Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Clyde Beatty Collection #3


clyde beatty, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Posted by Buckles at 4/23/2008 05:52:00 AM

28 comments:

Wade G. Burck said...

Buckles,
There is one of those flat plated lashes Roger Smith mentioned some time ago. Lou Reagan used them also, and you don't see them anymore. Lou liked them because the could lay the whip on his shoulder, to move props and it stayed on better then a round lash.
Wade Burck

23 April, 2008 08:23
Anonymous said...

I am sure that us that are old enough remember him just like this photo.

23 April, 2008 08:52
Anonymous said...

Wade, Beatty never moved any furniture.

23 April, 2008 09:05
Wade G. Burck said...

Johnny,
No kidding. They were too heavy to move without a crew. And you couldn't use prop boy's like you can with heavy elephant tubs. What is your point? When you sit "one" up on a pedestal, roll "one" over, and bounce the rest, you don't need the space or training skills that you need to "sit" 16 up on the ground,(did he have one that didn't sit up on a pedestal?) or roll 8 over, or walk 3 on their hind legs(did he have any?) or imagine "corbetts"(I know he didn't have any.) If you understood animal behavior, to reference bouncing a lion as feline training, you would realize it would be the same as referencing a bucking horse as horse training. And those rodeo cowboys are incredible trainers.
But Beatty is an excellent example of how wild animal "training" has advanced to today. Elephant training has pretty much stayed the same, but horses alas, have deteriorated. So sad.
Wade Burck

23 April, 2008 10:22
Roger Smith said...

When Clyde Beatty took over the mixed lion-and-tiger act from Pete Taylor, in 1925, on Hagenbeck-Wallace, he came into his own. Because of his flash, his singular ability to sell a wild animal act like no one else, he was an immediate sensation. The public never cared what the act had or didn't have, they came to see Clyde Beatty. As his fame became secure, John Ringling brought him to the Garden dates from 1931 to 1934. When Nero nailed him in 1932, Mr. John delayed the Garden opening another full week to give Beatty further time to heal up and get the act in shape. There was plenty of act in the cage, but it was Clyde Beatty the crowds wanted in the cage, and John Ringling, indeed, put his name in lights. Once the Garden dates were played, Beatty returned to H-W for the canvas tour, and people stressed by the depths of the Depession spent admission money to see him. Because of Beatty's drawing power, the mighty Ringling show borrowed money from H-W to stay on the road, because the money was where Beatty was. When he left the Ringling titles over disputes with Sam Gumpertz, in the winter of 1934, hard-nosed bankers lent money to Adkins and Terrell, the sole reason being they had Clyde Beatty's name in ink, and the "miracle" Cole show was structured for 1935. There was one caveat--since the Gump wouldn't sell Beatty's act, it was not could he form another act, since it was assured he could--but could he guarantee the dramatic highlight only he could sell as he did--a rollover tiger? He promised it and delivered. Bill Johnston and I were talking about others with their multi-rollovers, and about Beatty, Bill put it best: "One was all he needed."

We all have our favorite trainers, but a point is being missed here. The public doesn't know or care about trainer's tricks--hind-leg walks, monkey-roll tigers, floored sit-ups. These things, to us, are nice, very appealing and deserving of respect and applause--but the public wants an impactful, electrifying trainer to present an unforgettable performance, and not great tricks shown by somebody walking around like a potato farmer. When Beatty's audiences went home, they took his name with them. The names of the others, including mine, were forgotten before the people got to the parking lot.

On the A&E Circus Special, a woman trainer used her opportunity to contribute to history by discounting Beatty's act for what it didn't include. What it included was projection, charisma, and the lasting capacity to grip and maintain the public's imagination, leading to indelible fame which remained in a circus title 38 years after his passing. Her name, and those of most of us, did not achieve this. Some of us recognize this and some of us do not.

In regard to moving furniture, Beatty moved two props--the seat Duke, the barrel-roller, aimed for in his dismount. Beatty carried it aside, then rolled the barrel to the back, and that was that. As for the lions being run out, no. They stayed in for the 10-lion laydown he had in my time with him. When he broke up the lay-down, all hell broke loose with it until he sorted them out to me on his tunnel door, culminating in the door bounce by Pharoah. And the patrons went home knowing who Clyde Beatty was by name. They came back to see him over his 40 seasons, and they came back knowing why.

