Friday, October 27, 2006

Jacqueline Zerbini

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jackie did a really nice job with this act for Hawthorn. When she brought it back to quarters, I took out some of the older cats, and added, making the act 14 tigers and 1 lion, Timba(from Campalongo). I rehearsed the act for 2 months, and then spent 4 months working with Trudy Strong, before going back to Ringling Bros., and Boss's tigers. A real nice group of tigers, originally trained by John Cox. After dealing with the renagades (Tony for one), that I used for years, I remember them as some of the best tigers I had dealt with. Well done John Cox, Jackie, Trudy, and John Campolongo. Wade Burck

Anonymous said...

I never saw her work cats. But I remember her trapeze rigging being hung far higher than anyone else's, in the highest possible reaches of any building she played.

Anonymous said...

When I did these photos for Jackie in 1988, she was doing both the tigers and her incredible single trapeze act. As Roger pointed out, she most often worked as high as the rigging could be pulled.

A first class performer!

24-HOUR-MAN said...

Mr. Burke,
First I want to Thank You for the compliment of "Well Done", but Trudy has asked me to relay this message, "Excuse Me!", there were already 14 Tigers, & 1 Lion,(Timba) in the act when Jacqueline worked it.
Regarding Timba, I had to learn to work him on my own as you refused to show me how, "I don't like Lions", is what you said. Lou Regan tried to show me, but I'm sure you remember that he & Timba had a disagreement & Lou had to get out of the arena. In fact from that day on every time Lou came around Timba tried to get at him.

Now it is my turn, Jacqueline did not bring the act home because she had important business elsewhere, Trudy & I brought the Tigers in. Yes, Jacqueline did a good job, & left the act in good in good shape for Trudy. However we seem to remember things differently. Because Trudy had no experience with Tigers she put a clause in the contract that no new cats be put in the act the first year, only one to replace Saber who died shortly after arriving home. John agreed to this, in fact before leaving for Germany he told you not change any cats. As soon as he was gone you began replacing the experienced cats with young inexperienced ones. As for, "working with Trudy", I remember the practice sessions well. My ears still ring with remarks like, "I'm going to show you how to do this but it won't do any good because you won't be able to do it", & "when you get on the road the act is going to fall apart. I remember when Trudy got into an awkward situation and she asked you, "what should I do?", you replied, "I don't know, I never let myself get into that position", she had to get out of it herself, which put her in danger, but was probably for the best. I remember John saying once in answer to a snide remark about her lack of experience, "I didn't hire Trudy because she could work Tigers, I hired her because I knew she could learn. She learned by watching you, not by listening. Wade you are a very good Tiger Trainer, in my opinion one of the best, but I'm glad you said "working with Trudy" instead of "teaching" her.

Anonymous said...

Touche, Bill.

Anonymous said...

WOW, I'm sorry if I offended you Bill or Trudy, as you are both dear friends, and my intention was to compliment many people in response to the ago old question "trainer or presenter". The first sentence says "Jackie did a really nice job with this act for Hawthorn. When she brought it back to quarters, was in reference to the winter before when she left Shush, Jean, and others who I now forget. The only thing I rememer about Timba was 6 inches of chain? "I'm not going to show you again, if you are not going to do it that way", is how I remember it. The act will run forever, was the concern, not that it would fall apart, it had worked for sometime. Sometimes when somebody is told over and over not to get in that "position", they only understand if they have to get out on their own, A great learning tool. I'm now tired of this, and I respect you both greatly. I will close by saying "clause in the contract"!!!!! Come on. Do you think I did anything with out John's approval or consent? I was an employee also. It's why the changes were made when he went to Germany. Watching, listening, working with, teaching, trainer, presenter etc. etc. My best to you both, will look forward to seeing you in Evansville. Wade Burck (not Burke)

Anonymous said...

With so many fine lady trainers depicted here, I thought the only heated argument would over who had the best blonde (or red) hair coloring job!

Anonymous said...

Coloring Job? The only coloring jobs I have seen are on the males since Williams. Does coloring their hair make them better trainers/presenters. I think I read somewhere it causes brain damage. Never happened with females.

Anonymous said...

IT'not stretching the truth. It's interperting the facts from a different point of view. I like that one.

Anonymous said...

LOL I think there are enough issues to go around without resorting to hair color. You may be right about brain damage, Herta Cuneo told me the same thing after dyeing mine for 5 years. Of course we all wanted to be Gunther, in another era everybody wanted to be Clyde. I remember a lot of elephant trainers growing facial hair, and walking and talking like Buckles(even bear trainers). It's called "an impact on an industry". Every young boy who wants to be a quarterback, emulates the Joe Montana's. None of them study and copy Joe Sputkowsky of the Elkhorn Chickens. Wade Burck

Anonymous said...

Maybe the time has come for fresh faces of performers who want to be themselves and not a carbon copy of others. All though we pretty much have all been there done that and it would have to be very special to beat what has already been done by those on this blog. Everyone was just too good. And a very hard act to follow. Buckles daughter came the nearest to Barbara that I have seen.

Anonymous said...

JOHN ELWAY had MONTANA beat by a mile high. And he was a blond naturally.

Anonymous said...

Rebecca,I have to disagree about Buckles daughter coming nearest to emulating Barbara. If you ever saw Cliff Vargas dressed for the Ball in San Francisco, he was the winner, hand's down. Wade Burck

Anonymous said...

I Think the end results should be the judgment on anyone. Jackie is still beautiful, Trudy turned out to be one of the best tiger trainers I've ever seen, Wade posted a comment here to show he had something to do with it all and Bill couldn't help but to set the record "Straight." Hmm... Anyone else see this coming? :-)

Anonymous said...

OH YEAH, Most of the cage acts are now presented by beautiful women. This is what the world wants to see. Trudy never looked better than when in the arena. She was always so high in the sky you never got to see just how beautiful she is. Her ability with any animal shows in all the animal acts she has presented or trained. She is a natural. JC knew what he was doing [doesn't he always] in hireing Trudy and Bill.

Anonymous said...

I complemented Jackie, and commented on the nature, and personality of that group of tigers. Thats all. Wade Burck

Anonymous said...

As an afterthought, now that an incident I don't recall, was pointed out, will it put out the fire if I say well done John Cox, Jackie, Trudy, John Campolongo, and Lou Regan. Let me know if there is anyone I missed. They were still a nice group of animals. Wade Burck

Anonymous said...

Well said, Mr. Burck. From where I saw it, you where all fantastic in your own rights. And I'm bias.
Wade's costume dummy

Anonymous said...

Wade, I was just pressing Wade/Bill buttons for the predictable outcome (Thanks). I think all involved are incredible for what they have achieved in a lifetime and I thank you all for it! The personal stuff won't matter when we're all dead (soon) so it shouldn't matter now.

Don't worry, I wish I'd looked that hot in the ring too! ;-)

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