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==In The Spotlight==
 
==In The Spotlight==
  
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===VIKTOR TIKHONOV===
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===THE CODONAS===
  
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[[File:Tikhonov_Portrait_Poster.jpeg|right|100px]]A major star of the Soviet Circus, Viktor Tikhonov (1917-1991) was an outstanding and amazingly innovative animal trainer. He displayed remarkable elegance and grace in the ring—a rather uncommon quality in his field. His son, Vitaly Tikhonov, followed in his father’s footsteps and matched his accomplishments with great success. Viktor Tikhonov also mentored the Russian animal trainer Larissa Tikhonova. Viktor Petrovich Tikhonov was born on March 18, 1917 in Russia, in the midst of the so-called "February Revolution." His father, Pyotr, was a fairground entertainer who worked the balagans (the Russian fairground booths) with a sharpshooter act. Viktor made his debut as a child performer with his father, beginning as an acrobat and developing in time his own sharpshooting skills..... ([[Viktor Tikhonov|more...]])
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[[File:Tikhonov_Portrait_Poster.jpeg|right|100px]]The Codonas (and Alfredo Codona in particular) were conceivably, in terms of international fame, the greatest circus stars of the first half of the twentieth century. They owe their distinctive place in circus history to the exceptional talent of Alfredo Codona, but also to the dramatic ending of his career, and subsequently, the tragic conclusion of his life. Not only was The Codonas’ act recorded on film (in E.A. Dupont’s ''Varieté'' in 1925), but they were also the subjects of an Academy Award-nominated documentary, Jack Cummings’s ''Swing High'' (1932), a romanticized biopic, A.M. Rabenalt’s ''Die drei Codonas'' (1940)—a very rare occurrence for circus artists—and two romanticized biographies. Alfredo (1893-1937) and Abelardo ("Lalo," 1895-1951) Codona were born into a circus family. Apparently, their grandfather, William, came from a long line of Scottish showmen, the Cardownies, who have been variously known in the business as Cardonas, Cordonas, or Codonas. William married a French woman, Victorine Régnier, with whom he had a son, Eduardo, born in Mexico on September 21, 1859. When and for which purpose William and Victorine immigrated to Mexico is not known..... ([[The Codonas|more...]])
  
 
==New Biographies==
 
==New Biographies==

Revision as of 08:39, 1 November 2012

Welcome to Circopedia,
the free encyclopedia of the international circus.
A project of the Big Apple Circus,
inspired and funded by the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation.


In The Spotlight

THE CODONAS

Tikhonov Portrait Poster.jpeg
The Codonas (and Alfredo Codona in particular) were conceivably, in terms of international fame, the greatest circus stars of the first half of the twentieth century. They owe their distinctive place in circus history to the exceptional talent of Alfredo Codona, but also to the dramatic ending of his career, and subsequently, the tragic conclusion of his life. Not only was The Codonas’ act recorded on film (in E.A. Dupont’s Varieté in 1925), but they were also the subjects of an Academy Award-nominated documentary, Jack Cummings’s Swing High (1932), a romanticized biopic, A.M. Rabenalt’s Die drei Codonas (1940)—a very rare occurrence for circus artists—and two romanticized biographies. Alfredo (1893-1937) and Abelardo ("Lalo," 1895-1951) Codona were born into a circus family. Apparently, their grandfather, William, came from a long line of Scottish showmen, the Cardownies, who have been variously known in the business as Cardonas, Cordonas, or Codonas. William married a French woman, Victorine Régnier, with whom he had a son, Eduardo, born in Mexico on September 21, 1859. When and for which purpose William and Victorine immigrated to Mexico is not known..... (more...)

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CIRCOPEDIA is a constantly evolving and expanding encyclopedia of the international circus. New videos, biographies, essays, and documents are added to the site on a weekly—and sometimes daily—basis. So 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
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