Roger Smith

24 April, 2008 15:00
Anonymous said...

Wade, you are lost or so jealous its bugging you. I pointed out that Mr. Beatty closed a season in late Fall, Got together some twenty, p0lus, lions and tigers and opened in Detroit in a repeat engagement from the year before in January with all new animals and was again a wildly heralded feature. You have not commented on that. I wonder why. I would like to see you acquire some twenty cats, not cubs, in September and present them as an act in Evansville. Incidentally when Beatty did this n WNTQTRS. It was he and not other trainers. This has all been documented. A suggestion to a famous tiger trainer; A spinning tiger always tears the house down. Freak trick or not Beatty always had one. Yes he did work Polar bears and we ave a photo with him and a trained Hippo. He also did riding tiger and lion on elephant for his wife. Beatty had the competition of Alfred Court and so many others during a 45 yr. career. He did it every season, at least two a day, seven days a week. Look at yourself in the mirror when you get so pompous. Have cat acts deteriorated in the years? Yes, because we have not had any Clyde Beattys to fill the void. Gunther did add that exdcitement in the cage and that is sadly about it. Keep up the good work and advise me about high school riding and training, or any other saddle training and riding when you have done it yourself. I am 77 yrs. old and counting down.

24 April, 2008 17:49
Anonymous said...

Thanks Roger for your very informative circus history. I am amazed that a wild animal trainer would have the gall to try to put down Mr. Beatty. He never knocked any of his fellow vtrainers and I like the recent photo of him with all the guys visiting Thousand Oaks and he was at the top of the field at that btime. You and Red Hartman would both be a good review of just how great he was, in and out of the cage. I can verify just a little of that. I have heard the Beatty knocks over the years, but I must give my view before it comes believable.

24 April, 2008 18:22
Harry Kingston said...

Well I see Harry Giv'em Hell Truman has returned on this blog.
Congrats to Col Johnny and Roger Smith for there praise of Mr. Circus, the one the only Clyde Beatty. The man that put the "C" in cat training.
Maybe some out there with alot of $$$$$$ would like to see a 20 mixed cat act again.
You two guys keep the torch buring as Mr. Beatty is my favorite circus star of all time and what a star he was and the likes we will not see again.
Harry

24 April, 2008 18:59
Anonymous said...

Johnny,
The first time I say Clyde was on the Johnny Jones Carnival in the early 40's. Until this day I think that he was the premier big cat trainer of all time. Yes there were other trainers that had some tricks that wowed the audiences, but they did not have the variety or penache that was Clyde's forte.
I wish that Ole Whitey would weigh in on this, as I suspect that he has some stories that would let us know how great that Clyde was.
Bob Kitto

24 April, 2008 20:06
Wade G. Burck said...

Johnny,
I didn't realize you were waiting for a comment about getting the cats together and going to Detroit. Maybe you don't realize I am waiting for your answer on a number of things also. In regard to Detroit, heres the best I can come up with. It may or may not be what you are looking for.
In 1978 I had to fly into Oklahoma City to work the first white tiger act with 17 animals. I was in Florida at the time, when a call came in that the cats were enroute to Oklahoma and I had to be there in 3 days. 8 of the tigers, I hadn't worked in 4 months, and 9 I had never worked with. The man who did train the 9 let the assistant who was to work the act, get mauled severely. It was a career ending injury. I arrived in Oklahoma, had one practice, and opened with that tiger also. I was 23, John. An experienced old timer handed me that. AND SO WHAT JOHN. BIG DEAL. In July of 2002 a few years later, an man showed me 2 15 minute practices with 7 tigers, and left. Because another act was not ready, I had to have 15 ready for your Evansville in November. Again, I know that is 4 1/2 months, and only 15, but that's the best I can offer to you. I know it had those stupid hind leg walks, and 15 sitting up on the floor, that the people don't like, but cut me some slack. You have put so much emphasis on time in this debate, I can almost guess who has been wild animal training you, and telling you the world is ready for a big fighting act. And he is not very good John. Do you want your mirror back? Jealousy, John? Pompous, John? That's not the belittling deal you mentioned I do, is it? No, I didn't think so. You would have to be a little pompous and jealous to belittle don't you think, and I have just asked questions to find a standard?
Tell you what John. I'll make a big grand Beatty act, if you make a Gran Prix Dressage horse?
I know I have worked with more horses, then you have cats, so what? That's not been an issue for me. Elephants? I don't know? But I do know in a couple of days when they are developed, you can see pictures of my 3 year old son and I working an elephant that was deemed "unmanageable", later in 1993, and spent the rest of her life in a "non contact" world, similar to some zoo's, that we frown on so much. Her name is Billie, and she has been featured and spoke of on this blog in the past. Jealousy? Maybe there is some of that, John?
Regards,
Wade Burck

