QUASSAR'S QUIZ: WHO IS PAGNOTTA????

QUASSAR'S QUIZ: THIS IS PAGNOTTA!!!!

This is the story of Pagnotta

In Italian, "gn" is pronounced like our "y", as in "your", try pronouncing it as "pan-yotta".

The man was really named Edmondo Zacchini. he was the first son of Ildebrando Zacchini, a portrait artist and an amateur gymnast Ildebrando joined a traveling circus as a young man and brought up his family in the circus arts. Edmondo was agifted boy who learned the circus arts quickly, including acrobatics and flying trapeze. As the family formed their own circus, Edmondo became a brilliant clownwho could perform throughout the the show in clown costume as well as in tights. He even got to doing the post show "special" of wrestling the town champion. It was the clowning that especially endeared him with the townspeople.

It was during WWI in Italy, when food was scarce scarce, that an unueualevent occured. Edmondo happenedto be walking through town when he was recognized by a townsman. The man approached Edmondo and said, "You are the clown in the circus"! As he spoke, the man was holding a small loaf of bread called a "pagnotta". Each loaf was rationed, one per person, at the bakery. The man said, "I enjoyed your clowning so much that I am going to give you my pagnotta". Edmondo took it graciously and gladly. as the man announced to others nearby who Edmondo was. As they approached him they each gave him their pagnotta laughing and saying, "Here take mine too"! Edmondo returned home to a hungry family with two arms full of bread. From then on , all of the townspeople would greet him by saying, "Hey there goes Pagnotta", as they may not have remembered his real name. They began to know him by this name in the circus ring as well. So it was by popular acclaim that Edmondo Zacchini took on the clown stage name of "Pagnotta". He soon became the most famous clown in Italy, and his popularity spread into other countries where he performed.

It is relatively incidental that Edmondo Zacchini was to invent the Cannon Act a few years later. With aide of his brothers, the act developed to where they became world famous. In time they all took residence in Florida and became citizens of the United States.

The picture does much to personify the man. He is holding out his right hand to the audience, as to say, "Here I am, have I pleased you?....Have I made you laugh?....Have I made you happy?" For he so loved people....loved life....and the world.
By Hugo Zacchini
Son of Pagnotta

SNAPSHOTS: HIND LEG HORSES, & PONIES

It seems people never get tired of seeing Horses, & Ponies rear up, and walk on their hind legs, whether it's one, or a group, whether alone or with a rider in the saddle, it's always a beautiful sight.In the following posts are groups of photos of Trainers, & Presenters with single Horses, & Ponies and groups of Liberty Horses doing various maneuvers, all on their hind legs!

"GOD FORBID I SHOULD GO TO A HEAVEN WHERE THERE ARE NO HORSES"

SNAPSHOTS: HIND LEG HORSES # 1, FREE & IN HAND

The first set of photos are all single horses, either at Liberty, or in hand(on leads). First is Tony Smaha Sr. & a young Gaylord Maynard, dates unknown; next is Christel Sembach Krone, on Circus Krone, 1960's, & Mark Oliver Goebel, On Ringling Bros., 1997; then we have Trudy Strong on Eddie Zacchini's Olympic Circus at the Tampa Fair, 1984, & Staci Anderson Diaz, on her own show, 2005; Linda Herrmann, winning the Gold at the Sarasota Circus Festival, doing a Hind Leg Rear with an Arabian Stallion, & The Lavade with a Lippizan Stallion; and finally Dennie Pinson, with Tomah, a Morgan Stallion, & Joanne Wilson Pinson,with Lucky, a Lusitaner Stallion.

SNAPSHOTS: HIND LEG HORSES #2 WITH RIDERS

Here are some Hind Leg Horses through the years with riders, & a couple in an unusual situation wih a Carraige. The top set of photos are Mary Levett, I believe this photo is from Ringling in the 1920's, & Claude Veloise, Rinling Bros. 1948; the next two are Harry Herrmann of The Hermann Royal Lippizan Show, & Ingeborg Rhodin, Ringling Bros. 1967; then is Napolean Zamperla, & Kim Sue Wong(Valla); and finally with the carriages is Frieda Krone, with Circus Krone in 1941, & Dawnita Bale on Ringling Bros. in 1963.

SNAPSHOTS: HIND LEG HORSES # 3 LIBERTY ACTS

Liberty Acts rear the horses as a group, as done here by Joanne Anderson, & Trudy Strong, but also call a single horse out of the running line for a Hind Leg Walk done here by Bill Bushbom, & Rudy Rudinoff.

