Dates

• Existence: Established c1880

Biography

Togni Circus was established by Aristide Togni (1853-1924), who joined Circus Torinese in the 1870s. Aristide married the circus proprietor’s daughter Teresa De Bianchi and together they started their own Circus Togni in c.1880. Circus Togni started as a small outfit but achieved success quickly and started to expand. Over four generations of the Togni family, their circus became one of the most successful in Italy and branched out into many other circuses both owned by the Togni family and by other circus families.

Aristed and Teresa had eight children, all of whom followed their parent’s footsteps into a circus career. By the 1900s Circus Togni had achieved fame across Italy and received the title of Circo Nazionale in 1919, which it retained until 1951. Aristide died in 1924 and the circus passed onto his sons Ercole (1894-1958) who trained as a clown and tumbler, Ugo (1897-1981) who trained as a perch-pole acrobat, aerialist and animal trainer, and Ferdinando (1900-1990) who became an equestrian and horse trainer.

In 1951 after a devastating fire, the Togni brothers decided to split the business. Ercole’s children formed the Darix Togni Circus. Which toured Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Egypt and travelled an aquatic show in the 1970s. Darix Togni Circus folded in 1976.

Ugo’s family moved to America in 1952 to work with Mills Bros. Circus, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Las Vegas Circus Circus and also joined various troupes of performers. Additionally, they formed their own circus companies in Italy such as the Circus Cesare Togni. Descendent from the family continued with the business becoming acrobats, aerialists, equestrians and animal trainers. In the 1990s they were responsible for establishing Circo Oscar Togni, Circo Royal and Circo Lidia Togni, which became one of Europe’s largest circus.

Ferdinanando’s family formed Circo Ferdinando Togni, which quickly gained fame for its equestrian shows and cage animal acts in Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. In 1960, this branch of the family also started Circo Heros, which became one of Europe's largest circuses.

In 1964, the Tognis toured under the banner of Circus Knie in Italy and often changed their name afterwards to Circo Americano, Circo di Berlino and Circo di Madrid until they finally settled for Circo American in 1975, which toured around many European countries.

Other descendants from the family formed Jumbo Super Circus in 1974,which four years later was reduced in size and renamed Il Figli di Darix Togni, before it became the new Circo Darix Togni in 1986.

In April 1990 the family indurated a circus called Il Florilegio di Darix Togni, which was still in operation in the early twentieth century together with Darix Togni Circus.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records: