Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Alfredo Beautour #1 (From Henry Penndorf)


Alfredo Beautour.1, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.


I came across these three pictures (attached) of Alfredo Beautour just recently. The first is a picture from Circus Feijoo-Castilla of Alfredo Beautour in what looks to be his pre Taras Bulba days. The second picture of Alfredo Beautour (with the leopard) had a caption of "Papa Beautour". The third picture appears to be another publicity picture, this one for Taras Bulba. It is a composite of a number of smaller pictures from his act. In the picture, the sign above Taras B! ulba's head translates to "The Most Sensational Attraction Of The Cent ury, Taras Bulba And His Tigers". From the picture, he appears to have had quite an act. Alfredo Beautour's persona as Taras Bulba certainly kicked showmanship up another notch.

I did find some other information on Taras Bulba's (Alfredo Beautour) performing career on the Circus Fans Italia website. The information comes from the web site's forum/message board and was originally posted in 2005. It is sketchy at best. According to one of the posts Taras Bulba may have retired from performing in 1984 due to "sopragguniti" health reasons. Here is a summary of the posted comments on his performing career...

196? Circus Huesca di Nene Huesca
1970 Circus Heros (Italy)
1970 Circus Casartelli (Italy)
1979 Circus Jean Richard (France)
1980 Circus Jean Richard (France)
1980 Circus Togni (Italy)
1981 Circus Macaggi (Spain)
1982 Circus Macggi (Spain)
1984 Circus Togni (Italy)
???? Circus Brazil Y El Royal (Portugal)

From the two press pictures, mentioned above, each bearing a circus logo, Taras Bulba also performed with Price-Madrid Hall Feijoo-Castilla, as Alfredo Beautour, and as Taras Bulba with Les Bouglione Junica(?) Le Cirque Montmarte, but I could not find dates. Any additional information, or corrections, on either the senior or junior Alfred Beautour would be appreciated.

Didn't! Pablo Noel appear with Circus Feijoo-Castilla before he joined Ringling Brothers in 1972?

Posted by Buckles at 6/13/2007 05:38:00 AM

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alfredo Beautour worked with his leopards 1967 at the German Circus Williams, the same circus Gunther Gebel-Williams worked for. It seems they had a collaboration with Bouglione that year.

13 June, 2007 09:29
Raffaele De Ritis said...

There is some confusion about that family.
The Beautour are three:
1)Alfred Beautour
In the 40s and 50s he presented lion and tigers, then leopards. It is him that was with Williams. He is the man on the second picture (color).He presented his leopard act everywhere in Europe. Then he sold them to the small circus Wegliams in Italy,in 1989, where part of the group is still performing.

2)Emilien Beautour.
He is the man with the tiger in the circus Price picture (year:1964-65 winter), and HE was alternatively Taras Boulba. He started with tigers in the 40s. He never presented leopards. His personality was great, his European career wonderful, his humanity special. I remember myself as a child stepping to his caravan door askinf for an autograph, and invited inside speaking for hours...He retired in 1984, passing away in 1995.

3)Alfredo Beautour.
He is Emiliens' son, and inherited his tigers. He have been linked mostly to the Medrano-Casartelli circus organization, but performing in some of the best European circuses. He is responsable with Davio Casartelli of the elephant-tiger combination in the late 80s. Alfredo trained the liberty horses of Casartelli that won the last golden clown in January 2007 in Monte Carlo. He is still presenting an excellent tiger act.

16 June, 2007 11:27
Raffaele De Ritis said...

About Pablo Noel: previous his RBBB engagement in 1972, he worked almost always with the Feijo-Castilla organization, since his start in late 50s. He appeared in the different and intricated Castilla-Williams-Togni tour combinations (Circo Americano, Spanischer National Circus, Circus Price, etc.)between Spain, German, Italy.
Back from Usa, he appeared always with Togni Americano up to his retirement in 1986

16 June, 2007 11:33
Raffaele De Ritis said...

About Cirque Montmartre: this was the old former legendary Medrano, that briefly became Bouglione Junior up to his demolition in 1972.
Both the Beautour acts (Alfred with leopard and Emilien-Taras Boulba with tiger) appeared in some brief engagements there between 1965 and 1966.

16 June, 2007 11:36

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