Saturday, May 27, 2006

Carl Hagenbeck Animal Catalog #6


This is William Philadelphia, later Hugo Schmitt's tutor.

These trainers are about as casual as it gets. I wonder what they would think of today's "wired-up", semi-hysterical Red Show tiger trainer?

I am told that Lance Ramos has leased a vastly improved tiger act to the show for next season but it remains to be seen if our man can scream it into submission.

Posted by Buckles at 5/27/2006 06:05:00 AM

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

From the description, looks like a nice act - I wonder if it worked in a cage

27 May, 2006 08:30
Buckles said...

I would surely think so.

27 May, 2006 08:50
Anonymous said...

Now THAT'S an act!

27 May, 2006 10:20
Anonymous said...

Also noticed that the lion was imported. It's hard to imagine that in those days most of the cats were wild caught rather than bottle raised, which makes the acts, like the lion/polar bear group even more spectacular. Buckles do you know if wild caught adult elephants have ever been trained to perform. I know that in Asia wild adults were trained for logging.

27 May, 2006 12:17
Buckles said...

Since elephants ages nearly correspond with humans it is best to start them out at Kindergarden age.
Like kids they learn in a hurry and the basics should be over in about a week.
The bigger the elephant the longer it would take but like you say, those in the logging camps are of no use until they are big enough to haul something heavy.
On the other hand I remember two elephants with the Cole Show that had never been trained for the ring.
"Blanche" and "Trilby" only worked in harness and the latter elephant was remarkably clever, unrolling bales of canvas with her feet, etc.

27 May, 2006 12:35
Anonymous said...

Buckles,

I'm puzzled over published newspaper reports that the RBBB stud farm claims only 30 per cent of the newborn elephants are suitable for showbusiness. Is that a fair estimate?

Barney

27 May, 2006 22:45
Buckles said...

A statement like his would probably come from an Animal Authority with an office in Vienna, trying to justify his job and who couldn't lead an elephant to water if it was on fire.

28 May, 2006 06:37
Anonymous said...

Buckles,

I thought that the 30 per cent estimate was incorrect. Look at all the elephants that were imported and put into the hands of capable trainers. Back then they surely didn't "return for a refund" 70 per cent of the newly imported.

Barney

28 May, 2006 08:47
Anonymous said...

to me the obvious question is what percentage of elephants born at said facility are making it to the ring

28 May, 2006 17:42
Anonymous said...

Except for Carson and Barnes, what other circus is showing baby elephants? Who is out there still training the little guys?

28 May, 2006 20:11
Anonymous said...
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28 May, 2006 22:46
Anonymous said...
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29 May, 2006 19:37

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