The founders of the Circus Knie. From left: Carl Knie-Meyer, Louis Knie, Friedrich Knie-Lippuner, Rudolf Knie-Griesser and kneeling in the middle Eugen Knie-Zeller. In front is Nina Zutter and a performer.
Keystone / Str
After the war, demand for circus jobs was high. 1942.
Keystone / Str
Circus director Rolf Knie and employee during a show in 1945. The circus stopped using elephants in 2016.
Keystone / Hans Gabriel
A contortionist in 1943.
Keystone / Str
A Native American family arrives at Zurich airport in 1958 to take part in a show presenting "foreign cultures". These were very popular in Switzerland until the mid-20th century.
Keystone / Schmidlin
A lion-tamer in 1959. Circus Knie ended this act in 2004.
Keystone / Str
Giraffes returning to their winter quarters in 1960.
Keystone / Hermann Schmidli
Chimpanzees are a hit with the public. 1961.
Keystone / Str
A human pyramid in 1962.
Keystone / Hermann Schmidli
Camels going for a walk on frozen Lake Zurich in 1963.
Keystone / Str
Clowning around in 1964.
Keystone / Str
Drumming up attention for Circus Knie in Zurich. 1967.
Keystone / Foschini
In 1969 a Catholic mass was held in the big top for the first time.
Keystone / Ip
One hundred years ago, Circus Knie gave its first performance in the Swiss capital, Bern.⠀⠀
It all began when young medical student Friedrich Knie fell in love with artistic horse-rider Wilma at the beginning of the 19th century in Innsbruck. He was so fascinated by the artists’ life that he abandoned his studies and travelled the country with the troupe. Friedrich founded his own acrobatic troupe in 1806, which attracted praise and recognition and also performed in Switzerland. A branch of the Knie family later settled in Switzerland and acquired Swiss citizenship.⠀⠀
A century later, the Knie brothers bought a big tent and on June 14. 1919. put on their show for the first time in the tent. Thus the “Swiss National Circus” was born.⠀⠀
Even today, the family business employs over 230 people during the tour and travels with 80 animals.
(All images: Photopress-Archiv/Keystone)
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Petition calls for a ban on circus animals in Switzerland
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A 70,000-strong petition demanding a legal end to the inclusion of wild animals in travelling circuses has been handed in to the Swiss government.
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Switzerland’s leading circus, Knie, says it will stop using elephants in its shows, breaking with a long-standing tradition.
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But the circus tradition is in danger. Strict regulations and rising costs could force some smaller companies to stop touring or even close their doors completely. A frequent complaint is that circus entertainment is not considered to have any cultural value and the Swiss authorities do not grant circuses concessions to help them operate. “The…
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