ROSE KRAYNICK LAMONT ALEXANDER, CIRCUS EQUESTRIENNE AND TRAPEZE ARTIST 1919 - 2007

Rose Kraynick Lamont Alexander, longtime circus performer passed away Friday, April 27, 2007. She was 87 years old.

Ms. Alexander was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania on September 22, 1919 and started her career in the circus as an equestrienne and trick rider. It was on the Clyde Beatty Circus in 1947 that she met her future husband Fay Alexander.

Fay and Rose started the famous Flying Alexanders trapeze act and toured with numerous circuses including Clyde Beatty, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Pollack Bros., Gil Gray and others from 1947 to 1972. Mr. Alexander also appeared in numerous movie productions including The Greatest Show on Earth, Jumbo, Trapeze, The Big Circus and many television productions.

The Alexanders retired from trapeze performing in the 1970’s and purchased a comedy car act they coined Al’s Lemonzeen. They continued to tour and perform together for the next 15 years with circus and live event expositions. During this period the couple also mentored many aspiring trapeze artists. Their home was the hub of aerial trapeze activity where many next generation trapeze artists started their careers.

The Alexanders were married for 56 years and lived in Sarasota, Florida. They were longtime members of the Show Folks of Sarasota Club. Fay Alexander was past president of the club and Rose was active in numerous social functions and fundraisers for the circus community. The Flying Alexanders were considered circus royalty and Fay Alexander received numerous awards from the American Guild of Variety Artists, Circus Ring of Fame and the prestigious Circus Celebrity award from the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

Rose Alexander was preceded in passing by her husband Fay in 2003. She is survived by her sister Helen Kolchak of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, niece Patsy Shekiro of East Windsor, New Jersey and niece Helen Zanker of New Haven, Connecticut.

Memorial services will be held at the Show folks of Sarasota club on Sunday June 3, 2007 from 1 to 5 p.m.

Rosie, Gee Gee, & Sue Staley



Rosie & Fay, Together Again