Tuesday, August 30, 2016

#2 Chimps


3 comments:

Jim Alexander said...

Before WWII chimps were rare on a circus and then only a single animal. The first multi-chimp act on Ringling was Ira and Buddy Watkins in 1947(?). Buddy told me the breakthrough was the development of portable heating systems. Earlier acts probably had a single, young animal that traveled like a child, stayed in the hotel room, etc. Baboons are much hardier and tolerant of cool temperatures. Baboon acts go back much earlier in circus history.

Dick Flint said...

And now they have disappeared, not even a single chimp act that I know of. Interesting explanation about heating; can you tell us about the Watkins? Anybody know of any chimp act, or the last one out?

Dick Flint said...

And now they have disappeared, not even a single chimp act that I know of. Interesting explanation about heating; can you tell us about the Watkins? Anybody know of any chimp act, or the last one out?