Thursday, October 12, 2006

Pat Anthony #2


"June 1972: Miller-Johnson Circus".

Posted by Buckles at 10/12/2006 10:46:00 AM

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

That globe ended up with Dave Hoover, and sat in his garage for years. After Dave passed away earlier this year, his wife Lois contacted me about trying to sell that and other cat act equiptment.

That globe and some pig iron cat seats are now the proud possesion of Vince and Pom Pom Von Duke.

Will we see a globe rolling cat next year Vince?

From what I have heard, that globe may have a history on Ringling prior to Pat Anthony getting it. By the way, Larry Allen Dean got the barrel.

12 October, 2006 14:11
Anonymous said...

I heard a woman bought Pat's arena with plans to use it, but sat in her trailer knitting sweaters. I never knew who this was, or if it was true. Bill Johnston told me he designed this arena at 35' diameter by 13' in height, and that it was built by Eddie Billetti. Anyone know where it resides today?

12 October, 2006 15:47
Anonymous said...

In the winter of 2001, I picked up 2 young male lions at Roxy's place in Trenton, Fl. These were to be used in Dave Hoover's act for the L.E. Barnes show. While I was up at Roxy's, I noticed a bar style arena stacked up near the cat compound. It sure looked like Pat's old arena.

12 October, 2006 19:37
Anonymous said...

Pat would open with the globe and then get it and the track out. Then the tigers would do the fire hoop, the finish cat leaping over the hoop almost out of the arena, and they'd go in their cages. There was a bit of a lull as Pat pushed the tiger seats out of the center. At the Kansas City Shrine date Jack Cervone had the band. After a matinee I heard Pat talk with Jack.
Pat said as he pushed the seats back he had "an irresistible urge to dance." Pat said it was caused by Jack's musical selection and he asked, "don't you have any jungle music?"

No Eric, I don't remember the songs. I do remember on Polack the tigers came in to March of the Siamese Children.

Pat Anthony was the first big cat act I saw when he was on Polack. He had a lioness roll the globe up an inclined track. Who can forget Rita , the lioness that did a rapid roll-over -- almost feet to feet, that was in the movie "Jumbo". His style of presentation didn't change with the times but he was a great trainer.

12 October, 2006 20:33
Bob Cline said...

I know some of the props ended up at Delores Newman's place near Tampa, Fl. She had started to move her collection to South Carolina and some of the props came to Lexington, SC along with many of the animals. Then the AAZPA found out and said no to moving the animals as almost all of them were AAZPA surplus stock. The props stayed in SC.
Bob

12 October, 2006 23:14
Anonymous said...

Rita's rollover was unforgettable as the most eye-catching and energetic I ever saw work. After many seasons, Rita finally hurt her back, and Bill Johnnston told me to Pat's everlasting credit, he immediately retired her.

13 October, 2006 15:30

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