Buckles Web Log

From Bob Swaney

2012-01-27T06:05:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327325646@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Monte Carlo Gold
Shared between Rene Casselly (Germany) and a Chinese springboard act.

From Kari Johnson

2012-01-27T06:01:00.001-05:00

!cid_C50495DB-B890-4E69-A431-4625D9DE581C@dslextreme, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

I am updating my Elephant Update list. I send elephant pictures like this one of the lovely and talented Dixie, as well as legislative alerts and articles I think friends will be interested in. If you do not want to be on this list or want me to use a different e-mail address please let me know. If you know of someone who would like to be added just have them e-mail me. Thanks! ~Kari

From Army Maguire

2012-01-27T05:58:00.002-05:00

30174341-01_big, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From Buckles

2012-01-27T05:54:00.001-05:00

01-26-2012 07;18;23PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From Dave Price

2012-01-27T05:51:00.001-05:00

BucklesNash, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Red Show animal walk night before last in Nashville.

To Chic Silber #1

2012-01-27T05:47:00.006-05:00

01-26-2012 11;41;07PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Is this the building you and Jeff were referring to light-wise?

Blue Show in 1995, "Anna May" and Vica, a girl from the Russian bear-horse act.

To Chic Silber #2

2012-01-27T05:41:00.001-05:00

01-27-2012 05;05;45AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

This was Vica's first shot at an "up and over" during her initial practice session.
Barbara was amazed at how fast she caught on.

Is this trick done any more? Used to be fairly common.

From John Goodall

2012-01-27T05:29:00.001-05:00

bilde, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Catherine Carden directs Carol, Patty and Duchess
When she’s not on the road, Catherine Carden likes to relax at her family farm in Myakka City.

It’s a relatively normal household — with three very big exceptions. There’s Carden, her husband and their two sons, of course. And then there’s the three Asian elephants in the backyard.

That’s life as Carden has always known it. The seventh-generation circus performer grew up with elephants Carol and Patty. Then she married elephant trainer Brett Carden, and he brought Duchess into the mix.

“This has been my life every day for 38 years,” Carden says.

The Cardens and their three elephants perform this weekend when Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus comes to Germain Arena. In addition to the elephants, the brand-new show features motorcycle daredevils, a clown, a strongman, acrobats and more.

Carden says she’s always been fascinated by elephants. So she understands why circus audiences love them, too.

Elephants are practically synonymous with the circus, she says. And they’ve been in the public eye even more lately, thanks to the best-selling book “Water for Elephants” and last year’s movie adaptation (Carden hasn’t seen or read them yet, but she says they’re on her to-do list).

“They’re amazing animals, no matter who you are,” Carden says. “And you don’t get to see them every day. It’s not like you’ll find them in somebody’s yard.” Unless, of course, you’re talking about her yard.

Showman P.T. Barnum — who founded the circus that eventually became Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey — recognized the audience’s love for elephants. "Clowns and elephants are the pegs on which the circus is hung,” he once said.

Carden certainly agrees.

“They’re big, they’re beautiful, and they perform so majestically,” she says. “You’re in awe of them.”

She laughs.

“Clowns are good, too, I guess,” she says.

From Mike Naughton

2012-01-27T05:25:00.002-05:00

images, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

We regret to inform you of the death of Penny Wilson Rodriguez who died yesterday evening after a very long illness.
This information came from The Wilson Family.
Joanne Wilson's email is Bigpoodles@aol.com.
The circus community will miss a very dear friend.

Liebling Family Circus #1 (From Jim Cole)

2012-01-26T05:52:00.002-05:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8313942@N07/6764904109/, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

The Great American Family Circus....AKA Liebling Circus

Sunday Jan 22, St. Cloud, FL. Osceola Flea Market. While the more sophisticated circus fans were in Monte Carlo this past weekend for the 36th Annual Festival, us Florida rednecks had our own circus shin-dig!

