Dates

• Existence: Established 1949

Biography

Cirkus Arnardo was founded by Arne Arnardo in 1949. Arne was born in Sarpsborg, Norway Arne Otto Lorang Andersen on 19 October 1912. Arne, who showed an interest in performance from childhood, run away to join Cirkus Empress as a teenager. He trained in various circus arts including contortionism, magic, acrobatics, trapeze, hypnotism and ventriloquism and became a multi-talented performer under the pseudonym of Arnardo. In 1939, aged 27, Arne became the Director of Cirkus Berny, where he gained the skills and knowledge he needed to open his own circus ten years later, Cirkus Arnardo.

Cirkus Arnardo became the best known circus in Norway and Arne was dubbed the ‘Circus King of Norway’. As well as his circus work, Ane appeared in the movie Cirkus Fandango in 1954, and wrote his autobiography entitled Sirkusliv (Circus Life) in 1962. He received the King’s Medal of Merit in 1973 and was made Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1988.

Arne continued working in the circus until his death on 4 May 1995 during a show at Oslo. Arne left his circus to his son Arild who still runs it in the twenty first century.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records: