Difference between revisions of "The Charlivels"

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Although all the Andreu children received a thorough training in acrobatics and other circus disciplines, dance and music were an important part of their education, since it made it easier for them to present a novelty act in variety theaters, where Charlie Rivel often worked with his brothers, and later with his partners. The Andreu children became known on the variety circuit as ''Charlie Rivel’s Babies''. When Paulina left the act to marry the great equestrian and circus director [[Albert Schumann]] in 1946, her brothers built up their own acts, and became ''The Charlivels''.
 
Although all the Andreu children received a thorough training in acrobatics and other circus disciplines, dance and music were an important part of their education, since it made it easier for them to present a novelty act in variety theaters, where Charlie Rivel often worked with his brothers, and later with his partners. The Andreu children became known on the variety circuit as ''Charlie Rivel’s Babies''. When Paulina left the act to marry the great equestrian and circus director [[Albert Schumann]] in 1946, her brothers built up their own acts, and became ''The Charlivels''.
  
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At the beginning, Juanito, Charlie, and Valentino had two acts in their repertoire: A reprise of the trapeze act that had made her father and uncles famous, ''Charlie and The Rivels'', in which Charlie Rivel impersonated Charlie Chaplin's "Tramp" character—although Juanito, who replicated his father's comedy part, created a more anonymous, yet still efficient, character. They performed their flying act until the early 1950s. The other act, the one that made them famous in their own right, and which they performed until their retirement in the early 1970s, was an original novelty acrobatics act.
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At the beginning, Juanito, Charlie, and Valentino had two acts in their repertoire: A reprise of the trapeze act that had made their father and uncles famous, ''Charlie and The Rivels'', in which Charlie Rivel impersonated Charlie Chaplin's "Tramp" character—although Juanito, who replicated his father's comedy part, created a more anonymous, yet still efficient, character. They performed their flying act until the early 1950s. The other act, the one that made them famous in their own right and which they performed until their retirement in the early 1970s, was a truly original novelty acrobatics act.
  
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With this act, which was a unique mixture of music, dance and acrobatics, The Charlivels became an immediate sensation. During the 1950s and the 1960s, they worked in the most prestigious sedentary circuses in Europe, notably [[Cirkusbygningen_(Copenhagen)|Cirkus Schumann]] in Copenhagen and the [[Cirque Medrano (Paris)|Cirque Medrano]] in Paris, and the best variety theaters and nightclubs around the world, from The Olympia and the Lido in Paris, the Talk Of The Town and the Palladium in London, to Ciro’s in Hollywood, the Latin Quarter in New York, and several of Las Vegas early lounges.  
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With this act, which was a unique mixture of music, dance and acrobatics, The Charlivels became an immediate sensation. During the 1950s and the 1960s, they worked in the most prestigious sedentary circuses in Europe, notably [[Cirkusbygningen_(Copenhagen)|Cirkus Schumann]] in Copenhagen and the [[Cirque Medrano (Paris)|Cirque Medrano]] in Paris, and the best variety theaters and nightclubs around the world, from The Olympia and the Lido in Paris, to the Talk Of The Town and the Palladium in London, and to Ciro’s in Hollywood, the Latin Quarter in New York, as well as several of Las Vegas early lounges.  
  
 
They also appeared in a number of television show in America and in Europe, such as CBS's ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' and ''The Big Party'', and NBC's ''The Texaco Star Theater'' and ''The Colgate Comedy Hour'' in the U.S., BBC's ''Vera Lynn Presents'' in the U.K., and French television's long-running show ''[[La Piste aux Étoiles]]''. Additionally, The Charlivels' act has been recorded in two movies: Wolfgang Staudte’s ''Akrobat Schöön'' (1943), which starred their father Charlie Rivel,  and they were prominently featured in the RKO movie musical ''Two Tickets to Broadway'' (1951), starring Tony Martin, Janet Leigh, and Ann Miller&mdas;a precious document since, in it, they also performed their trapeze act.
 
They also appeared in a number of television show in America and in Europe, such as CBS's ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' and ''The Big Party'', and NBC's ''The Texaco Star Theater'' and ''The Colgate Comedy Hour'' in the U.S., BBC's ''Vera Lynn Presents'' in the U.K., and French television's long-running show ''[[La Piste aux Étoiles]]''. Additionally, The Charlivels' act has been recorded in two movies: Wolfgang Staudte’s ''Akrobat Schöön'' (1943), which starred their father Charlie Rivel,  and they were prominently featured in the RKO movie musical ''Two Tickets to Broadway'' (1951), starring Tony Martin, Janet Leigh, and Ann Miller&mdas;a precious document since, in it, they also performed their trapeze act.

