Monday, December 24, 2018

CRISTIANI #3


10 comments:

Charles Hanson said...

This photo shows all six of the Cristiani brothers riding troupe plus Papa Crstiani. The female to the far right is Marion Cristiani (wife of Oscar). Not sure about the two females in front of Pete

Roger Smith said...

Papa looks very fit here. I only saw him once, as a much older man.

I still reflect with pleasure knowing Lucio and his family, riding as the Franconis, on the '64 Beatty show. Lucio was a legend, truly a "grande arteeste", but he never turned away from a conversation with a workingman--as did too many others.

Lucio's wife, Gena, was among the most stunningly beautiful women ever to appear with a circus. One day, I was standing by Beatty's cat tunnel, which was used by everyone as a coat hanger while they worked. Gena rushed up with one of her toddlers, thrust him into my arms, quickly exclaiming, "You! You OK! You work for Bee-tee, so OK! You keep my boy while I work, then I be back!" Off she went to perform her pricipal's number. When she returned, her exertions in the ring had enhanced her cologne, and my knees got weak.

Chic Silber said...


I believe her name is Gilda

She might have been from Brazil

Absolutely stunningly gorgeous

Her sons later had a tramp act

Chic Silber said...


I believe Marion was Oscar's 2nd wife

Carin is her daughter

Chic Silber said...


At the far right is an

air conditioning wagon

with 1 of it flex ducts

Each unit had 2 duct tubes

that provided limited

comfort to small areas

Chic Silber said...


Someone might identify

that tasseled structure

behind the troupe

Charles Hanson said...

Wasn't Gilda Cristiani from the Zamperla circus family? Lucios first wife was June Cristiani who worked in the family riding act and also with the elephants. She was also a beautiful woman and very talented. She and Lucio had a son who went by the name of Chris.....

Chic Silber said...


That sounds very likely Charles

I'll check with the ultimate authority

My dear friend Kenny Dodd whose very

start was on the Cristiani Show

Charles Hanson said...

Gilda is one of the sisters of Napoleone Zamperla (deceased)...

Roger Smith said...

To think back,I saw her name captioned as Gena, which I was told was pronounced with a hard "G", as GAY-na. Then it was printed as Gilda, also with a hard "G", to be pronounced as GEEL-da, which is how I pronounce that name for Rita Hayworth's title role from Columbia's 1946 hit.

To be sure of such questions, like the CHS Message Board warns, there will be incorrect history and misspelled names, so be sure to advance your research beyond what you first see.