The King Charles Troupe
The King Charles Troupe, created by Jerry King, hails from The Bronx, New York. A unicycle buff all his life, Mr. King taught his young son, Charles, to ride a one-wheeler. Neighborhood kids soon demanded lessons and the unique basketball-unicycle act was born. The name of the troupe is a play on words of the son's name, Charles King.
Word spread about the Bronx unicyclers and, in 1968, the guys auditioned for Irvin Feld on a sidewalk near Madison Square Garden. The producer was delighted with the act and welcomed them into Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. They performed with the circus for 18 years and had the longest run of any act during the Feld era of the circus.
