Zoppè Family Circus between Italy and the United States
Title
Zoppè Family Circus between Italy and the United States
Subject
Italy -- United States --Emigration and immigration -- Circus
Italians -- History -- 20th century
Italians -- History -- 20th century
Description
This collection presents visual resources related to the Zoppè family that is today divided between Italy and the United States. This research follows both branches of this family, and their exceptional transoceanic migration story.
Luigi and Emma Zoppè had 17 children, only five of which survived: Alfonso (called Rodolfo) born in Anzio (Rome) in 1907; Antonio (called Guglielmo) born in Tivoli (Rome) in 1909; Zaira born in Genzano (Rome) in 1917; Alberto born in Vittorio Veneto (by Venice) in 1922 and Ruggera (Tosca) born in Pieve di Soligo in 1930. All different places, along the circus routes.
Alberto Zoppè, his mother Emma Zoppè, his sister Ruggera Zoppè, his relative Francesco Rizzi with his mother Genzana Zoppè came to the United States in 1948.
They were circus artists. Their trip was compensated with the gift of an elephant. Their success was marked by a movie who won five Oscar, Cecil B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth (1952).
The other three brothers, Zaira, Guglielmo and Rodolfo, remained in Italy. When Zaira married Giuseppe Visentin, a shop owner, she settled in San Fior di Treviso and left the circus life. Guglielmo Zoppè and his wife Olimpia Alimenti continued the Circo Zoppè until 1953. In this period his daughters Dolores, Gabriella and Nadia, all worked in the circus. Dolores took care of Mary, the elephant. In 1953, Guglielmo turned to the luna park business and started to manage a bumper car ride. Rodolfo Zoppè, his wife Guerrina Verzegnacci, and his children Loris (a girl) and Luigi, continued to work with other circuses and took Mary with them for a while.
The photos in this collection belong to the American and the Italian branch of the family.
Today, as of 2022, Alberto's children keep the tradition alive: Giovanni is a proud clown and runs the Zoppè Italian Family Circus (the only circus that continued working during Covid as a drve-in). Tosca follows the steps of aunr Ruggera and is an equestrian artist. She runs the Piccolo Zoppè.
Ilaria Serra's essay "Emigrazione e circo: la famiglia Zoppé tra Italia e Stati Uniti" in Viaggiare nel mondo diviso, a cura di Marco Severini (Ronzani, 2022) - written in Italian - is uploaded among the Collection Items.
Luigi and Emma Zoppè had 17 children, only five of which survived: Alfonso (called Rodolfo) born in Anzio (Rome) in 1907; Antonio (called Guglielmo) born in Tivoli (Rome) in 1909; Zaira born in Genzano (Rome) in 1917; Alberto born in Vittorio Veneto (by Venice) in 1922 and Ruggera (Tosca) born in Pieve di Soligo in 1930. All different places, along the circus routes.
Alberto Zoppè, his mother Emma Zoppè, his sister Ruggera Zoppè, his relative Francesco Rizzi with his mother Genzana Zoppè came to the United States in 1948.
They were circus artists. Their trip was compensated with the gift of an elephant. Their success was marked by a movie who won five Oscar, Cecil B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth (1952).
The other three brothers, Zaira, Guglielmo and Rodolfo, remained in Italy. When Zaira married Giuseppe Visentin, a shop owner, she settled in San Fior di Treviso and left the circus life. Guglielmo Zoppè and his wife Olimpia Alimenti continued the Circo Zoppè until 1953. In this period his daughters Dolores, Gabriella and Nadia, all worked in the circus. Dolores took care of Mary, the elephant. In 1953, Guglielmo turned to the luna park business and started to manage a bumper car ride. Rodolfo Zoppè, his wife Guerrina Verzegnacci, and his children Loris (a girl) and Luigi, continued to work with other circuses and took Mary with them for a while.
The photos in this collection belong to the American and the Italian branch of the family.
Today, as of 2022, Alberto's children keep the tradition alive: Giovanni is a proud clown and runs the Zoppè Italian Family Circus (the only circus that continued working during Covid as a drve-in). Tosca follows the steps of aunr Ruggera and is an equestrian artist. She runs the Piccolo Zoppè.
