‘m. dario artiste sans bras, cirque veuve ricono’ postcard 1890’s
Rolling with the Circus
No other act in history has embodied the spirit of the old circus saying ‘The show must go on’ more then one small man with no arms and his ability to captivate a thrilled audience simply by how he rolled!
The Circus Ricono big top, 1895
No, this isn’t a story about some poor little arm less man that is forced to entertain a sadistic crowd of onlookers night after night! No!
This is the incredible story of a man faced with all the adversity life could possibly throw at him who decides instead of folding he’ll just roll his way to fame!
At the end of the 19th century, the world was fascinated by the traveling Circus. Moving from town to town the impromptu caravan’s would entertain delighted audiences with magical feats that seemed all but inhuman.
Many of the successful Circus troupes also incorporated sideshows to further tempt the crowds curiosity. These sideshows often promised feats of strength, an occasional hairy lady and displays of the strange all designed to spin the imagination of all who were lucky enough to witness.
Cirque de Ricono troupe including Dario, around 1900
Like many little people before him, Dario found a eager audience under the big top. Sure, some had come just to gawk a midget without arms, but Dario wasn’t content on just being a oddity to be stared at in pity.
Soon after joining the ‘Cirque Ricono’, an Italian traveling circus, Dario became an instant hit performing the normal abilities he’d learned from childhood. For a dwarf born with no arms, everyday acts of life seemed impossible to those who witnessed!
In one of his more astounding acts, Dario would pick up a loaded rifle by wedging the stock under his chin. With slight movements between his shoulder and head, he would aim the rifle and fire with amazing accuracy to the surprised delight of the stunned crowd.
Maybe not enough to keep the seats filled, that is until a young volunteer appears into Dario’s show.
The ‘volunteer’ would be positioned by Dario at just the right spot and told to stand perfectly still while holding a clay pipe in his mouth facing the captivated crowd.
After placing his volunteer, Dario would again wedge the loaded rifle under his chin slowly aiming the barrel at the young boy… Shakily building the suspense he would hold the crowds breath at a gasp until finally shooting the pipe from between his assistants lips!
‘M.DARIO artiste sans bras Cirque veuve RICONO’ Postcard of Dario performing his act, between 1900-1910
Dario had one last trick up his sleeve that would surely shock his glassy eyed audience. No doubt perfected with the circus lifestyle, a large bottle of alcohol, rolling papers and some loose tobacco on a table was all that was needed to set the stage.
Waddling through the haze in the room, the pint sized Dario would stop at the table. Leaning over the party spread, Dario starts to shuffle about the table with his mouth.
To the crowds amazement Dario in no time whips his head back up from the table revealing tobacco nestled within a rolling paper delicately held between his lips.
As if he was a possessed man speaking in tongues, Dario quickly contorted his mouth to roll the perfect smoke.
With a rolled smoke now resting perfectly from his lips Dario quips to the delight of the breathless crowd, ‘Anyone have a light?’
Dario rolling his cigarette (Dario roulant sa cigarette) Postcard of Dario from around 1910
Dario’s roll to fame would only be halted as the World went to war. In 1914 at the start of WW1, the Italian army decided to requisition ‘Cirque Ricono’s’ highly trained show horses and called all the able body men to action on the front. Dario’s amazing act would disappear in the smoke of war…
Knock, Knock… Who’s there? Not Dario, Picture him rolling…
‘Darío à la ville’ (Dario in the city) Postcard of ‘Dario’ from around 1910