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9 comments:
I wonder if the fellow on the right
in the suit & tie is the communist
"Company Comandante"
At the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, in '09, we booked in the Virsky Ukranian National Dance Company. Their commandante stood Down Center with the company in the seats. I was way upstage, worrying a light bar, and could look out to see his audience sitting bolt upright, trying to look attentive, as he droned for an hour. I kept glancing at their faces, regimented and fearful, as this guy relished making cast and crew sit still as long as he wanted. They did a superb show, but never have I seen such strained smiles in performance.
That memory relates to CHIC'S guy here in the suit & tie. I'd bet that's what he's there for.
On 2nd look--What, no American flag?
In the early years after
Trolle Rhodin arranged
for acts to be brought
from the Eastern Bloc
to Big Bertha each of
them had an "Official"
accompany the groups
Later on an annonymous
member of each troupe
was the eyes & ears &
kept them intimidated
Bobby Johnsen was able
to determine which of
them in a few groups
could be "bought" to
help him in recruiting
good & willing help
In many situations not
all family members of
each group were allowed
out together with some
kept behind as insurance
When Louisa Bisbini married
into a Polish act family &
went back to Poland with
them she wasn't allowed to
return to the US with her
daughter & was captive
(Perhaps the Wozniaks)
Louisa was the youngest
of her family including
Antoinette Francesca &
their brother Angel
It came out that Communist-nation performers on RBB were allowed $7 a day to live on, while the acts themselves were booked at contracted rates. The act money went to the Iron Curtain countries. I've wondered what Trolle Rhodin's cut was.
Trolle was very well paid by JRN
along with a very generous travel
& expense account which increased
when the Felds realized his worth
Along with that were many "fringe"
benefits such as favored rates on
acts for "Cirkus BrazilJack" as
well as others I won't mention
When Hugo Schmitt was hired
by Cirkus BrazilJack with
his elephants Axel Gautier
came with him as assistant
it was during that time
that Trolle met & maried
Axel's sister Ingeborg
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