Liebling Family Circus #2

2012-01-26T05:46:00.001-05:00

!cid_8B1B181DE53448DEBE6AFAF992559630@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #3

2012-01-26T05:44:00.001-05:00

!cid_A1553277F7ED43A8B281070D3B1E0CBA@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #4

2012-01-26T05:43:00.001-05:00

!cid_790D90DCA6154FD3BFFE877B3A39E512@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #5

2012-01-26T05:41:00.001-05:00

!cid_51714D56E176488888361C81A70F3F17@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #6

2012-01-26T05:39:00.001-05:00

!cid_516CADAB46884B3CBDFE9690E0F9BB16@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #7

2012-01-26T05:38:00.001-05:00

!cid_DF058A0367134D9182D759AE28F8A80F@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #8

2012-01-26T05:37:00.001-05:00

!cid_FF02371355304C07AA73FF4D94AC8784@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #9

2012-01-26T05:36:00.001-05:00

!cid_D4A790DD5B3C481785F1FCEBE5B11F0A@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #10

2012-01-26T05:35:00.001-05:00

!cid_5D72B3A628E448E6BB752D97FE496C5A@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #11

2012-01-26T05:33:00.001-05:00

!cid_9D0BFB50103C4DBEA61474A1347173AE@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #12

2012-01-26T05:32:00.001-05:00

!cid_4A7DC50F7F4C406EA8A123F3C096EE1A@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #13

2012-01-26T05:28:00.001-05:00

!cid_A0CCD2B0E5384365BB0E82E833101EFB@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #14

2012-01-26T05:26:00.001-05:00

!cid_1C6E1C39617B4AECBF0E8E2FEDF20698@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Liebling Family Circus #15

2012-01-26T05:25:00.001-05:00

!cid_C7EFC8EBCC5D465181DCE84D1A2DC5EA@JamesSColeHP, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From Chic Silber

2012-01-25T22:17:00.001-05:00

CHICSNOW, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

One night in the Amphitheater in Chicago

as I walked around the arena Petey Kinosh

asked me to watch his stand to run an errand

Bobby Johnsen happened by & asked where

the hell was Petey (perfect timing as usual)

This is the photo I offer when asked about

what I did with the show

From Richard Reynolds #1

2012-01-25T05:38:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327444621@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Cavalia's newest show, Odysseo, is nearing the end of its lengthy run in Atlanta. It opened on December 7th and is now scheduled to close on January 29th.

Here is the set up in Atlanta's midtown at Spring and 8th Sts.(Spring is just out of sight to the left). 8th runs parallel to this side of the big top. This view looks south. To get it in the view-finder, I had to take the photo standing on a hill at Spring and 10th St two blocks north. The Chevron station is on 10th.

Out of sight to the right, just beyond the tent lies the Downtown Connector (the combined I-75/85). Many readers will have traveled that highway through Atlanta.

This is the largest tent put up in Atlanta since 1955 when RBBB set up at the Lakewood Fairgrounds. Odysseo's top is 380 ft long and 175 ft wide. The two twin masts at either end are 125 ft tall. The sidewalls must be upwards of 30 to 35 ft high as were Cavalia's when it played here in late 2010.

The four external metal arches support the "canvas" fulfilling the role of old time center poles. So, what we have is sort of a six pole big top without any poles obstructing the view from the seats, which are all on one side as were those of Cavalia. The seats face the stage on which the performance takes place. It is 160 ft wide. There are 2,290 seats, not all that many given the size of the top. The top houses all the concessions and "joints." On Cavalia they under a separate tent.

There are also stable tents for the horses (69 in number) plus others for support functions. The tops of some of these satellite tents may be seen just above the Chevron station.

In a sense Cavalia and Odysseo are throw backs to the original America circus introduced by John Bill Ricketts in 1793 and those which followed him, notably Pepin and Breschard in 1807 et seq. Those shows focused on horses and horsemanship with some clowns, wire walkers and the like thrown in. Odysseo does the same. Its cast includes 55 performers.

