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27 comments:
Were we not all young and beautiful back then? Like you say Buckles "what the f(^% happened, We all "the lucky ones" got old and beautiful.
Is there a date on this picture?
I don't think any performer should be appointed Performance Director, we all have our egos.
A person in this position with an axe to grind and with daily access to the show's owner, can present problems.
"Mr. Feld, the Flugsnort Dog Act gave me a lot of trouble today, they didn't like the parking spot, were late for spec and cut the act short".
The next day, "Mr. Feld, lots of problems with the Smiths, the Jones' and of course, the Flugsnorts."
On the third day, "Charly, what in Hell are the Flugsnorts up to today?"
I'm not saying this ever happened but the possibly existed.
Someone gave me this picture along with shots of Hugo, Heinz Nauman, etc. and I'm embarrssed to say I don't remember who or when.
I saw Charly on his first year on the show, 1964,working eight tigers. Has Lee said, it was conducting an orchestra. The exception was when he would back in the Kismet and she'd hold him and lick his head. I'm not the music expert Eric is but I remember his closing trick was walking around the cage with a tiger to "Walking my Baby Back Home". Later his acts always had some wonder latin music. A recent Buick commercial had same same type of tune and everytime I'd hear it it would remind me of his great act.
Do they still make Buicks?
From Eric (for Jim a.)
With a few exceptions, Charly Baumann’s music stayed pretty much the same after Bill Pruyn completely revised it in 1969. This is what was played during the Blue Unit's appearance in San Diego in 1978: "Artistry in Bolero," "Ritual Fire Dance," theme from the film "Man with the Golden Arm," love theme from "King Kong" (the 1970’s remake with Jessica Lange), "Look for a Star" (the theme song from a British circus film), "Festival at Bagdad" (from "Scheherazade"), "Oriental #7" (a "Lawrence of Arabia" film theme), "Shangri-La," "Tiger Exit" (adapted from Borodin’s "Polovetsian Dances") and a special fanfare which was always used for Charly Baumann’s closing bows. "The Pink Panther" theme was in the book that year and was used for a trick that was not performed while the Circus was in San Diego. (The tiger that performed this trick was being given time off to recuperate from a bout of lameness.)
They sure do. The Buick Open was on TV yesterday and guess who won -- Tiger Woods.
See, this all fits together.
Jim A I got a marriage purposel in a BUICK convertable in 1969. The marriage only lasted 26 years. I never took his last name as I knew the marriage wouldn't last. I will never drink that much at one time again. Give me a cage of wild cats anyday.
Benny Bennett loved telling this story about Heinz Nauman, who was at the Compound for a time. Heinz insisted each of his cats had to have a full hind quarter each day. Uncle Ben would never have let him get into the meat like that, but he was off on a Tarzan picture. When he came back, the whole place smelled of the rot of an entire pile of left-over hind quarters. Once his cats had eaten their fill, Nauman pulled the rest and threw over a ton of meat in a ditch. The men from California Rendering angrily picked it up, rather forcefully pressing the hapless Heinz into service.
Harold Ronk, for a season finale gag, announced him as "Charly Bow-wow", and Charly Bow-wow didn't like it.
"dutchess42 said...
Do they still make Buicks?"
Yes... In Mexico.
Eric,
Thanks for the list of Charly's music, it would make a great CD. Shangra-La was the music for the sit-up on the mirrored ball and the Fire Dance for the double flaming hoop jump. The Pink Panther Theme was used when the tiger did the "bottle walk". As the cat stepped on a cylinder it would light up. Maybe the Tiger Exit music was for the hind-leg walks, or hops. Great music for a great act.
Rebecca: Do you recall what was playing on the radio of that infamous Buick in 1969?
What radio? My favorite song 26 years later was. "PUT ANOTHER LOG ON THE FIRE, THEN TELL ME WHY YOU ARE LEAVING ME>"
I used to sit in a chair at the tunnel where Charlie would make his entrance, we'd chat n the dark there while awaiting his announcement. Every night at the first bars of his music he'd hand me the whip and say, "Wouldn't you like to go in there for me tonight," and then walk into the spotlight. Fond memories of when I ran away and joined the Circus.
Just looking at all the comments about Charly and Harold Ronk the past few days. They might have set some Blog record for interest.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd love to hear Harold announce Charly one more time and then enjoy a marvelous presentation of animal training. The new show may have better sound and lighting but Harold's voice and a few spots on the mirrored ball with the tiger haven't been topped.
Buckles, RE: Performers in higher positions, one time when I was working for Paul, he wasn't on the floor, the High Wire Act came in, we shook hands, and said our hellos. He asked me where I wanted the riggings, I said, "put the High Wire across here, & the incline motorcycle, from that point up to that girder." reply, "can't do it,won't work, no way". Enter Paul Kaye, Same routine, same question, Paul's instructions were word for word the same as mine, the acts answer, "fine, no problem", I wanted to kick him in the ass.
I had the pleasure of attending Harold's inauguration into the Ring of Fame, unfortunately he was too ill to attend.
As soon as I saw the ballot I knew he would be selected and afterward, as usual, the matter of financing the plaque ($2,500)was brought up.
I volunteered to write Kenneth Feld a letter explaining the situation and asked him if he would be interested in being Harold's sponsor.
I never got a reply.
Today, Aug 8th. The Dallas Morning News has Harold's obit. Same as the one here on the blog .Red Show moved to Ft Worth yesterday.
To Buckles: Re Kenny never responding to your thoughts on Harold's plaque--the equivalent among Hollywood's power elite is, "power is not having to reply". Arrogance embraces arrogance.
Which leads us to the board of the Hall of Fame in Peru: The 7/30/06 issue of Backyard details your induction of Kenny Feld into your International Circus Hall of Fame.
Kenny Feld?
Do any of you know what circus meant to Peru, Indiana? Do any of you know what Kenny has done to the title he owns? I can't wait to see what reply someone there will come up with for the question I ask here--have you local circus fans completely lost your minds?
Kenny Feld?
No matter how much some folks still say "Ringling Bros., Baumann & Bailey," whenever I hear "Shangri
La," something of the magic he used to create in the cage floats through my memory as the very essence of CIRCUS!
In 78, Tiger Joe's wife was sick with cancer and he couldn't go out with Charly any longer. I remember Charly asking me to work for him in Joe's place. I was quite honored to be asked by him, as I was taking care of Jewell New's lions. I'm very lucky to have worked for Trainers like Buckles and Charly. Jewell learned most everything from Charly.
I have to admit my initial response to kenny being named to the Hall Of Fame was the same as Roger. You start thinking of the people who have never even been nominated, much less elected-- then you think -- Kenny Feld? after what has happened to Ringling under his leadership, would even his own father have voted for him? After the incredible shrinking shows and the firing of people like Alan Bloom, who played such key roles in helping Irvin take Ringling to the heights he took it? Kenny Feld?
This is private to Buckles: The picture of Charly reminds me of my debt to those who helped me in circus. Would you like a copy of my Dan Rice book? I'd be happy to send you one. Just let me know
IF this gets posted on Buckles Web Log by mistake, let me clarify my offer: I will send a copy of my book to anyone who put me on Anna May to teach me how to ride an elephant AND who welcomed me into his trailer at Big Apple for a visit even though it meant stopping watching the Boston College-Miami "Hail Mary" football game, a feat of politeness so magnificent that it deserves more than a book.
To Barry the Lighting Guy: This is interesting, since such stories are legion--but I remain unclear on your point. Who threw the clown against the wall?
I enjoyed reading about Charly Barnum and Harold Ronk and I also enjoy the pictures of the various performers through the years.
Thanks
Bro. J. Francis Dolphin, M.M.
Maryknoll Missioners
Casilla 550
Cochabamba, Bolivia
jfrancisdolphin@yahoo.com
To Barry The Lighting Guy: Thanks for your answer. I asked because just before my act, a guy was telling me about the 1956 Beatty show. Mr. Beatty hired Duncan Renaldo, The Cisco Kid, to help draw crowds in that disastrous season. Cisco didn't help, and it came to words between he and Mr. Beatty. The story was that one said, "You aren't much of a draw these days", and he knocked the crap out of him. Just then, I was on, the storyteller disappeared, and I never have known who made the crack and who hit who. I always love to know who is who.
And no, Harold Ronk wasn't one to nail someone. But I eyeball witnessed this: In Dallas, three wire-walkers were supposed to do simultaneous forward somersaults. The Center Ring guy, in two consecutive shows, threw back somersaults. Harold followed him into the ocrridor and said, "I announced you'd do a forward". The guy said, "Hell, the people don't know." Harold said, "The people don't know a forward from a backward?" The guy said, "The dummies never know." And Harold said, "Fine, then the dummies can do without your announcement."
By the way, "the guy" has a name, but as everyone knows, I'm the paragon of diplomacy.
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