THE WALLENDAS # 5
Here is the Wallenda Roman Ladder display, the girls are, from the left, Rose Beehee, Arden Kriesch, Yetty Wallenda Grotenfent Bertha Nonnenmacher Campisi, Edith Wallenda,(Herman's wife), Rosemarie Wallenda,(Herman, & Edith's daughter), Helen Wallenda, Carla Wallenda, Margo ?, Joanie Letty Valentine, Terry Nachamkin Abbot, Claire ?, & Gertrude Wallenda. The men are Karl Wallenda, Leon Fort, Arthur Grotenfent, Herman Wallenda, Gene Mendez, Joe Seitz, & Norbert Kriesch. Which three men in the group formed their own High Wire Act. The men in dark shirts, & girls in two piece costumes are the center ring act.
posted by 24-HOUR-MAN | 8:42 AM
7 Comments:
Gene mendez, joe seitz and leon fort became the fort-seitz-mendez trio. on beatty show in 1957. i think they went to europe. at some point leon fort left and the seitz-mendez duo returned to beatty-cole for a couple of years. one of the best high wire acts i've ever seen.
Yes, I agree with you, it was a great act, and two great guys, their feet never left the ground, if you know what I mean. I got a shock one day walking across the Krone parking lot in Munich and saw a man coming toward me that I thought was Joe. It turned out to be his son who at that time I believe was an agent, he looked just like Joe. I had hoped to see him while we were there but never did.
Edith and Herman's daughter was named Rosemarie. She is between Edith and Helen on this picture. They also had a son Gunther. What ever became of them??
Anonymous,
Thank You, that was my mistake, I have corrected it. Bertha remarked in one of her emails that Gunther was there but for some reason missed the picture.
I worked with Joe Seitz on a few tours in the 80's & 90's in his latest career. Could you tell from what year this photo is from? I always enjoyed hearing of his days on the high wire. Joe is an amazing man with a contagious smile and sense of humor. I hope to have as much energy and love of life when I reach his age.
davidc: The closest I can get is the early 1950's.
Gene was my mother's brother. Gene was born in 1936. He started with the Wallendas at age 16 in 1952 (yes, he literally ran away with the circus!). Gene and Joe were with the Wallendas for a couple of years, so I'd put this picture between 1952 - 1954. Given the way Gene looks, I'd bet its closer to 1953.
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