mount the giant wheel, which bears a striking resemblance to the ones hamsters play in, the rain started.
The rain may have thwarted his plans for practice, but it didn't affect his show - except for a missed handstand - or the Salem Fair's opening Friday evening.
Rain and opening night of the Salem Fair aren't strangers.
The fair's first year in Salem, two thunderstorms converged over it and blew down a 60-by-100-foot tent, said Carey Harveycutter, who brought the fair to Salem eight years ago.
Over the years, he's learned ``not to be concerned with the weather,'' said Harveycutter, the Salem Civic Center manager. ``There are 10 days, and eventually it will clear up.''
On Friday, clear skies came sooner than usual - before the first ticket was sold.
By the time The Sensational Leighs - Heisinger and his daughter, Robin Curran - took to the air, the only signs that it had rained were shallow puddles and soggy grass.
That wasn't enough to keep the people away. The metal benches in front of Heisinger's wheel were full during his 61/2-minute act.
As it turned out, Heisinger didn't need any practice.
He's an old pro at the ``Giant Space Wheel.'' In fact, the 60-year-old said he is the wheel's oldest performer.
``I've done it longer and better than anyone else,'' he said after his performance.
He started when he was at Florida State University. He was a physical education major, but the university's circus intrigued him.
``My mother thought [performing in college] would get it out of my system,'' Heisinger said.
She was wrong.
He bought a wheel of his own in 1961, and he's been performing on it ever since - first with his former wife, now with his daughter.
Today ``is the 10th anniversary of having my daughter as my partner,'' he said.
In addition to the act with her father, Robin Curran also performs on a motorcycle, riding it across a platform 45 feet in the air.
She said she's not a daredevil, just a performer. Despite both having been hurt before - he's cracked a rib, she's dislocated her knee and split her lip - neither has any intention of giving up the profession any time soon.
``It's the instant gratification. There's something in the applause,'' he said. ``This is a choice I've made, and I love it.''
The Leighs will perform three times a day until they pack up and head home July 9.
by CNB