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Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Spangles Elephants Violets & Me The Circus Inside Out by Victoria B. Cristiani Rossi Amazing equestrian act from 1936: the Cristiani family. This may have been filmed 74 years ago, but this equestrian act is still amazing! Share this: Like this: 5 thoughts on “ Amazing equestrian act from 1936: the Cristiani family ” Clearly, I need some lessons in mounting bareback. This is just what I needed. Loved the acrobatics – what incredible athletes these men are. Lovely horses, so nice to see the slo-mo clip of how the horse handles the landing with such care and generosity. Amazing performance from both man and horse! Makes you wonder about some of the Roman circus vase paintings. Perhaps they’re more realistic than we realize. Take it from me, there’s no other word but “AWSOME” to describe the Cristiani Family Riding Act as viewed in this1937 MGM video filmed in Hollywood, CA. My beloved father was Oscar, the oldest brother (shown on far left of the first closeup photo), Naturally, the act evolved over the years adding a series of death-defying feats … and eventually my uncle Lucio’s brilliant comedy routine, which had the audience howling with laughter and athirst for more. In those glory days of yore, the bareback riding marvels were mobbed, even before they exited the back door of the big top, by throngs of hysterical fans seeking autographs and close personal contact. Author: Spangles, Elephants, Violets & Me: The Circus Inside Out. Amazon.com. Thank you for joining the discussion and making it all the more real. It’s great to hear your first hand perpective. You are so welcome. The charm and wit of the Cristiani family lured many A-list stars of stage and screen to their performances during their prime years with Ringling Bros. and Al G. Barnes Circus. Several stars visited the set daily and even watched from the sidelines during the filming of this great 1937 Pete Smith Speciality. Most interestingly, the iconic silent film actor, Charlie Chaplin, who had remained a close family friend since his early circus days in Europe, invited my grandparents to stay at the cottage (behind his Hollywood home) for the entire 10-day shoot. Also, my godmother, Ortans, who is seen summersaulting off the teeterboard into the chair (held by my dad) was only 14 years old at the time. Aunt Ortans was an incredible performer, even tempered and totally oblivious to her God-given talent. I loved her dearly and so did everyone else. The last remaining Cristianis are the two youngest siblings: Corky and Pete. Corky doubled Doris Day in Billy Rose’s “Jumbo”, filmed in1962. For those who may be interested, Spangles has 50 pages of rare vintage photo of the Cristiani family and the Cristiani Bros. Circus, which happened to be the largest tented circus during the 1950’s after Ringling discarded the big top and went indoors. The Circus "NO SPIN ZONE" A Blog designed for discussion of topics related to, but not limited to, Circus, Zoos, Animal Training, and Animal Welfare/Husbandry. Sometimes opening up the dialog is the best starting point of all. And if for nothing else when people who agree and don't agree, get together and start discussing it, it will open up a lot of peoples minds. Debate and discussion even amongst themselves opens a window where there wasn't one before. Sunday, September 6, 2009. Former Circus Child Tells of Life Under the Big Top. Born into this world some children dreamed of running away to join, Victoria Cristiani Rossi is more than just a child of the circus, she is the circus. From never before revealed stories about life on the road to the circus’ ongoing animal right issues, Rossi offers an inside look into a world normally closed off to outsiders. Interview Rossi, author of SPANGLES, ELEPHANTS, VIOLETS & ME: The Circus Inside Out , for a fun, yet truthful show on what life is really like in the circus. • The truth about some of Hollywood’s biggest stars’ (Joan Crawford, Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and many others) obsession with the circus. • Details and interesting facts about some of the biggest acts under the tents. • The blatant discrimination circus performers face—even in today’s society. • Why there’s a little dysfunctional circus in every family, no matter how normal they may seem. When the Circus Came to Town. While rummaging around in my basement the other day, I came across my old "King Bros. - Cristiani Circus Magazine" containing the official program for the King Bros. & Cristiani Combined Circus: Season 1953 -- 34th Annual Tour. Seeing it brought back many happy memories of the circus, and