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Con and Winnie Colleano, c. 1930s
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Title:
Con and Winnie Colleano, c. 1930s
Courtesy
Gift of Mrs W Colleano, 1979. Arts Centre Melbourne, Performing Arts Collection.
Warnings
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following program may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons
The Australian-born and world-famous Con Colleano (1899–1973) was considered in his prime to be the greatest tightrope circus artist who ever lived.
Born in Lismore, NSW, with an Aboriginal, Irish and West Indian background, Colleano adopted a Spanish toreador persona as part of his act, which proved highly successful. From 1925 until the late 1930s Colleano toured with the largest circus in America, Ringling Bros & Barnum and Bailey Circus, promoted as ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’. Colleano was billed as ‘The Wizard of the Wire’ and was their principal star.
Colleano's wife was vaudeville soubrette Winnie (née Trevail). She is believed to have shot some of the 16mm home movies of her husband rehearsing and performing his famed tightwire act.
Learn more about Con Colleano and watch excerpts from his home movies
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.