Wednesday, May 13, 2009

1973 Red Show #23


Ringling 1973-23, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Posted by Buckles at 5/13/2009 06:18:00 AM

16 comments:

Roger Smith said...

I saw this many times. It was not an act of the strongest responsibility. If anything spooked the tiger, it could have come off the pad and into an unsuspecting crowd, lulled into confidence by bedazzlement. Tiger and elephant alike could have responded to anything afflicted by a failure of technology or a disturbance from the audience, causing panic resulting in injury or death. Nothing about this display is worth it.

In San Antonio, Tahar couldn't keep up with his gators, and they began to roam out of the ring into the front row where I was sitting. People were standing to leave their seats. The gators had straps on them with grips on top, and I retrieved one just about to climb onto a frightened woman in a wheelchair. He got to the gator just as I did, and I snapped "Keep your goddamned act in the ring."

We all know of escapes and stampedes of elephants, cats, apes and bears. Our public wants to see the animals at a respectable distance, but not at threatening proximity, even if presented by some Feld-show superstar.

13 May, 2009 16:12
Casey McCoy Cainan said...

"We all know of escapes and stampedes of elephants, cats, apes and bears. Our public wants to see the animals at a respectable distance, but not at threatening proximity, even if presented by some Feld-show superstar."

This is a true statement. But tell me Roger do you know of any involving this specific display?


"Our public wants to see the animals at a respectable distance, but not at threatening proximity, even if presented by some Feld-show superstar."

No,,,,I believe they wanted to see exactly what GGW and the Felds showed them. You can hardly argue that this was putting the public in excessive risk, in comparison to throwing a howdah on an elephant and loading it up with kids...Come on Mr. Smith

13 May, 2009 17:43
henry edgar said...

i'm glad roger brought this up because it's something i've often thought about -- a "what if" that could become a disaster

13 May, 2009 18:14
Anonymous said...

Roger,
Well said!
Bob Kitto

13 May, 2009 19:14
Eric said...

I don’t recall that there was ever a problem with Gunther’s uncaged tiger. (In 1978, the band in San Diego was set up at the far end of the arena, right on the floor and close to the back door. The sax section was situated so that the tenor sax chair was next to the barrier that separated the band from the performers and animals going by on the hippodrome track. On the last note of the spec, Kongo with Gunther and the uncaged tiger onboard, would always be standing right next to my chair, almost within arm’s reach. I would look up at Gunther and the tiger (and sometimes the tiger would look down and make eye contact!) Gunther didn’t waste any time getting him down and back into his cage!

Gunther’s uncaged lion on the 113th Edition was a different story. According to photos in the souvenir program, there had originally been a lion and a lioness and two horses. By the time the Circus reached San Diego, only the lion was appearing. A few years later, Keith Greene told me that, at a performance later in the tour, the lion unexpectedly jumped down off the horse and bounded up into the stands, dragging Gunther along with him. Fortunately, the audience thought it was all part of the show and applauded. Later, after the lion was safely back in his cage, Gunther nixed any future presentations of this feature.

13 May, 2009 21:24
J.C. Hall said...

Well, MY OH MY. "The Gunther" gets my Vote. Sorry folks there are a lot of self proclaimed cat whisperers that don't. "The Gunther" ,to me, is not in that group.
PS.Hail to heir Gunther

13 May, 2009 23:13
Henry Schroer said...

I can only say that there are a few comments spoken here from people who don't know what hell the talking about. Sorry

14 May, 2009 05:59
Jack Ryan said...

I have noticed that too, Henry S. :)

14 May, 2009 08:44
Frank Ferrante said...

Well said, Henry. ~frank

14 May, 2009 10:05
Roger Smith said...

If you'll read what Eric said, you'll see that it did happen, this time with a lion, and this act was scrapped. As Henry notes, the "what if" factor finally dawned on someone.

We remember the ride elephant stampeding with a howdah loaded with patrons, since it was on the news and caused no end of grief, in one memorable instance, for the Beatty show.

So these things happen, but it's interesting sometimes to see who steps up to say it ain't so.

14 May, 2009 14:10
Wade G. Burck said...

Casey, Jack and Henry,
I was sitting this one out because it was so absurd and ridiculous, from the first comment. Now that James C. Hall has added what the vast majority(read damn near all) of the World's animal training fraternity thinks, I will step in long enough to add, "the all hail Caesar" line form's behind me. The real danger was from some goof trying it because, "if Gunther did it, anybody can do it." Equating Tahar and gator's to Boss and Prince on Congo was classic gold talking out your a**!!!!
Wade Burck

14 May, 2009 14:59
Jim A. said...

I believe the first time I saw Gunther close the show with this spectacle the audience was requested to remain seated. It was impressive.

A few years later I was sitting near the band in St. Louis. Kongo stood still, the tiger cage near by. They slipped the collar on Prince but he wouldn't jump up on the elephant. Gunther and crew tried again and he didn't jump. Gunther hopped up on Kongo and off he went to do the tiger act. Prince got wheeled over in the cage. My point is Gunther was wise enough to know enough's enough and when not to attempt the trick. Two special animals with an amazing, gifted trainer = a memorable display.

14 May, 2009 19:57
Frank Ferrante said...

Again, well said! Wade hit it on the head, Boss was responsible! Once he saw a danger to anyone, other than to himself, it was scrapped. The real problem lies in anyone else thinking they could copy Gunther. I watched from the ring curbs how he would develop and act and it wasn't overnight. He KNEW his animals like few others. I stand in that same line behind Henry and Wade. ~frank

14 May, 2009 20:16
Jack Ryan said...

Wade,

Me second. Right behind you.

Damn. The line is getting long.

Jack

14 May, 2009 20:39
J.C. Hall said...

I just saw the blue unit and my God, if this man went around the track on that show today he would have gotten a standing ovation. What an absolute showman.
P.S.He was not a wanna be. He was

14 May, 2009 22:46
Henry Schroer said...

It was the Dress rehearsal show in Venice when we performed this trick for the first time in front of a audience and all of Sarasota was present. When Gunther came riding in on Kongo with Prince he got a standing ovation, even from people that did not think to much of him for what ever reason, and I think that says it all.

14 May, 2009 23:46

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