Buckles Blog: Cristiani Bros. Circus 1956 #29

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Jimmy Cole said...: This "leashed" bear act included this Polar Bear, whom I believe was named "Zero". Th act was obtained from Cuneo, and was presented by Eloise Berchtold, if I have my information correct.; 18 February, 2010 07:00
Wade G. Burck said...: I know that is Cuneo's Zero from the Paramount Bears. The question is, is that also a young Red Hartman?
Wade Burck; 18 February, 2010 07:43
Ron Henon said...: Trying to remember 53+years.

What year is this? What day is this?

I met Eloise In 1954. I was born in Cincinnati, Eloise came from the Cincinnati zoo. She drove a bus (# 5 Sleeper), kept a 9 ft Boa constrictor in a bowling (type) bag, and befriended a new kid on the show.

The bear act (13 bears,with1 Koidiak) came from Cuneo, and was sold to the Cristianis, for Eloise.

Eloise went to learn the act, and when she came back, It was great, she was great.

Eloise married John Cuneo and eventually left the show ( or vise versa).

The Cristiani's, tried to break in someone else to work the act. The first person, (Nick Bangor as "Count Raspinni") did not last to long). The Kodiak bear, (and he was BIG), was the first to go. When the act got down to 5 bears, they did away with the big steel cage.

In George Hubler's book,"The Cristiani's", Page 165 are the remains of the bear act. The girl in the photos are not Jane Cristiaini, but a girl named Barbara Fairchild. She was from Canada.; 19 February, 2010 03:59

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