Let's remember Edmond Gingras (1878-1953) a champion bodybuilder, juggler, wrestler and balance artist.
In 1911 Gingras, born in Three Rivers Quebec, was declared Canada's best physical specimen and by 1915 was amazing vaudeville fans in New York's Madison Square Garden with his feats of strength.
He was hired after challenging vaudeville impressario E.F. Albee, who claimed to offer the greatest shows on earth. Gingras told Albee that it could not be the case, as he was the world's greatest juggler and he did not work for the show. Gingras was soon hired onto the Albee-Keith show, where fellow Quebecker, the bodacious singing hottie Eva Tanguay of the Eastern Townships, was already a massive star.
Gingras' greatest feat involved a cannon shooting eight inch, nine pound cannonballs at him from a good distance. After they bounced off his torso, Gingras would catch and juggle the cannonballs. Gingras became the top rival of famed German juggler Paul Conchas. Conchas died in 1927 and vaudeville also took a big dive soon after.
Since 1912 Gingras had been earning, on average, $300 a week, and sometimes up to $1,500. But suddenly in 1927 Gingras was living hand to mouth, even as a vagrant.
After seven years of drifting Gingras attempted a comeback in 1934 and was hired by Fred Norman who ran a vaudeville show at the Theatre Francais. But the 50 year old strongman was humiliated as his feats of strength were severely lacking and he suffered the pain of boos cascading down in his direction.
He drifted from apartments on Papineau, Dorchester, Notre Dame, Amherst, Panet, Duluth, Wolfe, Lafontaine, finally ending up in a run down apartment at St. Antoine and St. Dominique. He received an old age pension and spent much of what he had on a piece of land on the South Shore where he had hoped to fulfill his dream and spend later days in his own home after a life on the road.
On April 6, 1953, Gingras - who never married and spent the last three years of life as a recluse - was found dead.
His body was brought along with his entire fortune - $1.76 - to the Fullum street morgue where his body lay unclaimed and unrecognized for several days. If anybody has a photo of Gingras, please send it along this way.
In 1911 Gingras, born in Three Rivers Quebec, was declared Canada's best physical specimen and by 1915 was amazing vaudeville fans in New York's Madison Square Garden with his feats of strength.
He was hired after challenging vaudeville impressario E.F. Albee, who claimed to offer the greatest shows on earth. Gingras told Albee that it could not be the case, as he was the world's greatest juggler and he did not work for the show. Gingras was soon hired onto the Albee-Keith show, where fellow Quebecker, the bodacious singing hottie Eva Tanguay of the Eastern Townships, was already a massive star.
Gingras' greatest feat involved a cannon shooting eight inch, nine pound cannonballs at him from a good distance. After they bounced off his torso, Gingras would catch and juggle the cannonballs. Gingras became the top rival of famed German juggler Paul Conchas. Conchas died in 1927 and vaudeville also took a big dive soon after.
Since 1912 Gingras had been earning, on average, $300 a week, and sometimes up to $1,500. But suddenly in 1927 Gingras was living hand to mouth, even as a vagrant.
After seven years of drifting Gingras attempted a comeback in 1934 and was hired by Fred Norman who ran a vaudeville show at the Theatre Francais. But the 50 year old strongman was humiliated as his feats of strength were severely lacking and he suffered the pain of boos cascading down in his direction.
He drifted from apartments on Papineau, Dorchester, Notre Dame, Amherst, Panet, Duluth, Wolfe, Lafontaine, finally ending up in a run down apartment at St. Antoine and St. Dominique. He received an old age pension and spent much of what he had on a piece of land on the South Shore where he had hoped to fulfill his dream and spend later days in his own home after a life on the road.
On April 6, 1953, Gingras - who never married and spent the last three years of life as a recluse - was found dead.
His body was brought along with his entire fortune - $1.76 - to the Fullum street morgue where his body lay unclaimed and unrecognized for several days. If anybody has a photo of Gingras, please send it along this way.
What a hard, sad life!
ReplyDeleteHow did you find this info out?
Just from reading old newspapers.
ReplyDeleteFred Norman was our Agent in Montreal I knew his two Sons Gaston & Andre. I am from a Juggling act known as "The Wilfred Mae Trio" I believed to be the last surviver of that act. We did Hoop juggling, & Fred Norman booked us in every night club going. (Thank You Mr.Norman). Is there anyone out there that may have movies of that act I can transfeur to a video? Please notify
ReplyDeleteAwagent@aol,com
Subject: Wilfred Mae Trio info
Very much appreciated - M.Gregory
Fred Norman was my grandfather! Andre was my dad. �� soo surprised to see this article on Vaudeville. Very interesting.
DeleteGreat article! Fred Norman was my grandfather.
ReplyDeleteAndre was my dad! Soo surprised to see an article
about Vaudeville and Fred Norman Agency.