Circus Performer. At age 12, she joined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily Circus as a member in her father Edmundo's famed trapeze act The Flying Zacchinis. As a trapeze artist she performed in America, Africa and Europe during the 1920s and '30s. When her brothers went off to fight in World War II, her father trained her and sister Egle as human projectiles in the cannonball show. She continued with the cannonball act for more than 20 years, was featured on the cover of Life magazine, on Ed Sullivan's TV variety show and appeared in Hollywood movies. A superb acrobat and athlete, she was even invited by NASA to try out to become the first female astronaut. She was considered queen of the circus and one of the greatest women trapeze artists ever when she retired.
Circus Performer. At age 12, she joined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily Circus as a member in her father Edmundo's famed trapeze act The Flying Zacchinis. As a trapeze artist she performed in America, Africa and Europe during the 1920s and '30s. When her brothers went off to fight in World War II, her father trained her and sister Egle as human projectiles in the cannonball show. She continued with the cannonball act for more than 20 years, was featured on the cover of Life magazine, on Ed Sullivan's TV variety show and appeared in Hollywood movies. A superb acrobat and athlete, she was even invited by NASA to try out to become the first female astronaut. She was considered queen of the circus and one of the greatest women trapeze artists ever when she retired.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Norman or Zacchini memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
