| Charley Bauman gets credit for for re-introducing the tiger acts as we know them today but this act made it's debut a year or so earlier (1962) and was equally as impressive. |
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Robert Baudy (From Buckles)
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27 comments:
Robert Baudy had a different type of arena. For one, it used chain-link fencing and not bars. I think it also had an overhanging top (poor description) as opposed to a net. Some prop hand or cat trainer may confirm, or deny, all this.
Jim A. Robert Baudy's arena was chain link fencing that was painted bluish green. There were steel overhangs on the cage that were painted gold. His props were flat black, and had gold scroll carvings on them. In it's day, this was quite the act.
I helped to set and tear down his arena on many occasions.
Jimmy Cole
I always liked Buckles reference to the cable, chain link or wire arenas. He declared that they were working in those "bED sPRINGS". hOW TRUE.
Col. Herriott,
I appreciate how a Horse Trainer, might like an Elephant Trainer's take on a Cat Trainer's equiptment. I liked Rex's reference to spur's equally well. LOL
Best regards,
Wade Burck
Has nothing to do with training or handling, just a cute way of describing the change from "steel bared". I thought it was pretty cute. Seems like Wade is too uptight lately and I am not the crabby guy off cigarettes. I refer to the "cardboard circuses" also as described by Buckles bduring the introduction of Celotex and homasote. And of course all elephant trainers of note must have a "trick stick". Incidentally the greatest of all you guys was lovingly referred to as "pig iron shorty". So bed spring arenas was a pretty witty description.
Col.,
There was no mention of training and/or handling, I just thought it was cute, what Rex said. While we are on the subject, who was a better elephant trainer, Buckles or Rex? Just trying to do my part, in helping you get through the miserable task of stopping cold turkey. LOL
All due respect, your wrong Col. Herriott. Mr. Bottle Blonde Hulligan, was twice the trainer, Mr. Pig Iron Shorty was.
Respects,
Wade Burck
To all Historians/Experts, actual and wanta be,
What "style" is this fine act labeled? Assuming that is Florida in the background, and knowing that a hindleg walk/hop forward is a difficult behavior. "European" or "American. And why?
What "style" was this equally fine "trainer assigned? Not knowing his nationality, I am curious as I never had the pleasure of meeting him, watching him or discussing training philosophys.
Everybody join in. If you get this right, I am going to have Jimmy Cole send in the photo, he sent me, and you will learn, as Paul and the rest of us like learning, why the picture of Gibert Houcke was "not" a hindleg walk. And Jimmy will learn that the picture he sent me was not the same trick seen here, and I commend Mr Baudy, as he was skilled in both directions. And 24 hr. man and Mr. DeRittis(I miss his input), were both mistaken. Gilbert Houcke was not doing a hindleg walk forward, hopping or other wise in that picture.
What he was doing, and no disrespect, was a hindleg pivot backward's. Impressive, but not near as difficult to train as a hind leg walk forward, hopping or walking.
But you already knew that didn't you Josip Marcan, my "European college". But your "American college" brought it to your attention.
Wade Burck
Hey Wade, I made no mention of Pig Iron Shorty and his training abilities versus other people. I stick by my stetement that he was the greatest of all you guys in my estimation and bear in mind I saw him numerous times and I have seen most of you as well with better tricks, etc. but nobody captured the imagination of the public like Beatty for some fifty years. Undoubtably the European trainers were aware of him as well.
Buckles,
Is this your picture, or did somebody else send it in? I ask, because it looks like a photocopy of a scrawny Casey Canine, in raggedy shorts and clodhoppers doing the same trick.
Wade Burck
maybe the biggest reason younger trainers are so reluctant to give mr. beatty as much credit as the greatest of all is that they were never lucky enough to see him perform live. many of the younger people weren't born while beatty was alive and many of the ones who were alive at that time were not old enough to experience the excitement that beatty created right up until the end. this excitement didn't always carry through on film and video the way it did live. they simply have no way to reference beatty's stardom. if you read the comments, those of us who saw him and experienced that excitement have no hesitation about describing him as the best. his detractors, for the most part, never saw him live, but the ones who saw him and the others sem to agree that beatty had no equal.
Wade: I merely quoted the caption under a similar photo in Tiede's book that described the tiger as a hind leg walking tiger.
Only one time in my life was I mistaken about something, I thought I was wrong but I was mistaken!!!!
Henry,
I agree with you that Mr. Beatty was in a class by himself. The first time that I remember seeing him was in 1948 and after that probably saw him every 2 or 3 years, the last time being in 1964 before he went to Rochester. What a great trainer he was!
