Friday, November 06, 2009

From Jim Clubb


img295, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Hello Buckles,

Would anyone be able to confirm that the image attached is that of Paul Fritz? He worked for RBBB in the mid ‘50s alongside Trevor Bale and Albert Rix. He worked in the UK for Chipperfield’s Circus in 1951 with a group of tigers.

We have two photos of an unknown trainer presenting Chipperfield’s tigers and are trying to identify him. He looks very similar to the man pictured here. The problem is he is presenting them with an Indian turban on, which confuses the issue. My son and I are preparing a new book, The British Wild Animal Trainer, which will also include the foreign trainers that worked here, hence my request.

Trusting you are well. I will be in Florida at the end of November for two weeks with RBBB.

Regards,

Jim

4 comments:

john herriott said...

PAUL WAS A GOOD FRIEND DURING THE YEARS HE AND HIS WIFE HAD THE aNNA dELmONTE Chimp act and his son Rudolph Delmonte was a headliner contortion act with Ringling, etc. and has a family of versatile circus performers. Paul came here as asst. to Oscar Konyot lion act on Ringling and then in a couple of years presented the act himself and then got into the chip biz. Last I saw him he was involved with a chimp facility in Ariz. as part of the Gov. Space progeam. Asume at his and my age as of now he is retired. He was a good guy. He did tell me about his time working at the Hagenback zoo in Germany. Photo looks like him. When I was around him he was very slim.

Jimmy Cole said...

Hi Jim, I'm sure you are right on that being Paul Fritz. I saw the Ringling show as a boy in 1955 and recall that 3 ring display of cage acts.

Jimmy Cole

J C Hall said...

This photo is absolutely Paul Fritz on RBBB. The arena he is using was made of aluminum. Albert Rix had one of the same for his bear act. After RBBB Kay Rosaire ended up with one via Hugo Schmitt. Paul, Anna and their son Rudolph, who was three during the time, laid over with their chimps at my family's old homestead not far from the Cole show WQ in Rochester,In. The last time I saw Paul I think was around 1980. He looked the same as in this photo. Paul sure had great success on his chimp breading program up in Ariz.
As Herriott said, a great guy and friend. I also had a good visit with his son Rudolph Delmonte at the NY State fair last year.

Darryl said...

Hi, Jim, When you are here are you only going to have time to visit in Florida. You have an open invitation to visit the facility I'm at in Myrtle Beach, SC. Your friend Darryl Atkinson