Unlike the big tops of old which could be erected in a matter of hours, Odysseo's top took some 5 weeks to set up. The Spring-8th lot is ordinarily used for parking, and it slopes downhill from left to right (in this photo). To make it level for the show, tons of fill had to be hauled in raising it some 20 ft in places.

This lot first saw a circus in April 1933 when the motorized Downie Bros played there on April 21-22 (Fri-Sat). It paraded on Friday with the route heading south on Spring toward downtown which, back then, lay nearly two miles to the south. In 1933 the Spring and 8th location was a residential area with nice homes surrounding the grassy lot - - nothing at all like the high rise surroundings of today. In 1939-40 a new Coca-Cola bottling plant was built on the lot, making it unavailable for field shows. That changed in 1987 when the plant was torn down in favor of a newer one in a different location. That returned the lot once again to an open area.

In late 1991 Cirque du Soleil played there and did so again in 1993 and 1995 after which the lot went unused for field shows until Odysseo.

From Richard Reynolds #2

2012-01-25T05:36:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327444813@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

This view of Odysseo looks east across Interstate 75-85. The cars in the foreground are headed south. Cannot beat the location as some 250,000 vehicles pass the lot each day.

On the left are the tops of some of the stable and other tents.

Cavalia/Odysseo is the creation of Normand Latourelle of Montreal, Canada. He was an early partner of Guy Laliberté in Cirque du Soleil.

Latourelle was insistent that the show be set up within sight of the freeway so as to garner attention of the thousands passing by each day. Owing to the size of Odysseo's big top, it could not use the lot at Atlantic Station where Cavalia played from October 2009 to January 2010. That one was within sight of the downtown connector at 17th St., north of this location

From Richard Reynolds #3

2012-01-25T05:34:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327444865@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From Richard Reynolds #4

2012-01-25T05:30:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327444931@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Odysseo's big top is the largest to be set up in Atlanta since this one - -RBBB 1955. This photo is from the opening canvas stand in Baltimore in May. It measured 386 -ft long and was 206-ft wide - -six feet longer than Odysseo's and 31 ft wider.

Odysseo seats 2,290 whereas RBBB's 1955 tent was could take about 10,000 when they pushed it. Of course, folks did not demand as many creature comforts 60 years ago.

Where Odysseo has it over this one is in the height of the sidewalls. RBBB's were only about 17 ft high whereas Odysseo's must be in the 30 to 35 foot range.

Note the new menagerie top in the lower right. It was the first RBBB menagerie tent since 1950. For 1951-54 the menagerie was in one end of a 5-pole big top.

The two donniker wagons can be seen in the connection.

From Richard Reynolds #5

2012-01-25T05:28:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327444986@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

While the 1955 RBBB big top was impressive it was dwarfed by the mighty 6-pole ones that GSOE used before 1939 and again in 1943-47. Here it is in 1946, the year before I last saw the 6-poler in 1947 at Atlanta's Lakewood Fiargrounds. In 1947 the canvas top was blue and the sidewalls were red.

As the caption says, that big top was 600 ft long and 200 ft wide.

From Richard Reynolds #6

2012-01-25T05:25:00.001-05:00

!cid_X_MA1_1327445042@aol, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Here is RBBB's 6-poler in Chicago's Grant Park on the lakefront in 1930. Those 6-pole tents could handle about 12,000 patrons. The largest crowd ever to see a single RBBB performance under canvas was 16, 702 at Concordia, KS on September 13, 1924.