24 April, 2008 21:22
Anonymous said...

WoW! Col., Wade, Rog, WoW!....Hey Anyone want to see a picture of a 5-legged sheep??.....I guess not...OK..I'll sit back down now..Um sorry....Jim Z

24 April, 2008 23:59
henry edgar said...

i've been trying to stay out of this round because i know that the only way wade would say anything good about clyde beatty would be if he found out beatty's mother was from a european family. i have no idea where this mckinnon person got the idea beatty never trained his own cats -- and i don't know when he became an authority. i don't even know who he is other than the fact that he's published a few booklets he paid for himself, which anyone can do. it's amazing that the people knocking beatty are mostly people who never saw him perform. i'm proud to have known beatty and i know what his place in history is. none of us will be around to read the history books a hundred years from now, but i think his place is more strongly assured than some of these european trainers who have all these awesome tricks that impress other trainers but fail to fill the seats. beatty impressed millions of people who bought tickets to see him. he did something no other animal trainer has ever done: he filled the seats. it is a crime to see his name drug through the mud like this.

25 April, 2008 00:30
Anonymous said...

Bob Kitto: My wife's niece and her family have been visiing from California and I didn't know about this dust-up until this morning.

Billposters like me don't know anything about animal training but I see that some guys who do know about it defended Beatty's rep very well.

The only comment I would add at this late date would be to repeat something I have said on the Blog before: watching Beatty work was pure magic.

25 April, 2008 09:23
Anonymous said...

I did not request any comment. I was only stating a fact, well documented. That you made a comparison with yourself is up to you. Obviously in your comment you don't seem to be impressed by Mr. Beatty's accomplishment and instead try to put yourself the center of attention. You are not aware of this fact also.

The great Peter Taylor had a ferocious fighting lion act by all legit. reports and was a big feature with the AMC. It is said by various sources for some reason or other he dropped out or quit his act at an inopportune time and the owner-management was in a quandry to replace this sensational act and trainer.[a side note. My fathers first circus as a runaway was a lowly groom on the Jones Bros. and Wilson Circus where Taylor was the feature and related to me what a fast, furious and sensational act it was and that Taylor dressed in a White military uniform and would come out of the cage wringing wet with sweat. Sound familiar] Now the young Clyde Beatty had been a nondescript cage boy, apprentice and convinced circus Manager Danny Odum that he could take over Taylors act, and he did, white uniform and all for about a season and then he was off and running and never looked back.

Obviously you seem either bitter or frustrated in reading between the lions. Your comment about the Potentates underwear made me realize that probably over 80 per cent of your career has been on various Shrine Circuses where in reflection mine has been pretty much the exact opposite. I am quite comfortable in my own skin in retirement and proud of the recognition I have received. I have never made any claims as to being anything great and even like to point out the great achievements of those in my profession. And also my respect for those not so great or recognized were also in the trenches and can say that all of my direct competitors over the years have been friends. Yes I can look in that mirror. But I am sure you will have your thoughts, ideas and opinions and not that you have commented the same on your and Buckles blog. I will equally have my opinions, and will not hesitate to call a spade a spade. Incidentally, I have never referred to myself as Col. professionally or otherwise. Sincerely, johnny

25 April, 2008 09:50
Anonymous said...

What do you mean how wild animal training has gotten better in the modern times. We have had Court, Mathis and great trainers here and Buckles blog has shown some awesome pictures of great cat acts, trainers and routines of which I have not seen duplicated. I am quite aware of the strtch and ground sit up of multiple groups of tigers as it seems to be quite common in tiger acts today along with tigers on their hind legs. I wish you would refrain from the use of the Spainish Riding school word "corbette". A tiger doing a jump on its hind legs is just that, as is a dog, a bear, etc. I have not seen the jumps and rolls of GGW and doubt if I ever will. I believe since Cuneo invented the erector set pyramid,leap prop that all Cuneo consist of pretty much the same designated John Cuneo routine with elephants as well. Josip Marcan has certainly changed the norm by doing complete acts without any props. I assume that would give him additional credentials to those he already has.

25 April, 2008 10:21
Anonymous said...

Something the "Beatty-Bashers" have missed: When Beatty worked (up until his last few years) there was NO penicillin! Not importent until you get clawed, but then it becomes DAMNED important!

