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The Blumenfeld Family

2026-09-06T19:45:33Z

‎Epilogue

Main Page

2026-09-06T05:35:24Z

Fumagalli

2026-09-06T05:32:59Z

‎See also

Fumagalli Video (2003)

2026-09-06T05:30:01Z

Created page with "Fumagalli & Daris, table entrée, at the 30th International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo (2003) — ''Document: FR3 – France Televisions'' {{#ev:vimeo|1224120521|..."

New page

Fumagalli & Daris, table entrée, at the 30th [[International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo]] (2003) — ''Document: FR3 – France Televisions''

{{#ev:vimeo|1224120521|740}}

==See Also==

* Biography: [[Fumagalli]]

[[Category:Video Archive|Fumagalli]]

Bertram Mills Circus

2026-09-03T22:57:15Z

‎Image Gallery

File:Bertram Mills - Kaden.jpg

2026-09-03T22:54:56Z

File:Bertram Mills - Kaden.jpg

2026-09-03T22:53:24Z

Djando uploaded File:Bertram Mills - Kaden.jpg Bertram Mills Circus poster for the 1932-1933 season at Olympia (London) featuring Alfred Kaden (1932) — ''Victoria & Albert Museum, London''

The Gruss Dynasty

2026-09-03T21:28:08Z

‎Image Gallery

File:Alexis Gruss Sr - Clown.jpg

2026-09-03T21:26:51Z

File:Alexis Gruss Sr - Clown.jpg

2026-09-03T21:26:03Z

Djando uploaded File:Alexis Gruss Sr - Clown.jpg Cirque Gruss-Jeannet poster signed Ello featuring Alexis Gruss, Sr. as a white-face clown (c.1945) — ''Joel Rhede Collection''

Main Page

2026-09-01T23:55:07Z

Ariz Brothers

2026-09-01T23:53:08Z

Created page with "==Acrobats== * Video: The Ariz Brothers, banquine, at the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo (1983) Category:Artists and Acts|Ariz Bro..."

New page

==Acrobats==

* Video: [[Ariz_Bros_Video_(1983)|The Ariz Brothers, banquine]], at the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo (1983)

[[Category:Artists and Acts|Ariz Brothers]][[Category:Acrobats|Ariz Brothers]][[Category:Banquine|Ariz Brothers]]

Ariz Bros Video (1983)

2026-09-01T23:50:35Z

Created page with "The Ariz Brothers, banquine act, at the 9th International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo (1983) — ''Document: FR3 – France Televisions'' {{#ev:vimeo|1222889069|74..."

New page

The Ariz Brothers, banquine act, at the 9th [[International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo]] (1983) — ''Document: FR3 – France Televisions''

{{#ev:vimeo|1222889069|740}}

==See Also==

* Biography: [[Ariz Brothers]]

[[Category:Video Archive|Ariz Brothers]]

Dolly Jacobs

2026-09-01T21:01:20Z

‎Image Gallery

File:Margie Geiger.jpg

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File:Margie Geiger.jpg

2026-09-01T20:57:54Z

Djando uploaded File:Margie Geiger.jpg Margie Geiger, aerialist (c.1960) — ''Document: Dolly Jacobs Archive''

The Blumenfeld Family

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Main Page

2026-09-01T05:53:21Z

Les Chicky

2026-08-31T21:02:44Z

‎Image Gallery

File:Chicky Trio.jpg

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File:Chicky Trio.jpg

2026-08-31T21:01:16Z

Djando uploaded File:Chicky Trio.jpg Les Chicky, clowns (c.1980) — ''Photo X''

Les Chicky

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File:Les Chicky.jpg

2026-08-31T20:57:20Z

File:Les Chicky.jpg

2026-08-31T20:56:17Z

Djando uploaded File:Les Chicky.jpg Les Chicky, clowns (c.1980) — ''Photo X''

Main Page

2026-08-31T20:49:52Z

Les Chicky

2026-08-31T20:48:44Z

Les Chicky Video (1983)

2026-08-31T20:41:18Z

Les Chicky Video (1983)

2026-08-31T20:40:10Z

Created page with "Les Chicky, balloon entrée, at the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo (1983) — ''Document: FR3 – France Televisions'' {{#ev:vimeo|1222815644|740}} ==S..."

