This photo appears to have been taken just as the three Alfred Court cage acts were about to start. A close examination of this photo would seem to indicate that the shifting dens for the center ring leopards-pumas-panthers act were spotted parallel to the track. |
Sunday, May 23, 2010
1941 RBBB (Set 3) #3
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2 comments:
I have had this film strip for 66 years but never looked closely at what does appear to be a line of shifting cages for the leopards et al. We see what looks like black cats already in the big cage. A sitting puma is clearly seen.
This is perplexing because all the photos I’ve seen of big cage acts under canvas (from this era) show the use of chutes or tunnels to bring the cats into the arenas from cage wagons outside.
I know that Court’s leopards came into the tent that way in Atlanta in 1940. Our seats were on the short side, top row, next to the back door.
I spent as much time looking out into the back yard via the gap between the sidewall and tent top as I did the performance.
I can testify that in Atlanta the leopards came in from outside because the chute or tunnel was right below our seats. And their cage wagons were close to the sidewall where we were sitting. I saw the guys moving them from compartment to compartment by using boards they slid between the bars.
Perhaps this photo was taken at the first canvas date in Baltimore, before they had time to put the leopards into their cage wagons.
They would have used shifting cages for NYC and Boston. Once on the road, however, the shifting cages were sent back to Sarasota or so I’ve always thought.
One year I also sat up high and could look out over the backyard. I share your interest that it was just as great watching the acts arrive at the Back Door as it was seeing them in the ring. The jugglers especially would practice furiously before going on, as would the intense balancers and tumblers. One girl just below me stood with one pointed toe on the ground, did a full spilts, with the other leg stretched upward along a sidepole, and she'd embrace the pole for her warm-up. Then she'd switch legs. She noticed my fascination and solemnly intoned, "You're gonna fall, leaning over like that." I didn't know how to tell her, at 8 years of age, I was trying to fall for her.
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