Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Lord of the Rings #1 (From Bud Copeland)


GGW 1, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Here's some photos I took in 1986 at the Spectrum in Philly visiting with Clark & Paula one day .
Some Guy had a " 360 Degree Camera " he set in the Center of the Ring to Photograph " Gunther & his Tigers Performing " .
Bud

Posted by Buckles at 12/29/2009 06:27:00 AM

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

THe best of the best.GUnther was to the circus what Elvis was to popular music.He radiated with charisma.He was the real deal.
HOw I miss his era.Todays acts pale in comparison.THe best things in life truly come in numbers of one.

29 December, 2009 16:22
Anonymous said...

Buckles,
I remember writing you a letter when I was with the Red show, stating I must be in, because Gunther always had my parking spot and electricity ready when I pulled in. What a guy. Along with yourself and a handful of others, someone, without fail, you could depend on. I am proud to have worked with him, and known him as my friend!
Erik Jaeger
Happy New Year to all!

29 December, 2009 20:53
Brandon Sterk said...

Fantastic pictures. I think this is 1989/90 though, that is his wardrobe and equipment from his Farewell tour.

29 December, 2009 22:02
Warren said...

I know all to well that those are the farewell tour props. They were heavy, impossible to pack or move efficiently - I cannot remember how many crew it took to get them in and out of the ring, plus each had built in lights that required external power that had to be hooked up. With the huge chute line often having to be tee'd in smaller buildings, getting that cat act into place in the middle of the first half of the show was a miracle. But what an act. It was worth the grief the logistics caused me and my crew.

Whenever I see photos of Gunther or Buckles or Charly, I realize and remember how fortunate I was to have known and worked with such greats. It was a pleasure to be asked by Gunther to walk with him on animal walks because he enjoyed my company and an honor to do so. I will never forget the first time somebody missed a cue and there was no one to keep little Prince in line and he ran by me, dropped a handful of carrots in my hand and said you take Princee, and dashed off to his next cue leaving me clueless until Mark Oliver yelled over just use his ear to cue him - you know this as well as we do.
People will debate for years if Gunther was the greatest trainer ever but I will remember him as a gentleman, a showman, and my friend.
Who in the new generation of circus will live up to the level of true showmen such as Charly, Gunther, The Woodcocks, The Herriott Family, The Hanneford Family, and others.
Thank you Buckles for this grear resourche that allows those of us without great talent to remember our work with the greats.

Warren

30 December, 2009 00:13

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