Mstislav Zapashny #1 (From Henry Penndorf)

I had to smile by a comment that Mr. Strong posted on his "Yesterday's Town" Blog for his post of "Snapshots: Penny Ran Across These, Don't Know Where They Came From". In answering a poster's comment, Mr Strong said, "Besides would I put a date without checking with Encyclopedia Woodcock". Your knowledge is approaching legendary status. I believe that at one time Gunther Gebel-Williams took two tigers up on a swing during his act. Mark Oliver Gebel like his dad, also used the tiger on swing in his tiger act.For Todd P. and Larry Allen Dean...Attached are two pictures of Nikolai Pavlenko performing, complete with his tuxedo and conductor's baton. I don't know when those pictures were taken. I do have some pictures of him in more colorful costumes.I have also attached two pictures of another Russian animal trainer, Mstislav Zapashny. His act is likes of something that I have never seen. It is even more unique than the four lions riding on horseback. Apparently the entire act takes place while both the trainer and his animals balance on large mirrored balls. If I read the article correctly, the act starts out with showgirls balancing on the mirrored balls, who are then replaced by the tigers. At one point of the act, the tigers create a bridge from ball to ball. Each tiger placing their front paws on the ball next to them, balancing between the two balls.For John H... When I asked about pictures of Flavio presenti! ng tigers with Ringling Brothers, I was not quite sure if he did or not. When I saw him perform with Ringling Brothers the only cage act he presented was a mixed act consisting of a white rhino and a black leopard. I did read that when Flavio joined Ringling Brothers, he brought with him fifteen elephants, forty-two horses, two tigers, a rhino and a black leopard. Also in an issue of the "White Tops" magazine (Volume 67, January-February 1994), Mike Cecere in his chronicling of "Ringling Brothers Big Cat and Elephant Trainers" credits Flavio with presenting with a rhino/tiger act in 1990 and 1991. Those facts led me to believe that Flavio may have been working on a tiger act and it was added after he left New York or in the second year of the 120th Edition's tour. I know he presents a tiger act now in his American Circus.Mr. Cecere also in his article states that in 1989, Jerry Wesman brought over a mixed act to finish out t! he Blue Unit's tour after Larry Allen Dean took his lion act to Japan that summer with the then Gold Unit. He said Mr. Wesman went back after that year's tour finished. Any more information on him? Any pictures?The former Ringling Brothers' employee, Archele Hundley, who testified at the hearing in Buffalo, New York asking to ban elephants in circuses, appears to be making the rounds. Appearing on behalf of PETA, with another former Ringling Brothers' employee, Robert Tom, took their tales of abuse to the North Carolina area where Ringling Brothers is appearing. Ms. Hundley has changed her tactics somewhat. Armed with a PETA video, she is not asking for a ban on elephants, but asking that bullhooks and chains be banned. There is a Wavy TV-10 news video of her statements before the committee that accompanies the a news article.WAVY TV 10 - News, Weather, Traffic, Sports for Hampton Roads, Virginia - North Eastern North ! Carolina - Former Ringling Bros. employees allege animal abuse; circus dismisses accusationsTwo questions...I was looking through some old circus programs yesterday and came across a Hamid-Morton program from 1982. The program list a wild animal trainer, Prince Marcanna, presenting a mixed group of sixteen tigers, two lions an a rare white tiger. Are you familiar with the name? Did Josip Marcan ever perform under the name Prince Marcanna?The second question...Are Katja Schumann and Paul Binder still together? Thank you, Henry