Teresa Morales was born on March 28, 1913 to circus parents Concha and Martin Morales. Teresa and her two older brothers Felix and Pedro all became circus performers.
Pedro performed a balancing act in circuses and vaudeville. Felix, a wire walker became famous for his act where he slid down a inclined wire while balancing on his head,
Teresa thrilled audiences with her "heel and toe trapeze act", where she would dive from the trapeze bar catching herself by her heel or toes. She was the featured performer many of the major circuses in the United States.
In September of 1943 while performer with the Polack Bros. Circus in El Paso, Texas, Teresa sustained serious injuries when she fell from the trapeze, . Teresa was hospitalized with a fractured skull and remained in a coma for more than three weeks. Once regaining consciousness, she suffered from amnesia for a short period. Teresa was released from the hospital on October 22, 1943 and stated that she was determined to return too the trapeze.
Teresa married circus concessionaire C. J. Machett.
The couple had three beautiful daughters - Cathy, Juanita Teresa and Victoria "Vicky".
C. J. Matchett died on January 06, 1992.
Teresa Morales Matchett passed away at age 86 on January 29, 2000, in Tampa, FL. |
