 Irene Cara appeared during the first season (1971–1972) and would go on to become a pop-music star.Cara was replaced in the second season (1972–1973) by Denise Nickerson, who previously appeared on the ABC daytime series "Dark Shadows" and was best known for her appearance as Violet Beauregarde in the 1971 film "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory".The other three original members of the Short Circus were singer and guitarist Melanie Henderson; drummer and singer Stephen Gustafson; and singer, tambourinist, and guitarist Douglas Grant.