I thought I'd share a few with you. Elephants and the Circus Train. Curiously, my first recollections of visiting a circus are not of the clowns or the daring aerialists, but of the elephants. It must have been around 1950, but I can't be sure as I was only about four at the time. I can only remember the elephants after the day's performances had ended. They were harnessed and busy helping with the lowering of the big top and hauling the massive tent poles to the wagons. A steam calliope played its distinctive brassy melodies in the background until it was drained of its water and hauled away by a tractor for loading on the circus train. We followed it from the sidewalk, and in the growing darkness I can recall seeing the large circus train parked along two railroad sidings three or four blocks from the exhibition grounds. Mom and Dad and I waited beside the rail cars with my aunt and uncle to see the elephants when they returned from their duties. It seemed a long time waiting in the darkness, but eventually we heard a soft swoosh, swoosh sound and suddenly the lead elephant loomed directly behind us in the moonlight causing us to quickly move out of its way. It was unbelievable how quiet the elephants had been in their approach. We stood quietly by and watched as more than a dozen large elephants walked silently past us in single file, each holding the tail of the elephant in front, till they reached the elephant cars and ascended the ramps to bed down for the night and embark on the next leg of their tour. It was a sight that I've never forgotten, and it obviously made a huge impression on me, as I can remember little else about that evening. King Bros. & Cristiani Combined Circus. My next recollection of a circus is when the King Bros. & Cristiani Combined Circus of Macon, Georgia visited Peterborough, Ontario, on their tour through Ontario in June 1953, the year of the Queen's Coronation. My parents and I went to the evening performance, and I can recall watching the breathtaking trapeze acts, the acrobats, the jugglers, and the numerous trained animals including the renowned Cristiani elephants. Victoria Cristiani and Christy the Elephant (Source: State Archives of Florida/Steinmetz. To a seven-year-old, the clowns, of course, were looked forward to, and they did not disappoint. Here's how their acts were described in the program (pictured above): "Display No. 5: The clowns take over the rings and the Hippodrome Track to display their newest invention -- The Atom Smasher." "Display No. 8: Here it comes -- that mysterious vehicle -- the clown car, which disgorges so many humans at one time that you will lose count of them as they emerge. Watch the finish!" "Display No. 14: The clowns rock the tent with individual bits of merriment as they surround the Hippodrome Tracks with their fun provoking gags." "Display No. 17: The clowns again -- this time with their reproduction of the "Man Who is Shot from the Cannon." Hold your ears!" "Display No. 21: Final appearance of the clowns -- one last guffaw -- one last hilarious moment -- before they wave goodbye for another year." The star attraction of the evening's show was seeing a man billed as The Human Cannonball shot from the mouth of a giant cannon, from one end of the Big Top to the other, and landing in a large net. The loud "BOOM!" from the cannon caused us all to jump in our seats, and it was immediately followed by loud roar of approval from the crowd. The program states this most dangerous feat was performed by "The One and Only Original, Hugo Zacchinni." Instead of arriving by circus train, the King Bros. & Cristiani Combined Circus arrived in a convoy of over 40 vehicles, but it maintained the aura of a traditional circus with its three rings under the huge canvas Big Top, and it even featured a steam calliope. Now Only a Memory. Sadly, the circuses of the early 1950s are now only a memory. However, if you'd like to get a feel for what those old-time circuses were like, rent or buy a copy of Cecil B. DeMille's "The Greatest Show on Earth." It's one of the best movies ever made. This Oscar-winning 1952 drama was filmed inside the world-famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus during its 1951 tour. It stars Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton, and Jimmy Stewart playing a clown. Emmett Kelly's memorable "Weary Willie" character also appears. The movie showcases the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the peak of its fame and popularity with its 1,400 performers and workers, hundreds of trained animals, tons canvas and equipment, and an impressive 60-car circus train.

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