Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-16
CT followed act in smooth sue

Vi I0lI0WeQ act IN Sm00tn sue
~ cession to the shrill blast Of
~ the equestrian directors whis-
n tie out at the circus lot last
night-a whistle blown by dapper,
erect little man whose hands itched
for the feel of the flying trapeze.
Few in the perspiring thousands who
saw the performance recognized in the
formally clad figure the foremost male
trapeze performer of this generation.
1t was the great Alfredo Codona, the
only man successfully to do the triple
somersault, who was grounded" for
life two years ago in freakiSh acct
dent which left the muscles Of one
shoulder a twisted, distorted mass.
All season he has been equestrian
director for the Hagenbeck-Wallace
4-Paws show, His name appears on
the program, but no mention is made
of his former fame.
Misses Thrill of Traps"
He likes his new job, he says, but
misses the thrill of the traps" and
the adulation that was his for many
years. With performers his name Is
a synonym for acrobatic perfection.
"Of course. I'd like to be up there
again." he said. When the acts go
on, can feel the sweat start and my
palms itch"
Toward the end of the show last
night came the time for the trapeze
acts. The Flying Codonas, Alfredo's
two brothers and his wife, and the
Aerial Hills trotted out. Alfredo en-
tered the stands to sit with friends.
Until it was over his eyes scarcely
left the figure of Mrs. Codona. His
first wife, Lillian LeitZel, premier fe-
male aerialist of the world, who could
do so many one-arm turns the eyes
would tire watching, fell to her death
four years ago in Copenhagen.
When the act was finished he did
not applaud.
Grandfather Performs.
On the other side of the tent, with
the Aerial Hills, a 59-year-old grand
father sailed through the air with
the greatest of ease" He was En-
rique Diaz, oldest living trapeze per-
former. His only rival for the honor,
Renaud, a Frenchman, quit the game
two years ago at the age OF 81.
With the figure Of muscular young
man, and hair just beginning to turn
gray. he shows no sign of slowing up.
At an age where a round of golf is
too strenuous for most men, he still
somersaults through the air, far above
the ground, with the best of them.
But I'll have only a year or two
more" he says. Then I'll have to
retire. The end comes quick to old
performers One day they will be as
good as they ever were, and in week
or a month their skill is gone"
Father Owned Show.
Diaz has known no other life than
that of the circus His father owned
a show in Spain, one of the best in
Europe. When Enrique started on the
flying trapeze at the age of Is, he al
ready had learned to do everything
else in a circus except wild animal
training.
For four years he was bull fighter.
His body still bears the scars.
Polidor, famous Ringing clown, Is
his cousin. All his family are circus
people. Next to the trapeze, Diaz
likes best being a clown. When he
retires, he plans to train young per-
formers.
To the question who is the greatest
trapeze artist in the world his answer
comes without an instant's pause
alfredo Codona's muscles
were torn from the bone two years
ago.
Clowns Play Part.
Clowns as we'll as stars played
prominent parts in last nights show.
To the laughter of the crowd and
smiles of little knot of high officials
of the New Deal, couple of comics
paraded along in PROFESSIONAL garb,
the first bearing a sign In the Alpha
bet We Trust" and the second a sign
with the initials of most of the emer-
gency governmental agencies, ending
with Il. o. u" They walked more
slowly as they passed in front of Rex
ford G. Tugwell. his former legal aide,
Jerome Frank; Senator Joseph Guffey
and Senator Joseph T. Robinson.
Highlights of the show are many.
There is Bert Nelson, who sends 20
lions and tigers through their PAGES
and who succeeded Clyde Beatty; the
Christian family of somersaulting
harehack riders. "CheerfuI Gardner