25 April, 2008 10:23
Anonymous said...

I'm certainly not a Clyde Beatty basher...He was the single biggest name in circus for forty years. But I'll defend McKennon trouped on the Peru shows and had no axe to grind. He was simply a contrarian on the subject of Beatty as a trainer. If Roger saw CB train animals for the act, that's good enough for me. Moreover if he'd never trained an animal it wouldn't diminish his status as a legend still capable of inspiring spirited debate forty years after his death.

Ben

25 April, 2008 10:47
Anonymous said...

I see a mention above of Joe McKennon's remarks to the effect that Beatty never trained his cats. Joe once described himself to me as a wagon-and-car builder but I think he also put some time in on concessions. The point being that he had somewhat limited direct knowledge of the training that went on at Peru.

During the years when management insisted that Beatty's act go for bigger and bigger numbers, it would only make sense to use some the talents of the other trainers in quarters (for instance Bobby McPherson surely worked with some of the tigers added to the act). I imagine Joe was just repeating some comment he heard at the time about Beatty needing help with the training.

But to get back to Beatty's abilities with cats, Alva Johnson told the following story. Early in 1951 Beatty's prized rollover and spinner "Sleika" was killed at the Detroit date. Beatty ordered two new adult tigers from Henry Trefflich and these were shipped directly from India to the show, arriving on the lot between performances.

Beatty immediately had them put in the arena and went in with them- and in short order was able to get enough of a response from one of them to realize he had a rollover. He came out of the arena laughing and yelling, "I've got one!" and in a few days "Saber" debuted as the rollover tiger and remaining in the act for years.

To an old billposter this sounds a lot like a pretty skilled cat man at work.

25 April, 2008 11:32
Anonymous said...

Let me insert something here that Rick Pfening said about Mr Beatty in one of his eBay listings:

"He was the single most famous circus performer in America from the early 1930s until his death in 1965, and only Gunther Gabel-Williams became more famous, and GGW had the Ringling publicity machine behind him in the era of mega-media while Beatty worked on RBBB only a few times and only in Madison Square and Boston Garden before the era of a thousand television stations hungry for content.

"If you saw his act, you would know after two minutes why he was at the top of his profession for close to 40 years. He was energy and danger personified.There was nothing so thrilling as watching him exit the cage at the end of the act, making it out a nano-second before a killer lion with bad intentions was about to impale his claws in Beatty's head.

"It was theater of the highest order. When he finished his act he was drenched with sweat. You'd think he'd just gone through the most traumatic experience of his life. It was magnificent, and he did it twice a day for forty years. It was amazing.

"People praise Gunther Gabel-Williams with good reason and he was clearly great and gifted, but if you saw Beatty you know the German wasn't one-tenth the showman that the boy from Bainbridge, Ohio was.

"We won't see his likes again."

25 April, 2008 12:21
Wade G. Burck said...

Johnny,
The date Clyde Beatty was getting those cat's ready for was in Detroit, I believe you said? Was that a sponsored date? Is so who was the sponsor? Johnny, I am not bitter, frustrated, or jealous. And I think our careers were more similar and alike then you realize. Example: I was with Ringling and so were you. I was there for 7 years? I don't recall how long you were there?
I am sure we can find other examples of the similarities in our career, but lets start with clearing up these things I don't know first, so we don't loose track.
Regards,
Wade Burck

25 April, 2008 14:57
Anonymous said...

When Detroit is mentioned among all circus people since the turn of the last century it would mean the Moslah Temple Shrine circus, of which Mr. bEATTY HEADLINED FOR SOME THIRTY YEARS with without a doubt the greatest acts in circus biz. and would be followed by the exciting John Tarzan Zerbini, who also tore the house down with his unique presentation.Its odd to me that you having been in the mainstream would not be aware of "DETROIT" and assumed you had played it at one time. Next case.

25 April, 2008 16:14
Roger Smith said...

It must not be overlooked that behind Mr. Beatty in this shot is that finger-smashing, knuckle-busting tunnel of his. From my first tear-down, upon closing Philadelphia, and my first set-up for him, in Easton, PA, that tunnel became the bane of my life. Tommy Clarke's prop guys loaded the arena on 76 Wagon, thank God, but it was up to the cageboys to load the tunnel. I had to stand on top of the arena stack. The boys would hand up the tunnel sections only so high, and I would pull them up until they broke over and I could arrange the stacking. In pulling them up, the arena section beneath my feet would slide, and I'd often fall and almost drop the tunnel piece I'd been handed. One side of the tunnel was a single barred wall, but the other side was a wall with a hinged top that swung open and shut at will, trapping the unwary finger or thumb. We got them on every night after no end of frustration and foul language, and the heavy up-and-down chute ( from the truck's animal gate to the ground) was at last tugged up on top. Old George Scott, aka Popeye, then scrambled up to tie off the load like he wanted it.