Bob Kitto
PS: The first time I ate in the cookhouse was in the early 50's. The meal was good and I was as proud as could be to have helped set it up.
24 hr. man,
Of course you weren't wrong or mistaken. It was that goofy Tiede.
Regardless of what anybody else thinks, I see your point, Billy.
Although you, I and the Col. have submitted creative patches, I'll bet Raffael, submit's a doosy.
My best,
Wade Burck
Henry's comment on Beatty was right on. Those of us who are old enough and had the privelege of seeing his awesome charismatic presentation can never forget it. He was not the aggressor in that great cage, but the defender all the while in cajoling and coaxing them thru their routines and at the climax the public was pleased that he once again came out unscathed. There was a lion or tiger that actually killed another in a fight in the cage during his act. Pretty heavy duty stuff. Yes he was the ONE AND ONLY.
I must say that Beatty had that same quick physical and mental coordination of the little blond headed guy and the media frquently pointed out that his movements were smooth similar to a professional dancer.
Henry Edgar,
I'll try sending again in a effort to not leave this hanging, and so you know I am not ignoring you. And I will attempt to make it "light"
For me the question has alway's been "the Greatest what?"
Trainer? Bouncing lion? or double hind leg tigers?
Showman? Escaping into the safety cage? or carrying a leopard around your neck out of the cage.
Presenter? Cage act? or cage act, elephant act, horse act, etc.?
Athlete? dodging bouncing lions? or backward summersault off teeterboard to elephant?
Zoo Director? Alright I'll give you Beatty.
Prettiest wife? Gunther hands down
Matinae idol? Movie? or American express commercial, and MY Father the Circus King "documentry?"
Author? Who's book did you like best?
TV personality? Ed Sullivan or Johnny Carson
Singer? I never heard Beatty. And I can only reference Boss's duet with Barbara Mandrell, and it wasn't too good.
Box office revenue? Do you have valid fiqures for the two era's X cost of living?
Wore out the most shoe sole's? Unloading at the back door? or a 25 mile animal walk?
Neatest abbreviation of name? PIS? or GGW?
Getting it done with Peta, etc. looking over your shoulder? You decide, Henry
SuperStar? You know my thought's already. Wasn't a word in the vocabulary in the 1940's.
Henry, let's put our head's together, and come up with a list of standard's. That is the only true validater of a competition. Other wise, it is opinion, and not fact. Let's raise competion above
the current one's. Let's make it a horse race, or a world series?
Hope you are well, friend
Wade Burck
To begin with it is my opinion that it is not always about tricks,. I've always believed that good tricks don't always make a good act, it is still "ain't what cha do, it's the way what cha do it". Robert was a "showman", so was Beatty, When Pat Anthony came out of the cage he staggered just enough to convince the audience, "whew" I barely made it through that, and they ate it up, Alzana was a "showman", when he reached the pedastal board. he litrally collapsed with exhaustion & relief, as if he really thought he was not going to get there safely. Look at the picture of the Col. with the grays doing the wheel, I don't inply that it is not a good trick, but the extended arm instead of whips sticking out in front of them, that's a "showman".
24 hr. man,
You sounded like a "townie" there, are you trying to adjatate Pee Wee. LOL
Let's work the 2 "big dog's" out first. Then we can move to the others. Yes, Pat was a master at that, bless him, as well as having a great "trick" act, in the fighting style, which I was going to address in my debate with Henry, but thought better of it.
I tried that Pat Anthony, stagger and gasp deal, even put a towel around my neck, and the hood up on my robe, one time, and a man we both know, told me, "quit being stupid, and just get the cages back to the stable." LOL
How's this for taking "showmanship" to another level. The flying act in a festival this winter, upon completion of their act, knelt and kissed the sawdust surface, laid a flag/cape down, re-kissed it, and then presented it to Miquel Vasquez. Prefacing all of that with a couple dozen chest crosses, heart thumps, and points to the sky. Didn't get squat!!!! Maybe sometimes it is about tricks. Lol
Your friend,
Wade
It is never just about the "tricks" though. I have a video of a cat act with some very impressive tricks, all working as smooth as silk, perfect in every way (won't say his name for fear it will be taken the wrong way, but possibly the most controlled cat act I have seen). After watching this video with a friend of mine, who is a towner, but also a successful musician and producer, he says to me "yeah, those tigers do some really neat stuff it would be great if that guy in there with them looked like he either wanted to be in there, or didn't want to be in there, his indifference really hurts his act"
Wade:
I think the flying act was a little overkill, a good act,(whether the good is tricks, or showmanship), doesn't need a milking stool.
