Monday, October 16, 2006

Ladies of the steel arena #1 (Vol 1. from Jim Cole Collection)


mabrl, originally uploaded by buckleswoodcock.

Mabel Stark from a Jungleland Post Card

Posted by Buckles at 10/16/2006 02:18:00 PM

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

This big guy was Prince, one of Mabel's cats before my time there. The canvas panels hanging from the Red Forbes-built arena were movie set dressings just for the picture. Parley Baer gave this wardrobe to the Sarasota Hall of Fame, but Kim has the cape in her closet. This post card can sometimes be found on eBay.

16 October, 2006 15:33
Anonymous said...

Is this the same King that Chharlie had on the 1969 Blue? The "Pisser?"

16 October, 2006 20:44
Anonymous said...

For those of us who did not have the privilege of knowing this remarkable woman, and have only seen black and white photos, this color shot is a real treat. It makes her so much more real.

17 October, 2006 04:28
Anonymous said...

Buckles you have really hit the jackpot in your latest display of pictures of lady wild animal trainers in just the number of comments that we are seeing. I note that two of the five were born in the circus but all of them have spent a lifetime in total dedication to their craft and certainly not for the monetary rewards. That is why the so-called animal rights people and peta will never rule the day. We know that Mabel Stark had been a professional nurse but the lure of animals and working with them ,especially tigers, was the focus of her entire life and when she was informed that she could no longer be with her tigers she found that life was no longer worth living. The circus and its animals have captured the imagination of so many people from all walks of life be they rich or poor. Wealthy men such as Tony Diano, John Cuneo, oil man Frank Walters and his Excellency Prince Rainer, to name just a few, along with people of modest means and even very poor have been so intrigued by this phenomanen that it has been the central part of their lives. My father and my wife being among them. Especially the circus going public that have been so faithful for hundreds of years. I still feel so sad toward that lady who was so brain washed and gave her life for her love of elephants not having the opportunity of really being part of the joy and fellowship that we enjoy. They say that he parents approved of her lifestyle and dedication, but so did the parents of Eloise and supported her and understood her life's commitment. Its wonderful that we all know each other and know of those that preceeded us. Yes this animal tights group are a minority on the outside looking in and in some cases I believe with envy. But they will not prevail when there will still be those coming up just like the five you have depicted. I daresay that the overwhelming popularity of this blog is watched by this other group as well and maybe some of them will realize how foolish they are. Well as usual I talk too much but thanks for putting up with me.

17 October, 2006 10:31
Anonymous said...

And now on to Sue Lenz and her wonderful life in pictures. It is just great and what I have been saying is all about.

17 October, 2006 10:36
Anonymous said...

John, It seems like JOANNA's death is also still on you mind. If this senseless, avoidable, tragady had happened on a circus or at a zoo we would still be reading about it in the papers and on petas web site. It seems to me to have been swept under the rug by all branchs of government as their stupidy about the care and needs of the elephants was brought to light over Joannas death. I read where all kinds of jobs have opened up in Tenn. Who in their right mind would work in that envirement where your life means nothing as long as the elephants are not thrown into pts. The trama to much for them to bear if god forbid they were ever corrected. Just do as you are told by someone who could care less about your personal safety. Just the kind of job sane people are going to flock to apply for. I also rattle on when something means the world to me.

17 October, 2006 16:18
Anonymous said...

To Karen: It was a privilege, indeed, but it would never had happened if not for her top animal man, the mainstay and Guardian Angel for Jungleland, Benny Bennett. He was leaving on vacation not long after my arrival, and cleared it with Mabel for me to assist her in his place. I delayed my other cagework by standing and observing he and Mabel's routine for a week. When Uncle Ben came back 2 weeks later, Mabel told him I had done exactly what she needed. I was in with Mabel the next 3 1/2 years, and consulted with her on tiger cubs just 4 days prior to her decision to leave us.

Eloise I knew only from the 3 or 4 times she pulled in to get meat, vegetables, and bedding for her act, once when I visited her on the road, and that date for Castle in '73. Anyone can tell you, with her there was never any barriers, no hesitation to say hello, no suspicions about your presence (as we sometimes notice with others)--just open, quiet conversation like you'd grown up together.

To George McPherson--This tiger? No, this guy was before Charly's time here. We did get a big tiger from Charly, which bore his name, and which Dick McGraw and I worked into a 5-tiger act. Charly was a massive male whom co-owner Tex Scarbrough mistook for Suka, an elderly, declawed Bengal female. Tex nonchalantly rested his foot on the wash-out gutter, and Charly instantly clawed his foot in through the footboard and tore Tex's leg off below the knee. Tex survived, but about a year later, Charly, mysteriously, did not.

17 October, 2006 21:08
Anonymous said...

In re: cats from the 1969 Blue. To give you the correct perspective, I meant to add that Jungleland's last owners engineered us into bankruptcy and we were auctioned off by federal court order, on October 8 and 9, 1969. After this last transition, Louis Goebel decided against taking the place back again, and the Compound was relegated to history.

17 October, 2006 21:14
GaryHill said...

VERY WELL SAID, Mr. Herriott!

17 October, 2006 22:09
Unknown said...

I remember a time when we had a big BBQ at Uncle Albert and Aunt Cleo's house across from Jungleland. Mabel Stark, Arky Scot, Frank Phillips,Mr. Horne ,Dick McGraw and so many others were there. We played a big spinning wheel, pinochle, and chug-a lug. This was the family I knew growing up...

02 September, 2012 23:44

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