One needs to go back to 1859 to discover the story behind the creation of the Cirque d’Hiver. The anniversary of the invention of the flying trapeze being in full swing, it is a good opportunity to recall a few things. At the time, the skill of trapeze artists, becoming more and more appreciated, was limited to stable equipment similar to this used in gymnastics. It is Léotard who will add its essential ingredient : the “flying”, reinventing the discipline and placing it at the heart of the show. The taste for danger and somersaults will become a key element of almost every acts but the flying trapeze has remained the king of suspense.
Dimitri and Sergio Bouglione
The building itself is remarkable. It stretches on 42m of diameter, has 40 windows spread on 20 sides, 21 gas ceiling lights and boasts 5900 seats. The painters and sculptors Pradier, Bosio, Gosse and Barrias have all worked on interior decoration. At the beginning, the circus specialised in equestrian art under two stage managers : Franconi and Baucher.
The Bouglione family only appeared in 1934 when the four brothers seized the direction of the establishment. But the dynasty was not unknown in the field. Word was out that the ancestor of the family, a man named Sampion, would have followed from France to Turin, Italy, a charming young lion trainer. She would have led him to the world of menageries. Later, his grand-son called Sampion as well owned several of these across the country but it was Alexandre, his son, who really launched the circus thanks to his brilliant idea to base a show on the story of Buffalo Bill. From that moment, the Bouglione family settled in the Cirque d’Hiver.
Recent history shows a strong link between cinema and the circus. The place became indeed the decor for a TV show called “la piste aux étoiles” aired every Wednesday in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Leotard’s invention inspired the movie “Man on the flying trapeze” directed in 1935 by Clyde Bruckman. In 1955, Carol Reed shot the movie “Trapeze” under the big top. This success doubled with good marketing strategy breathed new life into the circus and its troupe of artists. Generations have come and gone but the Bouglione family have stayed more bound than ever and today’s Bouglione children triumph in the art of circus as well as their parents had. Nowadays, the permanent ring of Paris reties with its past while letting the new generations take the lead of this institution which has lost nothing of its magic.
By Alice Cannet
Published : April 29, 2010
Photo credit : © Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione
