Hoop juggler Bob Bramson’s grandfather Leon LaRoche is most likely the act of the man inside “the mysterious globe” (“Die geheimnissvolle kugel”) on the spiral apparatus shown on this card. He appeared stateside with B&B in 1897 but had imitators. After the economic depression in Germany following World War I, he returned to work for Circus Sarrasani and went with them on one of their South American tours. Jack Leontini, longtime circus co-producer with his friend Karl Wallenda, was with Sarrasani on one of the tours and recalled LaRoche and his suicide of jumping overboard on the return sea voyage. A.H. Kober also writes of it in his fine book Star Turns. Dick Flint Baltimore
Thanks, Mike, YouTube is proving to be a great archive for films of old acts. I was lucky as I got to see Bramson in person years ago when he was on Knie. Say, do you ever get done this way or might you be attending the CHS convention and the Big E? Would enjoy meeting up. Dick Flint Baltimore
4 comments:
Hoop juggler Bob Bramson’s grandfather Leon LaRoche is most likely the act of the man inside “the mysterious globe” (“Die geheimnissvolle kugel”) on the spiral apparatus shown on this card. He appeared stateside with B&B in 1897 but had imitators. After the economic depression in Germany following World War I, he returned to work for Circus Sarrasani and went with them on one of their South American tours. Jack Leontini, longtime circus co-producer with his friend Karl Wallenda, was with Sarrasani on one of the tours and recalled LaRoche and his suicide of jumping overboard on the return sea voyage. A.H. Kober also writes of it in his fine book Star Turns.
Dick Flint
Baltimore
Dick,
I hope you enjoy watching this most talented showman, Bob Bramson
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BsI_PAcmlnE
Just copy and paste and enjoy!
Thanks, Mike, YouTube is proving to be a great archive for films of old acts.
I was lucky as I got to see Bramson in person years ago when he was on Knie.
Say, do you ever get done this way or might you be attending the CHS convention and the Big E? Would enjoy meeting up.
Dick Flint
Baltimore
Dick,
Send me your email and I'll keep you posted:
MikeNaughtonCircus@verizon.net
The Bramson tape is a favorite.
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