Ilaria Serra's essay "Emigrazione e circo: la famiglia Zoppé tra Italia e Stati Uniti" in Viaggiare nel mondo diviso, a cura di Marco Severini (Ronzani, 2022) - written in Italian - is uploaded among the Collection Items.
Creator
The research was conducted by Ilaria Serra through Zoom interviews with
Alberto’s son, Giovanni Zoppé who was in Arizona at the time (February 9, 2021);
Alberto’s daughter Tosca Zoppé who was in Sarasota (March 13, 2021);
Alberto’s firstborn son Albertino (Tino) Wallenda who was in Sarasota (Dec. 28, 2021);
Ruggera’s children, Delilah, Gary and Mike Lauber from California (December 23, 2021);
and an in-person interview with Alberto’s nieces, Nadia and Gabriella Zoppè, Ferruccio Moretti (Nadia's husband), and Alberto's great-niece, Viviana Moretti, in San Fior di Treviso, Italy (July 6, 2021).
Alberto’s son, Giovanni Zoppé who was in Arizona at the time (February 9, 2021);
Alberto’s daughter Tosca Zoppé who was in Sarasota (March 13, 2021);
Alberto’s firstborn son Albertino (Tino) Wallenda who was in Sarasota (Dec. 28, 2021);
Ruggera’s children, Delilah, Gary and Mike Lauber from California (December 23, 2021);
and an in-person interview with Alberto’s nieces, Nadia and Gabriella Zoppè, Ferruccio Moretti (Nadia's husband), and Alberto's great-niece, Viviana Moretti, in San Fior di Treviso, Italy (July 6, 2021).
Source
Zoppé Family
Publisher
Zoppé Family
Date
1842-1960s
Contributor
Ilaria Serra
Rights
Zoppé Family
Format
Paper, photo stock
Language
Italian, English
Type
Photographs, drawings
Collection Items
Alberto Zoppé's somersault
Alberto is one of two athletes in the world who can do a double summersault between two running horses. His son Giovanni points out to the back of the first horse which is thrusting him. The horse helped in the jump.
Mademoiselle Nathaline Zoppè, gymnaste
The roots of the family are lost in the legend that says that a Napoline Zoppè (Napoleon?) travelled to Hugary from France in 1842. He met Ermenegilda, an equestrian ballerina. They belonged to two different social ranks, a clown and an equestrian,…
Italy: Luigi and Emma Zoppè family tomb in San Fior
Luigi Zoppè, born in 1880 in Farra d’Alpago (by Belluno), marries Emma Zoppè, born in Fusignano di Lugo (in Romagna) in 1884. They have the same last name as they come from branches of the same family. Luigi and Emma own a two ring circus and they…
Nonna Emma
Emma was “stern but loving” She would make homemade pasta and shells and butter is my favorite to this day.” “Nana was was pretty quiet, most of the time, but she was also expressive. She didn't smile much. Well, because she had rotten teeth, was one…
Italy: Circo Zamperla-Zoppè Luigi
The photo shows the Zamperla-Zoppè Luigi Circus with horses and artists, before WWII, probably including the immigrant generation as children. Zamperla and Zoppè were relatives. Emma Zoppè's sister was Natalina Zoppè, born January 6, 1899. She was…
Italy: Circo Zoppè
The name changed from Circo Fratelli Zoppè, to Circo Zoppè-Zamperla, and finally Circo Zoppè. Here the Big Top has 4 poles. Italy, 1950s
Italy: The Zoppè family before 1948
This picture gathers all family members before the family was separated by migration in 1948. Tiny Cucciolo is visible in front.
Alberto and Cucciolo in 1947
Cucciolo is a relative, almost a brother for Alberto. He is a 3-feet tall, but extremely well-built and strong. His real name was Francesco Rizzi (Pasqualino in the Circus documents in 1951) , born in Isola Vicentina (Vicenza) in 1930. He is he…
Ruggera, Alberto and Emma
Alberto leaves for the United States with Ruggera Tosca, who is always with him in the equestrian numbers, with his mother Emma who is their manager and does not want to leave the youngest daughter. Cucciolo and his mother Genzana who helped with the…