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42 comments:
Dumb question did Gunther train all his animals,i know he was the Greatest, was he talened with all the animals we ever saw him with. I never had the oppertunity to meet him. Every video, photo, i have ever seen, have been great. RBBB, have had the some of the greatest animal trainers of all time. That to me is why it was the Gretest show on earth, because the people upstairs, put the greatest animal artist together, lets not forget, Production people, from one of the responses the other day the Red Unit seems good. Maybee with Mr Raffo they might be sble to do something Great, for next years show, My grandmother used to say anybody can bake a cake, but you need talent, skill , judgment, and a little bit of luck to make a GREAT CAKE. PS.no disrespect to anybody! lifes to short
I'll be a SOB, is this European anonymous again. Questioning if the "Lord of the Ring", the "20th Century Circus Hero", trained his own animals, or if he was talented with the animals you say on video's and photo's, might be the most ignorant thing I have ever heard. It might be. But then you suggested that Mr. Raffo, might return Ringling to it's former animal greatness. THAT is the most ignorant thing I have ever heard. Relax Charly, remember your blood pressure, I'm taking care of it down here, for you. Wade Burck
Comunucation failure.
I KNOW HE WAS THE GREATEST.
WAS HE TALENETED WITH ALL THE ANIMALS WE SAW HIM WITH.
INEVER HAD THE OPPERTUNITY TO MEET HIM.
EVERY VIDEO , PHOTO I HAVE EVER SEEN HAVE BEEN GREAT.
THERE ARE 4 STATEMENTS,3 are from what i know to be facts. the 4th one is a QUESTION , you now MR BURCKE not all of us are as old,as to remember or have the privalige to meet the greats. We would just like to know more.
In animal training we educate animals , if we new the answer we wouldnt ask the question, no matter how ill thought out. I hope you do not train the way you write. A little bit of encouragement goes a long way as you should well know. i have appologised to you and others I am big enough. an ego the size of the USA is ok for the Rednecks, but those of us with a bi of education find it pretentious and boring.
I think this is the last comment i will reply to. Sorry Mr Woodcock, you have a great Blog. I hope Mr Burck does not take it to heart but not all of us have a chip on our shoulder.
Christ Wade, don't chase off the customers. I need all the Blog revenue I can get.
Sorry got a little caried away before Mr D Raffo is one of today s greats you will see, have seen him work FANTASTIC.
No.. no.. don't apologize for getting "carried away".
Forget Mr. Burck
I had the incredible opportunity to walk up to him -- impeccably dressed in his tuxedo.. on Opening Night at the Garden for Opening NIGHT!!.. standing alone.. and I - feeling that after all these years of seeing him
"in the SPOTLIGHT".. riding a tiger on a spinning mirrored ball and ALL ..and later years watching him in blue coveralls.. covering his son in the tiger cage... I was perhaps the only one in the audience who know who he was - (and not knowing that would be his last Garden- Opening Night..) I went over.. shook his hand.. and thanked him for all his wonderful shows.
I've just re-read for the third time his wonderful book.. "TAMED". From what he tells us in it .. he was on a personal-voice basis with all his animals.. to the extent he would not allow anyone to even say anything to them. If you haven't.. I'm sure you'd enjoy.. I don't recall that others trained HIS animals..
Look forward to next year's Blue Unit Opening Night!!
Regards.. to all.
klsdad
Don't take it personally, anonymous. He talks to everybody like that. Don't let it be a reflection on the good ol' USA. The only dumb question is the one that isn't asked. yes, Gunther trained his own animals.
Jesus, Buckles don't things turn fast. One day we're setting response records, and it's smoke blown up my kester, and "I'm going to make you a star, kid". Then we hit a little bump, you panic, and you turn on me. Relax, the USA has more then enough anonymous's to make the nut, plus cherry pie. There's nothing to it. Now watch, I'll show you one more time.