When I was a YMCA gymnast Cetlin-Wilson Carnival came to town, an aerialist,Sport Mathews,was doing a portable cradle act in the "girl show", Reynell's Broadway Review, & LaBlondes took us to see him, also on the show was a "tossle twirler" who worked to the song, "It Ain't What You Do,etc" that is the exact title.
24 hr. man,
Milking stool is a good one. Lol. I never heard that before.
My best,
Wade Burck
perhaps wade's information might tell us why this act didn't win the award we thought it might have won with a quad. i have no problem generally with a very good act milking the applause a bit, but this takes it too far -- i would describe in another word than milking, since vasquez was also a judge.
Wade just so I know, cause I am revamping my act. How many "heart thumps" and "points to the sky" are allowed in an American/European/Swahili hybrid cat act? I don't want to go over board, but every bit helps. Being a Baptist, not Catholic, I should probably pass on the cross-o-chest thingy. What are the rules on that? I think I will pass on the kiss-o-deadly-ground as well, you never know whats in the sawdust by the second show.
Henry Edgar,
If you will recall I disqualified myself as a judge, nothing to do with honor bound or jealous as suggested, but because I am honor bound, and admitted I would be partial to animal acts.
33 years ago as a "towner" It would have probably knocked my socks off, but now that I consider myself somewhat of a "show bum", the only review I can give is what I saw in the 2 day's I was there.
If you like milking Henry, you would have loved this deal, from the elaborate church service, with the releasing of macaw's instead of doves, to the entrance of the royal family. The pointing out to me, of the various mafia nationalities comped in the high dollar boxes added to the ambiance. I can only hope the souls of the human slave and drug market, etc. etc were remembered in a prayer at the church service. That's just some of the twist available Henry, and that wasn't the question, so let's move one.
Keeping in mind that I am a guy that likes animals, this is what "I" saw. The act didn't do anything "but" the quad. About 10 mins. was spent with a dance number getting out of the white jacket's, hat's, and sunglasses(creativity in costuming as mentioned before). Which might explain the desperate "suck up" cape deal on Gala night.
I think the great aerialist Miguel Vasques, being "honor bound" not to show any impropriety or favoritism in a "valid and impartial" competition, was faced with the same dilemma I, if judging
would have been faced with if my son Adam had appeared with one tiger, and did a natural history seminar.
I would attempt to at least get him a Circus Fan's certificate, because he did show up after all, and then get him out behind the chapiteau, and ask "what the Hell were you thinking!!! Do you know what kind of a position you put me in!!! Get as angry as you want, I want to be invited back again.
Be well, friend
Wade Burck
P.S. I learned a lot from you Henry, about writing revues. Thank you.
Casey,
You can't waste any of that highline showmanship here. Save it for your appearance at the Festival O The Gods. It doesn't matter if en you are a believer or not, the public eat's up that chest crossing deal, and considering the ground there is holy and sacred, don't concern yourself now with what might be in it. What you need to concern your self with, is getting me a judges invite(don't be discouraged, at least try) if you are going to be wanting one of those gold or silver deals.
If my last post hadn't been lost, there was something in it you could have used next week at the opening with a lot of success.
Wade Burck
FOR BOB KITTO: If you return this far back, forgive me for being out of the picture for some time now, but am somewhat better now. I wanted to clear up a misconception many had about Mr. Beatty going to Rochester, indicating they thought he entered the Mayo Clinic there. He left the show there to go to Billings Hospital, in Chicago, for his first cancer surgery, and his Airstream remained behind. He wired Frank Orman to have me come to Chicago to receive my instructions. I left the show in Ft. Wayne, and joined Mrs. Beatty and Clyde, Jr., in Chicago, and we went to his room just days after the operation. He told me to take the Cadillac, drive to Rochester, pick up his trailer and return it to Weeping Willow Trailer Park, near the airport. I returned the car to them at the Shore Drive Motel, and spent that day with the Beatty family. I returned to the show in Crawfordsville, Indiana. It is understandable that even those on the show thought he was at Mayo, but it was at Billings that he had the difficult diagnosis and surgery.
Roger Smith
Hello My name is Samantha Baudy and I am the grand daughter of Robert Baudy. I would love to hear about my grandfather and his life with the animals. Also if you know of a performer known as Zerbini I am very interested. My Father Gerard Baudy worked for him.
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