Tuesday, May 21, 2013

2013 Circus Charles Knie (From Vincent Manero)


Hello Mr. Woodcock,

I visited the Zirkus Charles Knie last week in Singen, Germany. This year is a first class
production with great lights, a real Circus band and many Animals.

Marek Jama is in charge of the menagerie and
presents all Animal acts except the Elephants. His first act is a very impressive display of Exotics such as bactrian
camels, zebras, watussis, highland cows, lamas and a kangaroo. His second act is a six Fiesian liberty followed by a
six pony liberty. After intermission the High School with French Cancan. Marek also presents the show's two sea lions.


Elvis Errani presents his three Elephants Baby, Jumba and Mala. Great presentation Italian style that concludes an
almost three hours show.

The Zirkus Charles Knie is now a must see show in Europe and is getting bigger and better
each year thanks to its great success and progressive management.

Posted by Buckles at 5/21/2013 06:21:00 AM

10 comments:

John Herriott said...

What a great show and performing animals. I thought Charles Knie and son were the animal trainersbut this guy appears to be great. What is his background? Nice to see Asian elephants performing and unusual in our modern day. Thanks for the display.Johnny

21 May, 2013 07:31
John Herriott said...

I believe this is a privatly owned elephant act playing dates for various circuses. Seems they can split up elephants and do one, two etc. What say mr. Manero? and thanks for the postings from across the water. johnny

21 May, 2013 09:47
Harry Kingston said...

Vicent,
Is that saw dust on the floor in the ring and when the seals came on they used a ring mat????
If it is over here the fire inspectors would love it and shut you down in a second.
Looks like one great show and getting bigger.
The trend over here is cut back and cut the nut and maybe one hour and forty five minute or less performance.
Harry in Texas

21 May, 2013 14:13
Vincent Manero said...

Hello Mr. Heriott,

Thank you for your comments. Here is more information concerning Marek Jama : He was born in1976 in Poland. He started as an Animal trainer on Cirkus Zalewski Poland's bigest Circus. He started with horses but wanted to work with a larger variety of Animals since the begining. In 2001 he presented a group of tigers and then traveled to several European coutnries to present different Animal acts. As Sascha Melnjack bought the Circus Charles Knie in 2007, he hired Marek as horse presenter. Sandro Montez also worked at the same time on this show and was in charge of the exotics, Elephants and sea lions. After Sandro Montez left the show, Marek took over all the Animal presentations except the cat act that was presented by Alexander Lacey. Marek is nowadays in charge of the Circus Charles Knie's menagerie that counts aroud 80 Animals. However most of the Animal acts shown on my photos were trained by other trainers (the sea lions by Charles Knie, the horses by Elmar Kretz, the ponies by Sandro Montez...)

The Errani Family has it's own show in Italy and Elvis's Elephants worked on that show for many many years. Since a few years the act traveled in all Europe contracted by various Circuses. These three Elephants always worked together as far as I know. They were not split in several acts. Elvis's presentation is one of the most wanted act by Circus owners at this time.

I hope I answered your questions.

Best wishes. Vincent

21 May, 2013 14:54
Dick Flint said...

As I understand it, Marek Jama was not born into the business but at age 18 went to the Polish circus school and learned an aerial act! Once in the circus business, he learned animal training. As John likes to say, "How about that!"
Dick Flint
Baltimore

21 May, 2013 20:07
John Herriott said...

In conversation with friend and concesionaire Peter Ribbinig and member of circus family in Austria I become aware that his family circus Ribbonig in Austria was sold in the 60s to Elfi Jacobi Althoff who later sold it to Charles Knie. Note the new owner has Polish sounding name and his animal traner is also polish. nWhat is the background of this ownwe. His name is new to me? Sacha Melnjeck.johnny. Heard Charles Knie went broke and rumour had it that he or his son was here training for Ringling or Carden.

22 May, 2013 08:58
Vincent Manero said...

Harry,

Yes this is saw dust. The majority of Europeans shows use it. They use a special ring mat for the sea lions that is not use for any other act.

22 May, 2013 13:42
Vincent Manero said...

Mr Herriott,

It's Louis Knie (Charles cousin) that bought the Austrian National Circus from Elfi Jacobi Althoff in the 90's and went broke a couple of years ago. Louis Knie was in the US lately to add some tigers to RBBB red show act. As far as I know he is now back in Europe. I celebrated New Year's Eve with friends at his son's (Louis Knie Jr.) Circus in Holland. The show is called "Circus Louis Knie" and tours in Austria, Germany and Holland.

Charles Knie now lives in Australia where he owns "The Parrot Garden and Cafe".

22 May, 2013 13:54
Dick Flint said...

Big Apple used a "dirt" ring and didn't it have sawdust in it? I believe the show had samples sent in advance in order to check that the mixture of dirt, sawdust, and/or whatever was correct. Buckles, perhaps you can tell us.
Dick Flint
Baltimore

22 May, 2013 16:47
Don said...

Hello Harry and Dick,

Yes, Big Apple Circus uses a dirt ring. It is a mixture of sand and clay purchased from a local contractor in each town. We have never had an inspector complain about it. In addition to hauling the dirt in at the beginning of the run, the show contracts to have the dirt removed when the show leaves town.

Also, CFA members who attended Circus Vargas in San Diego were treated to a sawdust surface when the show played Mission Bay Park.

Don Covington

23 May, 2013 11:12

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