Portage County Historical Society

Extraordinary Circus Artists

The Klementis

Egon and Helmut Klementi, twin brothers, were born during 1934 in Bregenz, Austria.

After 4 years of regular school and 4 years of high school Egon took up a 3 year apprenticeship to learn confectionary. He worked another 4 years as a journeyman at the same Konditorei. Helmut worked as a grocery store salesman. During those 7 years, from 1948 to 1954 Egon and Helmut taught themselves bicycle stunt riding. They won many international competitions and the Austrian championship 1953 and 1954 to become professional performers, touring Europe with their bicycle act as "The Klementi Twins".

In 1958 Ed Sullivan saw their performance at the "Moulin Rouge" Paris and booked the act for his TV show in New York.

The Klementi Twins on the Ed Sullivan Show, 1958

Approximately 1:47 minutes.

In 1964 Egon married Elfie. After Elfie gave birth to their son Rene she joined the bike act. The trio had their debut at the famous French Music Hall Olympia in Paris with the headliner Edith Piaf.

Returning to the U.S. in 1973 "The Klementis" performed at various Sport Shows, Shrine Circuses and some major TV shows. From 1975 through 1977 "The Klementis" were a center ring attraction at Circus Vargas, touring the U.S. and Canada. During 1979 they performed at the Harrah's South Lake Tahoe for Frederic Apcar.

1985 thru 1989 The Klementis performed again at the Harrah's South Lake Tahoe and Reno, the Dunes Las Vegas and Hansa Theater Hamburg, Germany. On May 8, 1989 they gave their final performance at the Harrah's South Lake Tahoe in the Revue "Fast Company". Several days later, Egon had a total hip replacement and committed himself to his art career.

A Perfectly Balanced Act

The amazing Klementis perform the feat as part of Bustin' Out, the frenetic Frederic Apcar revue which lights up the Casino Cabaret stage at Harrah's Reno twice nightly except Tuesdays.

The Austrian-born Klementis - twin brothers Egon and Helmut and Egon's wife, Elfie - have been perfecting the balancing act for 30 years. They've astonished audiences on every continent and in every state in the U.S.

They've performed on the Ed Sullivan Show and Merv Griffin Show and in Canada at the prestigious Calgary Stampede.

Those are impressive credentials for two Austrian boys who never rode bicycles until they were 10 years old, in a country where traffic tickets are dispensed for riding "with no hands."

Helmut was a grocery store salesman and Egon was a confectioner before they turned their backs on those trades and decided to market their skills as trick cyclist.

Egon

During 1966-67 he studied at the Ecole De Designe De Paris and received a Certificate of Award for all medias of fine art.

During a 2 year tour through Europe with the bicycle act, Egon studied the Old Masters and painted on location in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, Greece, Spain, France and Austria.

in 1973 Egon had his first One-man art show at the Kansas City Library and several others followed.

From 1975 through 1977, while on tour Egon drew and painted in and around the Big Top.

Over 20 years of working in most mediums and techniques have aided Egon in his transfer from show business to pursuing his love of art.

1991 he graduated from the picture framing academy and worked 1 year at the Heritage Gallery and Frame shop at Tahoe City. Egon was elected president of the Nevada Artists Association Carson City and re-elected 1992. He is presented by major Galleries and gives workshops and demonstrations in painting on silk and mixed media with metal leaf application.

Egon Klementi

Within a few moments of meeting Egon Klementi, one begins to wonder if he ever goes to sleep. His daily schedule of painting and study of other art forms is generally topped off with nightly performances as a member of The Klementis, perhaps the world's most renowned bicycle stunt-riding team.

Born in Bregenz, Austria, Egon's parents encouraged what he calls a "legitimate" career in confectionary. While perfecting that art, he and his brother Helmut found everything that could not be done on a bicycle...and proceeded to teach themselves how to do it. In 1958, Ed Sullivan discovered them at the Moulin Rouge and booked them for his TV show in New York.

At age 30, Egon married Elfriede Thaler, who joined the act and encourages his interest in art. Beginning in oils, he has since chosen water colors as his primary medium. "Because we travel, I can do so much more with watercolor," says Egon. We are very fortunate to live and work at Lake Tahoe. Every day I am fascinated by the beauty that Nature shares with us."

It is that sensitivity for which Egon has become recognized. Galleries and collectors alike have found his unique ability to capture the honesty of the lake's subtle light and colors variations.

