| Guy Gossing's "fighting" tiger act, Eastern States Expo Circus, 1975 |
Friday, August 29, 2008
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19 comments:
ember Guy playing the Medinah Shrine date in Chicago several years ago. One of the tigers cut his head and Guy was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The press jumped on it and took reporters to the hospital looking for a front page story of a tiger attack. When interviewed, he said the tiger did not attack him but it was an accident. He said "It wasn't the tigers fault, I got my head in the wrong place at the wrong time".
He played several dates for L. N. Fleckles over the years.
I saw Guy Gossing in Orlando.This for the annual Bahia Shrine circus produced by Bill Kay.Early 70s.You could barely see him as it was at Tinker Field ball park.Next to the Citrus Bowl.
Bill Kay always had great acts.Several times Karl Wallenda was booked on those dates as well as Clines elephants and horse act.
Great photo, Jim. I was probably there at the Big E or Eastern States as I knew it growing up in the years previous to this. Wayne McCary, who produced the circus, often used Gossing. Can anyone help me recall Gossing's background and how he got into the business and came to this country?
Dick Flint
Baltimore
Though I never saw this man work. I like his style. I feel every good cat guy should have a good looking woman watching his back, and working the door. Although, if the woman in this photo is his wife, I would guess that any problem with the cats coming in or out nearly resulted in the calling of divorce attorneys, LOL.
The woman in the photos is Guy Gossings wife.
Guy Gossing I believe waw a Frenchman and had a fighting lion act, bouncing, etc. and when he switched to tigers he had a fighting tiger act. No difference, just different specie.
The Lady in the back is Georgette, Guy's wife. He toured a season in the African Congo on a circus. I am sorry to say, I do not recall the name of the show, prior to entering the U.S. He told me he had two beast wagons when he arrived and did a bit of scrambling to get into shifting cages with his then lion act. I first got to know the Gossings while working for Harold Voyse. He was then carrying two tigers not being used in the act at the time and told me he was going to all tigers two years later. He, like my family, was working all summer for George Moffet. Guy that year switched to all tigers around 1966. We toured several seasons with Guy on L.N.Fleckles, Don Fransico, the then mighty Texas dates and Bob Atterbury shopping center run, also Gracie"s dates and for Castle. I almost bought this act from Guy several years prior to Eddie Schmidt's purchase. I helped groom his tigers during a timed when he got hurt. All in all a real down to earth (Guy) Mr.Guy Gossing.P.S.Georgette pronounced his name Gee. Also his faithful shepherd pooch was named Peezer
I believe that Guy Gossing came from Belgium.
Guy was very close friends with a circus fan from Ossing, NY, Paul Neff, who is now deceased.
At one shrine circus date in NY, I showed up with a camera in hand as a typical circus fan. Guy needed someone to work the top cage doors and I got drafted for the job. The cage wagons sure rocked when the tigers came back from the arena. Jimmy Cole
Guy and Georgette Gossing were from Belgium, French spoken,my wife says that would make them Flemish. Georgette was working in a department store when he met her, so she told me.
P.S.to Casey and Natalie; In regards to shifting cage doors and divorce court,I recall once Georgette giving Guy a bad case of the "nothins" after the act that day that went on for several days. We arrived at Island Garden arena in Long Island, N.Y. and Guy said if Georgette asks, tell her I went to town and he jumped in a cab and left. A few hours later he returned with a new Fleetwood Braum Cadillac. He knocked on her door and handed her the keys. This squared the beef. Yes it is a true story. When the three week engagement came to an end Guy came over and asked if we could drive the car to a few of the towns we were going to as his wife had not yet gotten her drivers license..
I met and visited with Gossing on a Texas Date. I had a lady with me, and he gave us a most gracious tour, naming each tiger and explaining his place in the act. Many considered his tigers among the hottest ever shown.
Roger Smith
I was thinking that the Belgians who speak French are Walloons and those who speak Flemish are Flemings, but I wouldn't bet on my memory of this.
Who was it who wrote on this blog about someone urging him to buy this act and he replied, "I wouldn't go in there with a Bazooka?"
Thanks, everyone! The collective knowledge and generosity of all have been kindly demonstrated. Now I've been able to recall a lot of this including that he was from Belgium. However, does anyone know what/who brought Gossing to this country and when?
Dick Flint
Mr. Hall,
Thanks for the story. I feel better knowing it has been that way for someone else. Now I just need to find a steal on a new Cadillac.
P.S.
How long does the "caddy" keep me outta the "nothins"?
On second thought, maybe hiring a groom would be cheaper,,lol
Casey;
I thought the John Deere green over the U-Haul orange would surly have done the trick for you?
Yes, it was at SummerFest in Milwuakee that I saw Mr. Gossing work several times.
Up to that time I had wanted to try my hand at working with cats. I was ready to make my move and asked Guy and his wife about this idea. I got a very wet blanket thrown on me by both of them. Oh you gotta start young (I was 30)they said. Forget it. Then the accent got very thick and I could not understand anymore. It took me a month or two before I got a job as cage boy for Okie Carr on Carson and Barnes, and a year later I worked the act. Thanks all for the info on Guy Gossing. Dion
I first saw Guy Gossing working a lion act on the Hamid-Morton circus at the old Arena in Providence, RI in 1963. I have never seen any reference to him being here prior to that.
There was a movie called "Berserk" that was made in Europe, and it shows a brief clip of a lion act that I believe is Gossing's. This may be from some old stock footage however, as the movie is listed as being made in 1967. By then Guy was well established with the tiger act here in the USA.
Jimmy Cole
Out of curiosity, I did some digging and there was a G. Gossing, age 89, recently living in Myakka City, Manatee county, FL. However, social security records indicate that a
Gulliaume Gossing of Myakka City was born on Aug 3, 1919, and died there on Oct 21, 2001. That first name certainly could match how his wife pronounced his name and could become the English Guy by which we knew him; his life dates also match well.
Dick Flint
Baltimore
To Mr.Flint
Yes Guy/Gulliaume Gossing was his his name. When talking to Mr.E.Schmidt a while back he said Guy passed away a couple of years earlier.
Thank s for all you comments.
A love vert much all tours commente.
God blessé you Grand Pa.
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