Tuesday, May 24, 2016

#16 Aerialists


3 comments:

JACKIE said...

This has got to be "La Toria", Vickie Unus. Even from the back, she looks magnificent. How she ever accomplished that act, I'll never understand. Wolfgang Roth, Lalage's husband taught her. Having been an aerialist, I can tell you that was one hard act to learn, specially for a growing up young lady. There just isn't anything easy about it. One has to be constantly in shape and I can not imagine anyone doing it on a day they might not feel so good, but she did it. I guess she inherited some of the same "I am going to do this trick, no matter what". Jackie LeClaire

Roger Smith said...

Some still refer to Vickie's one-arm planges as "the Leitzel act." Leitzel endured a severely over-developed right shoulder, and her doctors around the world were constantly alarmed by the damage to her wrist, which never had a chance to be healed.
Vicki Unus had the presence of mind to enjoy great stardom in RB's Center Ring, then quit before this act left her as damaged as Leitzel.

David Soltanoff said...

I have never ceased to be amazed by Vickie's performance since first reading about it in Life Magazine in 1963. I have questions: what did her training regimen consist of? how was it possible for a young girl to get so strong? Also, I recently read an article about Olympic gymnasts that noted that those who took more risks with their routines were prone to injuries. How did Vickie perform for about 14 years, once or twice a day for most of each year, not get a career ending injury? I watch Youtubes of Vickie occasionally still amazed and I've shown them to others who have similar reactions. I'd like to hear from Vickie first hand. She would have a fascinating story to tell!