Friday, November 12, 2010

1949 Ringling-Barnum #24


24, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Posted by Buckles at 11/12/2010 06:05:00 AM

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope someone can enlighten us on this odd arena. It may or may not fit in with these 1949 Ringling photos.Somehow, this setup looks below Ringling standards of the time.
It looks to be made of chain.
Dennis Younger

12 November, 2010 08:53
Chic Silber said...

Very strange cable mesh arena

that doesn't seem to be anchored

at the bottom & it's upper ring

created of several straight pipes

Anyone have information on it

12 November, 2010 08:55
JIM ELLIOTT said...

This same arena, shows up in the next photo also. Look hard it is on the left side, of photo.

12 November, 2010 09:37
Jim Clubb said...

This was the Dammoo Dhotre arena for Court's mixed panthers. This was the last year it worked. It was then sold to Circus Amar in France. Amar wanted to buy one of these "new" type arenas, but Court advised him against it. They were made of chainlink and if you pulled them up too tight they sometimes broke in the middle. That's why you see it is quite slack in the picture. As time went on the diamond style was adopted and was made out of steel cable. The first time this type of arena was seen in the UK was at Bertram Mills Circus Olympia in 1961. Mills called it the Mills-type cage - the cage without bars. Cyril Mills told me he had seen the RBBB version and was trying to develop a new type of cage, better than RBBB. It took him 10 years to do it, but of course Knie was already using one in Switzerland. The first Knie one was made out of steel rings and was almost, in my opinion, as unsightly as the first RBBB effort. No wonder Court didn't want to send one to France. You will also note the arena was much smaller than the other cat and bear arenas. The panther act of Court's always worked in a smaller arena than the other animals. This was to quicken up the act, as they were always sluggish and reluctant to move.

12 November, 2010 12:06
Anonymous said...

Dennis,
Thanks for sharing a great set of photos.
These steel chain mesh cages were introduced in 1948. They were touted as giving the viewer an unobstructed view of the animals.
They were used on and off until 1956.
The bottom was attached to wooden platforms. The seats for the cats or bears were placed on top of the wood which helped to hold it down. There is a good view of this set up in DeMille's The Greatest Show On Earth.
Some where in the house I have a short video of the dismantling of this cage.
The bottom of the mesh was unhooked from the boards and the top poles were pulled apart. Unfortunately that's all that is shown. Perhaps someone who actually saw the tear down and can fill us in.
Dom

12 November, 2010 12:14
Anonymous said...

Thank you Mr. Clubb.
Aside from this arena, does anyone know of a cat escaping during a performance anywhere, anytime, any show? Ever.
Top netting seemed so important for a long time in wild animal presentations and then it stopped.
So, if nothing takes the place of netting, why was it ever used?
I once had the elephant entrance on my area open by itself, mid -act.
I think I was the only one to notice. My door man just stood there while I 'circus welding rod'd it shut. (Baling twine)
Dennis Younger

13 November, 2010 00:58
Buckles said...

I once asked Terrell Jacobs what he thought of chain arenas and he said, "I want something I can climb out of!"

13 November, 2010 10:37
Wade G. Burck said...

Dennis,
There you have your answer. An animal could climb out of a barred or 2X4 wire panel arena(or so I have been told. I have never witnessed it,) but could not climb out of the loose net cage, hence no need for a net over the top. If fact the net used to keep them in, is in essence the same thing a net cage is.
Jim, what about the claim that Darix Togni was the first one to make a "chain" net cage, and actually had it patented?
Wade

13 November, 2010 15:55
Anonymous said...

One flaw in your thinking Wade. Not every presenter uses a cable arena. Your own son for example.
The first thing I practised in Hugo before I got to get in the arena with cats, was scooting up a panel and over the top to safety. That arena was square tubing drilled and crisscrossed with aircraft wire. 24 panels, 4' by 10'. When magnificent Freddy the lion
reached the highest seat, preparing to ride on Suzy's back around the arena twice, he was only 2 feet from the top of the arena. No fire hose, no quarter pole, no extinguisher in sight. And blanks in my gun. Ho Boy!
Dennis Younger

13 November, 2010 20:55
Wade G. Burck said...

Dennis,
What's flawed? I never said my son used a net cage, but he does used a cable section cage, which again theoretically is difficult to climb for the animals. I was not suggesting a person go over the top. That is actually the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of. If you are looking for a way out, you maybe should not be in there. Maybe I was just "lucky" and and good animals, but the door usually worked pretty good for going in and out. I only heard of one person attempting to crawl over the top, years ago and his name was Pancho Magona(sp). Word was it didn't word out to well. I have always assumed going out over the top, was much like having a fork in the cage. Comfort it is there, but not much used when it is needed.
A number of states now require a net over the cage, regardless of whether it is a net cage, a section cable cage, a barred cage, etc. In Tennessee they measure your tallest pedestal, and if it is a certain height from the top of the cage, they won't permit the act to work. If you are allowed to work, you have to have a shotgun handy.
Wade

14 November, 2010 08:37
Dennis said...

Wade
I never said you said that your son used a net arena. I had asked why years ago the
overhead net was used and not now.And you said because the newer type arena probably was not climbable by big cats. Well, I said that Adam did not have a net arena and no top net either.
So don't try and confuse me. I can do that for myself. And often do.
Cheers Dennis

14 November, 2010 10:08
Jim Z said...

"The first thing I practised in Hugo before I got to get in the arena with cats, was scooting up a panel and over the top to safety."

Dennis Younger

Dammit!..a Day late and a Dollar short again!..If I would have known that technique I would/could have had a Illustrious Mediocre Big-Cat Career myself!!...although I did perfect a nifty "Duck, Tuck and roll" maneuver for Packy-Derms...

14 November, 2010 10:35
Wade G. Burck said...

Jim Z.,
Don't sell yourself short, Pal. That "pant cuff in the unicycle chain on a wire start and stop" deal was no slouch either.
Wade Burck

14 November, 2010 12:57
Wade G. Burck said...

Dennis,
Yes I was referring to the "new cages" as a net cage, and net section cage not an older cage spray painted with fresh paint to look like a "new cage". You are right, you do do a good job by yourself. Your on your own.

Wade Burck

14 November, 2010 13:01
Buckles said...

Gee Gee Engesser told the story about her brother in law Milt Herriott when he was on her family's show, Schell Bros.
One day they shared a lot with a carnival that had folded and her father George Engesser purchased the lions that were used in the Motor Drome with the understanding they did an act (I think she said there were three cats) along with a small steel arena.
Someone in the dressing room had overheard Milt say he had worked a leopard act on the Robinson Show
and was immediately asked by George to try to do something with these cats.
After a brief practice he decided to give it a try before an audience.
After entering the arena he was immediately chased up the wall and hanging from the top bars yelled, "What do I do now?"
George yelled back, "I don't know but whatever it is, keep doing it!......You've got this audience right in the palm of your hand!"

14 November, 2010 15:03

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