With a beautiful, classy costume like this you can be guaranteed, a majority of the time, that the act is going to be as beautiful and classy before you even see it. This sure isn't one of those "hand made at the kitchen table" deals so prevalent the past couple of years in both America and Europe.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Geraldine Knie--Circus festival Monte Carlo--1993
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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10 comments:
Wade,
Gorgeous woman and gorgeous wardrobe. Thanks for posting.
I am afraid that many of our performers today just don't get the fact that HOW YOU LOOK and carry yourself when you enter will determine how well the act is received (or not received).
Your sister-in-law's blouse that she wore to great acclaim on the Beatty show in '88 just don't cut it. Nor does the hand-me-down jacket worn by your great-uncle on Ringling in the 60s.
Performers too often underestimate the IQs of their audience. Your first few moments in the spotlight tell them what they want to know -- am I in good hands? Is this a really quality performer? Then, if your act is great, they even think more of you and tell their friends.
Takes a few bucks to get the wardrobe right. Money very, very well spent.
Jack
Jack,
The fact that we quit asking our audience a long time ago, is major in the current state of affairs. We asked each other or the fans, resting assured because we knew we would get the answer we wanted to hear. The folks who really mattered, because they bought the tickets, were expected to like it, as much as our friends and families did, but it didn't work out that way.
Knie is indeed as classy as they will ever come.
Wade
I don't really like acts like this. In europe they call it the post don't know what the name for it is in America ? But this one I like better than others. The one I like the most is that one of Maud and Alexis Gruss !
Thomas
Thomas,
I'll bet you would like it a lot better if they used tigers and lions, instead of horses. LOL It is only effective if a lot of beautiful, well bred horses are used, and not a few scrawny bag's of bones. It is more of a novelty type act(similar to an exotic act) that I have always heard called a "Courier of St. Petersburg act." They are more common in Europe, given the better footing used in the ring. It would be hard to master it on the shit rubber mats used in America. Here is what I have been able to find out about the act. Possibly circus historian Dick Flint will read this and offer more information.
Pantomimes. These theatrical vignettes on horseback have been displayed since Astley introduced the “Tailor’s Ride to Brentford.” Andrew Ducrow’s “Courier of Saint Petersburg” was one of the most famous pantomimes. It gained renowned in London on May 7th 1827 at Astley’s Amphitheatre. Ducrow entered the ring standing astride two horses, which he eased apart enough to allow more horses to pas forward between his legs. Each new horse carried a flag representing a country the courier had to ride through to reach St. Petersburg from London.
If a lot of good horses are used, it is a thing of beauty. I believe Geraldine used more horses when she did the act with Knie and only used a few for the MC Festival. Yes, the one that Gruss did was beautiful as well as were the horses used.
Wade
Wade, another reeason there are no acts like this over here, is that there are no shows with enough horses to do it, bag o' bones or not.
Wade,
I think you are right an act like this with tigers leaping between the legs of 2 elephants must be very very impressive ! So you mean that this act is more to show the beauty of the horse ?
Thomas
Yes beautiful woman, act and costuming but.... she is a Roman Rider seen anywhere in the U.S. except the U. S. horses are not going roundy, roundy and the rider has to control the horses. This act although gorgeous and unusual has all the horses controlled by the trainer on the ground plus the design of the arena and the rider has only to pick up the reins as the white horses run through. Show it to me in a large arena, rider riding and driving all these horses...now there would be an impressive sight, i.e. the French rider.
Madame Col.
Note that this is a "novelty act", not an act to be done year after year, but rather a changing part. It was used at the Festival as "part of a whole", similar to John's Horse Fantasy, using her father's liberty horses. It is the costuming/presentation and the "history" of Le Poste/Courier of St. Petersburg that makes it what it is using the available environment of a circus ring. Lorenzo couldn't do what he does in that same environment, and needs a different one for what he does. I believe he enters with the horses in hand, and not with the horses passing underneath with him catching the lines which is the point of a Courier act. That is why there is someone in the ring to aid the horses in "going ahead." I also noted that Lorenzo had people also catching and bringing horses to him, or assistance on the ground. Lorenzo also uses tie downs and a "pair line"(line attaching two horses at the bit), aid's to help him to do what he does. Passing under a horses belly into a dead man drag at a gallop down a rodeo arena is frighting, but doing it at a gallop around a circus ring with the horse leaning the direction you are dragging will truly curl your hair. Using what is available and making it work is what it is about. How about some pictures of your most recent gig? I hope the boy's are fine, and you are well.
Wade
Wade, not to diminish what she is doing for it is truly spectacular but she has nothing but to stand on the horses and pick up reins as they white horses come through. The horses are literally doing a liberty act that is all controlled by the ground person. Could I do it? Nope, not on your life so I applaud her but it is not in the category of a roman rider in a full arena with absolute control over the horses and that's what I was referring to.
My recent show was very exciting like a Vegas event, all the video effects and lights, the producers did a great job. The hard part was the 30 ft rubber floor (audience 3 ft from there) after three strides Fire Magic had to turn, we pulled it off but with much difficulty. The carousel of course was beautiful under these conditions but still very difficult as the horses really didn't want to cantor. I was a bit nervous under the conditions. With the resulting success I believe they are striding forward with more shows but I sincerely hope more arena is made available. So much for the lady in Wisconsin saying there is no place to show but there. LOL
Tomorrow leaving for Reno to meet with some old friends who are bringing their Wild West Show to the event center.
http://wildwestshow.net/
The first two years on Ringling Gunther did it with Henry Schoerr as the rider and Gunther in the ring guiding. The white liberty act went thru. No lines were picked up and Henry had to jump off as Gunther jumped on and made the blow off run around the hip. track. He wasn't about to let Henry take a bow. I was there. Tanglefoot herriott
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