The End of a Fort Myers Beach Circus Connection!

         When 91 year old Kel Egony passed away recently in Lee Memorial Hospital not many of his fellow Danes would ever have guessed that would be the place he would draw his final breathe. In his youth in Denmark, 14 year old Kel wanted to be an airplane mechanic but when the Germans invaded, his family insisted he change apprenticeships to became a mason.

          Kel Jorgensen was too young to be conscripted by the Nazi's but old enough to work for the underground. Their jobs were especially difficult since the occupying German soldiers spoke fluent Danish after growing up in Denmark because of food shortages in Germany after the first World War. Still, his unit smuggled 3,000 Jews to neutral Sweden through enemy held territory before the war ended.         

After the war, Kel and his brother Jorgen Jorgensen started a death defying circus act involving spinning around 75 feet in the air on wires and bars but never a net. When asked about the net, Kel said simply, “it couldn't have been big enough to catch us as we spun away!” Kel changed his name to Egony to honor his father and the act was billed as the Egony Brothers. 

        Their entire family left Copenhagen in 1948 and arrived on Ellis Island. They had been promised plentiful work but the large family struggled at first.

        The brothers started working their Egony Brothers 'Pirates of the Air' Featuring the 'Thrilling Slide of Death' Aerialist act. They worked on the high wire in small shows and amusement parks. Just about anywhere they were paid a few dollars. They traveled from town to town and were often with the other European acts. It was comforting to be among other performers even though the work was hard and the pay was small.

       They always insisted on setting up the 75 feet high towers and intricate wire rigs themselves because one mistake by a roustabout could cost them their lives. They learned the American circus lingo and ways. When to tip the water wagoners and tent slammers. Sometimes they would tear down every night and set up every morning. A good run was three days.

       After several years their reputation as daredevil crowd please-rs took hold and they were able to get better shows. In 1950 “The Bothers Egony” were playing the Steel Pier in Atlantic City in between Guy Lombardi sets. A couple of smitten young girls decided to introduce themselves.

       

The handsome brothers had many young admirers but one of those girls caught Kel's eye and she became Mrs. Egony and an important part of the act. The only way up to the wire platform and back down was a rope ladder that Sue Egony held taught. Her duties went far beyond looking pretty in her costume because she was really the only safety equipment they had. 

       On one occasion it was the rope that saved the brothers
when one piece of metal gave way.

       Over the years they played 48 of our 50 states, all of the Canadian provinces, some of Central America and a few trips back to Europe. The stress on their bodies began to take it's toll and they decided to retire in 1965. They sold the towers and the high wire rig and moved to Oak Street on San Carlos Island, Fort Myers Beach.

       

They joined several families who did dog acts, one or more who were Acrobats, Jugglers and some aging Circus Clowns. In the early years, almost the entire street was retired Performers. Kel and Sue built their house overlooking Hurricane Bay themselves. Jorgen was nearby. Kel worked construction for nearly forty years on many important projects in Lee County.

       He had not completely retired before making his final climb. It was time to paint the roof. It was the only time the high wire performer, Kel (Jorgensen) Egony ever fell. He was 91.

        Kel Egony will always be remembered as a good man, good family man, good husband and neighbor by his current and former friends.