Rebecca, John Cuneo and I have a bet, but he's not sure. Were you the one who took care of the hippo, or the tall girl that took care of the giraffe? Thank's Wade Burck
Buckles. See, three more. I know your tense, wondering if you will be able to afford one of those expensive Ringling ellyfant snow cone's. I'd like to be able to afford one too. Just relax. If this blog deal doesn't work out, I think Bud Mcdermott is working on getting a couple of them compted for us. Wade Burck
Apologies - Gunther..
His book is "UNTAMED"...
not "TAMED"!!
klsdad
Here see if this works for you fellow bloggers. "He did the best job he could, with the animals that were available". You can doubt anything, but do not doubt my gratitude for the Gebel's, the Woodcocks, the Herriotts, the Baumans, the Bauchers, the Clubbs, the Chipperfields, the Sembach-Krones, the Knies, the Semonites, that I had the honor of breathing the same air with. Wade Burck
P.S. Bud, if you can square it with your wife, come and get me. I think I'm going to need that therapy now.
Mr. Burck,
How have you survived this business for all these years WITHOUT ME?
I've been sitting back and enjoying the debate from the cheap seats instead of being bloodied to death.
I've received quite the scolding from the MRS. She read some of my recent (and honest) comments and she told me that I was a mean ole cuss and that people would think that I'm just a old hoot and a hot headed crank.
I said that is a rather serious accusation and after all these years when did she think I started to loose it?
"Loose it?" she exclaimed in terror, "you never had it. Your're just older, that's all."
I am opening my social calendar for the summer, so if anyone wants to invite me over, I'm going to have plenty of days to fill.
I don't think Kenny Feld and I are going to do that DAY SPA get-a-way for the guys, so that's another free day.
Sigh. Since I wrote yesterday in a comment back on Wednesday's posts "I've done the best I could with the animals I've had available" I guess this is supposed to be a dig to me. Wade, I just find it remarkable you can even take an honest, innocent statement like that, find fault, and use it for sarcastic fodder.
Dear Ksldad.
Thank you for the story about Gunther, You see iam learning, i did not know about the book . Iam trying to find it on line as you read this.
Ps. I think my new found friend might be starting to forgive me?
I think that is a very nice photo of Gunther.
I know very little about horses, but that animals seems to be in a very good position...would the pros comment. Gunther appears relaxed and in control.
See that? I said something nice and like everything I say I MEAN IT.
GGW was not only a great animal trainer he was a gentleman, with class and of course he was great with the press. As soon as I figure out how to do it, I am going to send some pictures from the "Art Ricker Book of Circus PR Stunts"
art-call me and i'll show you how to send photos. we all need to see some of the wonderful things you've done.
henry
Buckles, let's see if I can have my day in court, without pointing out obvious shoulder chip's, or using words like "redneck". I noted European anonymous, posting a number of responses that appeared to be passing judgement,(granted, it might be a communication snafu) and didn't appear to be the"quest for knowledge". 1. Are the oldies not teaching, or are the young ones not listening. 2. Somebody think's he is the only one who can work an animal, if you know what I mean. 3. Did he train all his animals. As the animal training fraternity is aware those are negative quotes aimed at another's abilities. I first heard them 33 yeas ago, and even used them, until I matured and developed my own style, by emulating them, and not being envious of them. Yes, EVERYBODY has a right to an opinion. Even I. One of the individuals I barely know, the other I worked with closely for 7 years, and had the honor of presenting his tiger act for 2. No, I didn't train the 11 German speaking one's, but I did train the 4 English speaking one's. I care enough about people that I will defend anybody being ambushed. If you have an opinion, say it, don't insinuate it, if you know what I mean. To this day many years after his death, if you say Tiger trainer, 8 out of 10 of the American public, will say Gunther, or that blonde haired guy from Germany. I know for a fact, that he was recogized by everybody, even in coverall's Klsdad. 1000's thanked him at his funeral. I know I thanked him for the 100th time that day. Art Ricker, could probably find out, but of those 1000's, how many were from the animal training fraternity? It has always been a very COMPETATIVE group, and it does get hot, and bloody at time's. Pat, it seems to be a quote that covers all avenues, that's why I borrowed it. No disrspect intended. Now I would like my chip back. Quite often, I have to remind my son, who is entering his 3rd year of animal training, that he can't say something, until he has done it for a long time. Then he will have an opinion based on facts, and not just repeat what somebody told him. Wade Burck
You take all this stuff too seriously Wade, all it amounts to is a bunch of old people reliving their past.
