337:
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33:
321:
1179: : accessed 17 February 2023), Otto F Breitkreutz, Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 288, sheet 15A, family 108, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1721; FHL microfilm 1,375,734.
216:
The Selig series of films in which wild animals played their parts created great interest and equally as great surprise at the time of their releases, nearly two years ago...Although his name does not appear in the cast of characters, nor he himself in the pictures, "Big Otto," Selig's wild animal
1213: : 15 January 2022), Otto Breitkrenitz in household of Fred Breitkrentz, Oak Grove, Dodge, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
217:
expert, may well be termed the mainspring of action, so far as the acting of the majestic lions and the big cat-like leopards are concerned. Otto's wonderful handling of these savage animals, out in the open, is truly a marvel of skillful training and control.
273:
magazine, "Big Otto, I may say, is still a-livin' an' still got an animal show. His good lookin' daughter is married to a young feller named
Furness, one of the owners of the Continental an' a lot of other hotels 'round Los Angeles an' San Francisco."
196:." Selig bought that land and the Big Otto/Selig combined menagerie filmed several movies there during the winter of 1911–12. Selig eventually purchased all of Big Otto's animals and hired Breitkreutz to manage Selig's Wild Animal Farm in
561:"Photo Copy Project 2011-012-097 [Princess Bonita, Queen of the leopards. "Big Otto's" Trained Wild Animals]. Appalachian Exposition, Sept. 12-Oct. 12, 1910. No. 254. Stereo by C.A. Wayland, So. Knoxville, Tenn"
348:
336:
149:
in 1910. In 1908 Big Otto's Circus wintered in
Chicago and among the staffmembers was a Little Otto, more formally named Gust Breitkreutz. Big Otto's Animals eventually became the
293:
and had at least 11 children, of which Otto was the sixth by birth order. In 1890, Breitkreutz married Laura Larson in
Milwaukee County. At the time of the
241:, a four-reel feature. Around 1915, Big Otto bought land between Los Angeles and Pasadena where he kept an animal collection sometimes called Big Otto Zoo.
320:
1299:
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168:
According to one report, due to his failure to pay a debt, Breitkruetz's animal collection was transferred to ownership of film producer
184:. The next day I traveled to Milwaukee and engaged the outfit to come to Chicago." They began making animal films in Chicago, including
1270:
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32:
297:, Breitkreutz was living in Wisconsin with his wife Laura, and two teenage daughters, Ruth and Laurine. According to
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294:
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130:
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608:
994:
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117:
because he weighed somewhere between 350–480 lb (160–220 kg) and was "big in heart and policy."
489:"Maintaining a Wild Animal Jungle for Pictures, The Diamond S Farm, Motography (Jan-Dec 1912) - Lantern"
193:
138:
1247: : 17 August 2022), Otto F Breitkreutz in entry for Bert Wells and Ruth Frances Breitkreutz, 1913.
1309:
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162:
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81:
63:
970:
922:
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256:. The charges were dropped for insufficient evidence. Breitkreutz was also involved in some kind of
245:
811:
411:, et al. She joined Big Otto's operation in her teens but was probably not legally adopted by him.
904:
212:
made a point to connect the success of Selig's animal movies to
Breitkreutz's skill as a trainer:
180:
on the street; he told me of an itinerant showman named Big Otto, who had a small menagerie in
1114:
1266:
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896:
791:
704:
488:
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in 1910, Big Otto traveled with 100 animals in 21 wagons, 30 employees, and a press agent.
113:, was an American circus man and film producer during the early 20th century. He was called
859:
689:
253:
153:, wherein the wild animals were but one part of a larger traveling carnival, along with a
301:, Big Otto also had an adopted daughter, Olga, known professionally as Princess Cecelia.