New page

Les Chicky, balloon entrée, at the [[International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo]] (1983) — ''Document: FR3 – France Televisions''

{{#ev:vimeo|1222815644|740}}

==See Also==

* Biography: [[Les Chicky]]

[[Category:Video Archive|Chicky, Les]]

The Blumenfeld Family

2026-08-31T20:31:26Z

‎Epilogue

Main Page

2026-08-31T20:25:02Z

The Blumenfeld Family

2026-08-31T05:45:23Z

‎Image Gallery

File:The 5 Sailors (Blumenfeld).png

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File:The 5 Sailors (Blumenfeld).png

2026-08-31T05:23:51Z

Djando uploaded File:The 5 Sailors (Blumenfeld).png The 5 Sailors was an aerial act, were one of the many acts performed by member of the Blumenfeld family. From 1910 on, they performed mostly in England and the United States, where they eventually settled (c.1915) —

Main Page

2026-08-31T05:04:54Z

@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 [[File:Barnum_and_Bailey_-_Germany.png|thumb|right|300px|Barnum & Bailey Poster for its German Tour (1900)]]Meanwhile, [[Wilhelm Hagenbeck]], the son of German wild animal importer [[The Hagenbeck Dynasty|Carl Hagenbeck]] (1844-1913), the most important animal dealer of his time (he provided animals to zoos and circuses worldwide), had started a traveling circus in 1887 that included an important menagerie of exotic and wild animals&mdash;some of which were presented performing in the show&mdash;as well of exhibitions of exotic tribes from the "mysterious" lands of Africa, Asia, and even America (with tribes of Native Americans).
-Ten years later, in 1897, the giant American [[Barnum and Bailey Circus]] began an extended European tour that lasted until 1905. Its enormous menagerie impressed European audiences at a time when colonial expansion had intensified public fascination with everything exotic, particularly animals. It encouraged German circuses and traveling menagerie owners such as Carl Krone to follow Hagenbeck's example and develop into the circus-menagerie enterprises that would characterize the German circus industry until World War II.
+Ten years later, in 1897, the giant American [[Barnum and Bailey Circus]] began an extended European tour that lasted until 1905. Its enormous menagerie impressed European audiences at a time when colonial expansion had intensified public fascination with everything exotic, particularly animals. It encouraged German circuses and traveling menagerie owners such as [[Carl Krone]] to follow Hagenbeck's example and develop into the circus-menagerie enterprises that would characterize the German circus industry until World War II.
 The Blumenfelds were no exception to this trend. In 1912, the brothers added a menagerie to their previously equestrian circus and began to present animal acts other than horses. They acquired four elephants and a collection of exotic and wild animals that included a hippopotamus, but they refrained from presenting cage acts in their programs until 1936. Their important stables were still full, and their renowned equestrian acts remained their circus's main attraction.
@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 [[File:Geb._Blumenfeld.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Alfons, Alex & Arthur Blumenfeld (c.1920)]]They purchased a large two-pole circus tent, 44 meters in diameter (approximately 144 feet) and with a capacity of 2,000 people. This made their circus a major enterprise&mdash;although it would soon pale in comparison to giants like [[Circus Krone|Krone]], [[Circus Sarrasani|Sarrasani]], [[Circus Gleich|Gleich]], and even the circus of their Strassburger cousins. Alex, Alfons, and Arthur Blumenfeld could rely on their large family for support: Their brothers, Fritz and Alfred, took care of the administrative aspects of the circus, and Eugen supervised the always important concessions department. Other family members were also available to help and perform in the show.
-The new Blumenfeld Circus made its debut in Dessau, not far from Magdeburg, on April 3, 1920. The show featured many family members: Alfons presented liberty acts with Amanda Lorch. Willy appeared in a high-school presentation with his sister-in-law and cousin Victoria (Arthur’s wife), and also doubled as the clown Kucki. Arthur, riding a horse, presented two trained bulls. Of course, there were also many hired performers in the show, including a team of acrobats and a motorcycle stunt act. In November,  the Blumenfeld brothers returned to their circus in Magdeburg for the winter season, which at long last returned to hosting circus shows.
+The new Blumenfeld Circus made its debut in Dessau, not far from Magdeburg, on April 3, 1920. The show featured many family members: Alfons presented liberty acts with Amanda Lorch. Willy appeared in a high-school presentation with his sister-in-law and cousin Victoria (Arthur’s wife), and also doubled as the clown Kucki. Arthur, riding a horse, presented two trained bulls. Of course, there were also many hired performers in the show, including a team of acrobats and a motorcycle stunt act. In November,  the Blumenfeld brothers returned for the winter season to their circus in Magdeburg, which at long last reverted to hosting circus shows.
 The years immediately following the war were marked by the Spanish flu pandemic, which claimed the lives of about fifty million people worldwide, and Europe was not spared. Yet, after a long and devastating war that killed around twenty million people, European audiences were eager for escapist entertainment. Pandemic or not, the interwar years proved to be exceptionally favorable for circuses and variety shows. The Blumenfelds, like other circus owners, benefited from this sudden enthusiasm. However, the interwar years also brought major economic problems.
@@ Line 109: / Line 109: @@
 During the war, Germany had experienced severe inflation, with prices doubling almost instantly. To address this problem, the Kaiser’s government abandoned its gold-backed currency, expecting that Germany would win the war. That was not the outcome however, and the postwar Weimar government had to pay considerable reparations to the Allies in gold-backed currency. This led to an economic domino effect resulting in hyperinflation: The Mark collapsed, and by 1922, prices had risen by 700%!
