Career
Born in Berlin, just three months before the dramatic regime change of 1933, after leaving school Heinz Matloch trained for work as a Blacksmith, which would have prepared him to follow his father"s trade. Instead of that, however, he went on to take a job in the "Props department" with the Barlay Circus. Here, between 1950 and 1954, he worked as an Animal Carer with Gilbert Houcke.
In 1954 he was appointed an Animal Trainer with the Aeronautical Circus, which in 1960 merged with the Barlay Circus to form the State Circus of East Germany.
Between 1960 and 1990 he was the chief Animal Trainer with the State Circus. His comedy act "Rasierlöwen" ("Lions shaving") became particularly well known, and was featured in 1966 by the National Film Company in a film entitled "Black Panthers".
Following reunification in 1990 the State Circus was dissolved. Hanno Coldam died in 1992.
