| I'm again assuming that this is the tent that the show played in while in Japan. I'm hoping that others will post more information about that tour. How many cities were played? How long did the show stay in each location? Did the tour make money? |
Thursday, December 18, 2008
RBBB in Japan 1988 #4
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I was not on the first trip to Japan for RBBB but was on the second "tour". That is, indeed the earthquake resistant tension structure (I would hesitate to call it a tent)used both times. The thing was something like 45 meters wide by 120 meters long. It held three rings easily with a full 10 foot wide track all around and about 10 feet between the rings. There were 12 king poles, no quarter poles, and was solid as a rock but required a lot of heavy bridle cables to rig. Behind the red and white proscenium, there was space for props, floats, wagons and electronics. Animals were roused in separate structures with paved walkways connecting everything in the back yard.
Because of the US lighting system, power for most of the show came from generators brought from the US but dressing rooms, and such were from shore power.
We only played Osaka and Tokyo to very little business. But, we got paid every week, had nice hotel accomidations, and had a good time.
Jim Ragona was the ringmaster and managed to learn the songs and announcements in Japaneese. Charly Bauman was the Performance Director. It was a pleasure to get to know Charly as a friend since I had long admired his tiger presentations.
There were three rings of liberty horses, two rings of sea lions, A mixed cage act (lions tigers, bears, one or two leopards, two heyenas, and a wolf - from Chipperfield?), Elephants were all Hawthorne, plus llamas, camels, and zebras as lead stock, and Lee Stevens with his babboons. 2 flying acts (Poema and Cabellero), two swaypoles (Winn), a motorcycle on the wire (also Winn), three hair hangs, three teeterboard acts, the Satin aerial star cradle act, three contortion/handbalancing acts (Pinky, Yum Yum, and ?), a bmx display and John Morgan's jump over the elephants, break dancers, and King Tusk. Show was the US King Tusk edition with a lot of different acts.
Whatever became of the tent?
That is an astonishing tent.
If I recall, the tent was actually owned by the Japaneese partner company that was required to bring the show over there. The thing was a major nightmare to move and required permanent foundations, multiple cranes, and weeks to erect and tear down. There were also about 5,000 upholstered seats on tiered risers to move. We did all the interior rigging and the Japaneese took care of the tent and seats, exterior facade and concession areas.
It was Larry Allen Dean with the lions I think and not the the mixed act.
Circuslover, On the second RBBB trip to Japan, I ended up with the task of supervising the chute line, locking cages, and keeping a rather unplesantly tempered bear who really did nol get along well with the hyena seated next to her, on her seat for eight shows a week. I finally remembereed that Luis and Marcia Palacio presented the act and I still believe it was a Chipperfield owned act. Perhaps Larry Allen Dean was on the prior year's Japan visit?
Warren,
Larry Allen Dean was with Ringling in Japan in 1988. He was with the first RIngling Gold tour (1988 - 1989). The Palacios were with Ringling from 1990 - 1991. The blue show were Flavio Togni played it was the 120th edition.
I was on the first Gold Unit tour in 1988,with the Clubb-Chipperfield Lions,followed by the Palacios in 1989 with the Clubb-Chipperfield Mixed Group
Both acts were owned and trained by Jim Clubb
I began the tour on the Blue Show,untill I left from New Haven,replaced by the Jerry Weggman Lions,Tigers& St. Bernard Dogs.
I went from New Haven with the Blue Unit to Japan on the Gold Unit to return to the Blue Unit for the second year of the tour ('89)
The Mixed Group, with the Palacios presenting, played the Gold Show in '89 and then went on to the Blue show in '90-'91
Thanks Larry for clarifying this for me. I knew I wasn't dreaming up bears and hyenas on my Gold Unit visit to Japan. I though I made it clear that I was not on the first year tour in Japan which is the one you were on but the ill fated second year. I have some fond memories of being left in Japan to take care of horses, llamas, and camels while Dr. H. did battle to get them out of the country long after the vast majority of the cast, crew, and management were back home. At least on the freighter 747 back home, I got to sit in the cockpit whenever I wanted and the flight crew even let me pilot the plane for a while (when ther was not another aircraft withing a hundred miles or more). I have a very long story about fish and wildlife forms with camels and llamas in Anchorage that represents a classic catch 22 situation that doesn't even come close to the episodes you guys must have faced.
Warren
Warren,
Excuse me but my Englisch isn't very good and it's difficult to understand ! What tricks were in the mixed act ? Did you found it a good act?
Thanks
Thomas
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