Original Allisons

A tradition which goes far over a century with this special work:

tumbling and icarian (risley) games,

doesn`t mean it is antique. One goes with the time, but it is not necessary to pick up every fashion! Interpreting quite frankly the German poet Arthur Schopenhauer: „Sometimes the audience is so simple enjoying the new instead of the good things!“ But our motto is best to describe with a saying from the founder of the Allisons, my great-great uncle Otto Eimer-Allison:

„Despite adverse powers all around,
use your application and mind profound.
Then you can arrange things nice, and new, too.
And what you have attained preserve forever true!“

It would be a huge website if I would mention everything in the chronicle of the „Original Allisons“ (members, engagements, facts). So I will restrict myself to the mere essence, but for more detailed information I am at your friendly disposal. The Allisons were founded 1887 by Otto Eimer (uncle of my grandmother, so he was my great-great uncle). He was born on 12 July, 1868 in Berlin. He started as an apprentice in the „Reinhold-Troup“, which he left in the beginning of 1886. With his colleagues Adolf Barowski and Hermann Busch he wanted to be independent and formed an own troup. First they named themselves „Remies“ (Eimer read backwards),but even in the old days, like nowadays, a foreign name would sell better. So each of them wrote a name on a piece of paper and threw the ticket in a hat. My uncle had just read a cowboy novel and the heros name was „Allison“. He liked it so he wrote it on the ticket - it was drawn!
At this time came also his brother Max to the troup. The latter brought his daughter, Erna, too. In these years one could not refer to any experience in the acrobatic/gymnastic skills as today. So they had to work out nearly everything by themselves, think about new tricks and try them out. And how they have done it! In the meantime the troup consisted of 9 persons. They were specialized in risley and tumbling. Uncle Otto was the first ever to perform „Living Trinkas“ (instead of the trinka a person replaced it, carrying the underman)! Also during the Thirties we had a member who was amongst the only 3 tumblers worldwide who did perform a rondat-flipflap-double-somersault! On 8m carpet, no matter if stage or circus round!
I do not know whence Uncle Otto got his sense for health, but he layed foundations for correct and healthprotecting bearings for tumbling, which are valid up until today. And furthermore he paid a lot of attention on a good, reasonable warm-up. This has always proved true and I obey it still today. A professor of sport science has verified in 1999 a good, proper warm-
up - it was exactly what Uncle Otto had introduced!
Sadly it was quite common in these days to work with children (from 4 years on). This never happened in our troup, there was never an apprentice on stage until he was 14 years old! In consequence a best part of the troup remained together for 25-30 years. Fact is, when you start too early, you are finished with 25/30 years, but as an acrobat you want to work longer, it is our profession.
During WorldWar 1st the troup was torn apart but shortly after they gathered together and worked under the name „Remies“ until they had again the quality for which the name „Allisons“ already guaranteed.
My grandfather, Albert Gericke, was since 1912 in the troup and Uncle Ottos niece Marta since 1915. The both of them married and my grandfather became the leadership of the troup (and the right of the name). This went later on to my father and then to me.By the way, the „Original“ in front of the name is just a recommendation from the court, because some colleagues tried to take on our name ( they lost all legal proceedings).
In WorldWar 2nd it was worse, some members didn`t survive and to start anew proved difficult. Nearly all theatres, varieties, and circusses were destroyed. Furthermore there was a ban on German artists working abroad. Finally the troup had again 5 members. My father married 1952 a „private person“, Friedel, my future mother. She practised very hard to become a member of the troup. 1962 my grandfather died and eventually my grandmother retired from the stage. My parents continued working, picking up one apprentice.He stopped working 1965 and so they were in two.
That meant the work got harder and more exhausting. Working in a 9-person troup you had a bit time until it was your turn again, but being in two or three, there is no chance of relaxing for a moment. Especially when you are underman and tumbler. That is why in the old days and even today no colleagues perform risley and tumbling. The physical load of these two genres is completely different from each other and they don`t harmonize together.
In 1971 it was my turn to start and my former wife began 1981. Gina, my daughter, was born in 1984. We worked in four with myparents until 1987, then my wife and I were alone. My grandmother died in 1989, my father 1994 and 1995 came the divorce from my wife. Gina wanted to stay with me, so I started working alone (tumbling and juggling in one act!). Well, Gina started showing interest in the work, that meant a lot practising after schooltime. Since 1999 we are a duo – continuing the tradition!
As "Original Allisons" we presented an act like no other one! Starting with pleasing costumes and the matching music over to a stage presentation, i.e. showmanship, which is very rare nowadays, you could experience a smooth act, with tempo and no intermissions or "monkey business".
Acrobatics in many variations (single and in two) was at the beginning, followed by antipoden to consent you for the main work, risley.
There were not the common things you would see, but in 3 routines a summary what is possible with risley work! Finally acrobatics and once again risley. I like to empasize the fact, that not one trick appeared twice (like many colleagues do), they were all different!
As a second act, "The Ruzzels", we played with domino-stones, for example building a line with 30(!) domino-stones between us two.
A elegant juggling act with a different touch!
My daughter had a juggling act of her own:
"Gina Allison - the juggling scarwoman"!
On the stage is a table with juggling-props, a chair and a pair of shoes (like in a dressing room). Then appears the scarwoman and starts dusting off. Curiously she grabs some balls and tries to juggle. Eventually she succeeds, then she transforms into a juggler, performing 3 clubs. At last the main work with 3 cigar-boxes. Finally the re-transformation into the scarwoman! Underlined by matching music and performed with a twinkle in her (your) eyes!
But one never knows what life has in store (and where love appears).
My daughter met a young man and now they live together. At first we still worked together, but due to the fact that her life`s companion has a profession of his own, it is of no good for a relationship when one is abroad and the other at home. So she stopped showbusiness in October 2007.
I myself worked out the actual swinging juggling act (because doing risley alone is a bit "difficult") and started straight away December 2007 in Italy!
On the following page is a little summary of photos through the years,
have a look!
I would like to close again with a saying from Otto Allison:

"If colleagues are envious,
you can be proud.
Because envy is only achieved by hard work!"