The Konyot family first appeared in the US on Barnum & Bailey between 1909 and 1912. Twenty-two family members plus 3 attendants and numerous horses came over to present a variety of acts in the program, so many that Fred Bradna stated this versatile family “were all over the program.” They likely did six acts under their family name and another five under other (often in-law) names. Sandor Konyot’s wife was Helen Deike from a family of acrobats and wire-walkers and so the Deike sisters was the name of one of their acts (well-known wagon builder Charlie Luckey’s future wife was incorporated into the act). For a horseback juggling act they were styled the Bokromas. The Konyots also claimed to have trained the balloon horse Jupiter (though there had been a similar act the season before). One of their premiere acts assembled for the 1910 season featured 24 horses in a three ring tandem act: 8 horses and 4 riders (2 women and 2 men) in each ring with each rider driving an unmounted horse in front using long reins. |
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
From Richard Flint #2
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5 comments:
Did they really ride in such formal
attire or is this just for paper
A good number of acts performed in formal attire and were famous for doing so. Readily coming to mind are the Florenz (also Florence) and Eddy troupes of tumblers who were both major acts who did so at the turn of the last century.
Dick Flint
Baltimore
I keep forgetting that "the last century" doesn't mean what it did.
I remember Katie Lucky being wardrobe super intendent on Cole Bros. for many years. Later After Dielke Katie continued on on the Floto Show with a wire act known as "THE LUCKY SISTERS". Incidentally on Ringling Arthur and family are listed in press-programs as The Acevicos or something like that, so you do not see the name Konyot. Why? I do not know
During Arthus time on RBBB with his family he trained an unusual eight liberty act that got favorable press in that it was a group of Percheron bred draft horses. Dorita told me that early in the season these were "green brke" horses and her father had her ride the lead horse in the show to give them more stability.
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