-[[File:Zirkus_Blumenfeld_in_Magdeburg.jpg|thumb|left|400px|Zirkus Blumenfeld in Magdeburg (1914)]]However, after years of successful touring and well-organized performances, the Magdeburg Blumenfelds had become relatively wealthy. Like most European traveling circus families, they didn’t keep all their money in the bank. They followed the traditional practice of converting their wealth into gold or diamonds, which they kept hidden in their mobile homes. But if the depreciation of the Mark didn’t affect their accumulated wealth, then the money they earned in Germany was worthless. For many German circuses, the solution was to travel abroad to replenish their coffers. Sarrasani went to South America, Krone and Gleich traveled throughout Europe...
+[[File:Zirkus_Blumenfeld_in_Magdeburg.jpg|thumb|left|400px|Zirkus Blumenfeld in Magdeburg (1914)]]However, after years of successful touring and well-managed enterprises, the Magdeburg Blumenfelds had become relatively wealthy. Like most European traveling circus families, they didn’t keep all their money in the bank. They followed the traditional practice of converting their wealth into gold or diamonds, which they kept hidden in their mobile homes. But if the depreciation of the Mark didn’t affect their accumulated wealth, then the money they earned in Germany was worthless. For many German circuses, the solution was to travel abroad to replenish their coffers. Sarrasani went to South America, Krone and Gleich traveled throughout Europe...
 Similarly, the Blumenfelds looked beyond Germany. They visited the Baltic States and rented out some of their animal and equestrian acts abroad. In 1925-1926, they even toured their animal acts in Russia's circus buildings. Since circuses, like all performing arts, were nationalized by the new Soviet government in 1919, Russia’s ten resident circuses&mdash;including two in Moscow&mdash;needed artists to fill their programs. With a shortage of Russian performers (the new State Circus and Variety College hadn’t yet produced many of them), the Soviet Committee for the Arts turned to Germany, one of the few countries with which Russia still maintained good relations. The Blumenfelds seized this opportunity.
@@ Line 139: / Line 139: @@
 Alfons Blumenfeld also emigrated to Paris in December 1938, together with his wife Olympia, née Könyot. Like his brother Alex, Alfons was there with his wife when the war broke out and Germany occupied France. They were immediately arrested by the French police; Olympia was interned in the camp of Rivesaltes, near Perpignan in southwestern France, and Alfons was interned in the concentration camp of Bram, near Carcassonne, and later transferred to Drancy. Both were finally sent to Auschwitz, where they were killed.
-Their daughter Ruth, who had married to [[The Berousek Family|Ludwig Berouzek]], scion of a famous Czech circus dynasty, was deported to Auschwitz, where she was killed in 1942. (Ludwig, whom she had divorced, had emigrated to the United States.) Before being arrested, Ruth had put their daughter, Vardia, in the care of a French family: Vardia survived the war.
+Their daughter Ruth, who had married [[The Berousek Family|Ludwig Berouzek]], scion of a famous Czech circus dynasty, was deported to Auschwitz, where she was killed in 1942. (Ludwig, whom she had previously divorced, had emigrated to the United States.) Before being arrested, Ruth had put their daughter, Vardia, in the care of a French family: Vardia survived the war.
 Arthur Blumenfeld and his wife Victoria (also born Blumenfeld) and his two daughters Rita and Eva, settled in Berlin in 1933. Playing with the unusual similarity of their family names, Victoria managed to register herself as an adopted child of unknown Aryan origin. Their union became therefore a "mixed marriage," which made the family safe from deportation, even though the German authorities subjected Arthur to the usual discrimination, like forced labor and the wearing of the Jewish yellow star. But they survived...
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 [[File:Circus_Arthur_Blumenfeld.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Circus Blumenfeld in Berlin (1946)]]At first, Arthur presented the circus’s only four horses, and the modest program featured a hand-to-hand trio, a perch-pole balancing act, and a magician&mdash;nothing exceptional, but fitting for the times. The circus was making money, however, and by December Victoria could report that they "already had four bears, six horses, and several buffalos." In September 1948, Arthur marked his fifty years in the ring, though there were no public celebrations: The Circus Blumenfeld of 1948 was no longer the eminent circus of the pre-Nazi era, and it performed primarily for Allied troops and charitable organizations such as orphanages.
-By then, there were already two resident circuses in Barlin: Paula Busch had just opened a circus in the old planetarium of the Zoological Gardens in West Berlin, and [[Harry Barlay]] had erected a large "construction" on Friedrichstraße, among the ruins of Berlin Mitte, then located in the Soviet zone of Berlin. Yet, the Blumenfelds, who were touring within the city&mdash;which didn't go without its share of problems&mdash;were very competent circus directors and could have prospered enough to take the road again.
+By then, there were already two resident circuses in Berlin: Paula Busch had just opened a circus in the old planetarium of the Zoological Gardens in West Berlin, and [[Harry Barlay]] had erected a large "construction" on Friedrichstraße, among the ruins of Berlin Mitte, then located in the Soviet zone of Berlin. Yet, the Blumenfelds, who were touring within the city&mdash;which didn't go without its share of problems&mdash;were very competent circus directors and could have prospered enough to take the road again.
 Unfortunately, the Blockade of Berlin started on June 23, 1948, and, in an already uneasy situation, major problems began to arise, notably to find food for the animals&mdash;for which the three circuses had to resort to a very expensive black market. Eventually, some animals had to be given away, and a few horses had even to be killed. The financial situation of the three circuses was dismal, even more so for the Blumenfelds, who had re-started from scratch and didn't have the resources of Paula Busch or Harry Barley.

