Circus Gatti readies to bring in the clowns, animals, moreBy Dru Willis,
AbileneReporter-News
February 22, 2012
In the neighborhood of 3,000 people will venture to the Taylor County Expo Center to get their fill of animals, dare devils and clowns when Circus Gatti comes to town for its annual show.
"The Gatti Circus has been with us many, many, many years, and they put on a good little circus," said Rochelle Johnson, the Expo Center's general manager.
The 49-year-old, three-ring circus was created by retired Maj. Matthew Gatti, a first generation Italian-American raised in a Catholic orphanage during the Great Depression and who joined the Army at age 16.
He became a commanding officer in the Air Force during World War II and was stationed throughout Europe after the war.
Gatti founded the American Continental Circus and the Canadian International Circus in 1963 after retiring and settling down in California with his wife and two daughters. The two circuses later would become Circus Gatti.
Today the circus has Asian elephants Tika and Patti (plus the retired Queenie), ponies, aerial feats and wonders, BMX freaks, hula hoops to rock n' roll, Laughing Leo the Clown, skilled dogs rescued from shelters and intelligent poodles, plus the Globe of Death, all with Ringmaster Brandon Bolden at the helm.
"The Gatti Circus has been with us many, many, many years, and they put on a good little circus," said Rochelle Johnson, the Expo Center's general manager.
The 49-year-old, three-ring circus was created by retired Maj. Matthew Gatti, a first generation Italian-American raised in a Catholic orphanage during the Great Depression and who joined the Army at age 16.
He became a commanding officer in the Air Force during World War II and was stationed throughout Europe after the war.
Gatti founded the American Continental Circus and the Canadian International Circus in 1963 after retiring and settling down in California with his wife and two daughters. The two circuses later would become Circus Gatti.
Today the circus has Asian elephants Tika and Patti (plus the retired Queenie), ponies, aerial feats and wonders, BMX freaks, hula hoops to rock n' roll, Laughing Leo the Clown, skilled dogs rescued from shelters and intelligent poodles, plus the Globe of Death, all with Ringmaster Brandon Bolden at the helm.
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