Latest revision as of 06:45, 3 November 2026

The Charlivels.jpg

Acrobats

By Dominique Jando


In the 1950-1960s, The Charlivels were one of the most successful acrobatic acts on the international circus and variety scene, in constant demand in Europe and America. Their work was technically remarkable and artistically elegant, a flawless mix of acrobatics, music and dance—a combination ideally suited for variety theaters and nightclubs, but which remained as efficient in a circus ring. (Oftentimes, what seems spectacular on the stage loses its efficiency in a circus ring, which is a far more challenging performing space.)

Juanito (1922-2004), Charlie, Jr. (1925-2011), and Valentino (1927-2006) Andreu Busto were the sons of the legendary clown Charlie Rivel, and the brothers of Paulina Schumann. They were born on the road, during the international tours of their illustrious father: Juanito at sea, between Palma de Mallorca and Valencia, Spain; Charlie, Jr. in London during an engagement of The Andreu-Rivels, Charlie Rivel’s family act, with Bertram Mills Circus; and Valentino in Brussels. They all began performing at a tender age, working along their father and uncles in circuses and variety theaters; Juanito and his sister Paulina had an act together as toddlers and performed a dance duet by the 1930s.

From The Charlie Rivel's Babies To The Charlivels

Although all the Andreu children received a thorough training in acrobatics and other circus disciplines, dance and music were an important part of their education, since it made it easier for them to present a novelty act in variety theaters, where Charlie Rivel often worked with his brothers, and later with his partners. The Andreu children became known on the variety circuit as Charlie Rivel’s Babies. When Paulina left the act to marry the great equestrian and circus director Albert Schumann in 1946, her brothers built up their own acts, and became The Charlivels.

At the beginning, Juanito, Charlie, and Valentino had two acts in their repertoire: A reprise(French) Short piece performed by clowns between acts during prop changes or equipment rigging. (See also: Carpet Clown) of the trapeze act that had made their father and uncles famous, Charlie and The Rivels, in which Charlie Rivel impersonated Charlie Chaplin's "Tramp" character—although Juanito, who replicated his father's comedy part, created a more anonymous, yet still efficient, character. They performed their flying actAny aerial act in which an acrobat is propelled in the air from one point to another. until the early 1950s. The other act, the one that made them famous in their own right and which they performed until their retirement in the early 1970s, was a truly original novelty acrobatics act.

With this act, which was a unique mixture of music, dance and acrobatics, The Charlivels became an immediate sensation. During the 1950s and the 1960s, they worked in the most prestigious sedentary circuses in Europe, notably Cirkus Schumann in Copenhagen and the Cirque Medrano in Paris, and the best variety theaters and nightclubs around the world, from The Olympia and the Lido in Paris, to the Talk Of The Town and the Palladium in London, and to Ciro’s in Hollywood, the Latin Quarter in New York, as well as several of Las Vegas early lounges.

They also appeared in a number of television show in America and in Europe, such as CBS's The Ed Sullivan Show and The Big Party, and NBC's The Texaco Star Theater and The Colgate Comedy Hour in the U.S., BBC's Vera Lynn Presents in the U.K., and French television's long-running show La Piste aux Étoiles. Additionally, The Charlivels' act has been recorded in two movies: Wolfgang Staudte’s Akrobat Schöön (1943), which starred their father Charlie Rivel, and they were prominently featured in the RKO movie musical Two Tickets to Broadway (1951), starring Tony Martin, Janet Leigh, and Ann Miller&mdas;a precious document since, in it, they also performed their trapeze act.

Juanito Rivel

When the act was disbanded in the early 1970s, the brothers went their own ways, but only Juanito continued in the circus business. He had a short career as a talented 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., and appeared notably with Circus Knie in Switzerland in 1974 and 1975. He later worked occasionally with his father as his straight man. Juanito eventually retired in Eskilstuna, not far from Stockholm in Sweden, where his brother Charlie, Jr. also lived. Valentino retired in Portugal.

See Also

Image Gallery

  • Paulina & Juanito Rivel (c.1930)

  • Paulina & Juanito Rivel, with the Andreu-Rivels (c.1930)

  • The Charlivels with their sister Paulina (c.1945)

  • The Charlivels with Laurel and Hardy (1947)

  • The Charlivels (c.1948)

  • Two Tickets to Broadway poster (1951)

  • The Charlivels (c.1970)

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