European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 28, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A amps photos by Dave Caseby Anita Gosch staff writer talk about weird ways to make a living. Pietro Bizzarro teaches tigers to Roll Over and Evelyn Althoff trains elephants to walk across bars. But that s life in the circus Bizzarro and Althoff join a cast of circus characters who do All sorts of Odd things miss Maria balances swords on her forehead miss Claudia Hula hoops telus Virjo Aga catches pingpong balls in his Mouth and he balances cups and saucers on his head while Riding a unicycle. Carlos Camardi rides a unicycle on a rope 40 foot High and Luciano Beau tour keeps his Toet in the air and his head firmly on the ground. They re All part of circus Giovanni Althoff Tine of Europe s most renowned circuses that has been crisscrossing the continent for about 80 years with some 386 performances a year. Through dec. 1 circus Althoff will be in Darmstadt Germany. Then it s off on a three month Holiday before die performers Start up again in the Spring for some More weird Trie. Iks. For Bizzarro there is no other life than the circus the 46-year-old, who began in the business at age 1 5, is the fourth generation in his family to train feline beasts. Although Bizzarro s lather trains both Lions and tigers at Bis circus in Italy Bizzarro himself Sticks to tigers. He works with 13 Bengal tigers considered one of the most dangerous of the species plus he has two 3-month-old babies and an extra Tiger Tor Good measure. Bizzarro says he s the Only Tiger Trainer in Europe who is completely circled by the beasts inside the ring. The tigers Roll around on the ground leap Over each other spin around on a giant Ball and sit and raise their paws upon command. While in the ring Bizzarro gives the tigers commands in German French and italian so that he can accommodate the circus s International audiences. If occasionally a Tiger does t obey him he says hell repeat the command in German. The German language is an authoritarian language he says Quot French and italian Are soft but German is very harsh. So when i give the command in German they obey me  Bizzarro says it takes a lot of patience and tender Loving care to teach tigers tricks. Plus buckets and buckets of meat to Reward them when they be done Well. A full grown Tiger can eat up to 40 pounds of meat per Day before he begins training them at age i 5 or 16 months he plays with them constantly so they gel to continued on Page 4 Pietro Bizzarro surrounded by bars and tigers directs his charges through their routine during a performance at the circus Giovanni Withoff. November 2tt, 19h1 strip s Magazine 3