Sunday, June 11, 2006

The Wallendas


This is a good example of how resourceful circus people must be.
Here we see Polack Bros. Circus in the 1950's playing the Field House at the Univ. of Oregon.
Often there was more peril, especially for aerial acts, in hanging riggings in some buildings than in doing the act itself.

Posted by Buckles at 6/11/2006 06:03:00 AM

7 comments:

Bob Cline said...

I just saw the Tino Wallenda troupe doing the 7 man high at Circus Flora in Charleston. The 7 man high is incredible but when you are in a one ring environment and sitting just about underneath them, Well.. It just doesn't get much better than this. By the way Circus Flora had a sellout at every show in Charleston for their 5 or 6 day run before moving to St. Louis. Perhaps Ben Trumble can help but I believe Carson & Barnes might have a 7 man high this year ( I saw a poster ) as well as the Circus City Festival in Peru, Ind.
Bob

11 June, 2006 07:12
24-HOUR-MAN said...

It is now quite often referred to merely as "The 7"!

11 June, 2006 13:29
Buckles said...

Anything is better than The Flying Wallendas!

11 June, 2006 14:32
Anonymous said...

I agree with Bob seeing the Wallenda 7 person pyramid at Flora in St. Louis a few years ago, it was great. I had recently seen the 7 done on Ringling in a large building. At a small one-ring show you felt like you could hear them breathe, you could hear them talk. (You were given the admonition, "silence please until they reach the safety of the platform.") As they got to the center of the wire the band didn't stop -- it faded out, and the top mounter stood up on the chair. After she sat down the band faded back in to full volume by time time they reached the platform. It was one of the best presentations I will ever see. You wanted to stand and applaud -- a great memory.

11 June, 2006 15:10
Anonymous said...

I saw the Wallendas a million years ago and there will never be the drama and chills that I got from Karl and Carla Wallenda when they performed. I thought it was funny on the ground as they were not the most graceful group. Marlo also. Up in the air they were a wonder. The younger groups are great and do a wonderful performance. I guess I am just too old and jaded by the best there was... Maybe things just seemed better then. I feel the same way about Struppe. Never out done for style and suspense.

11 June, 2006 17:30
Anonymous said...

Struppi was class, 100% in and out of the ring. The other aerialist who had 'that something' was Jackie Zerbini. She made her entrance with cape and headpiece, then after her act, while she was putting on her pumps, a small stole was placed around her shoulders. She would saunter to the front of the ring, throw down the stole, and with just the right amount of sexy arrogance leave the ring. What a turn on it was for this, then, teenager. Those little things stand out in my mind like it was yesterday. Those performers were like movie stars to me.

12 June, 2006 08:35
Anonymous said...

don't forget about LaNorma. He picture is next to the words style and class in the dictionary. I read once that Struppi cited her as a role model. her elegance and beauty was unqualed by anyone performing today. of the next generation, carmen del molino was at the top; she could get more applause removing her cape, kicking off her heels and pulling on the web than anyone else of her generation. its too bad younger people don't have the memories we have of the superstars.

13 June, 2006 03:56

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