Date: 4/8/08
Contact: Eric Jome
A reception in honor of legendary circus aerialist Tony Steele will be held on Friday, April 18, from 1-3 p.m. in the Special Collections area (sixth floor) of Milner Library. Special remarks by Tony Steele will take place at 1:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The 71-year-old flying trapeze legend is currently mentoring members of Illinois State University’s Gamma Phi Circus on a flying trapeze act. Steele will also perform at the Gamma Phi Circus on Friday and Saturday, April 18 & 19 in Redbird Arena. For more information on Gamma Phi Circus visit www.gammaphicircus.ilstu.edu
Steele began his circus career as a teenager and was the first person to perform a flying trapeze 3 ½ backwards somersault and, during the 1960s, was the only person to perform it regularly at every performance. Along with his wife and partner, Lily, Steele toured with circuses throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, gaining international fame.
For the past half century, Milner Library has been the home of an extensive collection of books and other materials on circuses and other related arts, such as carnivals, music halls and vaudeville.
