http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=42862
This clip features some great footage of the Knie mixed act presented by Eugen Weidmann. It looks like it was an incredible act. Any insight Jim Clubb?
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‘Circus Dictionary’ by Geoff Stevens says that mixed cat groups appeared in the act from Circus Knie presented by Eugen Weidmann at Blackpool Tower Circus in 1958. Cats including cougars and leopards have been presented together on several occasions.
‘Circus Dictionary’ by Geoff Stevens says that leopards appear in cage-acts, either in mixed groups with larger species or in groups of spotted leopards or leopards and black panthers. Alfred Court, Bailey Fossett and James Clubb included snow leopards in mixed small cat groups. A few years ago, BBC Wildlife had an article about circus animals. It included a photograph of a snow leopard sitting at the top of a triangle of big cats (the other cats were leopards). This indicates that leopards and snow leopards have appeared together in a circus. ‘A History of the Circus’ by George Speaight says that Wombwell’s Menagerie showed a mixed group of lions, tigers and leopards in 1847.
Raubtiernummern - CIRCUS ARCHIV - CHRISTOPH ENZINGER - AUSTRIA
Jim Clubb mentioned being inspired by a pyramid formation that he had seen. Many "new" behaviors are inspired by seeing something done in the past and changing it slightly or improving on it. The 39th picture in this set above, show's Eugen doing a behavior with a tiger jumping his stick with other tigers laying in what looks to be a circle to his right. Did anyone ever see the act at this time, and do you remember this behavior. Did all the tigers jump the stick in a circle around him, or did he move to each one and then they jumped? I have never known how this pictured behavior worked, but it was the inspiration for the "circle leap frog" that was in my last tiger act, instead of the standard side by side leap frog. 4 male tigers stood in a circle around me, at east Ramses at North Deigo at west Spartacus and at south Demetrius. Karma jumped over them, one at a time, starting with Ramses leap frogging back and forth over the 4 tiger Sparticus, four times before returning to her seat.
The Blackpool Tower Circus--1958
Bandwagon
This year's programme of the Blackpool Tower Circus may well be considered a typical one. The programme is directed by Mrs. Kathleen Williams, whom I believe, books all the acts personally, and opens with a parade of all the artistes across the ring. No. 2 is Manja Vinicky with High School buggy, No. 3 features Maurice and May, comedy cyclists, No. 4 has the Three Chiesas, jugglers, whilst No. 5 consists of Krone's 12 Liberty Horses presented by Jozsi Vinicky. The flying de Pauls, girl tumblers provide an exciting sixth item, with Knies Sea-lions an amusing seventh. Charlie Cairoli and Paul make their first appearance as No. 8 on the programme whilst Ivan Bratuchin and his Cossack Riders complete the first half of the programme. During the interval, and only then, the candy butchers (if one may apply the term to such a well trained and quiet body of girls) move amongst the audience selling ice cream and soft drinks. Second half of the programme begins with Knies Leopards, Tigers, Lions, Polar and Black Bears presented by Eugene Weidmann. Italy's Alma Piaia, web, is item No. 11, and 12 is Manja Vinicky and Ulrike Hock, double High School. 12a (not unlucky 13) is Mill's Boxing Chimpanzees whom some readers may have seen with Polack Bros. in 1957. No. 14 is Rih-Aruso with his balancing act; the Three Merkys comedy bar act precede No. 15 which is Charlie Cairoli and Company in comedy water entree and the last act comprises the Three Antares, aeroplane aerial act high over the water filled ring. Ringmaster is Henry Lytton, Equestrian Director is Harold Holt and the Tower Circus Orchestra is conducted by Erik Ogden. The programme's items are introduced by the Circusettes who walk the ring fence displaying the current number, and carpet clowns Little Jimmy and Our Sammy make frequent appearances between the acts.
How is this for a lineup of of talent!!!!!
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7 comments:
I saw this act at Olympia at the time of this film. This was the first time I had seen black panthers in a circus ring. The act consisted of three lions, four tigers, two leopards, a polar bear and a Himalayan black bear. It was a very good act and I loved the way Weidmann presented it. He had a great style that I tried to copy. He took the act over from August Natch, another Swiss trainer who worked for Knie at the circus Krone building in 1957. He had great problems with the leopards who constantly attacked him. The act then consisted of three lions, three tigers, three leopards, two polar bears and two Himalayan black bears. The bears had come from Knie's mixed polar and black bear act that Natch had previously presented. Weidmann virtually re-trained the whole act by replacing most of the animals with the exception of the bears and the male lions. He originally included two pumas, but these were replaced by the two black panthers. It had appeared at Olympia previously and also at the Blackpool Tower circus. Weidmann is still living in retirement in Italy. He is one of those trainers that I would love to talk to and I am going to try to make a special trip to see him soon. He did work for Chipperfield's briefly in 1955 when he presented a new lion act.
Jim Clubb
Some time ago,I wrote to Wade of topic,howmuch I liked the style of
presenting of Eugen Weidmann.Good to read that I am not alone in this.I only saw him several times with the tigeract at Sarrasani,but it left un unforgetable impression
to me.Even to these days.
Rob
Jim,
Thank you for the great history lesson once again. Every thing I have ever seen of Weidmann is pure class. I give give my left arm to be able to eves drop on a conversation between you and he.
How/when did he get his start? Was he born in the business, or was he another one of those who entered the profession and was very successful.
Wade
Rob,
Leaving an impression, never to be forgotten is one of the greatest accomplishments of an artist.
Wade
Rob,
Leaving an impression, never to be forgotten is one of the greatest accomplishments of an artist.
Wade
He wasn't born in the business.
From what I know,he came at Circus Knie as an animalgroom,to fill a year between his schooldays and a professional education.He started as an Elephantgroom and later as assistant of the wildanimal trainer.The rest is history as they say.Unfortunately ,there isn't much further I know about him.But I hope ,this soon will change when Jim gets his way.
Greetings,
Rob
Hello Eugen Weidmann in dead on 23.12.2017
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