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 ==New Videos==
 * [[Ariz_Bros_Video_(1983)|The Ariz Brothers]], banquine (1983)
 * [[Les_Chicky_Video_(1983)|Les Chicky]], clown entrée (1983)
 * [[The_Astoris_Video_(1975)|The Astoris]], Aerial Perch (1975)
 * [[Evelyn_and_André_Interview_(2025)|Evelyn & André]] Interview by the Fővárosi Nagycirkusz (2025)
 ==New Oral Histories==

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 * Video: [[Fuma_Boys_Video_(2001)|The Fuma Boys, comedy acrobatics]], at Circus Fumagalli (2001)
 * Video: [[Fuma_Boys_Monte_Carlo_Video_(2001)|The Fuma Boys, comedy acrobatics]], at the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo (2001)
-* Video: [[Fumagalli Interview 2007| Fumagalli Interview]] with Dominique Jando, 2007
+* Video: [[Fumagalli_Video_(2003)|Fumagalli & Daris, table entrée]], at the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo (2006)
-* Video: [[Fumagalli and Davis Little Bee BAC Video 2007|Fumagalli & Davis, "Little Bee" entrée]], in the Big Apple Circus production of ''Celebrate'' (2007)
+* Video: [[Fumagalli Interview 2007| Fumagalli Interview]] with Dominique Jando (2007)
-* Video: [[Fumagalli and Davis Table BAC Video 2007|Fumagalli & Davis, Table Act]], in the Big Apple Circus production of ''Celebrate'' (2007)
+* Video: [[Fumagalli and Davis Little Bee BAC Video 2007|Fumagalli & Davis, "Little Bee" entrée]], at the Big Apple Circus (2007)
-* Video: [[Fumagalli_Video_(2015)|Fumagalli & Davis, "Little Bee" entrée]], at the 39th International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo (2015)
+* Video: [[Fumagalli and Davis Table BAC Video 2007|Fumagalli & Davis, Table Act]], at the Big Apple Circus (2007)
-* Video: [[Fuma_Boys_Video_(2015)|The Fuma Boys, comedy acrobatics]], at the 39th International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo (2015)
+* Video: [[Fumagalli_Video_(2015)|Fumagalli & Davis, "Little Bee" entrée]], at the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo (2015)
 ==Image Gallery==

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 File:Carmo_tenting_circus_%2B_queue.jpg|The Carmo/Mills Circus (1929)
 File:Bertram_Mills_Circus_Program_1929-30.JPG|Program Cover, Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia (1929)
-File:Bertram_Mills_Program_32-32.jpeg|Program Cover, Bertram Mills Circus at Olumpia (1931)
+File:Bertram_Mills_Program_32-32.jpeg|Program Cover, Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia (1931)
 File:Bertram_Mills_-_Seago.jpeg|Bertam Mills Circus at Olympia by Edward Seago (1932)
 File:Bertram_Mills_-_Holiday_(1932).jpg|Program Cover, Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia (1932)
 File:Bertram_Mills_Circus.jpg|Bertram Mills Circus on tour (1932)

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:54, 3 September 2026
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	Bertram Mills Circus poster for the 1932-1933 season at Olympia (London) featuring Alfred Kaden (1932) — ''Victoria & Albert Museum, London''		Bertram Mills Circus poster for the 1932-1933 season at Olympia (London) featuring Alfred Kaden (1932) — ''Victoria & Albert Museum, London''
		+
		+	==See Also==
		+
		+	* Biography: [[Alfred Kaden]]
		+	* Circuses: [[Bertram Mills Circus]]
		+
		+	[[Category:Art Gallery\|Bertram Mills Circus]]