Unphased by his growing popularity, Egon continues to search for other outlets, taking classes in sculpture under noted instructor David Foster as the Lake Tahoe Community College.

Whether producing a difficult, time-consuming collagraph or a delicate gold-leaf-watercolor on commission, Egon Klementi shares with us a vitality that few artists could ever match.

Egan's list of awards consist of 3 Best of Show, 10 First, 13 Second and 16 Third places along with several Honorable mentions, Merit Awards and Judges Commendations in painting, sculptures and printmaking. Egon has been listed in Who's Who in Austria since 1983.

Egon has been listed in Who's Who in Austria since 1983.

Elfie

After presenting their Bicycle Act all over the world, the "Klementis" retired the Act in 1989. For the next 25 years Elfie was the Wardrobe Supervisor for all the stars and costume co-coordinator for all the stage shows at Harrah's.

The audience never sees her. But if it weren't for Elfie Klementi, the stars at Harrah's showroom would probably walk onstage clad in only their smiles.

Elfie Klementi is call Wardrobe Mistress by some, Head of Wardrobe by others. Dancers call her mom and Carol Lawrence and Juliette Prowse call her friend.

The Austrian born, and her six attendants, are responsible for making sure every performer who appears in Harrah's South Shore Room is fitted, altered, dressed and ready to step on stage. For the shows currently appearing in the showroom ("Hollywood" and "eROCKitca"), Elfie and her team oversee more than 800 costume pieces. And that's not counting shoes for the 19 cast members.

"I love this job because of all the people I work with," said Elfie, who spent nearly 20 years performing as one of the Klementis. With her husband Egon and his twin brother Helmut, the Klementis trio toured the world with their balancing bicycle act. Their last performance was at Harrah's Tahoe when they decided to call it quits.

"When we retired five years ago, we obviously decided not to work anymore. Egon had a hip replacement within days after our last show and going two weeks after that Carol Lawrence was going to appear here. They (Harrah's) called and asked if I'd be Carol's personal attendant and dresser. It was only supposed to be for three months."

Now five years on the job, Elfie has remained friends with Lawrence and developed lasting friendships with many other showroom stars.

"Juliette Prowse is very funny and very down-to-earth," Elfie said in her engaging Austrian accent. "We're really looking forward to her coming back because she's so fun to have around."

Elfie's years in show business paid off with a number of close friendships with other entertainers.

"Sammy Davis, Jr. was a friend and he was so nice. He certainly had problems with his children but he was genuinely a nice man. He'd send bottles of champagne to the cabaret dressing rooms for the performers and sign a little note that said "Kindest regard, what's his name."

Her backstage wardrobe office is filled with ironing boards, sewing machines, feathered headdresses, wigs, sparkling costumes and sparkles that have fallen off costumes and need to be replaced. During her 20 years as a performer, Elfie made all of her own glittering costumes, a talent that comes in handy daily.

Elfie and her crew fit the hundreds of costumes to the performers, make altercations, daily repairs, launder the outfits and make sure all of the dancers and singers have what they need to step into the spotlight. They call on an abundance of patience for everything from sewing on tiny sequins to dealing with large egos.

During the show, they stand in the dark backstage to help the performers change costumes between number. When Juliette Prowse starred in "Mame" two years ago, Elfie had 30 seconds to get Prowse out of one entire costume, into another complete change and back on stage.

On her one day off a week, Elfie can spend several hours running around town collecting show polish, hunting for hair clips or picking up stage shoes from the repair shop.

Elfie and her girls are considered one of the best wardrobe crews in the country and no doubt her entertainment background contributes to that stellar reputation.

"I know what fells good and what I needed to go on stage. Plus, I'm from the Old Country," she noted of her penchant for attention to details and her high standards.

"We're very proud that we are well known as being some of the best. And it's nice to hear performers say we are the best. A lot of the credit goes to these girls because they really care about what they do. We're like a family back here."

Helmut

After the Klementis' retired their act in 1989, Helmut, speaking several languages became sort of an ambassador for Harrah's in Tahoe as a Limo Driver. He transported important customers from the airport arriving from other countries. He acted as an interpreter and provided these important customers with other services. Helmut has gone back to his homeland of Austria and lives there, coming back occasionally to visit his brother and Elfie.

The Klementis at Harrah's Lake Tahoe 1989

Approximately 9:51 minutes (shot with an 8mm camera).