SNAPSHOTS: HORSES # 4- PONIES

Of course what Horses can do Ponies can do, and leading off is a living legend among Animal Trainers, John Herriott,having trained not only Horses & Ponies, but also Camels, Llamas & Elephants. First we see John in the Hippodrome at CWM many years ago, & more recently on The Herriott Dog & Pony Show. Next is Jennifer Vidbel on The Vidbel Olde Tyme Circus, & Joe Hodgini, date & place unknown. And finally Oscar Konyot on Ringling in 1967, & Dick Kohlrieser.

CIRCUS KRONE IN ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

I don't know if this is the official show grounds, but it is definately the most unusual lot we ever played. If I remember right this is the busiest harbor in the world, we took a Hydrafoil Boat ride all around the harbor after the show one night, it is unbelievable how high they stack those containers on the ships.

The boats you see beside the pier are tankers that go around & fuel the big cargo ships, the little house on the end is just that, the operator & his family live there, and most of them carry the car on top of the house, and have a boom to set it on the dock when they need to.

SNAPSHOT: EUROPEAN LOTS

Since I see some comments regarding lots in Europe,(Festplatz), in German, here is an example of many of them. What's convenient is to drive stakes they merely remove a brick, & replace it after tear down.

Of course there are exceptions to everything, the bottom pics are the town where Patricia came to discuss taking over the Elephant Dept.

SNAPSHOTS: FROM THE WILSON ARCHIVES

Here are a couple of wire walkers from the '20's, or '30's that I have been unable to identify. The bottom one is from a small snapshot that appears to be hand colored. Take a look at the practice rigging in the top photo, it appears to be just a rope tied between two trucks.

SNAPSHOTS: CATS & DOGS

This was a beautiful combination from the Hawthorn Corp., 8 White Shepherd Dogs, 8 Spotted Leopards, a Black Leopard, & a Zebra, all presented by a lovely lady, in fact three of them over a period of time. First is Pat Jamison, with a nice panorama,(one of my early stitching efforts); & with the Zebra, Eloise Berchtold, with several tricks, & and the only picture I could find of Rebecca Apponey.

PORTRAITS FROM THE PAST

If it's true that, "A picture is worth a thousand words", a conversation among these three today, would be "PRICELESS"

John Ringling North
Henry Ringling North
Rudy Bundy

QUASSAR'S QUIZ: MYSTERY DRUMMER

These are Ringling Bros. Circus, Productions. The top is early 1950's, do you recognize the girl on the right?

The bottom photo is early 1960's, who is the girl in the Rabbit Costume.

SNAPSHOTS: DO YOU REMEMBER THESE

The Statler Brothers were booked so we'll have to do this without sound. Here are some things from the files of, "THE GIBTOWN DIME'S STORE". How many do you remember?
The Luvas Sisters, Trudy & Struppi,(a very early photo of this great duo.)
The Mascots Balancing Act
The Berosini's Risley Act
Ivan & Clifford "Hap" Henry's Chimp Act
The Arrigonis, all girl Cradle Act

SNAPSHOTS:MEMORIES FROM THE SCRAPBOOK

Here are some snapshots from the Scrapbook of Bertha Nonnenmacher Campisi, taken when she was doing productions on Ringling Bros. Circus in 1957. First is Bertha in her Mother Goose Costume with Mrs. Charles Morowski, & Bertha in costume for the Swan Lake number. Next is the entrance wardrobe for the Japanese Aerial Ballet, & the web costume under it. In the bottom picture is Mrs. Felix Adler, with the Rinaldi children, & Bertha again as Mother Goose with the same Rinaldi girls.

SCRAPBOOK MEMORIES #2

Here are some backyard pics from Bertha, the top one is her brother Fred with some of the shows horses, & Wardrobe Ladies Jean Carson, & Mickey ?. Next is Dr. Henderson at Bertha's house which was near Commack playing with her Chihuahua "Chino", & autographing his book "Circus Doctor" In the bottom picture is Bob Dover & Harold Ronk..

SNAPSHOT: BIG SHOW R.B.B.B. WHEN IT WAS TRULY "THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH

If you look at the upper portion of this photo you can see the "Beach Houses' for the Diving Act as john h. describes below.

QUASSAR'S QUIZ: NAME THIS ACT????

This Mystery Act photo comes from Bertha Nonnenmacher Campisi, it is R.B.B.B. 1950'S.

I know this will be easy for john h. but how many of this bunch can the rest of you identify, & what was the act.

Why don't they do acts like this anymore, I thought it was quite entertaining.