Cristiani Brothers Circus in United States

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Cristiani Brothers Circus

Type	circus
Founded	1953
First elephant arrived	1953
Last elephant left	1960
Closed down	1960
Country	United States
Related persons
Owner	Pete Cristiani and Norma Davenport


Assistant Directors	1953-1960: Norma Cristiani 1953-1960: Pete Cristiani

Performers & Artists
: Tosca Canestrelli -: Bonnie Cristiani

Zoological department
Animal trainers
1953-1960: Oscar Cristiani 1953-1960: Lucio Cristiani 1953-1960: Belmonte Cristiani 1953-1960: Paul Cristiani 1953-1960: Daviso Cristiani 1953-1960: Gilda Cristiani 1953-1960: Jane Cristiani 1953-1960: Toni Cristiani 1953-1960: Deliah Cristiani 1953-1954: Corky Cristiani -: Vicky Cristiani -: Antoinette Cristiani

Elephant department
Record history
History of updates	2022-04-04xx

Latest document update	2022-04-04 07:16:53

Description

Cristiani Brothers Circus, United States , was founded in 1953 and the first elephant arrived in 1953. The last elephant left in 1960.. Cristiani Brothers Circus closed down in 1960.

Comments / picturesThe Italian family Cristiani first appeared in the USA with Ringling Bros Circus at Madison Square Garden, in March 1934 after John Ringling North convinced the family to suspend their circus operations in Italy and agree to come to America.

Cristiani Brothers Circus in United States United+States

Cristiani Brothers Circus in United States United+States

Cristiani family, 1936

After a few seasons they went over to Cole Bros Circus and other circuses, until they started their own circus in 1953.

"Dailey Bros. owner Ben Davenport gave daughter Norma five elephants--Norma, Mary, Maude, Bessie and Konti--in 1950 as a wedding present after she married Pete Cristiani. They became the Norma Cristiani elephants and were used on various circuses and Shrine dates until (according to Norma) she sold them to Beatty-Cole in 1960." Lane Talburt

Pete and Norma had sold the five Norma Cristiani elephants to the Beatty-Cole show in the late 1950s. The Norma Davenport (Cristiani) Five act went to Beatty-Cole during he winter of 1959-1960. Steve Fanning came with the act and was boss of the Herd in 1960.

1950: Pete and Norma joined the rest of the Cristiani family who were working with the King Bros. Circus owned by showman Floyd King.

1953: After touring with King Bros. and Cristiani Circus, the Cristiani family took their own Cristiani Bros. Circus on tour.

1958: The Cristiani circus was the second largest in North America next to Ringling Bros. Barnum &Bailey.

1960: Circus economics changed, forcing the show to close.

2021: Corcaita Cristiani (Corky) passed away as the last of the original Cristiani Family.

References for records about Cristiani Brothers Circus

Recommended Citation

Koehl, Dan (2026). Cristiani Brothers Circus, Elephant Encyclopedia. Available online at https://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=478. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:

https://www.circusesandsideshows.com/circuses/cristianibroscircus.html

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