This photo was taken by RBBB press agent Eddie Jackson from atop the then new (1927) Stevens Hotel, now the Chicago Hilton. It faced (faces) onto Michigan Ave across from which was Grant Park. When built, the Stevens was the largest hotel in the world. The builder's son is retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

Circus Vargas #1 (From Frank Ferrante)

2012-01-25T05:20:00.001-05:00

tent2[1], a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

CIRCUS VARGAS, "America's Favorite Big Top Circus" opens their 2012 at Arizona Milla Mall in Tempe Arizona this weekend. The new show features original musical numbers written exclusively for the season opener. Producers Nelson and Katya Quiroga of Tabares Entertainment have brought together circus families from around the globe including Jon & Laura Weiss as hosts of the pre-show and featured performers, the classic trapeze artistry of the Flying Tabares troup and welcomes former RBBB and Big Apple Circus ringmaster, Kevin Vernardos as singing ringmaster and creative director. (Photo courtesy of Tabares Entertainment)..

Circus Vargas #2

2012-01-25T05:14:00.001-05:00

rotatinweb[1], a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Vargas #3

2012-01-25T05:13:00.001-05:00

_abb8534[1], a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Circus Vargas #4

2012-01-25T05:12:00.001-05:00

jon2[1], a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

1965 Saturday Evening Post (From Buckles)

2012-01-24T06:36:00.002-05:00

01-23-2012 03;46;47PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

This Post Cover is dated April 10, 1965 and hit the stands while the Ringling Show was in the Garden.
In order to get all the clowns in the picture I lopped off the top banner line.
An article by Bill Ballentine accompanies the lay out which is most interesting thing in the whole affair.

Also included are a few observations from your humble servant.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #2

2012-01-24T06:19:00.001-05:00

01-23-2012 11;45;43AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"Lion leaps from stand over arm of Polish trainer Adela Smieja."

I'm sure that if Ada had paid to have pictures taken for publicity, this one would have gone in the dumpster.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #3

2012-01-24T06:11:00.001-05:00

01-23-2012 12;00;44PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"German-born Chrys Holt, in "Hairial Hairlift" twirls and juggles while dangling 20 feet off the ground by her hair."

Unfortunately someone spilled their coffee on this one.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #4

2012-01-24T06:06:00.004-05:00

01-23-2012 12;33;31PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"The Hanneford Troupe goes through it's paces:
Miss Annette pushes off from galloping horse, hits ground, bounces again onto animal's back."

This empsizes how fast the horse was moving and probably caused raves among the Soho elite.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #5

2012-01-24T05:55:00.002-05:00

01-23-2012 12;36;07PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

No Caption.

Probably something like, "I paid fifty bucks for that fuckin' wig and look what they took!"

1965 Saturday Evening Post #6

2012-01-24T05:52:00.001-05:00

01-23-2012 12;06;55PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"A catcher goes into position for trapeze act."

Nuf Ced!

1965 Saturday Evening Post #7

2012-01-24T05:49:00.002-05:00

01-23-2012 12;04;07PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"Former trapeze artist Antoinette Concello rehearses young performer for aerial version of Swan Lake."

God Almighty!
Not on a par with Miss Concello's cigarette commercial in the Barnes-Floto program.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #8

2012-01-24T05:42:00.003-05:00

01-23-2012 11;49;43AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"Charly Baumann cracks whip, tiger leaps to cages bars."

This photographer must have had a penchant for people's backsides. This was Charly's second season on the show and I can imagine his reaction to this.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #9

2012-01-24T05:36:00.001-05:00

01-23-2012 12;11;19PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"Doval starts down a 45-drgree-angle wire. "If you are not afraid," he admits, "you have no business up there."

Best picture of the lay out.

1965 Saturday Evening Post #10

2012-01-24T05:30:00.003-05:00

01-23-2012 06;14;39AM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"Captain Hugo Schmitt's "Performing Proboscidians" perform the sit-up, one of four basic elephant tricks; others are leg-stand, lying down and standing on their massive heads."

This ones OK but they have managed to exclude Captain Schmitt, maybe he refused to turn around. I remember the guy at right tho, his name is Bastone.

