Kio Emil Teodorovich (1894-1965) is a Soviet magician-illusionist who dreamed of creating an attraction for a full-fledged department, and not limited to one or two numbers. He fulfilled his dream.
Emil Kio: biography
Emil Teodorovich Girschfeld was the eldest of the three sons of the salesman Theodor Emilievich and Beatrice Germanovna and was born in Moscow. After graduating, he began working at the Moscow Odeon Miniature Theater. Then there was a circus in Warsaw, where Kio Emil Teodorovich became the administrator, uniformist and caretaker, performing under the pseudonym Emil Renard. From the age of 27, he already worked in Moscow in cinemas and cabarets, and a year later there appeared posters with the mysterious letters “KIO” (one of the variants of the pseudonym “How Interesting to Deceive”). He then had one number, the so-called “Rejuvenation”.
An intelligent young man brought into the box, which stood on a stand, an old old woman, then pierced with swords on four sides and pierced with a spear from above. When the swords were pulled out, the box was opened, and a young beauty was arching out of it.
Kio Emil Teodorovich disappeared for almost ten long years and appeared in Leningrad with oriental numbers. Critics called his ride vulgar. But, having changed it, having left orientalism, Kio moved to Moscow and successfully performed in a variety theater. Then he went to the circus. It was a bold decision, since the actions of the illusionist were visible from all sides. Emil Kio set tricks and complex attractions so that the viewer could not guess anything. He entered the arena as a performance in the Philharmonic. Impressive, in a tailcoat, he communicates during the performance with clowns who tried to guess what the trick is and tell the audience. It was an innovation in the genre of illusion - humor and irony. He held rehearsals at night, keeping secret tricks.
Personal life
Kio Emil Teodorovich was married several times. From a marriage with Kosha Alexandrovna, a son Emil was born. From the latter with Evgenia Vasilievna Smirnova (age difference was 20 years old) - son Igor Kio. Both became wonderful illusionists. Only Emil, by invitation, worked in Japan, and Igor - in the USSR.
Evgenia Vasilievna and Kio Emil Teodorovich not only in the circus, but also in life were a harmonious couple. Both loved that the house was full of guests, they took money easy, did not skompominnichatsya. This is probably why, when Emil Teodorovich died on tour in Kiev to bury him, he had to sell the Volga car. The education of Igor Kio was completely entrusted to his mother. She managed to find such a language with him that the child and then the teenager always thought that he was doing what he wanted.
The life of Igor’s son
He first entered the arena at the age of fifteen, because his father fell ill. The debut was a success, and from that time on, Igor Kio became his father’s assistant. Unusual was his first love - Galina Leonidovna Brezhneva. They registered the marriage, but the relevant authorities intervened, and after nine days the newlyweds received clean passports. However, to meet, since the feelings of both were deep and full of tenderness, they continued for another four years. After that, Igor was called to the KGB. Lovers had to leave.
Second marriage
Igor Emilievich met his second wife at the circus. She performed with her own number with parrots. Her name was Iolanta Nikolaevna Olkhovikova. On the eve of her birthday, Iolanthe saw the “Dawn” watch on her table - a formal offer of a hand and a heart was already made. They had a daughter, Victoria. A gift for this was an expensive fur coat.
In the photo on the right is Iolanta Nikolaevna, on the left is Igor Emilievich with his daughter Victoria and grandchildren. Eleven years later they divorced. Iolanta became the wife of Igor's elder brother - Emil.
Third marriage and work
The third wife of the illusionist was his assistant. Igor Emilievich lived with Victoria Ivanovna until the end of his life. He left Iolante and his daughter an apartment, and at first he rented a house with his young wife. Igor Emilevich after the death of his father inherited his program. Artistry and skill allowed him to control the attention of the audience. During the year he gave five hundred to six hundred performances. His intentions were wide.
He dreamed of his own theater, in which miracles would begin right at the door. However, he was not given money for new numbers and props. The grandson Igor spent a lot of time with him in the circus, but did not become an illusionist. When Igor Emilievich died in 2006, he did not leave behind his successors and students.