thecircusblog | August 14, 2010
Bongie was an extraordinary chimp. When he learned his head balance there was no end to the different tricks. He would balance himself exactly like a human. It was just pure luck to have a chimp with this much intelligence and dexterity. I would only think of what head balancing tricks I had seen and […]
thecircusblog | August 14, 2010
As I was watching an act do the head to head it came to me that it might be a good trick to teach Bongie, but what did I know about head to head?…….nothing. I spoke to my Dad about it and he liked the idea. Dad taught both of us in 1955, The trick stayed in […]
thecircusblog | August 14, 2010
For me the piano routine was the most exhausting part of my act. It was filled with numerous “monkey shines.” Toby throwing his piano chair, folding his arms and refusing to play his little grand piano all because he wanted his candelabra put on the piano before he played. Once the candelabra was placed, he would begin […]
thecircusblog | August 14, 2010
Comedy is the greatest medicine that money can buy. I have always enjoyed watching it and being watched while a “chimp” made a “chump” out of me. I consider myself to be most fortunate to have been part of making people laugh while being used as a straight man by a chimp. Of all the animals […]
thecircusblog | December 20, 2009
Bob Hope every so often would do one of his TV specials. One day, much to my surprise I got a call from Eddie Rio who was Mr. Hope’s good friend and also mine. Eddie was working on the special doing production and Mr. Hope wanted to do a bit with a chimp. Eddie knew that all chimps can not be trusted […]
thecircusblog | December 6, 2009
Royal international Circus,1973. AL Mall was producer and Ringmaster of the Circus.
thecircusblog | December 6, 2009
As I looked over this old program it brought back such nice memories. What a great group of performers to work with. I am glad that a friend found this old program……. quite often we forget our fellow performers. I guess that’s the nature of our business. I know we don’t mean to, but we are […]
thecircusblog | December 6, 2009
Our little baby was born in 1968 and was named after Dorise Gatti and Gee Gee Steel. Dora GeeGee’s mother was Kenya, an older chimp we did not use in the act. Dad and I had the chimp act on the Joe Gatti Circus on and off for a few seasons, Never a nicer man to work for […]
thecircusblog | December 4, 2009
This photo was on a post card and the chimp was called Consul. The year was 1909. However, I know this chimpanzee as Andy Colino. What jogged my memory of him are the rings on his fingers as Andy Colino was fasinated with jewelry. I also remember other photos and stories about him being so intelligent.This is something I remember as a young […]
