In 1976, the son took over the pants. And on Tuesday, August 3, Benny Berdino, who debuted in the manege already as a seven-year-old, turns 75 years old.
With his good mood and big arm movements, he has since lifted Cirkus Arena to become the largest in the Nordic region.
He has even received the Knight’s Cross from the Order of the Dannebrog.
But it has far from always been a party in the red and yellow striped tent.
In the late 1980s, Benny Berdino ran into financial trouble and the circus had to file for bankruptcy. But he managed to get back on his feet with the help of friends and family.
Since then, the economy has gone up and down for Berdino, who has occasionally complained that it has been difficult to sell tickets.
He himself has worked hard, because it takes more than passion to run a circus.
Or as he has previously said to Politiken:
– It is said that only stupid people are bored. But we have never had a chance to test whether we are gifted or not, because a working day is 25 hours. And how do you do that? Yeah, we just get up an hour earlier, then it goes, haha.
Circus Arena’s elephants, Lara, Djungla and Jenny, retired in 2020 and got a new home in Knuthenborg Safari Park instead.
It happened after a majority in the Folketing had banned elephants in circuses. As a patch on the wound, the state bought the elephants from Cirkus Arena for 8.2 million kroner.
It has since met with criticism. A DR documentary revealed that the state missed out on 20 million in unpaid VAT and tax, as five subsidiaries in the circus empire since 2011 have gone bankrupt with the debt.
Benny Berdino was later sentenced to bankruptcy quarantine at the court in Nรฆstved. He was later acquitted after appealing the case.
– So I have a clean criminal record and have kept my knight’s cross, he has told Sjรฆllandske Medier.
Circus Arena should have celebrated its 65th anniversary in 2020, but that put an end to the corona pandemic. Also this season, all performances have been canceled due to the restrictions and the anniversary show has been postponed to 2022.
Benny Berdino is married to Hanne Berdino. Together they have two children – Suzanne and Jackie Berdino – as well as six grandchildren.
Source: The Nordic Page