This was just about the most spectacular caged act I ever saw. The huge bears were made to look more so by the tiny Ursula. Moreover, the lighting of "Artic Blue" together with the music made for a great effect.
Polar bears are certifiably dangerous. Their facial expression never changes so you do not know what they are feeling.
The renowned trainer Jack Bonavita, a powerful and courageous man, was killed by a polar bear at the Selig Zoo in Los Angeles in March 1917.
When I got to CW Ursula was already there. Being responsible for the show I asked her once what we should do if a bear got her down. Her answer was chilling-she said there was nothing we could do. "They kill me," she said. I had our security dept. get a tranquilizer gun-- more for my peace of mind than anything else.
I was with the CW PR folks who were escorting a reporter and photographer from the Orlando Sentinel that were doing a feature on Ursula. We were just outside the ring curb and the photographer was setting up for the shot as all the bears were on the stands and she was getting them to fully stand up, which put the big guy on the peaks head over the top of the cage. The photog stuck his lens slighty through the cage. I heard a door open at the back of the theater just as the shutter clicked. I turned toward the back of the theater, and then back to the cage and the big bear (who probably 2 seconds before had been standing with his back feet 6 feet up in the air at the far side of the ring) was standing inches from me on the other side of the cage. I wisely joined the rest of the party on the other side of the railing by the front row of seats. The picture taken ended up on the cover of the Sunday Magazine. You could see the big guy looking right at the camera as he was getting ready to jump down. It was a fantastic shot.
4 comments:
This was just about the most spectacular caged act I ever saw. The huge bears were made to look more so by the tiny Ursula. Moreover, the lighting of "Artic Blue" together with the music made for a great effect.
Polar bears are certifiably dangerous. Their facial expression never changes so you do not know what they are feeling.
The renowned trainer Jack Bonavita, a powerful and courageous man, was killed by a polar bear at the Selig Zoo in Los Angeles in March 1917.
There is another of the tallest
bears just out of frame somehow
This walkacross had 4 sky high
bears march her backwards across
the floor towering majesticaly
Yes Richard except I include 2
other caged acts among my very
favorites of all time with Clyde
Beatty & Charly Baumann as well
When I got to CW Ursula was already there. Being responsible for the show I asked her once what we should do if a bear got her down. Her answer was chilling-she said there was nothing we could do. "They kill me," she said. I had our security dept. get a tranquilizer gun-- more for my peace of mind than anything else.
I was with the CW PR folks who were escorting a reporter and photographer from the Orlando Sentinel that were doing a feature on Ursula. We were just outside the ring curb and the photographer was setting up for the shot as all the bears were on the stands and she was getting them to fully stand up, which put the big guy on the peaks head over the top of the cage. The photog stuck his lens slighty through the cage. I heard a door open at the back of the theater just as the shutter clicked. I turned toward the back of the theater, and then back to the cage and the big bear (who probably 2 seconds before had been standing with his back feet 6 feet up in the air at the far side of the ring) was standing inches from me on the other side of the cage. I wisely joined the rest of the party on the other side of the railing by the front row of seats. The picture taken ended up on the cover of the Sunday Magazine. You could see the big guy looking right at the camera as he was getting ready to jump down. It was a fantastic shot.
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