In 1921 Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey added – for the FIRST time under the “Combined” title, wild animal acts – and there were a lot of them!
The first several acts of of the show featured a variety of animal trainers with a variety of animals, the headliner being Christian Shroder with his center ring mixed animal act. Others included Peter Radke with lions, Emil Pallenberg with bears and Olga Celeste with her leopards.
In “Display #2” “Princess Celeste” was featured with her trained leopards in Ring Three. Although not identified here on this one-sheet lithograph printed by Strobridge, this image was most certainly used to promote her act.
In 1922 she moved to the Center Ring, and in 1923 she was replaced by Mabel Stark and her tigers.
In future years Olga and Mabel became close friends, and from 1925-31 Princess Olga and her leopards performed at the Luna Park Zoo in Los Angeles.
In addition to her time in the steel arena, Olga Celeste was a popular behind the scenes animal trainer for many Hollywood movies in the 1930s and 40s.
She died in 1969 at the age of 81. She is buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles.
-C. Berry
