This 1966 poster featuring Ursula was done
by noted German artist Gunter Schmitz for a poster competition sponsored by the
VEB Zentral Zirkus, which I understand was the state controlled
organization that oversaw the three major circuses in what was then the (East)
German Democratic Republic.
From Buckles: "In conversation with Trolle Rodine, this act came up and he pronounced her name "Bercher". |
Wednesday, April 01, 2015
Polar Bears #11
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6 comments:
Trolle Rhodin a very respected
circus owner from Sweden became
the European talent impresario
for Big Bertha & was instrumental
in arranging many "Iron Curtain"
country's act to be brought over
His family is still operating
"Circus Braziljack" which was
started by his grandfather or
greatgrandfather
Trolle was married to the sister
of Axel Gautier the elegant horse
trainer & dressage rider Ingeborg
Dave Titus who became director
of transportation after Bob Maio
told me arranging for the bears
to come over (on a Mearsk ship
out of Hamburg) was by far the
most difficult of all the many
unique shipping requirements he
ever had to deal with
There was an incredible amount
of paperwork (real paper) that
had to go back & forth by pouch
from the East German Embassy in
DC (where Ringling's office was
at the time) to East Berlin with
a never ending number of minute
corrections & additions & until
they were actually loaded he was
never certain it would happen
I'm trying to remember that Harold Ronk announced her as Ursula BAYT-cher. We usually see her name spelled as Boettcher, but her autograph has it as Bottcher--which was her married name. She was born Ursula Blutchen. Trolle's command of many languages must have it right, but someone else might weigh in on pronunciation and spelling. Look for an excellent bio on Ursula at Circopedia.
I remember this act well--of course it was sensational, one of the best animal acts I ever saw! it debut when I was pr. dir. for Ringling, remember the act coming into Venice. She never could speak English so we had limited use of her for publicity.
Cicopedia (by BAC folks) much like
Wikipedia are not always correct
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