@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 <Gallery>
 File:Gruss-Jeannet_44.jpg|The Cirque Gruss-Jeannet at its debut (1944)
 File:Gruss-Jeannet_Dede.png|Cirque Gruss-Jeannet poster featuring Dédé Gruss (c.1945)
 File:Dede_Gruss.jpg|Dédé Gruss (c.1950)

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:26, 3 September 2026
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−	Cirque Gruss-Jeannet poster signed Ello featuring Alexis Gruss, Sr. as a white-face clown (c.1945) — ''Joel Rhede Collection''	+	[[Cirque Gruss-Jeannet]] poster signed Ello featuring Alexis Gruss, Sr. as a white-face clown (c.1945) — ''Joel Rhede Collection''
		+
		+	==See Also==
		+
		+	* Biography: [[The Gruss Dynasty]]

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 ===From Showgirl To Star Aerialist===
-While in the show, Dolly began developing an act of her own. She first tried the tight wire, but preferred the freedom of aerial work and eventually decided on an aerial act. Her godmother, Margie Geiger, came to help. Margie was married to Joe Geiger, a member of the original [[Wallendas]], and she was herself a former aerialist who had enjoyed a brilliant career in North America with a Roman Rings act, which was partially performed in full swing: It was something rarely seen in Roman Rings acts, which were usually performed in a static version.
+[[File:Margie_Geiger.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Margie Geiger (c.1960)]]While in the show, Dolly began developing an act of her own. She first tried the tight wire, but preferred the freedom of aerial work and eventually decided on an aerial act. Her godmother, Margie Geiger, came to help. Margie was married to Joe Geiger, a member of the original [[Wallendas]], and she was herself a former aerialist who had enjoyed a brilliant career in North America with a Roman Rings act, which was partially performed in full swing: It was something rarely seen in Roman Rings acts, which were usually performed in a static version.
 After attempting to develop a trapeze act for Dolly, Margie took her old rings from their box and, during the summer of 1976, in three hot months of unrelenting work, the two women managed to create a presentable first version of Dolly's Roman Rings act&mdash;just in time to audition for Ringling Brother's new show. Dolly's act was accepted, and she debuted it in the 1976 edition of ''The Greatest Show On Earth''.
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 ===Silver Clown and Circus Sarasota===
-[[File:Dolly_Jacobs_and_Pedro_Reis.jpg|Dolly Jacobs & Pedro Reis at Circus Sarasota|thumb|left|400px]]In 1984, Dolly left Ringling and joined the [[Big Apple Circus]], with which she performed until 1985, and again in 1987 and 1988. She then returned to the International Circus festival of Monte Carlo. This time, she won a Silver Clown.
+[[File:Dolly_Jacobs_and_Pedro_Reis.jpg|Dolly Jacobs & Pedro Reis at Circus Sarasota|thumb|right|400px]]In 1984, Dolly left Ringling and joined the [[Big Apple Circus]], with which she performed until 1985, and again in 1987 and 1988. She then returned to the International Circus festival of Monte Carlo. This time, she won a Silver Clown.
 Dolly met South African aerialist [[Pedro Reis]] when he joined the Ringling show in 1984 with his aerial act, The Survivors. They were smitten with each other. Although they worked in different shows, they managed to develop a strong bond. In 1990, Pedro, who was then featured at the Big Apple Circus as a solo performer with a Cloud Swing act, proposed to Dolly. It was July 4. Two days later, he had an accident that grounded him for a long time. The marriage was put off for a startling length of time&mdash;until October 26, 2007. Meanwhile, in 1994, after Pedro had fully recovered, he and Dolly began performing an aerial duet together, titled ''On Wings Of Love''.
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 <gallery>
 File:Lou_Jacobs_and_family.jpg|Dolly Jacobs (3rd from left) with father Lou, mother Jean, and sister Lou Ann (c.1970)
 File:Lou_Jacobs_and_daughters.jpg|Dolly Jacobs with her father, Lou, and her sister, Lou Ann (1975)

