Thursday, August 07, 2008

Althoffs Akrobatische Elephanten (From Henry Schroer)


Althoffs Akrobatische Elephanten, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Hi Buckles
This is a photo of Franz Althoff with three of his Elephants out of a heard of 8. He used this act in the wintertime when the could not travel with the Big Top to work in Varieties and Theaters.
The two women are his sisters, on the left Helene who got married to Karl Kossmayer, he trained a 5 Elephant act at one time for Ringling. I think it was in the 50`s or early 60's.
On the right is Jeanette, my Mother, who became well known in Europe for her dressage riding acts.

Posted by Buckles at 8/07/2008 08:34:00 AM

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Mr. Schroer,
it is very nice that you also use this Blog. I hear a lot of things about your work in germany and also the states. Mario Cortes was talking many times about his time with ringling and also of you.
What you do and were you live !?
Nice wishes from Germany,
Schöne Grüße aus Deutschland,
Elmar Kretz

07 August, 2008 16:31
Henry said...

Hallo Elmar,
I live and work in New Zealand with Weber Bros. Circus. Send me a mail.
circuswagen@xtra.co.nz

07 August, 2008 16:55
Anonymous said...

UNRELATED:

Heart felt prayers and best wishes go out to Larry Allen Dean. It is understood he is recouping from a somewhat severe tiger attack in IL. Though he is expected to recover, the degree of his injuries is still unknown.

Get Well Soon "Modern Day American Lion King"!

07 August, 2008 17:42
Roger Smith said...

I join with Anonymous is wishing Larry a full and quick recovery. We need to know more about this.

Larry, when you can, let us know you are doing well.

All the very best to you.

Roger Smith

07 August, 2008 23:51
Anonymous said...

Henry... your mother is beautiful, I take it you look like your Dad?

08 August, 2008 03:29
Raffaele De Ritis said...

This is a very interesting picture, witnessing the first years of Franz Althoff's wonderful career. I would date this earlier: in fact, he presented this act with his sisters between 1937 and 1946. They alternated the circus with engagements in Germany, Belgium, France, England (as also witnessed by the London program). At this time Carola too was still with them, but more in the management than in the ring: she then started her own Williams circus in 1946.
I'm not sure if at that time the herd was yet of 8 (but I don't dare to know more of mr.Schroer, who is member of the family). I think that Franz slowly added elephants during the year. They had 11 bulls in 1949. In the 50s and 60s they had 12, on the great hippodrome ring, with one of the most spectacular herds ever presented.
The sons of old Dominik Althoff were: Carola, Sabina, Helene, Franz, Henriette, Minna, Jennette, Adolf.

08 August, 2008 04:18
Bob Karczewski said...

Mr. Schroer,
Did Circus Althoff appear in Dortmund, Germany in 1970? I was stationed in Germany from July, 1969 to January, 1971 while I was in the Army. Opherdiecke was the nearest village, with Unna, Holzwieckede and Dortmund being the bigger cities which were nearby. I was never aware of any circus activity in the area while I was there. I sure wish I could go back for a visit.

08 August, 2008 05:33
Henry said...

clownron, in my younger days I look`t like my Mom

08 August, 2008 07:21
Henry said...

For Bob Karczewski.
I don't know if Circus Althoff was in Dortmund at that time because I was already on the RBBB show.We arrived in New York in November 1968 and while Gunther had his moments with Irvin Feld and the combined American Press I was rushed with the Tigers in to a Semi Truck and send of to Florida.Because there was no room in the Cab I had my mattress spread out on top of Bengals Cage and slept most of the way or peeked thou the tiny window of the truck.
Bengal was the Tiger that rode the Elephant in the first Tiger to Elephant act where there was two Elephants and one Tiger. And he was my Friend at that time. When we arrived in Venice I was glad Manfred Duval was there to meet us because I did not speak one word of English. Across from Winter quarters was a Restaurant named ~McDonalds~, no relation to the Hamburger joint, and Manfred told me to order the Veal Parmigiana with Spaghetti because that was the closest thing to what I was used to. So for the next two weeks I had veal parmigiana every night and I got to sleep in the front compartment of the meat cooler witch was assigned to me by the then Manager of the Property. Welcome to America.Forgotten his name but I rember he got fired for selling things that not belong to him.

08 August, 2008 07:50

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