European Variety & Novelty Performers

European Variety & Novelty Performers

This list is a compilation started by Ruben De Somer from his research in the Belgium Gazette van Ghendt on European variety and novelty artists. Many of these artists performed at the "Cirque de Variete" in Ghent, Belgium. Showhistory.com is looking to hear from other European correspondants, and is actively seeking more information on early-20th century (or older) European variety and novelty performers, many whom are completely unknown in the United States. If you have any information or photos on any of performers listed below, please email us.

1904
Werner Rieder (Tyrolian actor)
Luri-Luri (Stretchable Devils/ Contortionists)
Tony Nelson and Miss Tilly (Equilibrists)
3 Pliccos (Peculiar Musical Acrobats)
Joeves (Duetists)
Troupe Mont Rose (Strongest acrobats in the world)
Rosa Steen and Stuart (North American Comedians)
The Flowers of Oranje (pleasing dancers with changes in appearance/costumes, Dutch Singers)
Brothers Pim (comic novelty gymnasiasts)
Langslow (shooters on iron wire)
The Schwarz (parodists)
Charles, Frederik, Denters, en Martens (bicycle drivers)
Charles D'Aix and his miniature doggs
Meteors (flying trapeze)
Bi-Bo-Bi (musical clown)
9 Georgia Piccanninies (9 black performers dancing cake -walk)
4 Gaetono Olloms (acrobatic potpourri)
Matwief Hugostons (Russian, singers./ dancers/ acrobats)
Mullini (musical artists sisters)
Noblet (played 10 roles and did more than 37 costume changes in one show)
Brother Rigoletto (Turning ladder)
Brothers Griss (pantomime)
Kosta (contortionist: Was able to turn his head around)
Dark Angele's (duetists)
Tacius (Wonder Man, homme proteus was able to sing with a female voice as well as male's)
 4 Carpaties (3 racks)

1905
Brianos (Monkeys)
Raffayetti's (dogs)
Brothers Ward (comics)
Wurthon (Smallest singer)
Bonne's (Acrobatic pantomime)
Miss Athleta (And her three daughters: strong women)
Sisters Macarti(dancers, musical acrobats, did the serpentine on ironwire)
Miss Lopez (singer)
Fred and Pauli (Eccentric actors)
Refala (Musical artist/ was raised in the orphanage of Ghent)
Elganat (acrobatic calculations)
Caroli (The man with the skin of steel, fakir. Let horse walk on him with spikes underneath him)
O'Kill (spoke through his belly)
Okito(strange/eccentric chinese magician
Severus Schaffer (equilibrist, juggler)
Vernier-Odette (Duetist)
Sisters Andersen (Danish footworkers)
The Johnsons (Comic jugglers)
Family Szarvasie Sierencz (Change of appearances, singing, and acrobatic dancing)
Miss Claire (trapezist)
Raval (magnificent singer)
De Sisters Perez (balancing sensation on ladders
The Three Butterflies (Singing and dancing)
Lucienne Marnix (singer)
Signorina Marge in her magnificent garden
Lauswald (comic singer)
Brick and Brock (eccentric comedians)
Otrebs Troupe (comic act: The Spirits of the Night)
Clara Ziegeler (working on the iron wire)
Sisters Lewandaski (dancers with reformations)
Carlo Giovanni (mindreader)
Margarite and A. Carel (ventriloquists)

1906

She! The Four Elements
Trio Simoens (acrobats)
Carletta (Dragon Man, contortionist)
Martiny (fast painter)
Werner and Amoros (pantomime)

Les Loebert (electric dancing with 1200 lights)
Antonis (painter with rags)
Mej. Coquelin (singer)
Lilly, The Princess with Her Goats
Kioday and Godayons (Japanese equilibrists)
Sisters Valencia (acrobatic dancing)
Demitris and A. Pavel (gymnastic excercises)
Gitane Marpa (famous seer)
The Meteors (attractive light images)

1907

Crazy Musician Wasco "25 instruments in 25 minutes"
Marcello (funny modelmaker)
Milanos (jugglers)
Genova Prella (duetists)
Alexandra and Bertha (equilibrists)
Toch en Tard (eccentrics)
4 Wilsons (gymnists)
Francois and Francoise (parodists)
Craftons (Equilibrists Acrobats)
Paolo Bekary (flying rope)
The 6 Stars (gymnasiasts)
Starbells (duetists)
Cabiacs (acrobats, dislocationists)
Onor (mimic)
Thups (eccentric acrobats)
Senies la Nazir (exercise at the trapezium, "hair artist")
Sisters Madison (American dancing)
Moulier Sisters (barrists)
Gini Family (Icarian games/acrobats)
Novello (contortionists)
Miss Ovelo ("on the ball")
4 Perez (equilibrists on the ladder)
Stephe Brothers (original basket art)
Grebnieff's Troep (slavische zang en dansen)

1908-1939

Albert Hammer ("Lachmuskel fabrikant" i.e. "Laughing Muscle Maker", comedian: postcard 1912)
Schorsch und Bertli: Schuplattlertänzer (tap dancer? 1908)
Ural Kosaken: Dirigent A.Scholuch (1939)
Angelia (The youngest German-French singer)
Rosa Stein (dirigentin des Dame Trompeter-Corps, « Freischütz » : 1914)
Clare und Paul Lindau (Modernes Duet : 1909)
Uberbayerisches Damen Gesangs (Singing Ensemble : direction Fr.Pausch)
Damen Gesangs ensemble (Austrian ladies singing Ensemble : Direktion Paul Metzner)
Gesang- u. Tanz-Trio Berolina (dancing and singing trio, Direction Otto Hütz)
Geschwister Hildegard und Erich Jehrings (The great dance-fantasists 1923)

This page last updated 5/17/2005

Printed German postcard circa 1911 of the Juggler "Lowosso"

balancing a massive wagon wheel.

Bizarre and great hair on this French (?) real photo postcard

circa 1907 of "Les Bazola" which appears also to be an acrobatic act.

"Held by the teeth (no tricks)" reads the small print on this German

printed postcard advertising an "acrobatic blacksmithing" act.