The Acrobats
by Judith Lile and Jim Sneed
|
The Schoenhut Acrobats What is a circus without acrobats? The Humpty Dumpty circus acrobats faithfully represent the real circus performers of the time. They made both gent and lady acrobats, a Chinese Acrobat, a Dude Acrobat, and Clown Acrobats. To support the acrobats with accessories, the company made slotted balls and tables, a tight rope, and a high wire. |
|
|
Chinese Acrobat Chinese acrobat acts are a tradition in the American
circus since the late 1800s. The Chinese acrobat tradition goes back for
centuries. The Schoenhut Chinaman acrobat followed one design throughout
its life - a Chinese - style head (both 2-part and 1-part) with a queue of
early wooly material or later a woven cloth material.
|
Gent Acrobat The Gent Acrobat is most often found in the bisque head version. Hair is usually black or brown but red-brown and blonde are known. Shoes of all acrobats are made in two parts - the bottom part being slotted front to back, and side to side. Unfortunately, the soles often fall off. Shoes may be red or black. Find more about Gent Acrobats here.
|
|
The Wallenda family performs in circuses to this day. They are especially famous for their high wire acts.
Three of today's Wallendas - Olinka, Aurelia, and Tino after a performance in Charleston SC on May 2006 in Circus Flora.
Here they are shown performing the exciting Seven- Person Pyramid at Circus Flora. |
The Dude Acrobat Acrobat shoes are rarely found on Dudes.
|
Lady Acrobat The Lady Acrobat is known in both the bisque and one-part head versions. Early ones were made with gold tone rickrack and gold paste decorations on the front of her suit. Sometimes the legs were painted red to simulate leggings. |
Clown Acrobat The clown came in an acrobat version. Its shoes were grooved side to side and front to back just like the other acrobats.
|
