THE BIG TOP.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13163, 23 January 1936, Page 2

THE BIG TOP.

AVI IT FH BROS.’ CIRCUS SPECTACLE, t After an absence of two years, ! Wirth Bros.’ circus made a welcome re-appearance in Pahiatua on MonI day night, and the large crowd which greeted this remarkable and I world-renowned combination was a tribute to their long-standing reputation for being the greatest show on earth. The spectators settled down to enjoy themselves directly the grand parade of lady artists, horses, elephants and acrobats commenced their promenade round the sawdust ring, led by charming Miss Gladys Wirth, superbly mounted on her wonder horse “Duke.” Miss El Star appeared in an amazing series of contortionist acts, performing very intricate balancing work in most awkward positions. Other members of a ladies acrobatic troupe, billed as the Seven de Pauls, held the crowd breathless with their whirlwind running somersaults and spectacular pyramid tableaux. The [ < : owning achievement of the act was the performance of Miss de Paul, leader of the troupe, who supported her six partners in mid-air—a lift announced as being 53 stone! Mr Philip Wirth is always looked to for something outstanding in the way of horse training, and tricks on horse back. Associated with Miss Nellie Connelly, lie appealed in a striking jockey act, and botli artists were given an ovation for their very clever stunts, performed while standing on the back of a. fast-mov-ing horse. Mr Wirth later introduced a quintette of black ponies, which were put through a cleverly thought out act involving much time and patient teaching. Miss Gladys Wirth’s appearance with her favourite horse ‘ ‘Duke/ 7 was a very popular item and both horse and rider revelled in their turn which included skipping and dancing and jumping through a ring of blazing fire.' Wirth s performing tigers were placed near the; beginning of the programme-, their performance, which included hurdling, jumping through loops of fire, and lying and sitting at the r trainer’s command, being gone through' without a hitch. Although their nets appeared quite easy, in reality the training of these ferocious beasts takes many hours of patient and dangerous work for the trainer, 'Captain Kl.vger, who handled the beasts with quiet unconcern. The- Nelson troupe of seven male acrobats were a source of worry to the; crowd, who were fearful lest they should dare death once too often in their thrilling dare-devil performances, anel although the acts were; now anel original, there were many sighs of thankfulness when they were safely concluded. Two strong mem mounted high in the temt bop made double exchanges of humanity, and the crowd was breathloss ns the 1 after were# sent hurtling lirough space to bo caught deftly

at the other side. Two light-weights of the troupe, standing on the end of a see-saw, were suddenly capitulated backwards, and they turned a complete flip in mid-air to land perfect lv, side by side, in a high mounted double armchair—an amazingly clever performance. njiy D Alma, the dog trainer, put his pets through some remarkable exhibitions which displayed the almost human sagacity of the canines. Later his jumping greyhounds gave the crowd a. tin ill, and who could fail to be thrilled to see one of: these sleek creatures run into the nng, spring over a low-inclined step, shoot into space for 20 feet, clearing a twelve-foot obstacle with ease, and then land in the arms of a waiting attendant? Probably the most outstanding perjornianoe in this remarkable galaxy of entertainment was that of (’apt ain Frolm’s trained son lions. I his act really has to he seen to be believed. “Carbine/* the < > eran leader of the troupe, is the cleverest balancing artist in the ring. Not [, nco did this amazing animal-fish make a mistake, and he flopped his tv ay np and down a staircase enrrv-ng-a bouncing ball on his nose. He then repeated this action with a lighted lamp on his bond. and to rowo his performance deftly caught i. small ball, thrown across the ad ins of the ring, on the tip of his