Jonas Zilinskas: Circus legend a hard act to follow
from: smhg.com.
By Pixi Robertson
August 26, 2013
JONAS ZILINSKAS 1919-2013
from: smhg.com.
By Pixi Robertson
August 26, 2013
JONAS ZILINSKAS 1919-2013
"The Man with the Iron Jaw” held his beautiful partner and her trapeze in his mouth while he hung from the heights of the circus big top, a mesmerising routine. The audience gasped every night at the sight, watching the girl twirl in the spotlight, held aloft only by those mighty teeth.
The dentition in question belonged to Jonas Zilinskas, also professionally known at various times as Jonas the Strongman and as Samson the Strongman. He was also a trapeze artist.
Zilinskas was born in Lithuania on January 27, 1919, one of 23 children in the Zilinskas family, recognised at the time as the largest Lithuanian family on record. His early life is largely unknown except that it was one of great poverty, but the roots of his lifelong love of nature were grounded in the "naturalist" movements that flourished in Europe between the world wars.
The dentition in question belonged to Jonas Zilinskas, also professionally known at various times as Jonas the Strongman and as Samson the Strongman. He was also a trapeze artist.
Zilinskas was born in Lithuania on January 27, 1919, one of 23 children in the Zilinskas family, recognised at the time as the largest Lithuanian family on record. His early life is largely unknown except that it was one of great poverty, but the roots of his lifelong love of nature were grounded in the "naturalist" movements that flourished in Europe between the world wars.
As a young man he became a trainee acrobat with a troupe that spent World War II entertaining soldiers. At this time, Zilinskas developed the “strongman” aerial act that he later brought to Australia.
Along with many other displaced people from the Baltic region, Zilinskas migrated to Australia in the late 1940s. In his case, he arrived in South Australia. The lack of forests must have been a severe cultural shock to the tree-loving acrobat, but he soon found himself as part of a timber-getting crew in what was then the Newfoundland State Forest, now known as the Yuraygir National Park, in northern NSW. He is remembered by locals as the man who built a statue of timber, concrete and beer bottles in the middle of the bush; the statue has been restored several times, and still stands today.
Along with many other displaced people from the Baltic region, Zilinskas migrated to Australia in the late 1940s. In his case, he arrived in South Australia. The lack of forests must have been a severe cultural shock to the tree-loving acrobat, but he soon found himself as part of a timber-getting crew in what was then the Newfoundland State Forest, now known as the Yuraygir National Park, in northern NSW. He is remembered by locals as the man who built a statue of timber, concrete and beer bottles in the middle of the bush; the statue has been restored several times, and still stands today.
In 1958, he appeared in the Herald with the statue and the story said that he was known for practising his trapeze in the sleeper-cutting camp where he was living. He said: "I get up at dawn and spend the day cutting sleepers and practising on the trapeze. I never drink or smoke, and the Spartan life here in the bush keeps me fit."
When an opportunity came for him to perform with Wirth's Circus, Zilinskas sent for his acrobatic partner, Freya Widmaier-Josse, to join him from Germany. Together they went on to work at Wirth's, tour New Zealand with Sole's Circus, and perform with Sorlie's Variety Show.
Finally, however, Widmaier-Josse returned to Europe and, after a short stint with Bullen's Circus, Zilinskas retired from performing. Then, in 1962, Doug Ashton, proprietor of Ashton's Circus, discovered Zilinskas working in the Mark Foy's department store in central Sydney and convinced him to go back "on the road".
When an opportunity came for him to perform with Wirth's Circus, Zilinskas sent for his acrobatic partner, Freya Widmaier-Josse, to join him from Germany. Together they went on to work at Wirth's, tour New Zealand with Sole's Circus, and perform with Sorlie's Variety Show.
Finally, however, Widmaier-Josse returned to Europe and, after a short stint with Bullen's Circus, Zilinskas retired from performing. Then, in 1962, Doug Ashton, proprietor of Ashton's Circus, discovered Zilinskas working in the Mark Foy's department store in central Sydney and convinced him to go back "on the road".
Zilinskas spent the rest of his career with Ashton's, Australia's oldest continually run circus. He retired from the ring in 1999
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