Wednesday, November 14, 2007

From Mateo Cristiani #1


scan0002, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Gilda and Lucio Cristiani.

Posted by Buckles at 11/14/2007 06:00:00 AM

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a pleasant surprise to see Lucio and the beautiful Gilda on the Blog. Mateo, you can certainly be proud of them as a grandson and I am proud to have known and seen Lucio perform over fifty years ago and in my adult years get to know him quite well and have always said, he was one of my favorite people. Everyone that knew him would have the highest respect for him as a all time great performer, fellow showman and man of great character with a never ending sense of humour. For my part I could relate so many wonderful stories that it would overcome the blog, but I believe one stands as a comment.

I was playing New Orleans Shrine for Karl Wallenda and Jack Leontini with a liberty horse act that was pretty green. Lucio was also there with the family trampolene act and Gildas leopards. I asked him if he would hold a whi outside in front of the ring in case one of the horses was thinking of baleing out. He was there every show and when one of the horses would crap on the celotex he would grab a shovel, jump in the ring in his tuxedo and swoop up the crap [almost every performance] After each show I nwould thank him for helping to keep the horses from falling down. On his part it was certainly well beyond the call of duty.

So on closing show after I worked the liberty act, announcer Bill Kay stopped the show and asked me to stay in the ring and called Lucio in and announced that " this years Golden Shovel award" was being presented to the "world's greatest circus performer" and here come Wallenda and Leontini with a shovel they had had spray painted in gold and presented it to Lucio. What a wonderful gesture from two grat circus people themselves in respect to Lucio. It was quite touching and sincere in in the joy of the moment.

By the way Mateo I believe I had the privelege of announcing your debut performances as a little tot on the trampolene and how Lucio loved that.

14 November, 2007 08:50
Anonymous said...

Lucio and I were sitting on some rigging boxes in the hall way in New Orleans just BSing and there was a bulletin board with show times, etc. Lucio noted it and asked if I had a typewriter with me. I said yes and he said for me to type up a notice and put it on the bulletin board. He said just print, "notice", SIGN UP HERE FOR THE FREE BUS. I did that, stuck it on the bulletin board and we sat and watched the performers coming in before the show and got a big kick out of how many "signed up"

14 November, 2007 09:23
Anonymous said...

I was in Columbus working the Shrine date for Gracie McIntosh and Lucio was there once again doing the riding act. We were sitting on the ring curb BSING on set up day when a kind of "first of May" lady aerial performer, who was also assisting Gracie in getting the wardrobe handed out and putting the Spec together approached us with a "clip board" in hand. She looked at me and said "who are you"? I replied that I had elephants and would be leading them. She said "Are you Herriott"? I said yes and then she said to Lucio "who are you"? I saw a twinkle in his eye as a replied in very broken English,"Creeestiani". She replied, Oh, Cristiani, Gracie has you down for three horses in spec and three lady riders. Lucio said, "no thats not right. I have three horses but only two lady riders plus myself" She remarked thats not on the list. it called for three ladies. Lucio said, " have you ever seen me ride in spec"? she said No and he said, "I am the world's greatest spec rider just ask Mrs. McIntosh". With a quizzicle expression she adjusted her notes and said "I will have to ask Gracie about that". You can well imagine the laugh from Gracie when she reported back to her.

14 November, 2007 09:59
Anonymous said...

Col. Herriott,
I note a lot of sitting on boxes, ringcurb's etc., etc., bsing in your illustrious career. Yet, guy's like you, and Buckles, still found the time to become great animal trainer's. It makes me think there may still be enough time left for myself and James C. Hall. Wade Burck

14 November, 2007 15:16
Buckles said...

You didn't sit or even rest a foot on Hugo Schmitt's ring curb.
It was always "FUKKING EE-DE-OTE!!!

14 November, 2007 15:41
Anonymous said...

Johnny
Loved the bit on the golden shovel ,Knowing Mr.Cristiani the acknowledgment and thought of humor that went in to it,He would have felt as thou he was receiving the Oscar.

14 November, 2007 16:37
Anonymous said...

I would guess that this photo was taken in the mid 60's, on the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros show.
What a great entertainer!!! and a real gentleman.,

14 November, 2007 19:02

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