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:58, 1 September 2026
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	Margie Geiger, aerialist (c.1960) — ''Document: Dolly Jacobs Archive''		Margie Geiger, aerialist (c.1960) — ''Document: Dolly Jacobs Archive''
		+
		+	==See Also==
		+
		+	* Biography: [[Margie Geiger]]
		+
		+	[[Category:Photo Archive\|Geiger, Margie]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:53, 1 September 2026
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−	The huge Blumenfeld family holds an important place in German and European circus history. One of the three major German-Jewish circus dynasties before World War II—along with the [[Circus Strassburger\|Strassburgers]] and the [[The Lorch Family\|Lorches]]—the Blumenfelds were driven to bankruptcy and then brutally decimated by the Nazis. Before that tragedy, they had been a highly respected family of talented acrobats, equestrians, and circus owners. Although some members of the family resurfaced after World War II, the Blumenfelds were never able to reclaim the position they had once held in the circus world.	+	The huge Blumenfeld family holds an important place in German and European circus history. One of the three major German-Jewish circus dynasties before World War II—along with the [[Circus Strassburger\|Strassburgers]] and the [[The Lorch Family\|Lorches]]—the Blumenfelds were driven to bankruptcy and then brutally decimated by the Nazis. Before that tragedy, they had been a highly respected family of talented acrobats, aerialists, equestrians, and circus owners. Although some members of the family resurfaced after World War II, the Blumenfelds were never able to reclaim the position they had once held in the circus world.

	The Blumenfelds are allied with several other prominent Jewish families, such as the Goldkettes ([[The Brönett Family\|Brönett]]), the Strassburgers, the Lorches, and the [[The Könyot Family\|Könyots]]. They always married within their faith and, at times, like the Rothschilds, within their family—with perhaps the notable exceptions of Erich Blumenfeld, the youngest son of Simon Blumenfeld, who married Fanny Houcke, from the Franco-Swedish [[The Houcke Dynasty\|Houcke]] family, and his brother Alex, whose wife, Eugenie, came from an old Italian circus family, the Cardinales.		The Blumenfelds are allied with several other prominent Jewish families, such as the Goldkettes ([[The Brönett Family\|Brönett]]), the Strassburgers, the Lorches, and the [[The Könyot Family\|Könyots]]. They always married within their faith and, at times, like the Rothschilds, within their family—with perhaps the notable exceptions of Erich Blumenfeld, the youngest son of Simon Blumenfeld, who married Fanny Houcke, from the Franco-Swedish [[The Houcke Dynasty\|Houcke]] family, and his brother Alex, whose wife, Eugenie, came from an old Italian circus family, the Cardinales.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 ===THE BLUMENFELD FAMILY===
-[[File:5_Blumenfelds_Poster.jpg|right|300px]]The huge Blumenfeld family holds an important place in German and European circus history. One of the three major German-Jewish circus dynasties before World War II&mdash;along with the Strassburgers and the Lorches&mdash;the Blumenfelds were driven to bankruptcy and then brutally decimated by the Nazis. Before that tragedy, they had been a highly respected family of talented acrobats, equestrians, and circus owners. Although some members of the family resurfaced after World War II, the Blumenfelds were never able to reclaim the position they had once held in the circus world.
+[[File:5_Blumenfelds_Poster.jpg|right|300px]]The huge Blumenfeld family holds an important place in German and European circus history. One of the three major German-Jewish circus dynasties before World War II&mdash;along with the Strassburgers and the Lorches&mdash;the Blumenfelds were driven to bankruptcy and then brutally decimated by the Nazis. Before that tragedy, they had been a highly respected family of talented acrobats, aerialists, equestrians, and circus owners. Although some members of the family resurfaced after World War II, the Blumenfelds were never able to reclaim the position they had once held in the circus world.
 The Blumenfelds are allied with several other prominent Jewish families, such as the Goldkettes (Brönett), the Strassburgers, the Lorches, and the Könyots. They always married within their faith and, at times, like the Rothschilds, within their family&mdash;with perhaps the notable exceptions of Erich Blumenfeld, the youngest son of Simon Blumenfeld, who married Fanny Houcke, from the Franco-Swedish Houcke family, and his brother Alex, whose wife, Eugenie, came from an old Italian circus family, the Cardinales.

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 <Gallery>
 File:Les_Chicky.jpg|Les Chicky (c.1980)
 </Gallery>
 [[Category:Artists and Acts|Chicky, Les]][[Category:Clowns|Chicky, Les]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:02, 31 August 2026
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	Les Chicky, clowns (c.1980) — ''Photo X''		Les Chicky, clowns (c.1980) — ''Photo X''
		+
		+	==See Also==
		+
		+	* Biography: [[Les Chicky]]
		+
		+	[[Category:Photo Archive\|Chicky, Les]]

