What began as a memorabilia DVD for relatives at a family reunion became a documentary film, "World's Smallest Airport: The True Story of the Thrasher Brothers Aerial Circus, 1945-1950," released this year. Perhaps the only traveling circus ever to spring from Athens Georgia roots to national recognition in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum was the innovative and outrageous 1940s air show.
The Aerial Circus was owned by the father, Grady Thrasher, Jr of retired lawyer and author, Grady Thrasher III, and his uncles, Richard, known as "Bud," and Tunis Thrasher, all deceased.
Photographs, 8mm film, yellowed newspaper clippings and other dusty memorabilia from the high-flying daredevil days of 1945-50 lay stored away for decades until Thrasher decided to hire Miki Thrasher McFatter, and filmmaker Matt DeGenarraro to help create the one-hour film presentation about his father and two brothers.
In 1945, when Word War II ended, the three Thrasher brothers returned home eager to resume their civilian lives. Starting from scratch, in a few weeks they acquired military surplus airplanes- Piper Cubs, a Stearman and two Ercoupes - from the U.S. Army for $200 to $500 each and a new 1946 Ford car, took over a rural airport and created The Thrasher Brothers' Aerial Circus.
For five years, the brothers performed astonishing acts - doing unlikely things with unlikely aircraft. The elder Thrasher also took two Ercoupe planes and bolted them together to make one plane - piloted from one cockpit. No one else had done this, but the plane flew. Thrasher said he knows of no one else, other than his father, who has tried this feat. They performed 384 times over a five-year period closing the show in 1950 in Charleston, S.C.
On Sunday, Feb. 26, at 2 p.m. at Landmark Park in Dothan, Alabama, Grady Thrasher III, Miki Thrasher McFatter, and filmmaker Matt DeGenarraro will attend a one-hour film presentation and will answer questions afterward. Landmark Park is located on U.S. Highway 431. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for children, with free admission to park members. For more information, call the park office at (334) 794-3452 or visit http://www.landmarkpark.com/. From news reports, FMI: Worlds Smallest pdf