When
I arrived at a dusty lot on the fringes of town I saw a gigantic tent
(turns
out it was bigger than the Ringling's ever had). There seemed to be
dozens
of huge semi trucks parked over to the side. A huge metal proscenium
arch
fronted the tent, acting as the gateway inside,
hundreds
of blinking light
bulbs proclaimed this to be..."Tihany's Magic Circus."
When
entering the tent there was plush red carpet (the carpet was removed
during
the show in order to save wear and tear). There were individual chairs
sitting on a series of graduated platforms in order to enhance
visibility.
There
was a large stage platform with a black and white checker board
pattern.
In front of the stage there was a plastic lined pool to catch the spray
from
about six "Dancing Water" fountains that kept perfect time in
multiple
colors
to the wonderfully controlled taped music (an example of this
control
is that
the climax of each musical number is on a separate tape, yet
ready
to be
segued
or blended in at the proper moment).
Tihany
carries three completely different shows in order to offer variety when
staying longer in one town. Each illusion scene is complete with Las
Vegas
costuming, dancing, showgirls, and choreography. While each illusion
scene
is being struck and the next scene set-up, a top-notch
variety/novelty
act is
performing in front. They are among the best jugglers, acrobats,
tumblers, etc.
that I've ever seen in one show! There are also about
two
dozen beautiful
German showgirls.
In
the opening number, Tihany always performs the vanishing cigarette in a
handkerchief because it was part of his old one man night club act.
As
an example of his being prepared for just about any emergency, I'll
tell
you about something that occurred when I was looking around the lot.
I
saw several machines called a "Ditch Witch" behind the big tent (they
are
capable of digging a trench two feet deep at the speed of a mans walk).
I asked Tihany, "Why?" He said, "Well, if it rains heavily we can
easily
put
a moat around the entire show ground and save the show!"
Talk about
thinking
ahead!
Franz Czeisler's history begins in the city called Tihany, in
Hungary. As a young boy his
father fascinated Franz by performing small
magic tricks. During World War I, Franz's
father died and he found
himself in a orphanage, separated from his mother. His first
magical
dream he says, "... was to disappear from that awful place and come to
America."
At thirteen he set sail for New York, as stoaway, to create a new life.
Once discovered,
he was given odd jobs to pay for his passage. In
Manhattan, amidst the shadows and
its golden dreams, he apprenticed
under many master magicians. Throughout his career
some of his teachers
included Giovanni, Blackstone senior, Ufferini, Houdini, Chang
and Zati
Songar (inventor of today's Thin Model Sawing).
After months of menial jobs, the opportunity arose to work in Uruguay,
as an assistant
to the famous fakir Blackaman from Italy. Here he
learned to work with lions, tigers
and crocodiles. At sixteen he
developed his own act of magic and mentalism.
Longing for his homeland, he moved back to Hungary where he met and
married
Miss Lia Marar. There they formed a mind reading act. In 1936,
Ludwig, his only
son was born. They continued to work hard in the
uneasiness of pre-war Europe.
As World War II loomed, Tihany dodged
Nazi persecution, escaping death time
after time. He found safety in
entertaining the Allied troups for the USO. For the
next several years,
after the war ended, he traveled all over Europe with his
magical
vaudeville show.
Franz saw no future in Europe, and in his frustation he was haunted by
his
childhood vision of bringing a great show to the Americas. With
renewed
hopes of a better life, he moved his family to Brazil where he
made his home
in 1952. In 1954, Tihany purchased his first small tent
and started touring
every county in South and Central America. For the
next thirty years, he
spread magic, circus, and happiness to millions
of people.