Gee Gee Engesser

Born Georgedda Zellmar Engesser on August 6, 1926 in St. Peter, Minnesota, The middle daughter of George Engesser and Vates Swenson. Gee Gee's parents performed in vaudeville, owned repertory shows, and circuses (Zellmar Bros Circus). Gee Gee grew up on these shows and at age three began performing a variety of circus acts, presenting an elephants and pony act, performing on the swinging ladder, Etc.

In Engesser early teens she began performing with horses and learned trick and roman riding while on Barker Bros. Circus, Attabury Bros and Kelly Miller Circus.

In 1945, at the age of 18 she was hired by the Cole Bros. Circus as a featured performer. On The Cole Bros. she worked with the Loyal Repenski riding act. This is when she began performing her incredible 16 horse roman riding. Sixteen horses would gallop around the hippodrome track two abreast with Gee Gee in command standing astride the rear horses.

Engesser was fascinated by Arctic Wolves and Alaskan Malamute (sled dogs related to the Husky). In the 1950s she began developing an act with these canines, the act would become Gee Gee's trademark and was known as "Gee Gee's Alaskans". She would make her entrance into the ring or stage riding a sled, dressed in furs and "mukluks". For the next twenty years Gee Gee would perform the act many circuses, Gil Gray Circus, Clyde Bros., Tom Packs, Pollack Bros Circo Atayde in Mexico City and many Shrine Circuses and events

In 1983 Engesser gave up performing and began producing circuses, such as the long-running circus at Montreal, Canada's "Parc Safari"

On July 15, 2008 Georgedda Zellmar "Gee Gee" Engesser died at her home in Ruskin, Florida.

On Jan. 20, 2008 Gee Gee Engesser was inducted into the Sarasota's Circus Ring of Fame.

2007 Gee Gee Engesser was inducted into the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art .