Philip St. Leon

Philip St. Leon (189023 June 1958), known by the stage name Phil Wirth, was an Australian circus and vaudeville performer. He was associated with the St. Leon and Wirth circus families.

Early life Philip Vincent St. Leon was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1890.

His father was Gus St. Leon. He grew up in a circus family and was a member of the St. Leon Circus troupe at a young age.

Career During the 1902 and 1903 seasons, he was part of the Gus St. Leon troupe with the Ringling Brothers Circus.

Phil was a comic circus horseback rider. He first joined the May Wirth equestrian troupe in Australia.

He moved to the United States in 1916 to appear with the May Wirth troupe of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

In 1917, he married Stella Wirth, who was part of the troupe. That year, he joined the three-ring Hunt Bros. Circus. His wife was an organist for the Hunt Bros. band.

His death was from a heart attack in his bed at the Hunt Bros. Circus grounds at Meriden's Hanover Park.

Legacy Phil St. Leon spent 30 years with the Hunt Bros. Circus. Harry T. Hunt, proprietor of the circus, considered him to be one of the finest performers in circus history.