In the World of Artsy-Fartsy!

2012-01-24T05:18:00.002-05:00

01-23-2012 12;56;18PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

For most of a season I honestly thought this program cover was the result of a School Kid promotion until someone patiently asked, "Don't you recognize an original Chermayeff?"
I later learned that ticket sales covered less than 20 per cent of expenses, the rest by the NEA and fund raising.
A potential donor soon learned that ours was a very serious art form and should be endowed accordingly.

In The World of Artsy-Fartsy #2

2012-01-24T04:53:00.001-05:00

01-23-2012 12;49;56PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

From Chic Silber

2012-01-23T15:22:00.001-05:00

images, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Hi Buckles

I have just verified that Bobby Mitchell died on December 6th

His very brief obituary just ran in yesterday's paper

with no information at all besides the date of death

He had worked on many shows including Polack Bros

Surely others can add much to his history

Sorry for the loss

Chic

Caged Fury #57 (From Eric Beheim)

2012-01-23T05:43:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-57, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

In a panic, the audience runs past some Al G. Barnes cage wagons that had been rented for the production of KING OF THE JUNGLE.

Caged Fury #58

2012-01-23T05:41:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-58, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Inside the burning menagerie tent, a cage-full of lions is released by a husky young man, whom few people probably recognized as Buster Crabbe, appearing in one of his scenes from KING OF THE JUNGLE.

Caged Fury #59

2012-01-23T05:38:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-59, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

More stock shots from KING OF THE JUNGLE, showing animals and humans fleeing from the fire.

Caged Fury #60

2012-01-23T05:36:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-60, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Caged Fury #61

2012-01-23T05:34:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-61, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

My most vivid memory from seeing this film on TV when I was 6 or 7 was of a tiger jumping from cage to cage over the heads of the fleeing crowd. It was probably done using trick photography, although on screen it looks uncomfortably real and maybe was!

Caged Fury #62

2012-01-23T05:28:00.002-05:00

Caged%20Fury-62, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Caged Fury #63

2012-01-23T05:26:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-63, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

This scene from KING OF THE JUNGLE, showing elephants and humans fleeing from the burning big top remains exciting today because it was undoubtedly filmed with little or no fakery.

Caged Fury #64

2012-01-23T05:22:00.002-05:00

Caged%20Fury-64, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

More stock footage from KING OF THE JUNGLE, filmed back in the days when directors were more interested in getting a good shot than in the welfare of their human and animal actors.

Caged Fury #65

2012-01-23T05:20:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-65, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Caged Fury #66

2012-01-23T05:18:00.002-05:00

Caged%20Fury-66, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

One of the escaped lions makes its way into the tent where Smiley is hiding from Blaney.

Caged Fury #67

2012-01-23T05:16:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-67, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Smiley is spotted by the lion, and this time there is no escape for him.

Caged Fury #68

2012-01-23T05:15:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-68, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

A handy policeman arrives in time to shoot the lion (but not in time to save Smiley.) When the policeman asks Blaney who the lion’s victim was, he replies, “Just a clown,” as if it was no great loss!

Caged Fury #69

2012-01-23T05:13:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-69, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

The film ends with the show back on the road (and presumably using a big top made of flame proof canvas!)

Although a B-picture produced on a limited budget, CAGED FURY has some of the BEST steel arena scenes of any Hollywood feature film, including the Beatty films. The use of the circus fire footage from KING OF THE JUNGLE makes it appear as a far more expensive production than it actually was. It is available on DVD from Amazon.com (but don’t confuse it with a 1990 movie which is also titled CAGED FURY and which has nothing to do with the circus.)

(CONCLUDED)

From Chic Silber

2012-01-22T11:43:00.001-05:00

TRAFLION, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Hi Buckles

Here is a photo of one of the Landseer lions

It seems he may never have seen a living lion.

