Kremos, an extraordinary Swiss acrobat family

The captivating vintage footage captures the Kremos, an extraordinary Swiss acrobat family, presenting their remarkable act in Paris during August 1896. The short colorized and speed adjusted film, a creation of the Lumière brothers, showcases their incredible talents.

Over several generations, the Kremo family excelled in two spectacular circus disciplines: icarists and jugglers. Among the notable members were Béla Kremo and his son, Kris, both of whom achieved great fame as circus and variety stars throughout Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. Kris Kremo, following in the family's legacy, became an internationally celebrated performer, leaving a lasting impact well into the 21st century.

The original Kremo troupe was founded around 1880 by Josef Kremo (1854-1917), known by his birth name Kremka, whose family hailed from Czech origins during the time when Czechoslovakia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The first Kremo troupe comprised Josef and his two eldest sons, Sylvester and Karl. Josef Kremo received his training under the tutelage of the Scheffers, an Austrian acrobatic family renowned for their Risley act, one of the most celebrated of its time.

Josef Kremo was married to Franzisca Allinger (1858-1940), an Austro-Hungarian equestrienne, and together they had thirteen children, with twelve eventually becoming part of the family's Risley act. Among them, Anton, Franziska, and Viktor showcased exceptional skill by performing a challenging triple somersault on their father's feet, a remarkable feat then and now. Sylvester (1881-1962), the eldest son, and Karl (1882-1958), the younger brother, later established their own troupes, carrying forward the family tradition.

The Sylvester Kremo Family troupe featured Sylvester and his daughters, Sylvia and Selna. The Karl Kremo Family, a larger ensemble, included Karl, his brother Mark (1888-1945), his wife Margrit (1891-1923), originally from Hungary and née Hanus, and their children, Bellona, Béla, Bianca, and Bert, with occasional additional partners. Both troupes continued to enchant audiences across Europe's leading circuses and variety theaters until the 1930s. Notably, the Karl Kremo Family achieved greater renown, and one of Karl's sons, Béla Kremo, carried on the family name as a world-famous juggler, preserving the illustrious legacy for generations to come.