This is the story of Pagnotta

In Italian, "gn" is pronounced like our "y", as in "your", try pronouncing it as "pan-yotta".

The man was really named Edmondo Zacchini. he was the first son of Ildebrando Zacchini, a portrait artist and an amateur gymnast Ildebrando joined a traveling circus as a young man and brought up his family in the circus arts. Edmondo was agifted boy who learned the circus arts quickly, including acrobatics and flying trapeze. As the family formed their own circus, Edmondo became a brilliant clownwho could perform throughout the the show in clown costume as well as in tights. He even got to doing the post show "special" of wrestling the town champion. It was the clowning that especially endeared him with the townspeople.

It was during WWI in Italy, when food was scarce scarce, that an unueualevent occured. Edmondo happenedto be walking through town when he was recognized by a townsman. The man approached Edmondo and said, "You are the clown in the circus"! As he spoke, the man was holding a small loaf of bread called a "pagnotta". Each loaf was rationed, one per person, at the bakery. The man said, "I enjoyed your clowning so much that I am going to give you my pagnotta". Edmondo took it graciously and gladly. as the man announced to others nearby who Edmondo was. As they approached him they each gave him their pagnotta laughing and saying, "Here take mine too"! Edmondo returned home to a hungry family with two arms full of bread. From then on , all of the townspeople would greet him by saying, "Hey there goes Pagnotta", as they may not have remembered his real name. They began to know him by this name in the circus ring as well. So it was by popular acclaim that Edmondo Zacchini took on the clown stage name of "Pagnotta". He soon became the most famous clown in Italy, and his popularity spread into other countries where he performed.

It is relatively incidental that Edmondo Zacchini was to invent the Cannon Act a few years later. With aide of his brothers, the act developed to where they became world famous. In time they all took residence in Florida and became citizens of the United States.

The picture does much to personify the man. He is holding out his right hand to the audience, as to say, "Here I am, have I pleased you?....Have I made you laugh?....Have I made you happy?" For he so loved people....loved life....and the world.
By Hugo Zacchini
Son of Pagnotta

Yesterday's Towns blog spot http://yesterdaystowns.blogspot.com/search?q=zacchini

Photo of Eddie with shriner's fez
Eddie zacchini was a member of this Club, and also a Booking Agent, so it was only natural for him to produce these great annual New Years Eve Extravaganzas. This is just a sample of some of the top quality entertainment appearing there.

Photo of George, Eddie & Duina vertical:
We go now, all the way back to 1951 and possibly to 1948 to St Paul, for the Minnesota State Fair, Hugo Zacchini, who supplied these photos said they did the Flying Act there both years. Here are top to bottom, Eddie's long time Catcher, George Alvarez, Eddie Zacchini, & Eddie's Sister Duina.

Over 65 party #7 photo of Bob Horn, Hugo Zacchini, Willie Edelson

photo of BENNIE FORNISARI ITALO FORNISARI, & HUGO ZACCHINI~~~~I SAVED THESE GUYS FOR LAST,,,, THREE SHOW STOPPERS,,,, HOW DO YA FOLLOW THAT