From Richard Flint #1

2012-01-22T05:55:00.002-05:00

Landseer%20-%20Van_Amburgh%20and%20his%20Animals%20-%201839, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

For Ole Whitey, whom we rightly lionize!

In 1858, with intent to hire a sculptor, the House of Commons allocated money for the lions now in Trafalgar Square. The London Public Works, however, hired painter Sir Edwin Landseer (1802-73), who had never held a chisel in his life, and Landseer’s lions were finally unveiled in 1867. Sir Edwin, however, very likely saw live lions earlier when he painted two portraits of Van Amburgh and his animals, one for Queen Victoria in 1839 and the other for the Duke of Wellington in the 1840s.

Portrait of Mr. Van Amburgh as He Appeared with His Animals at the London Theatres (ca. 1846-47) by Sir Edwin Landseer.

Oil on canvas, 69-1/8 x 93-7/8 inches (Yale Center for British Art)

From Richard Flint #2

2012-01-22T05:47:00.001-05:00

B1977.14.61, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Isaac Van Amburgh and His Animals (1839) by Sir Edwin Landseer

Oil on canvas, 44-3/8 x 68-7/8 inches (Royal Collection, Windsor Castle)

Caged Fury #47 (From Eric Beheim)

2012-01-22T05:38:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-47, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Confronted by the knife-welding Smiley, Blaney disarms him and then engages him in a no-holds-barred fist-fight.

Caged Fury #48

2012-01-22T05:36:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-48, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

The two protagonists are evenly matched and each gives as good as he gets.

Caged Fury #49

2012-01-22T05:34:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-49, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Meanwhile, it is time for the lion act to go on. When Blaney fails to appear, the performance director (Hugh Prosser) tells Kit that she will have to present the act on her own.

Caged Fury #50

2012-01-22T05:29:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-50, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

With an air of confidence, Kit makes her way to the big cage. (This particular shot provides a nice side view of the large cage wagon that holds the lions. This does not appear to be a studio prop but the real thing. Can anyone identify it and provide more information about its history?)

Caged Fury #51

2012-01-22T05:27:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-51, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

As the lions are let into the steel arena, Kit sends them to their places.

Caged Fury #52

2012-01-22T05:25:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-52, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Next, she has two lions perform a seesaw trick.

Caged Fury #53

2012-01-22T05:24:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-53, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Meanwhile, Smiley and Blaney are still mixing it up backstage, where the fight has now moved into one of the dressing tents.

Caged Fury #54

2012-01-22T05:21:00.002-05:00

Caged%20Fury-54, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Sent flying in the struggle, a Bunsen burner sets fire to some costumes. In sort order, a major fire is raging

Caged Fury #55

2012-01-22T05:18:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-55, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Meanwhile, the lion act has concluded and Kit receives a well-deserved ovation from the audience before sending the lions out of the big cage.

Caged Fury #56

2012-01-22T05:16:00.002-05:00

Caged%20Fury-56, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Suddenly, flames erupt at one end of the big top. In all the confusion, few movie-goers probably noticed that the lions have suddenly turned into tigers and that Kit has become Mabel Stark. This and the following circus fire scenes are all taken from the climax of KING OF THE JUNGLE, a 1933 Paramount A-picture that, ironically, had starred Buster Crabbe as a Tarzan-like wild animal trainer. In its negotiations with DeMille, Ringling was adamant that no fire scenes be included in TGSOE, since memories of the Hartford fire were still fresh in everyone’s memories. No such restrictions were imposed on the producers of CAGED FURY, who were able to make good use of scenes from the elaborate and well-staged circus fire from KING OF THE JUNGLE.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Circus Animal Alert #1

2012-01-21T15:39:00.001-05:00

s5Hf0_Em_74, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

This just in circus fans....check back

Today - once again - in another campaign (Dane County, Wisconsin) we are asking you for another 5 minutes of your time! Inspired by recent success
with turning around the POPVOX Survey (HR3359) it is hoped that a "Blitz of short Emails" will sway any vote of Dane County Wisconsin Supervisors.
See the CFA Website article (below) for the single Email address that you can send your Email to. Encourage friends and families to do the same. Do it
today and it's important you check back with m at my email regarding progress during this week....

