Today, just a little pictorial ode to Jules Léotard (1830-1870) who, after performing to great success at the Cirque Napoléon in 1859, ditched his law career to become, the “Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze,” as celebrated by the famous song of the era. Of course, his spectacular spangled and fringed outfits were the [...]
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=1406
This post is sort of related to my post yesterday about Butterfly dances, because I came across this intriguing video while looking at the ladies fluttering by. Luis Martinelli, a contortionist who turned his body into a Mobius strip for Thomas Edison’s camera in 1894, is a total mystery. Beyond his meager film credit here [...]
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=1033
All things ariel seem to attract my attention these days. But how could you not get excited about wingwalker Gladys Ingle? A friend just sent me this amazing video. Riding on the top wing of a plane, early stunt woman Gladys Ingle nonchalantly changes planes mid-air. She’s very cat-like, in fact. As the only female member [...]
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=1017
Leona Dare (1855-1922), one of Encyclopedia of the Exquisite’s brightest stars, is someone you should know. She was a circus queen in the late 19th century, thrilling audiences across Europe and around the world by going up in a hot-air balloon, then dangling below it from a trapeze and performing acrobatic tricks. How great …
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=964
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fapVB35E0FQ[/youtube]This short film combines two things I love, the trapeze and frilly, fussy, Edwardian-era lingerie. It stars Sacramento native Charmion, aka Laverie Vallee (why bother with a stage name?), a pioneering strong woman who thrilled audiences in New York and in London with her audacious moves on the trapeze. Critic George Jean Nathan caught Charmion’s act [...]
http://www.encyclopediaoftheexquisite.com/?p=58