1244:
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684:
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200:. (A new zoo director was installed in 1915 when the operation moved to the site near
1283:
205:
176:. According to an interview with William Selig published in 1928, "I chanced to meet
169:
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1227:
1176:
685:"Animal Empire: Thrill and Legitimation at William Selig's Zoo and Jungle Pictures"
402:
381:
197:
154:
221:
In 1913, Breitkreutz directed at least two films for Selig
Polyscope, one called
1196: : 29 May 2021), Otto Breitkretiz in entry for Ferdinand Breitkretiz, 1870.
700:
257:
201:
177:
1151:"California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", database with images,
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289:. His parents Ferdinand and Marie (Kehl) Breitkreutz were both natives of
188:(1909), which may have featured Big Otto in the title role. Meanwhile a "
908:
884:
812:"Hollywood rajah : the life and times of Louis B. Mayer - Lantern"
290:
264:
141:'s Annual Agricultural Street Fair and Carnival in 1904, Chicago's
233:. Big Otto is credited with the scenario (screenplay) for Selig's
1239:"California, County Marriages, 1850-1952", database with images,
260:
syndicate or scheme that was called, naturally, Big Otto Mines.
885:"The Circus and Early Cinema: Gravity, Narrative, and Machines"
565:
C.M. McClung
Historical Collection, Knox County Public Library
1263:
The Zoo and Screen Media: Images of
Exhibition and Encounter
109:(April 16, 1866 – December 25, 1928), universally known as
277:
Otto F. Breitkreutz died in Los
Angeles in December 1928.
342:
Big Otto managed Selig's Wild Animal Farm in Santa Monica
157:, Turner's World Wonder, Mets the Scientific Wonder, and
761:"back to Pioneer Days, Picture-Play Magazine - Lantern"
787:
Col. William N. Selig, the Man Who
Invented Hollywood
433:"Los Angeles Evening Post-Record 14 Jun 1918, page 3"
244:
In 1918 Breitkreutz was indicted by a grand jury for
92:
Animal trainer, circus owner, zoo director, filmmaker
1245:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL4W-K7Y
1230: : 30 January 2020), Otto F. Breitkrentz, 1890.
1211:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN46-FYJ
1205:"United States Census, 1880," database with images,
1194:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN9Z-86P
1188:"United States Census, 1870", database with images,
1171:"United States Census, 1910," database with images,
1115:""Making a Million" by Tom Mix, Photoplay - Lantern"
695:. New York: Palgrave Macmillan US. pp. 87–110.
657:"The Billboard 1910-09-24: Vol 22 Iss 39 - Lantern"
609:"The Billboard 1908-12-05: Vol 20 Iss 49 - Lantern"
96:
88:
70:
45:
23:
1043:"Los Angeles Evening Express 14 Jun 1918, page 16"
995:"The Billboard 1915-01-09: Vol 27 Iss 2 - Lantern"
688:
1157:https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLF-9KX8
405:, a big-cat trainer who prepared the animals for
172:; Big Otto's wild animals became the core of the
1228:https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRN4-75B
1177:https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPKB-G5T
1159: : 1 March 2021), Otto F Breitkreutz, 1928.
208:.) In 1912 a reviewer of Selig Polyscope's film
16:American circus owner, film producer (1866–1928)
971:"Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1914) - Lantern"
923:"Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1913) - Lantern"
860:"Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1912) - Lantern"
836:"Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1915) - Lantern"
790:. University of Texas Press. pp. 106–108.
248:due to his involvement in a shady plan to sell
214:
513:"The Weekly Telegram 16 Sep 1904, page Page 5"
1261:Lury, Karen; Lawrence, Michael, eds. (2016).
633:"The Clarksburg Telegram 02 Jun 1910, page 3"
8:
1222:"Wisconsin Marriages, 1836-1930", database,
1091:"The Los Angeles Times 25 Nov 1916, page 19"
1067:"The Commercial Appeal 09 Sep 1917, page 46"
687:. In Lawrence, Michael; Lury, Karen (eds.).
537:"Muscatine News-Tribune 04 May 1906, page 7"
31:
20:
1140:California, U.S., Death Index, 1905-1939,
1265:. United States: Palgrave Macmillan US.
