Buckles Blog: 2009 Calendar #180

Monday, October 21, 2013

Acrobat Trygve Tygen and showgirl Mary Lou LaSalle, RBBB 1954.

Buckles said...: I saw this gentleman perform with the Ringling Show that season, he appeared in an aerial display.

"Unique Chair-Balancing Achievement by the Daring Gymnast"
TELL TEIGEN

Several years later he was booked with Rudy Bros. Circus while my folks were there. I was away in the Army.
He had his rigging set up in the infield as was customary when playing a Fairgrounds, not far from where the elephants were picketed.
My dad was bent over a washtub mixing grain when he heard a scream from the audience and a thud not more than 30 feet away. Mr. Teigen had fallen to his death.
Sad story, left behind a wife and child. I later heard that after the rigging was taken down it was discovered that there were no gimmicks of any kind, one chair just slipped off the other.; 21 October, 2013 06:38
JACKIE said...: Good Heavens, what a tragic story. I did not know him, but of him. I never realized exactly what has happened to him. Can you imagine him doing a trick like that without any gimmick at all. Seems unbelievable. Sad story, Jackie LeClaire; 21 October, 2013 23:19

Buckles Blog