Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

Revision as of 19:55, 9 December 2021 (view source) Djando (Talk | contribs) ← Older edit		Revision as of 23:28, 12 December 2021 (view source) Djando (Talk | contribs) Newer edit →
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	==New Videos==		==New Videos==
		+	* [[Miss_Atlas_Video_(1983)|Miss Atlas]], Object Balancing (1983)
	* [[Honey_Family_Video_(1975)|The Honey Family]], Teeterboard Act (1934)		* [[Honey_Family_Video_(1975)|The Honey Family]], Teeterboard Act (1934)
	* [[Michael_Video_(1975)|Michael]], Juggler (1975)		* [[Michael_Video_(1975)|Michael]], Juggler (1975)
	* [[Naraeva_Video_(2017)|Vlada Naraeva]], Hand Balancer (2017)		* [[Naraeva_Video_(2017)|Vlada Naraeva]], Hand Balancer (2017)
	* [[Bertram_Mills_Video_(1959)|Bertram Mills Circus]] at Olympia (1959)		* [[Bertram_Mills_Video_(1959)|Bertram Mills Circus]] at Olympia (1959)
−	* [[Linon_Video_(1962)|Linon]], Comedy Bouncing Rope (1962)
	==New Oral Histories==		==New Oral Histories==

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Revision as of 23:28, 12 December 2021

Welcome! ✫ Bienvenue! ✫ Willkommen! ✫ Добро Пожаловать! Bienvenida! ✫ Benvenuto! ✫ 歡迎 ! ✫ Vítejte! ✫ Καλώς ήρθατε! Üdvözöljük! ✫ Добре Дошли! ✫ Welkom! ✫ Ласкаво Просимо! Velkommen! ✫ Tervetuloa! ✫ Дабро Запрашаем! ✫ Välkommen! Circopedia was originally created with the support of the Big Apple Circus Ltd. and inspired and funded by the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation.

In The Spotlight

RICO & ALEX BRIATORE

During the first half of the twentieth century, the Spanish clowns Rico y Alex (Enrico Briatore, 1881-1965, and Alessandro Briatore, 1870-1960), who came from an Italian circus family, were among Europe's most celebrated clowns. In Paris, they dethroned the legendary Foottit and Chocolat from their place of preëminence when they starred in the "Temple of Clowns", the famous Cirque Medrano, from four consecutive years, from 1910 to 1914. They were acrobats, musicians, and singers, and they spoke seven languages (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, English, Russian, and even a little Catalan), which allowed them to build a very successful international career. Although they spoke in their act, they didn't rely much on verbal comedy, which was trendy then: Rico and Alex were very physical, but their visual humor had a surprising elegance and a very human, charming touch that appealed greatly to their audiences.

Rico and Alex were not, as it is often the case with clown duets, brothers: They were uncle (Alex) and nephew (Rico). The Italian Briatore dynasty had originated with Giuseppe Briatore (1831-?), an acrobat on horseback from Mondovi, Piedmont, in Northern Italy. Giuseppe was part of the equestrian troupe of the D'Angolys. He married in the D'Angoly family: He and the equestrienneA female equestrian, or horse trainer, horse presenter, or acrobat on horseback. Quinta D'Angoly had six children, Angelo, Enrico, Giovanni, Adele, Pietro, and Alessandro (the future Alex). Giuseppe ran his own circus for a brief time, and then created a troupe of acrobats on horseback with his five sons, which was the first to perform a three-man-high column standing on two horses. (The trickAny specific exercise in a circus act. will be improved later by the amazing Fredianis, who performed it on a single horse!)

The Briatore dynasty later produced several excellent jugglers, on horseback as well as on the floor—including the tempo juggling act of The D'Angolys, which performed with great success before and after WWII. Youngest son of Giuseppe and Quinta, Alessandro (Alex) was born in 1870 in Russia, where the Briatores were performing then, and made his debut in the ring five years later in Berlin; he made his clowning debut at the same time with the celebrated Tony Grice, escaping from the pocket of the latter's extra-large trousers! Although he would remain an acrobat and equestrian for many years to come, Alex had made his very first steps as a clown in good company!... (more...)

New Essays and Biographies

• Alexandre Palisse, Clown, Circus Owner
• Rico y Alex, Clowns
• Barbette, Trapeze and Tightwire Artist
• Pablo Noel, Animal Trainer
• Big Apple Circus, History

New Videos

• Miss Atlas, Object Balancing (1983)
• The Honey Family, Teeterboard Act (1934)
• Michael, Juggler (1975)
• Vlada Naraeva, Hand Balancer (2017)
• Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia (1959)

New Oral Histories

• For A Moment You Fly, The First Season of The Big Apple Circus (1977)
• Vladimir Durov Documentary on Russian Television (c.2000)
• Dolly Jacobs Interview at The Ringling (2018)
• Pinito del Oro's Interview on Spanish Television (1970)
• Gia Eradze's Interview on SSU TV (2015)

Circopedia Books

• Philip Astley & The Horsemen who invented the Circus, by Dominique Jando (2018)

A Message from the Founder

CIRCOPEDIA is a constantly evolving and expanding archive of the international circus. New videos, biographies, essays, and documents are added to the site on a weekly—and sometimes daily—basis. Keep visiting us: even if today you don't find what you're looking for, it may well be here tomorrow! And if you are a serious circus scholar and spot a factual or historical inaccuracy, do not hesitate to contact us: we will definitely consider your remarks and suggestions.

Dominique Jando

Founder and Curator