Page 26 - The Outdoor Showman OCT-DEC 2021

CIRCUS NEWS
Frank Gasser
Legend of Australian circus, Frank Gasser, has died aged 84.
This is the man who brought the first big PVC tent to Australasia, began international-standard Circus Royale, started and ran the first Australian three-ring circus, took it throughout Australia, New Zealand and South-east Asia, putting Australia on the world circus scene, raised a loving family outstanding in the business, presented an elephant, and later a tiger-lion- leopard number, did a show- stopping head-trapeze act, and led tent put-ups and pulldowns in all weathers, all over the country, and had a personality that was loved and respected everywhere.
Franz (his given name) first came
to Australia to perform with
Bullens Circus with his cousin,
Rene Katheriner in 1962. People called them The Swiss Boys.
They came from one of the oldest circus families in Europe. Personality and hard work marked them out
for great futures.
He returned several times, in the process marrying Manuela (nee Ferroni), and performing with Ashton’s Circus, later managing it while Doug Ashton took out The German National Circus, 1973.
The couple raised four boys: Danny, Carlos, Frankie and Sandro, and adopted Roxanne.
Frank briefly operated The Swiss Royale Circus, open-air, in winter
in country NSW. He re- combined with Ashtons in a massive one-ring show, featuring two complete flying trapeze troupes, before going out in 1974 as Circus Royale.
Famous for his flying trapeze work, Frank stood in for Paul Hogan and performed the double somersault in a Winfield (“Anyhow...”) commercial that won worldwide exposure.
For years, Royale did back-to-back one-night stands in every State
of Australia, building size and reputation.
It brought many top European and South American features to Australia for the first time. Loyal staff and crew stuck by him,
all the way.
Success was marked by a Rolls- Royce Silver Dawn, which in 1982, Frank Jnr., just licensed, had to drive across the Nullabor to Perth.
Another brother, Anton, with wife Anna, came to Australia as performers, and later started a re-vamped and still-running Silver’s Circus.
Frank’s family thoughtfully bought real estate in Yeppoon, Londonderry (Sydney), Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
On April 12th, 1984, with Brisbane’s Lord Mayor attending, they sensationally opened Royale American 3-Ring Circus, the largest in Australia.
It had 42 acts, three rings of: ponies, dogs, aerials, solo trapeze, (Carlos performing head-trapeze), jugglers, two cat acts, camels, clowns (including brother Sonny) and 80 people.
Long-time Manager, Barry Nixon, joined in late 1984.
In January, 1985, it was such
a success in Melbourne, the State Government resumed the central-city site, and it’s now
where the Australian Tennis Centre stands.
For three years, it was a huge success, including a New Zealand tour: ten-and-a-half months, 35 sites from Whangerei to Invircargill - still the largest
circus ever to tour most of NZ. To start it, they had to buy 21 vehicles in 31 days.
In Porirua, during practice, a lioness momentarily attacked Frank, biting into his shoulder and arm, then going back to her pedestal. He was rushed to hospital, with TV crews following, and the bedside interview went around the world.
He was in the ring, with his arm in a sling, presenting the act, in days.
Back to Australia for two years, they suffered flash-flooding in Brisbane - up to the trucks’
door-handles and half-way
up the Big Top sidewalls.
Next, Indonesia, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, to huge crowds and adulation.
Back in Australia, Royale became
a firm favourite in capital city, suburban and major regional centres., for quality acts with quality presentation. He had
put Australian circus back on the world scene.
Aging, after a life-time of circus, with family commitments and with Nixon gone from a near- death heart condition, Frank and Manuela decided to retire.
In 2007, they sold the circus
to Damien Syred, the first Australian show to be sold
as a going concern. Despite
Covid19 lockdowns, it survives,
still respected and supported.
24 THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN