Allan C. Hill

Allan C.Hill was a decorated Vietnam war veteran, entertainment producer and owner of the Great American Circus.

Allan began his circus career at age 10, helping his father Bill Hill sell cotton candy on Henry Vonderheid's Von Bros. circus.

Allan successfully owned and operated The Great American Circus which he purchased from Hoxie Tucker.

He was also very involved in various charitable interests. Allan gained national attention when he took part in a "Bid for Bachelors" auction to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Two women bid a record $23,000 for a special date with one of Sarasota's most eligible bachelors. The unusual bid caught the attention of the Associated Press and, before long, Cosmopolitan magazine profiled Hill as its "Bachelor of the Month." That led to a 1991 TV appearance on "To Tell the Truth" where Hill and two imposters managed to stump the panelists on which one sparked the bidding war at a charity fund raiser.

Hill also helped raise more than $100,000 for an unsuccessful grass-roots effort to spare the historic John Ringling Towers from demolition in 1998, according to his family. One of the fund raisers he staged included a trapeze act with his teenage daughter 30 feet off the ground without a net.

Allan C. Hill's Entertainment Corporation grew in size and importance, he also promoted his Pan American Magic Spectacular, professional boxing, championship wrestling, live concerts and New York theatrical revues. His motto became “Class Entertainment in a Class by Itself”

Success came at a price, however, with problems with alcohol and cocaine. He took professional help to conquer these addictions, and later became active in programmes concerning rehabilitation of alcohol and drug abuse. He became a great supporter of the Sarasota Boxing Club (Sarasota being the circus capital of America, where he chose to live). This was located in one of the city's drugs-infested neighbourhoods and Hill donatied money and spent his spare time at the club, boxing with youngsters to keep them off the streets and away from drugs.

On January 29, 1994 Allan C. Hill was inducted into the Sarasota's Circus Ring of Fame.