Julius Fučík (composer)

His worldwide reputation rests primarily on two works: "Florentiner Marsch", popular throughout much of Europe and the United States, and the "Entrance of the Gladiators" (Vjezd gladiátorů), which is widely recognized, often under the title "Thunder and Blazes", as one of the most popular theme tunes for circus clowns.

In 1910, Canadian composer Louis-Phillipe Laurendeau arranged "Entrance of the Gladiators" for a small band, under the title "Thunder and Blazes."

At the time, the band was one of the finest in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and he toured with them giving concerts in Prague and Berlin to audiences of over 10,000 people.

In 1913, Fučík settled in Berlin where he started his own band, the Prager Tonkünstler-Orchester, and a music publishing company, Tempo Verlag, to market his compositions.

A 1976 barrel organ recording of Fučik’s classic march Die Regimentskinder by the C. John Mears Organisation is prominently featured in popular Atari Interactive video game RollerCoaster Tycoon.