Mr Woodcock
Just to add to your comment,
I love Circus and Animals,
The older generation (no disrespect), You have the Automatic Respect of somebody like me. I am just on a mission to find out how you all worked, and if a stupid sentence comes out from me i am sorry. I hope to come to USA this year i would love to listen and learn, from great peaple like yourself i can listen all day to the experiences you have had have you ever thought of writing a book? wih great respect anonymous.
A great place for you to visit would be the Showfolks Club in Sarasota, Florida.
In the vicinity of the bar, many tales of DARING DEEDS DONE are told and at about 11 o'clock we even start telling the truth.
Buckles, OLD PEOPLE!!!!!! Because you signed your name, and I respect you greatly, I'm going to assume that wasn't an ambush. LOL. The only thing I have ever taken serious is insinuations and pretense. Example, My son got a very valuable lesson 2 years ago, that I couldn't have taught him. He has a tiger in his act, that had previously been work by two different women trainers(not being sexist Rebecca, that's just what it was), and the opinion was that he only liked women, and that a man couldn't work with him. Neither he or I have ever had a problem with the tiger he rides on. A year later, one of the former female trainers, appproached him at a show, and he was so proud, as he thought she was going to congratulate him on a job well done. She said, "have you had any problem's with Obie?" He was confused, and said "no, why"? She said, "that's strange, he used to love only me", and left. My son looked at me with hurt eyes, and said,"Pops, what was that about". I gave him a hug, and said, "welcome to show biz, son". I don't take it to serious, and I pray my son learns not to either. Wade Burck
THANK YOU!
I never thought that when I sent the photo to Buckles of Gunther that it would have caused so much attention and amusement.
Having had the opportunity to work for Gunther, He was a great inspiration and fun to work for and with. I have said many times that I thought he was the fairest man I ever worked for.I had the opportunity to work around his elephants and also be a cat groom,at 1 point I was his lead cat guy.Also had the opportunity to watch his children grow up. Not only did he have a special ability with the animals, he also had a personal charisma that set him apart as a performer.Many of us took many lessons from him and he will always be remembered as a true superstar.
Ode to Gunther
My oh My: Well Wade, you have let the perverbial cat out of the bag. Now everyone knows they can get you to sit up, roll over and walk on your hind legs by using a bit of Gunther as bait. Dear anonymuous, you have accidentally stumbled on to one of the best secrets of animal training. With your best animals it will work however on the lazy ones you will have to give them a hole page in the program with color photos and most of the time even that won't get you much.
P.S. I found that the saying First of May or Old First of May bait works wonders with many. I believe Mr Woodcock even mentioned a seminar will be held on the subject or was that "Asshole First of May?".P.S.S. To all who Bleached their hair like Gunther,Not one of us did much copying of Mr G.when it came to the mans work ethic before or after show time.
A quote from Robert Jones AKA Smokey; "Jimmy you want to know who are the best animal trainers? The ones who get up the earliest in the morning Pal."
Gunther was also a very lucky man,and he was the first to say that, having Irvin Feld to promote him and Don Foote to dress him and all the others that supported him in the making of a stellar career
I have never seen Adam Burck work, but my spies have told me how well Adam and Obi get along and I couldn't be more delighted. Obi is as special as tigers come. One in a million.
I quess I will jump into the Gunther fray as well. As much as I respected him for his animal training, his personality outside the ring was tops. I've never seen a harder working man and truely respected him even more when he would jump in the hay truck at winter quarters and stayed until the last bale was tossed. The star of GSOE didn't have to do this, but that was part of the job. If I didn't learn anything else in thirty years of working with animals, this was the lesson he taught me.
