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===GENE MENDEZ=== | ===GENE MENDEZ=== | ||
Revision as of 00:07, 1 November 2016
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In The Spotlight
GENE MENDEZ
Gene Mendez (1937-1993) is a legendary figure among high wireA tight, heavy metallic cable placed high above the ground, on which wire walkers do crossings and various acrobatic exercises. Not to be confused with a tight wire. artists, a talented and fearless performer who helped popularize the style of the solo “daredevil” high-wire artist—as opposed to the often slow-moving high wireA tight, heavy metallic cable placed high above the ground, on which wire walkers do crossings and various acrobatic exercises. Not to be confused with a tight wire. troupes that were the norm until the early 1970s. Energetic, nimble, with a wonderful “Latino” temperament, he worked without a balancing pole and without a net, in the manner of low wireA tight, light metallic cable, placed between two platforms not very far from the ground, on which a wire dancer perform dance steps, and acrobatic exercises such as somersaults. (Also: Tight Wire) artists such as Con Colleano.
He was born Giner E. Mendez in 1937 in Moca, in the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico. His family moved to Brooklyn, New York, when Gene was still a child. He wanted to be a circus artist; it was not just a vague childhood dream: As a teenager, he began to train seriously in gymnastics (notably on the horizontal bars) and did some bodybuilding. In 1951, after seeing Harold Alzana in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily show at Madison Square Garden in New York, Gene began self-training in wire walking… in his mother’s apartment! He quickly developed a talent for the craft, and eventually participated in a televised talent show in Philadelphia, where Karl Wallenda noticed him.... (more...)
New Biographies
- Franz Czeisler (Tihany), Magician, Circus Owner
- Circuses Fernando and Medrano, History
- Kannan Bombayo, Rope Dancer
- Réjean St. Jules, Juggler
- Les Bario, Clowns
New Videos
- Franky Ferrer, Object Balancing (1976)
- Gene Mendez, High Wire (1975)
- Armand Guerre, Sea Lion Act (1969)
- Kristina Terlikowska, Tiger and Lion Act (1975)
- Aleksandra & Sergei Korolevi, Hand-to-Hand Balancing (2016)
Featured Oral Histories
- Jean Richard and Jean-Pierre Richard at the Cirque jean Richard - Christian Boner Interview (1979)
- Jérôme Medrano about Buster Keaton at the Cirque Medrano (1947)
- Moira Orfei, Circus Owner - Davide Maggio Interview (2012)
- Oleg Popov, clown - Russian Television Feature (2014)
- Albert Fratellini, clown - French Television Interview (1957)
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
