Wow...I didn't knew this picture...Circus Heros was the former name of the Togni three-ring show that a couple of years later changed into Circo Americano. This was one of the very last clown alleys in Europe.Opposite to what is general belief, European circuses of last centuries used to have clown alleys. Especially in Italy, even the smallest circuses used to have clown alleys for reprises and a strong charivari. Large clown alleys were in the 30s in German circuses as Sarrasani, Gleich or Busch, and is of course known of Mills in Great Britain. In Italy, the Togni circuses always had a lot of clowns, with walkarounds, etc.This, besides the one of two "entrees" that were booked in the program. Usually, members of acrobatic or flying acts joined the clowns costumes for the charivari (I recreated this style of comedy charivari for the opening of "Carnevale" at Big Apple).I believe that the last large clown alley in Europe was at Circorama Orfei in the early 70s, where Fellini filmed parts of "Clowns".Later, the clown alley was slowly reduced to one of two house clowns and a midget for reprises, plus the booked "entrées" or other comedy.
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Wow...I didn't knew this picture...Circus Heros was the former name of the Togni three-ring show that a couple of years later changed into Circo Americano. This was one of the very last clown alleys in Europe.
Opposite to what is general belief, European circuses of last centuries used to have clown alleys. Especially in Italy, even the smallest circuses used to have clown alleys for reprises and a strong charivari. Large clown alleys were in the 30s in German circuses as Sarrasani, Gleich or Busch, and is of course known of Mills in Great Britain. In Italy, the Togni circuses always had a lot of clowns, with walkarounds, etc.
This, besides the one of two "entrees" that were booked in the program. Usually, members of acrobatic or flying acts joined the clowns costumes for the charivari (I recreated this style of comedy charivari for the opening of "Carnevale" at Big Apple).
I believe that the last large clown alley in Europe was at Circorama Orfei in the early 70s, where Fellini filmed parts of "Clowns".
Later, the clown alley was slowly reduced to one of two house clowns and a midget for reprises, plus the booked "entrées" or other comedy.
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