I never met the man,watched him...But I don't think "LUCK" had anything to do with his success...
Hey Larry Allen Dean, Besides yourself what other guy's worked for Gunther, and went on to have their own careers with cats. I know of the McMillian bros., Deiter Weichert, Werner, yourself. Any others? Wade Burck
1 in a million? what about "Henry"
As just a lowly cageboy and ride goof for Buckles .I am abit biased but based on what I saw at Winter Quarters and how people were treated, I didn't see Gunther as the friendly sort at all. He walked around my cat cages, (Jewells and Charlies)with airs. Hell my dog ran off the General Manager of the Blue Show and Charlie told him to stay out of our tents unless we were there.Of course we got all his hand me down cages, and I'm sure props. BUT Charlie Baumann to me had a better act with his tigers than Gunther ever dreamed. Charlie had a fluid way about him in the cage that his tigers always had their eyes on him and he on them. Even Jewells lions did cleaner tricks that Gunther cats.IMHO. To him being the most popular Circus Star of the Century ,no doubt if someone bought a whole Circus and moved it to America someone better premote him to that level and give him a bigger spotlight that anyone else on the show. As as hard an asshole Charlie could be, he always treated me well. Buckles is like no other person I have ever worked for, that gave people opportunites no one else would and if he trusted you with a group of even misfit elephants it was an Honor to do it for him!
Hey Darryl, didn't you work for Buckles too? He was always on the picket line in the morning and he unloaded hay trucks right beside us and then sat down and entertained us with cold beer and jackpots!
One more and I'll shut up! Gunther had Congo, BUT Buckles had Anna May! No competition to me?
Gary as did Axel. these are all truely great men and I'm glad to have had the chance to be around them. Never worked for Buckles and am the lesser man for it. since I didn't get to work with the man, I tried to work with as many elephants that he worked with as I could. Can't learn from the man, then next best is learn from the animals he trained. The animals have taught me the most of all over the years, and that it's a pleasure to be around them.
ha ha. Henry. Hi Jim, how are ya. O.K., Henry's one in a gazillion.
In the words of the immortal Jimmy Durante, "everybody is trying to get in the act", so I shall make my comment as brief as possible.I knew him and worked with him infrequently over the years from when he first came here until he departed. I was in the training ring with him, I shared rings with him, I was one of the performance directors touring with him and I even made the animal walk riding a horse beside him. I socialized with him one on one in his stateroom and could probably call him a friend. He was the most coordinated person I ever knew and a total workaholic. He was personally insecure as he was not born in the circus and was not legitamate circus royalty. He lived totally in his own little world and rarely if ever ventured out and allowed very few to venture in. He was an excellent animal trainer and very efficient in how he went about it, not wasting any time. He had success and failure4s in his training as all of us do. He was certainly not above working or taking over animals trained by others, but would never admit it. He was loyal to his help, but if you worked for him there were no free rides. All hands joined in. He was not the popular person in the company that the PR people made him out to be. Kenneth Feld remarked that he never aid NO. Thats true, he always said yes and then did as he pleased. Another great animal trainer named Williams did exactly the same. He was never a part of our close knit animal training fraternity and seemed to have no desire in that direction. He greatest pride expressed to me was becoming an American Citizen. I am glad I knew him, but for me and so many other legitimate trainers it was trying to live in his shadow for some thirty years.
I remember the Polk brothers, Henry Schroder, Heiko and Tyrone all having worked for Gunther.
I also had the opportunity to groom for Buckles,Josip Marcan, "Red" Hartman, Dave Hoover among others
I'm fine,Pat, have 6 flea-markets and a Barmitzvah booked....
My 2-headed baby was'nt "BORN" in the "BIZ" but I consider him to be the "MOTHERLODE" King of Kings...
Dear Mr Herriot,
I have learned more about Mr G.G. Williams inthe last few days than i could have hoped! Thank you all!
And thank you Mr Woodcock for giving a place to learn about the Great Animal trainers on your side of the pond.
Yours Sincierly Anonymous
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