GREAT FUN!

Southland Times, Issue 21089, 22 May 1930, Page 2

GREAT FUN!

52 Y’EARS A SHOWMAN. MR G. WIRTH RETIRES. Sydney, April 29. After 52 unbroken years of the big top, the sawdust ring, the flares of lights and blares of bands, one-night stands, and long city runs, countless miles of travelling, performing, planning, Mr George Wirth quits circus life to-day without a regret. "I am perfectly satisfied; I have had a lot of fun, have done well, and now’ my wife and I are going to settle down at Darling Point, and have our first real rest,” he says. . . Mr Wirth is retiring in favour of his brother, Philip, and his family, “who, I think, are now competent to carry on as their father and I have done for all these years.” Mr Philip Wirth will manage the show for some years yet, so as to give his children a thorough circus education. Mr George Wirth has divorced himself completely from active participation, and from all material interest, in the circus affa ' re - , , , , , . Mr Wirth is 63, and doesn’t look it. He started his professional career at the age of 10, when, with his father and brothers, he played in the band of Ridge’s Circus. When Wirth, senr., launched out on his own account, there were times when the Wirth family contributed the entire programme. When the father died his four sons took over the show. “I’ve been everything,” says Mr George Wirth. “I’ve been acrobat, gymnast, equestrian—l have medals for the champion bounding jockey of Australia —have taken part in all manner of acts, and have done every other circus job from digging the ring to managing.”