THE BALLOON MAN

Circus Gatti visits Kitsap County Fairgrounds July 19

 

Circus Gatti
The circus is coming to town — July 19, 4 and p.m., Kitsap County Fairgrounds.
from: northkitsaphereald.com
July 16, 2012
BREMERTON, WA — Circus Gatti puts on a three-ring show July 19, 2 and 7 p.m., at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds in Bremerton.
 Tickets are available online.
Circus Gatti is stopping in Bremerton after a two-day show in Olympia. Next stop: Creston, British Columbia.
 The three-ring circus features the Circus Gatti elephants, Miss Genevieve and the Liberty Ponies, high-flying BMX riders, the Furriest Funny Man and his antics and  gags, aerial acrobatics, motorcycle stunt riders, and dog acts.
 Ticket prices range from $10 for a child to $49 for a family pass. Visit the Circus Gatti website for one free child’s admission ticket for the first show, and $5 off a child’s ticket for the second show.
 Circus Gatti gives active duty and retired military personnel and their spouses 20 percent off on all ticket prices.
Circus Gatti also reserves a percentage of its seats for non-profits that are “improving the lives of the communities that we serve … If you have a group that supports the welfare of children and families and wish to receive tickets or would like to partner in an event, please email us at nonprofit@circusgatti.net and allow for 24 hours to respond to your request.”
 Circus Gatti was founded 50 years ago by retired Air Force Major Matthew J. Gatti (1910-1991), a first-generation Italian American who was raised in a Catholic orphanage.
 According to a Circus Gatti history, Gatti joined the U.S. Army at 16 and was the Army’s South Pacific lightweight boxing champion from 1933-36. He later joined the Air Force and during World War II became an officer. After the war ended, Gatti produced shows for enlisted men in Europe and the United States.
 During his military career, he married and had two daughters. Time spent in Italy, Germany and France gave Gatti and his family a great understanding of the arts, according to Circus Gatti's online history.
 After Gatti retired, he settled in California and, in 1963, founded the American Continental Circus and the Canadian International Circus. Later, these two shows became what today is Circus Gatti.