First, Chic, what do you mean by flat bar? The origin and use of the term Washington trapeze is a wonderful question! I was long under the impression that Washington trapeze was far more a European term but with the growth of circus and trapeze schools, I’ve now encountered it a bit more in the US. I’ve heard it defined by a French-trained American student as a bar with additional weights on each end to provide greater stability. Do we have any experienced aerialists of the old school who can contribute?
Hippisley-Coxe in his delightful “A Seat at the Circus” (1951) makes no real mention of the single trapeze; Strehly's “L'Acrobatie et les Acrobates” (1903) barely mentions the fixed trapeze; Zucca's “Acrobatica e Atletica” (1902) doesn’t really get off the ground, so to speak. I wonder how early the term might appear in any program listing, if at all?
As to a performer named Washington, for me he is difficult to find and to attach to this apparatus. Saltarino’s wonderful “Artisten-Lexicon” (1895) tantalizes my historical curiosity with one entry on Brooklyn-born Henry Roland Washington (1838-1882). Billed as “The American Prince” he went to Europe in 1870. At some point he got hooked up with the creative Hanlon aerialists working in theatre and this may be when he created a new trapeze bar. He was back in America by the year of his death working as manager for Faranta’s circus—but 1882 is when Faranta established his New Orleans-based variety-theatre and circus. Is Henry Roland Washington really the creator of a specialized trapeze bar that really needs better definition and historical documentation as to its earliest use and in what context? Dick Flint Baltimore
9 comments:
Surely someone must know why this
flat bar device is known as a
"Trapeze Washington"
Sasha Balkanski from Bulgaria did
a very exciting balance trapeze act
with a an elaborate motorized rig
that both elevated & revolved
I think his son "Sahko" might be
in Williston with Patty
That would be "Sashko" (not Sahko)
Both he & his father are actually
named Alexander
Wikipedia says it was invented by an American fellow in the mid 1800's.
Can't believe open id finally let me back in here.
Psul
Chic: Damn I am getting old...
the fellow's name was WASHINGTON.
Paul, wait, I'd better check in the mirror...Yep, it looks like me, as I recall me looking.
Yours in better remembering,
Paul
First, Chic, what do you mean by flat bar? The origin and use of the term Washington trapeze is a wonderful question! I was long under the impression that Washington trapeze was far more a European term but with the growth of circus and trapeze schools, I’ve now encountered it a bit more in the US. I’ve heard it defined by a French-trained American student as a bar with additional weights on each end to provide greater stability. Do we have any experienced aerialists of the old school who can contribute?
Hippisley-Coxe in his delightful “A Seat at the Circus” (1951) makes no real mention of the single trapeze; Strehly's “L'Acrobatie et les Acrobates” (1903) barely mentions the fixed trapeze; Zucca's “Acrobatica e Atletica” (1902) doesn’t really get off the ground, so to speak. I wonder how early the term might appear in any program listing, if at all?
As to a performer named Washington, for me he is difficult to find and to attach to this apparatus. Saltarino’s wonderful “Artisten-Lexicon” (1895) tantalizes my historical curiosity with one entry on Brooklyn-born Henry Roland Washington (1838-1882). Billed as “The American Prince” he went to Europe in 1870. At some point he got hooked up with the creative Hanlon aerialists working in theatre and this may be when he created a new trapeze bar. He was back in America by the year of his death working as manager for Faranta’s circus—but 1882 is when Faranta established his New Orleans-based variety-theatre and circus. Is Henry Roland Washington really the creator of a specialized trapeze bar that really needs better definition and historical documentation as to its earliest use and in what context?
Dick Flint
Baltimore
Although not all of them but most
I've seen & the several I built had
a flat top surface as well as slots
or other means of attaching discs
or donuts for head balance
They do not need any special end
weights but do have vertical rods
(often covered) to attach the ropes
These are to minimize rotation & do
add weight as you mentioned
Often they have no decorative ends
that can add weight to round bars
for finger & toe work
I 1st heard the term "Washington"
from European artists by the way
Paul perhaps Buckles can make an
appointment for you with Dr Zala
(Wonder if we can get a group rate)
In several European accents they
drop the final E so it's "Trapez"
Post a Comment