Then comes the morrow. I clambered up to start letting the tunnel sections down, an equally challenging task, dangerous as hell to anyone on the ground, since I could slide along with load at any time. We lined up the sections, then assembled the up-and-down chute and lifted it to hang on the truck. From there, we began standing the plain wall opposite the hinged section. This hinged top swung up and rested atop the single wall, and we held it by hand while a guy got on top to drive stakes down through grommets to make it fast to the ground. We continued down the line to the track, where we had a section that swung over against the bandstand to allow performers and patrons access to the track. At showtime, Pete the Porter would command, "All right! CHUTE!", and we'd swing it over to the arena animal gate and lash it on with rope. Handling that tunnel brought me quickly to realize what they meant when they said of Beatty, "Ten tons of props and a hunnerd miles of tunnel. Here comes Scrap-Iron Shorty."

Roger Smith

25 April, 2008 16:25
Wade G. Burck said...

John,
I did know it was a Shrine date. I played it in 78 with the big white act I mentioned that I had to fly into as the trainer had been mauled, with the aid of one of Europes best. Not all are good from Europe, just like here. I just asked because you seemed so scornful of my career with shrine circus.
Next case. So we can continue with our career parallels, how long were you with Ringling? Didn't you see that question?
Wade Burck

25 April, 2008 17:38
Mike Naughton said...

Not knowing that Detroit is a Shrine date is a load of crap. Talk about putting on the patch.
I guess that was the year the Shriners were incognito and left their fezes and blue blazers home.
And I guess all the yellow, green and red wasn't obvious either.

25 April, 2008 21:30
Wade G. Burck said...

Mike,
Sorry. It was not a patch. I knew it was, as you can now see by my post dated a couple of hours before yours. I think you owe somebody an apology.
Wade

25 April, 2008 23:45
Mike Naughton said...

Wade,
I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings. Now that I read the entire sequence I am laughing AT MYSELF for not realizing that you were just dumbing up. I am sorry if I hurt your feeling about the dumbing up line.
Look at it from my side, I obviously missed a piece of information and thought you didn't realize you were on a Shrine date. It's hilarious.

I will retreat to the bleachers and mind my own business.

I still think it is funny.

26 April, 2008 02:37
Anonymous said...

What in the hell was scornful about your career with Shrine circus? You talked about the Potentates Skivies and the ring mat, not me, I guess you figured in some circles that would be funny

I could care less about a paralell with Riningling. When I was there you were not. I have been with Red, Blue, Gold, Circus World, RBBB Thrill Circus at Ohio State Fair. I was never let go or contract expired, but left on my own. I have always maintained a healthy relationship with Irvin and Kenneth that I treasure. I have also done free lance training for Ringling down in Venice and have done appearances for Riningling in other situations that I was paid to do. I did all of the coordination between Gunther and the Director of his TV special "Gunther" which pleased Gunther. I did the same with Ursala in the taping and reheasal for "Circus Super Heroes". I put together a special underpriveleged children show for Allen Bloom in the "GARDEN". And so on, Satisfied. P.S. Wherever I appeared as a performer [liberty or high school] I was in the center ring with one exception.

On the Red Show Henry Schorrer presented eight liberty horses, left from the original 12 in middle ring, with Seigrid and Tina in end rings. Frequently for various reasons Gunther would ask me to work one end ring group [I was Perf. Dirctor] and he would work the other, both of us in tux. and we would allentire the rings, style to Henry, work the acts, walk the hind leg final horses and bow to Henry to the delight of both Gunther and myself. I mention this only because I think the other bloggers would enjoy this little Circus Trivia.

26 April, 2008 08:57
Wade G. Burck said...

Johnny,
Let me start again.
Buckles,
There is one of those flat plated lashes Roger Smith mentioned some time ago. Lou Regan used them also, and don't see them anymore. Lou liked them because they could lay the whip on his shoulder, to move props and it stayed on better then a round lash. He only had a barrel, bridge top, and swing in the act. He only used the flat lash at winterquarters for practicing.
Wade Burck

26 April, 2008 11:10

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