Save the Circus!

Gary C. Payne and the CFA Committee

Circus Animal Alert #2

2012-01-21T15:37:00.001-05:00

1paBJs_Em_74, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Janice Aria, the director of animal stewardship at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, works with an elephant.

Circus Animal Alert! #3

2012-01-21T15:34:00.001-05:00

1djrQK_Em_74, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Shirley, left, one of the oldest elephants at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, walks with her daughter, Mable.

From Don Covington

2012-01-21T05:43:00.001-05:00

SAVE1438, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Big Apple Circus creator and ringmaster Paul Binder will star in the Thalia Follies presentation of Primary Colors, to run February 16-18 at Symphony Space. Musical direction will be by Lanny Meyers. Created and written by Isaiah Sheffer and comedian Martin Sage, Primary Colors features Binder as Mitt Romney, who holds press conferences about "the Bain of his existence," Mormonism, hair gel, and strapping dogs to the top of cars.
The cast will also include Follies performers Ivy Austin, Kathryn Markey, and Mary Brienza; singer Eric Poindexter; jazz bassist/songwriter Jay Leonhart; soprano Lisa Flanagan; and comedian Joel Chasnoff.

Caged Fury #37 (From Eric Beheim)

2012-01-21T05:26:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-37, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

While Blaney’s attention is directed elsewhere, Smiley shakes one of the wires violently, causing the lion to lose its balance.

Caged Fury #38

2012-01-21T05:24:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-38, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Leaping down from the wires, the lion attacks Blaney.

Caged Fury #39

2012-01-21T05:22:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-39, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Fortunately, Kit keeps her head and is able to drive off the lion.

Caged Fury #40

2012-01-21T05:20:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-40, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

The enraged lion then attacks Smiley, and it requires the combined efforts of Blaney and Kit to drive it away.

Caged Fury #41

2012-01-21T05:16:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-41, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Escaping with only a chewed up arm, Smiley is temporarily out of the act and unable to make any more attempts on Blaney’s life.

Caged Fury #42

2012-01-21T05:14:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-42, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Once his arm is healed, however, Smiley insists on going back into the act. By this time, Dan Corey is starting to have suspicions about Smiley and what really happened to Lola.

Caged Fury #43

2012-01-21T05:12:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-43, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Corey catches Smiley “rehearsing” the maneuver where he inserts the nail into the safety cage door to keep it from opening.

Caged Fury #44

2012-01-21T05:10:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-44, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Smiley makes good his escape from the circus lot by stealing a car and racing off with Blaney in hot pursuit. The chase eventually leads them to a narrow, twisting road that runs along the edge of a high cliff overlooking the ocean. Failing to negotiate a sharp curve, Smiley’s car leaves the road, goes over the cliff, and plunges down into the ocean far below. Smiley’s body is not recovered and everyone assumes that he went to a watery grave.

Caged Fury #45

2012-01-21T05:08:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-45, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Shortly afterwards, Blaney and Kit are married. (It was probably this scene that originally led me to believe that this film had starred Clyde and Harriett Beatty.)

Caged Fury #46

2012-01-21T05:07:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-46, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

After a year passes without incident, Smiley, still very much alive, appears unexpectedly, bent on revenge.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

From Buckles

2012-01-20T17:01:00.001-05:00

01-20-2012 04;59;05PM, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Totally unaware that a white outfit can be dangerous!

From Chic Silber #1

2012-01-20T16:21:00.001-05:00

LIBRARY, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Hi Buckles

These are the lions I mentioned.