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 * Video: [[Chicky_Video_(c.1980)|Les Chicky, ''Broken Mirror'' entrée]], at the [[Kunglig Cirkus (Stockholm)|Kunglig Cirkus]] at the Djurgården in Stockholm (c.1980)
 * Video: [[Les_Chicky_Video_(1983)|Les Chicky, balloon entrée]], at the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo (1983)
 [[Category:Artists and Acts|Chicky, Les]][[Category:Clowns|Chicky, Les]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:57, 31 August 2026
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	Les Chicky, clowns (c.1980) — ''Photo X''		Les Chicky, clowns (c.1980) — ''Photo X''
		+
		+	==See Also==
		+
		+	* Biography: [[Les Chicky]]
		+
		+	[[Category:Photo Archive\|Chicky, Les]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Clowns==
-Bruno Stutz and Chicky Altenburger.
+Bruno Stutz (1938-2015) and Eugen "Chicky" Altenburger (1928-2013).
 * Video: [[Chicky_Video_(c.1980)|Les Chicky, ''Broken Mirror'' entrée]], at the [[Kunglig Cirkus (Stockholm)|Kunglig Cirkus]] at the Djurgården in Stockholm (c.1980)
 [[Category:Artists and Acts|Chicky, Les]][[Category:Clowns|Chicky, Les]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:41, 31 August 2026
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−	Les Chicky, balloon entrée, at the [[International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo]] (1983) — ''Document: FR3 – France Televisions''	+	Les Chicky, balloon entrée, at the 9th [[International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo]] (1983) — ''Document: FR3 – France Televisions''

	{{#ev:vimeo\|1222815644\|740}}		{{#ev:vimeo\|1222815644\|740}}

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 ===Cerf Blumenfeld===
-[[File:Cerf_Blumenfeld_Ad.png|thumb|left|300px|Cerf Blumenfeld'sCircus National Ad (c.1856)]]Hirsch Blumenfeld was born Hirsch Levy in 1788 in Isenburg, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse, one of the many German states. His parents were Levy Wolf (1770-1828), a Jewish cantor, and his wife Rosa (Rösgen), née Cahn (?-1840). The Blumenfeld patronym came later: under Jewish naming tradition, a son took his father’s given name as a patronym, so Hirsch, as Levy’s son, became Hirsch Levy. Hirsch didn't embrace his father's calling: He became instead a traveling entertainer, an occupation that had attracted many of his coreligionists over the centuries.
+[[File:Cerf_Blumenfeld_Ad.png|thumb|left|300px|Cerf Blumenfeld'sCircus National Ad (c.1856)]]Hirsch Blumenfeld was born Hirsch Levy in 1788 in Isenburg, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse, one of the many German states. His parents were Levy Wolf (1770-1828), a Jewish cantor, and his wife Rosa (Rösgen), née Cahn (?-1840). The Blumenfeld patronym came later: Under Jewish naming tradition, a son took his father’s given name as a patronym, so Hirsch, as Levy’s son, became Hirsch Levy. Hirsch didn't embrace his father's calling: He became instead a traveling entertainer, an occupation that had attracted many of his coreligionists over the centuries.
 Hirsch Levy married Henrietta (Jetta) Jonas (1789-1853), a native of Neuwied, in the Rhineland Palatinate, south of Bonn. Hirsch and Jetta raised a large family of eight children: Emanuel (1811-1885), Meyer (1815-1894), Sophia (1816-?), David (1818-1893), Joseph (1820-1820), Mina (1821-?), Moritz (1825-1895), and Simon (1828-1911)&mdash;starting a tradition of exceptionally large families among their descendants.
@@ Line 149: / Line 149: @@
 After the end of World War II, Arthur and Victoria tried to restart the Circus Blumenfeld. With the help of the Soviet authorities, which controlled East Germany and most of Berlin, they managed to acquire the equipment of the bankrupt circus of [[Circus Brumbach|Gustav Brumbach]], which included a four-pole big top and all its paraphernalia. They quickly repainted the old wagons to a Blumenfeld livery, put their name on the façade, and began to perform in Berlin in October 1945, touring the four sectors of the destroyed city.
-[[File:Circus_Arthur_Blumenfeld.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Circus Blumenfeld in Berlin (1946)]]At first, Arthur presented the circus’s only four horses, and the modest program featured a hand-to-hand trio, a perch-pole balancing act, and a magician&mdash;nothing exceptional, but fitting for the times. The circus was making money, however, and by December Victoria could report that they "already had four bears, six horses, and several buffalos." In September 1948, Arthur marked his fifty years in the ring, though there were no public celebrations: the Circus Blumenfeld of 1948 was no longer the eminent circus of the pre-Nazi era, and it performed primarily for Allied troops and charitable organizations such as orphanages.
+[[File:Circus_Arthur_Blumenfeld.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Circus Blumenfeld in Berlin (1946)]]At first, Arthur presented the circus’s only four horses, and the modest program featured a hand-to-hand trio, a perch-pole balancing act, and a magician&mdash;nothing exceptional, but fitting for the times. The circus was making money, however, and by December Victoria could report that they "already had four bears, six horses, and several buffalos." In September 1948, Arthur marked his fifty years in the ring, though there were no public celebrations: The Circus Blumenfeld of 1948 was no longer the eminent circus of the pre-Nazi era, and it performed primarily for Allied troops and charitable organizations such as orphanages.
 By then, there were already two resident circuses in Barlin: Paula Busch had just opened a circus in the old planetarium of the Zoological Gardens in West Berlin, and [[Harry Barlay]] had erected a large "construction" on Friedrichstraße, among the ruins of Berlin Mitte, then located in the Soviet zone of Berlin. Yet, the Blumenfelds, who were touring within the city&mdash;which didn't go without its share of problems&mdash;were very competent circus directors and could have prospered enough to take the road again.

