Mr. Smith started his own travelling vaudeville show when he was only 15 or 16 years of age.

At the time, the late Mike or "Monkey" Hoffman had' a circus and Mr. Smith would assist him with "Geo", a 650 pound bear which performed on roller skates and sat at a table to eat and drink.

Mr. Smith was a man of many talents, including: acrobat and contortionist , magician, accordionist, singer, yodeler, guitar prayer, and comedian.

An old car, which he bought and converted into a bus, took the act to0 various towns in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

The Smith motto was "the lower the admission, the bigger the crowd, the better the time " consequently an adult could see the act and stat for the dance which followed (at which Mr. Smith played), for $0.35. Children 13 and under paid $0.10.

And what a show he put on.

For instance, he crawled through

He balanced a tumbler of water on his forehead and then did a complete somersault without spilling a drop of water.

He would stand on his head on a chair and then do the splits.

He also had two white rats which he would include in his magic act, scaring(mainly) the women in the crowd by pulling them out of pockets.

He alsoplayed his accordion and his gun, much to the enjoyment of each and every crowd.

Mr. Smith was also presented with a chance to work in the United States for "Major Rows"' in his circus. But Vern had his eye on a local girl and decided to stay home.

In 1936 he quit his vaudeville act and married Anne Saretsky. But he hadn't given up show business altogether. He continued playing his accordion in "Vern's Premier Swing Band", with Tommy Cox, Lyle Cox and Jim Glover.

Mr. Smith died in 1987, but he will always be remembered for his many talents and for his music.