585:"Show World (August 15, 1908) - Lantern"
460:"Forest City Press 05 Sep 1918, page 5"
424:
401:Princess "Cecelia" is almost certainly
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1019:"Capper's Weekly 29 Dec 1917, page 8"
947:"Motography (Jan-Jun 1913) - Lantern"
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237:. In 1914 Big Otto Pictures released
129:, a circus that exhibited around the
7:
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161:. For the Appalachian Exposition at
784:Erish, Andrew A. (March 1, 2012).
159:Millie Christine the Carolina Twin
14:
734:"Picture-Play Magazine - Lantern"
355:The Mysterious Man of the Jungle
347:
335:
319:
285:Breitkruetz was born in 1866 in
263:In May 1928, famous film cowboy
239:The Mysterious Man of the Jungle
252:to the U.S. government to feed
127:Big Otto's Trained Wild Animals
326:Big Otto Shows advertisement (
1:
1300:Film directors from Wisconsin
701:10.1057/978-1-137-53561-0_5
1331:
889:Studies in Popular Culture
267:mentioned Breitkreutz in
50:Otto Ferdinand Breitkreutz
145:in 1906, and Tennessee's
143:White City Amusement Park
30:
883:Stoddart, Helen (2015).
691:The Zoo and Screen Media
223:The Artist and the Brute
683:Haenni, Sabine (2016).
225:, and the other called
151:Big Otto Combined Shows
1305:American circus owners
1138:Otto F Breitkreutz in
219:
147:Appalachian Exposition
135:east coast of the U.S.
1119:lantern.mediahist.org
999:lantern.mediahist.org
975:lantern.mediahist.org
951:lantern.mediahist.org
927:lantern.mediahist.org
864:lantern.mediahist.org
840:lantern.mediahist.org
816:lantern.mediahist.org
765:lantern.mediahist.org
738:lantern.mediahist.org
661:lantern.mediahist.org
613:lantern.mediahist.org
589:lantern.mediahist.org
493:lantern.mediahist.org
227:The Wise Old Elephant
194:Jacksonville, Florida
125:He came to fame with
359:Moving Picture World
287:Milwaukee, Wisconsin
82:Glendale, California
64:Milwaukee, Wisconsin
38:Moving Picture World
235:Alone in the Jungle
210:Kings of the Forest
107:Otto F. Breitkreutz
797:978-0-292-74269-7
710:978-1-137-54342-4
311:Big Otto Projects
104:
103:
97:Years active
74:December 25, 1928
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403:Olga Celeste
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382:Olga Celeste
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198:Santa Monica
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155:Ferris wheel
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76:(1928-12-25)
37:
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1310:Lion tamers
1295:1928 deaths
1290:1866 births
895:(1): 1–17.
258:gold mining
229:, starring
202:Los Angeles
178:Al Ringling
1284:Categories
1125:2023-02-16
1121:. May 1928
1100:2023-02-16
1076:2023-02-16
1052:2023-02-16
1028:2023-02-16
1004:2023-02-16
980:2023-02-16
956:2023-02-16
932:2023-02-16
869:2023-02-16
845:2023-02-16
821:2023-02-16
770:2023-02-16
743:2023-02-16
716:2023-02-15
666:2023-02-16
642:2023-02-16
618:2023-02-16
594:2023-02-16
570:2023-02-16
546:2023-02-16
522:2023-02-16
498:2023-02-16
469:2023-02-16
442:2023-02-16
419:References
299:Motography
250:horse meat
246:mail fraud
190:White City
139:Eau Claire
56:1866-04-12
901:0888-5753
270:Photoplay
182:Milwaukee
174:Selig Zoo
163:Knoxville
121:Biography
100:1900–1920
909:44259582
370:See also
133:and the
115:Big Otto
111:Big Otto
25:Big Otto
361:, 1914)
305:Gallery
291:Prussia
265:Tom Mix
131:Midwest
1269:
907:
899:
794:
707:
40:, 1914
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