Friday, June 10, 2011

From Roger Smith

CLYDE BEATTY'S BIRTHDAY If as the sage claims, "A little mystery becomes the proud", a certainwhisper of question remains about Clyde Beatty's year of birth. His mausoleum marker reads 1902-1965. A handwritten note from his mother sets the birthdate as June 10, 1903. This date, above hersignature, is of course the most honored. Today, on her authority,we celebrate the 108th anniversary of a rural Ohio boy who for 42 seasons commanded the steel arena and captured his public'simagination with a magic that, for some of us, has never begun to fade. From Roger Smith
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Posted by Buckles at 6/10/2011 11:11:00 AM

7 comments:

Chic Silber said...

That would be many of "us"

At least of those still here

We are among the lucky ones

Thanks Roger

10 June, 2011 11:17
Buckles said...

My Dad once mentioned to me that due to his demeanor he was always thought to be older than he was, when in fact he was actually younger than both Arky Scott and Clyde Beatty.
Having been born in 1904.

10 June, 2011 11:18
Ole Whitey said...

Buckles can probably recall Clyde Beatty from the 1940 Wallace show when they played a string of Hamid-Morton dates featuring Beatty. I first saw him in 1943 On Beatty-Wallace.

My boast, if I should ever reach old age, will be that I remember the magic of Clyde Beatty "In a Single-Handed Battle with the Most Ferocious Brutes that Breathe: Black-Maned Nubian Lions and Royal Bengal Tigers!"

10 June, 2011 13:01
Harry Kingston said...

Seeing Clyde Beatty's act in the early 1960's was a thrill of a life time for me.
I was on the edge of my seat and wondering will he come out alive.
Gone but not forgotten.
Harry in Texas

10 June, 2011 13:36
Chic Silber said...

Whitey if I may enhance that it

would be "Black Maned Jungle Bred

Nubian Lions & Royal Bengal Tigers

In One Assemblage Trained And

Presented By The One And Only

Clyde Bayteeeee" (pick him up)

was the cue to the frontlight

operators for his entrance

Truly unforgettable

10 June, 2011 17:09
Ole Whitey said...

Chic: Good one.

And you're right, it was unforgettable.

10 June, 2011 21:49
Roger Smith said...

I first saw him at age 4, but I think I've told that one too many times. Seeing him then was an inspiration.

Working for him for that too brief a time, was indelible because of his instructions to me. He would watch the cats, I was to watch him. I was on his tunnel door and he might signal an animal in or out at any second. My eyes stayed directly on his face. That was seeing Clyde Beatty in an entirely different way, and that is what is unforgettable for one lucky cagehand in those days of uncommon good fortune.

11 June, 2011 03:50

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