Saturday, September 09, 2006

Bertram W. Mills' Circus 1927-28 Program #4


"Captain Wall, the Crocodile Tamer"

Capt. Wall, who has been performing with crocodiles for the past twenty five years, was born in 1883 at Wissemburg, in Alsace and is a French Subject. His parents and indeed all his family, have been circus performers- divers, athletes and wild animal tamers.
Capt. Wall says that the crocodile is devoid of any intelligence and there is no recipe for handling them. However, a keen pair of eyes and a good set of nerves would seem to be imperative.

Posted by Buckles at 9/09/2006 11:45:00 PM

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

When I was a boy, our great crocodile and snake man in the movie shorts, was Ross Allen.

10 September, 2006 00:00
Anonymous said...

Cyril mills told me when they had the act the tankwas on steel wheels and left great ruts in the ring and took ten mins to get it in .The glass was so thick you could not see very well.He also appeard in the sideshow with about 50 alligators and crocs. Chipperfields produced a croc act in the 60s also with the swiming,I presented it during the 70s without the swiming and then put another act together in the 90s presented by Jana one of my best trainers.This act appeard with Knie and I added the swiming again.

10 September, 2006 06:14
Anonymous said...

Another french act contemporary of Wall (20S and 30s )was Capitain Pernelet, who had about 50 crocodiles.
I remember the beautiful act of Jana in Knie's water circus, in '98 I think.
The swimming feature with tank was used in 70s by Allan Rosaire and Miss Shira. They spent many years wit Orfei in Italy. In the late 80s, Karah Kawak (Leici Kocka) presented a thrilling swimming feature in a large beautiful tank in the revue at Moulin Rouge, Paris. The tank one day broke during the show, with water, crocodiles and trainer on the tables among japanese tourists...

10 September, 2006 07:39
Anonymous said...

When I was beginning my sea lion act it needed help. Our then Director showed me a program from the Moulin Rogue with a lady presenting a dolphin in the large tank. The first trick was the dolphin removing the trainer's bra. Interesting idea but it wouldn't go over at the zoo, nor my house.

When Tahar was on RBBB and used the tall circular tank it reminded me of the see-thru demonstration washing machines of my youth. Did anyone ever sneak some soap into the tank? I can imagine Tahar agitating with an alligator and hop out of a bubble bath.

10 September, 2006 13:36
Anonymous said...

Since we are talking crocodiles, and I know he was not circus, here's a shout out for Steve Irwin and the work he did for for crocs.

10 September, 2006 14:28

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