Saturday, October 27, 2007

Beatty-Cole 1960's-70's #9


Beatty-Cole Hoover 7-7-67 012, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.


PHOTO 9 (Beatty-Cole Hoover 7-7-67 012)
One rollover tiger used to be a novelty but that began to change soon
after this 1967 photo was taken. Charly Baumann set the new standard
for both the number of cats doing the rollover and for the format of
cat acts in general in the US when he arrived on Ringling just about
the same time that I took this image of the classic American cat act.

Posted by Buckles at 10/27/2007 04:49:00 AM

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mr. Flint, you are absolutly correct in your statement about Charly Baumann, and his tiger act. You always run into somebody who will say, "so and so had a great act, or was a great trainer". When you dig deeper, and ask, "really, what did he do," they ususally don't remember, or they will say, "I don't know, that's just what I heard. Such is not the case with Charly and his tiger act. Most everybody remember's not only what he did, but what music was played, and what light's were used, and if they were eating a snowcone or popcorn when they saw him. That my friend, is an impact. Was he a "nice guy"? Sorry, I don't recall that being a required requiset when you are setting a standard. Wade Burck

27 October, 2007 10:28
GaryHill said...

When I worked for Charly, of course he was also Performance Director, so it seemed smoke was always coming out from under his collar. In the backyard he has his demands but they weren't that bad except the one where I singlehandly flooded the 5th floor of MSG.

27 October, 2007 11:56
Anonymous said...

Another vote for the "Baumann influence". I first saw Charly's act in Charlotte, NC in 1965. He worked early in the second half of the show. RBBB was still using the "sectioned" arena, not the one that dropped into the ring curb. Charly's seats hung around the cage. The props were chrome with solid tops that were varished and scored -- they looked like tables from a living room. Backing in to Kismet, the three tigers waltzing together on "new" type of pedestals, and all presented with an aire of quiet confidence. The finish was several cats jumping a chrome fence hurdle and the last cat circle the ring with Charly to "Walking My Baby Back Home". It was terrific -- something I had only read about. (Wade's right, I remembered that performance of over 40 years ago, some would say I need to get a life.)Over the years it got better, he didn't rest on his laurels.

I only saw Clyde Beatty twice near the end of his career but I was around Pat Anthony quite a bit. I could see a lot of very good training in Pat's classic fighting act. Charly Baumann's act, probably along with the growing general "ecology and environmental" influences changed the way most view wild animal acts. Where once it was "conquering the jungle beasts" we now seem to appreciate working with the animals as equals. (More philosophical than I should try and get into.)

27 October, 2007 12:08
Buckles said...

We chatted with Araceli last night at the wedding. Brought back pleasant memories from the Ringling Show when on closing nights after the elephants were loaded in the cars, Barbara and I would go over to Charly and Araceli's state room in the next car where with a half dozen others we would have a few drinks and catch up on the scuttlebutt. Then a few hours later, everyone would scatter for home when they started to move the cars around.
She was always the perfect hostess and even Charly in his lair was quite charming but on the lot he could sometimes be an absolute pain in the ass.

27 October, 2007 12:49
Anonymous said...

Mr. burck and Mr. Woodcocki totaly i agree with you about Charly being a pain at work but away he was a diffrent man . working for him was a honor and i will never forget one time in Australia he walk up and sat down and ask me if something would ever happen to him would i have the cojones to get him out then in japan twice he ask me the same except this time he said will you get me out if i need too and be able to get the cats out in the order .needless to say he walk away and i be lieing but i had watery eyes . yes he was pain in the ass he would play you out of every nickel and dime if you let him . between him and Larry French both were a hand full to be around at the same time but a honor to have lived it . CleanRaul

27 October, 2007 22:14
GaryHill said...

I have forgotten that Charly asked me once, "what would you do if I got in trouble in the cage?" I told him I'd yell "HIT THE HOLE!" and grab my fire extinguisher! He asked me that at MSG after I stepped into Jewell's cage because Murphy had grabbed Jewells head during a performance.

27 October, 2007 23:39
Buckles said...

I was referring to Mr. Bauman when he was in his "Herr Director" persona.

27 October, 2007 23:44
Anonymous said...

on the lighter side of life with Charly i am sure many of us know some Michu and Charly jackpots .cleanraul

28 October, 2007 00:17
Anonymous said...

Clean Raul, I'm sorry, but I never said Charley was a pain at work, or otherwise. Wade Burck

28 October, 2007 00:35
Anonymous said...

Clean Raul, Now Michu on the othr hand, there was a real piece of work. Wade Burck

28 October, 2007 08:46

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