From Chic Silber #2

2012-01-20T16:19:00.001-05:00

DCBRIDGE, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

D.C. Bridge

From John Goodall

2012-01-20T05:53:00.002-05:00

untitled, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

January 13, 2012

“My goodness, he’s big.” - “He’s a large fellow.” - “His legs are like tree trunks.”

After Columbus Zoo and Aquarium employees flocked to the elephant house yesterday to see its newest resident, all came away with the same conclusion: Hank is hefty. “He may be the biggest elephant in a North American zoo,” said Harry Peachey, the Columbus Zoo’s assistant curator.

Yesterday was the first day most zoo employees got a glimpse of Hank, who has been in quarantine on zoo grounds for a month. Today, the public gets its chance. Hank will be on display in the elephant house from 10 a.m. until noon.

At 15,600 pounds, the 23-year-old Asian elephant is more than twice the size of Phoebe, one of two female elephants at the zoo. (Hank’s 24th birthday is Monday, and the zoo will celebrate by giving the elephant a treat at 11 a.m., when he also will be on display.)

Connie, the other female, weighs about 9,000 pounds. Coco, the zoo’s breeding male until his unexpected death last year, is between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds.

The hope is that Hank will mate and produce offspring to add to the herd, which includes 2-year-old Beco. Peachey said he hopes that mating will occur naturally, but artificial insemination is a possibility if necessary.

In the meantime, Hank is being introduced gradually to the other elephants. First, he spent time in an area where they could smell and hear one another. This week, all the elephants stood near an opening in a door so they could touch one another with their trunks. Next, they’ll be up close and personal in the same enclosure. Peachey said he doesn’t expect problems.

Before coming to Columbus, Hank lived for 16 years at Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary in Greenbrier, Ark. He was born at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and spent time at the Bronx Zoo and Have Trunk Will Travel, a California elephant-rental company.

Hank has sired one offspring, a calf that did not survive.

“He’s so laid back,” Peachey said. “It’s phenomenal how relaxed he is; it’s indicative of his confidence level.”

Peachey said that when elephants are placed in a strange enclosure, nine out of 10 stay in one place, sniffing and observing. Hank, however, investigated every corner of the elephant enclosure yesterday as soon as he arrived.

He twirled hay in his trunk, waded into the elephant pool, scratched his back on a fake tree and ambled along the front of the enclosure, unfazed by the stares of zookeepers and others.

“We’ve lucked out,” Peachey said, a grin spreading across his face.

From Wayne Jackson

2012-01-20T05:50:00.002-05:00

DSC04818-%20By%20Marshal, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

"Another handsome old gentleman!"

Buckles

Caged Fury #25 (From Eric Beheim)

2012-01-20T05:41:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-25, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

A close examination of this shot of the winter quarters main gate reveals what looks like a lion statue in the background. Could this be a studio prop or is this the actual main gate of some animal compound in the Hollywood area?

Caged Fury #26

2012-01-20T05:39:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-26, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Under Blaney’s patient tutoring, Kit learns how to present the show’s lions.

Caged Fury #27

2012-01-20T05:37:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-27, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

When Smiley attempts to put the make on Kit, tensions flare up between him and Blaney.

Caged Fury #28

2012-01-20T05:35:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-28, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Wearing Blaney’s white outfit, Smiley uses a pole to torment Sultan so that the lion will become conditioned to attack anyone dressed in white.

Caged Fury #29

2012-01-20T05:34:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-29, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

At the next training session, Sultan gives Blaney (now dressed in his white outfit) a particularly bad time of it, requiring him to use all of his skill and experience to keep from being killed or seriously injured.

Caged Fury #30

2012-01-20T05:31:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-30, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

Later, Blaney discusses Sultan’s unusually hostile behavior with other members of the troupe.

Caged Fury #31

2012-01-20T05:30:00.001-05:00

Caged%20Fury-31, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.

A montage sequence is used to establish that the Corey & Murray touring season is once again underway and that Kit is being billed as the “The Lion Woman.”