Does anyone know what became of Frank Mogorosi? I recall meeting him in the mid 70's and he had a comedy lion act with a couple of male lions, but then he seemed to disappear.
Courtesy of Toby Stiles
Monday, November 22, 2010
Frank Mogorosi
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
7 comments:
Frank came over to Ringling with a Hungarian troup. In addition to a lion act, he told me he also worked in a teeterboard act and bareback act - all for $150 a week.
Later he had a fox terrier act which he worked at a Vegas casino (I think Sahara), where he also put together a comedy lion act. The dog act must have been quite flashy judging from the props (which he gave to me)-mirrorballs, rockets, motorized rotating tables, etc.
When I met him, he had a small cat act of 5/6 lions and tigers. He had just finished at 6 Flags in Georgia and a short stint at the old Hall of Fame.
By then he was in a bad financial situation. I don't know what the situation was, but he had the truck with the cats hidden in an orange grove. Something about his ex wife trying to get them. I went out to help him feed them and it wasn't a good situation with him not being able to even unload the cages and he only had chicken necks to feed them. After that, I never heard about him again.
Ian
Ian,
That's right, he did have a fox terrier act also.
The park in Georgia must have screwed him, because with the 150 clams a week that Ringling paid him, he should have been cruising on easy street.
If he had an ex wife hot at him, he probably never left that orange grove, and is buried in there somewhere.
I had forgotten all about him, until those pictures were sent to me.
Wade
Ian,
It was by no means gossip, in fact you did a commendable job of explaining his situation, and how well he did every thing that he could.
Wade
Ian
Don't short change chicken necks. Back in the day Dorey Miller would only pay for necks and backs. At that time I had 22 carnivores under my care on the road. All these years after, when those animals have since turned to dust and I walk bent, I am still amazed the carnivores looked as well as they did on only basically bones and cartilage. Dennis
Ian and Wade,
My name is Nicole Mogyorosi and I am one of Frank's 7 children. I'm assuming that he had met my mom around the last time you had seen him. The ex never found him, nor did she continue to look for her four children that he had. I grew up traveling and then performing in his act as a child, though he never returned to ringling. We mostly worked smaller shows and stare fairs at this point and he and my mom revamped the act and also began a breeding/education program. This was all short lived. In august of 1989 he was in horrible truck accident that resulted in a massive stroke and the loss of movement on his right side. He struggled in rehab for 2 or 3 years when he 'escaped' and was never heard from again. One of my brothers tried to revive our act, but was unable to do so. It's been 20 something years, but it's nice when I can connect with anyone who may have known him. I would love to hear anything else you may remember or would love to see any photos you may have.
His tiger girl, nicole
I worked as Franks Master of Ceremonies at Six Flags in 1977 and 78. I have all the day to day memories from those times. I also have some photos from the show. We worked the Tigers. In order of appearance; Knieko, Puni, India, Popeyes, and Buffy. 2 female Bengals, 1 female Siberian and twin male Siberians. I am on Facebook Mark Gallman Dallas Georgia.
I was Franks Master of Ceremonies in 1977 and 78 at Six Flags over Georgia. I have photos and many great memories and stories from the 2 years working with Frank.
I am on Facebook as Mark Gallman Dallas Georgia.
Post a Comment