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 Since Hirsch Blumenfeld (1788-1867), founder of the dynasty, created his circus in the mid-nineteenth century, many of his descendants have operated several different circuses under the Blumenfeld name. Hirsch had a large family that developed many branches, and it can be sometimes difficult to determine which branch a given Blumenfeld belonged to. The Blumenfeld circus owners, however, shared one defining trait: they were equestrians who served the equestrian circus tradition with distinction, even as the circus-menagerie was becoming the norm in Germany by the beginning of the twentieth century.
-Hirsch Blumenfeld was born Hirsch Levy in 1788 in Isenburg, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse, one of the many German states. His parents were Levy Wolf (1770-1828), a Jewish cantor, and his wife Rosa (Rösgen), née Cahn (?-1840). The Blumenfeld patronym came later: under Jewish naming tradition, a son took his father’s given name as a patronym, so Hirsch, as Levy’s son, became Hirsch Levy. Hirsch didn't embrace his father's calling: He became instead a traveling entertainer, an occupation that had attracted many of his coreligionists over the centuries..... ([[The Blumenfeld Family|more...]])
+Hirsch Blumenfeld was born Hirsch Levy in 1788 in Isenburg, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse, one of the many German states. His parents were Levy Wolf (1770-1828), a Jewish cantor, and his wife Rosa (Rösgen), née Cahn (?-1840). The Blumenfeld patronym came later: Under Jewish naming tradition, a son took his father’s given name as a patronym, so Hirsch, as Levy’s son, became Hirsch Levy. Hirsch didn't embrace his father's calling: He became instead a traveling entertainer, an occupation that had attracted many of his coreligionists over the centuries..... ([[The Blumenfeld Family|more...]])
 ==New Essays and Biographies==

@@ Line 191: / Line 191: @@
 File:Blumenfeld_lion-elephant_poster.jpg|Circus E. Blumenfeld Wwe. Poster (c.1913)
 File:Zirkus_Blumenfeld_in_Magdeburg.jpg|Circus Blumenfeld in Magdeburg (1914)
 File:Geb._Blumenfeld.jpg|Alfons, Alex & Arthur Blumenfeld (c.1920)
 File:Circus_Arthur_Blumenfeld.jpg|Circus Arthur Blumenfeld in Berlin (1946)

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:44, 31 August 2026
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−	The 5 Sailors was an aerial act, ~~were~~ one of the many acts performed by ~~member~~ of the Blumenfeld family. ~~From~~ 1910 on, they performed ~~mostly~~ in England and the United States, where they eventually settled (c.1915) —	+	The 5 Sailors was an aerial act, and one of the many acts performed by members of the Blumenfeld family, taken in Buffalo, New York. Starting in 1910, they performed in variety, in England first and, from 1914 to 1920, in the United States, where they eventually settled. The two girls are British and sisters: Gertrude Daniels (L.) and Beatrice Daniels, the daughters of a London jeweler and diamond cutter. Gertrude married Baptist Blumenfeld, and Beatrice married Paul Blumenfeld; Paul is on the trapeze, holding Baptist with his legs, himself holding their brother William (c.1915) — ''Photo X''
		+
		+	==See Also==
		+
		+	* History: [[The Blumenfeld Family]]
		+
		+	[[Category:Photo Archive\|Blumenfeld Family]]

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 * [[Kremo Family]], icarists
 * [[The Ziratron]], Israel's first Circus
-* [[Carlos Guity]], acrobat
+* [[Carlos Guity]], Acrobat
 ==New Videos==
 * [[Evelyn_and_André_Interview_(2025)|Evelyn & André]] Interview by the Fővárosi Nagycirkusz (2025)
 * [[Merkys_Video_(1964)|The 3 Merkys]], horizontal bars (1964)
 * [[Davis_Vassallo_Video_(2024)|Davis Vassallo]], clown entrée (2024)
 * [[Pogorelov_Video_(2026)|Andrei Pogorelov]], wheel of death (2026)
 ==New Oral Histories==