Difference between revisions of "Main Page"
From Circopedia
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==New Videos== | ==New Videos== | ||
| − | * [[Françoise_Rochais_Video_(2015)|Françoise Rochais]], Juggler | + | * [[Rejean_St._Jules_Video_(2008)|Réjean St. Jules]], Juggler (2008) |
| + | * [[Françoise_Rochais_Video_(2015)|Françoise Rochais]], Juggler (2015) | ||
* [[Bario_Video_(1975)|Les Bario]], Clowns (1975) | * [[Bario_Video_(1975)|Les Bario]], Clowns (1975) | ||
* [[Hermanis_Video_(1972)|The Hermanis]], Diabolo Act (1972) | * [[Hermanis_Video_(1972)|The Hermanis]], Diabolo Act (1972) | ||
* [[Clyde Beatty Video (1954)|Clyde Beatty]], Lion Act (1954) | * [[Clyde Beatty Video (1954)|Clyde Beatty]], Lion Act (1954) | ||
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==Featured Oral Histories== | ==Featured Oral Histories== | ||
Revision as of 21:43, 15 February 2016
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In The Spotlight
ITALO MEDINI
Italo Medini (1924-2015) was one of the greatest jugglers of the past century who worked in the Italian tradition exemplified by the legendary Enrico Rastelli. He and his twin brother, Franco (1924-2014) were born June 9, 1924 in Orléans, France, to Carlo Medini and his wife, Anna, née Périé, during an engagement of their parents with the Cirque Alphonse Rancy. A clown and acrobat, Carlo Medini belonged to an old and numerous Italian circus family; his wife, Anna, whom he married in 1920, was the daughter of Pierre Périé, the owner of a highly respected French provincial circus before WWII.
Italo made his circus debut at age three, as a miniature clown in his father’s clown act. He would later become his father’s whiteface clownGeneric term for all clowns and augustes. '''Specific:''' In Europe, the elegant, whiteface character who plays the role of the straight man to the Auguste in a clown team., in which role he showed great proficiency as a saxophone and concertina player. Quite early, too, Italo became part of the Carlo Medini aerial casting and acrobatic act. He found his true calling, however, when he saw the German juggling prodigy Trixie Firschke (1920-2001), with whom the Medinis shared a bill at Vienna’s Circus Renz. From then on, Italo began training in a specialty for which he showed an uncanny ability.
The Medinis and the Rastellis were friends, and in Sptember 1931, Carlo took Italo to Paris’s Cirque Medrano to see Enrico Rastelli (1896-1931). Rastelli, who was universally considered as the world’s greatest juggler, was starring in the famous Parisian circus; the opportunity to get a few tips and lessons from the Master, even for a short time, was not something to be missed! As fate had it, it was also just in time, for Rastelli died unexpectedly three months later.... (more...)
New Biographies
- Les Bario, Clowns
- Edoardo Raspini, Juggler
- Italo Medini, Juggler
- Isabella Nock, Aerialist
- The Faltyny Family, Acrobats, Unicyclists
New Videos
- Réjean St. Jules, Juggler (2008)
- Françoise Rochais, Juggler (2015)
- Les Bario, Clowns (1975)
- The Hermanis, Diabolo Act (1972)
- Clyde Beatty, Lion Act (1954)
Featured Oral Histories
- Moira Orfei, Circus Owner - Davide Maggio Interview (2012)
- Oleg Popov, clown - Russian Television Feature (2014)
- Albert Fratellini, clown - French Television Interview (1957)
- Nikolai Pavlenko, tiger trainer - Interview (RIA Novosti, 2012)
- Alberto Zoppé, Equestrian - Interview (McCutcheon & Distasio, 2003)
A Message from the Editor
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
- Editor/Curator
