Monday, September 17, 2012

From Ricardo Vitanza



Anthony Patrick Vitanza is buried 10' away from his daughter Toni Ann Vitanza-Rimes in Hillsboro Memorial Gardens in Brandon , Fl. He died on June 3, 1989 ,Toni Ann died December 13 , 1969. She was 18 years old and had gotten married on the previous day.

Posted by Buckles at 9/17/2012 05:52:00 AM

9 comments:

Chic Silber said...


Sorry to hear about his daughter

There have been stories about how

Pat Anthony received financing for

his cat act training from the GI bill

Who did he train under & when

17 September, 2012 11:14
Buckles said...

There were a number of trainers that came out of the Jungle Compound at 1000 Oaks on the GI Bill.
I don't know how that deal was set up but all parties involved came out ahead.
However the financing for Pat's act came from Louie Stern.

17 September, 2012 12:15
Harry Kingston said...

If Louie Stern financed him that would be for Polack Bros. Circus????
I only met Pat when he was on Circis Vargas but what a cat act he had.
It was a thrill a minute to me and I got to know him though the Vargas years.
Pat and his Lincoln and airstream.
Gone but NOT forgotten.
Harry in Texas

17 September, 2012 13:20
Dick Flint said...

I recall that Bill Ballantine's "Wild Tigers and Tame Fleas" had a wonderful part about Pat Anthony and the GI bill.
Dick Flint
Baltimore

17 September, 2012 16:30
GaryHill said...

I remember Jewell New and I traveled to his compound one day from Circus World and visited him and watched him practice. Nice visit..

17 September, 2012 16:52
Chic Silber said...


Tell us about yourself Ricardo & also

your father's background please

17 September, 2012 18:53
Roger Smith said...

Bill Johnston, Pat Anthony's assistant for 17 years, told me this: Pat had been a paratrooper in WW II, and was laughed at when he applied for benefits from the GI Bill so he could learn wild animal training. At last, his congressman from his home district of Cleveland, Ohio, got it through Congress for him. Like most of us who aspired to the cage, Pat idolized Clyde Beatty, and wanted to learn under him. Beatty said something like, "Pat, I'm gonna do you a favor, and turn you down. If you want to learn, get yourself out to Thousand Oaks, and try to get around Chubby Guilfoyle. If you're really going, I can write and tell him of our conversation, but I can't guarantee old Chubby will take you on." Pat arrived at the Old Place, then known as World Jungle Compound, operated by Billy Richards and Trader Horne. Bill said after Pat's combat duty, a grateful nation cut him $80 a month. Benny Bennett, the compound's legendary cat man, told me Chubby was awfully hard on Pat, as were most old-timers on hopefuls, but when Pat left to go on his own, in 1953, with Bill Johnston along, he was a master wild animal trainer. Walker Dick, who has been featured here, made it big in townie business, and became Pat's first angel, allowing him to break a major mixed act. Indeed, his association with Louie Stern proved immensely successful, too, and Stern poured a ton of money into Pat's act that helped keep it first class for many seasons. This association included Pat's home and compound in Riverview, Florida.

I had not known Pat's actual date of death nor his burial place. Thank you, Ricardo. I remember well when your sister died. Eternal Peace to them both.

17 September, 2012 19:45
JIM ELLIOTT said...

I live 2 miles South of Pat's former W.Q's. Pass it nearly everyday. It is now a riding stable.

20 September, 2012 08:32
Unknown said...

My mom raised us with stories of Mr. Anthony. She was best friends with Toni Ann. My mom, Penny Bennett, was the maid of honor at Toni Ann's wedding and missed her dearly. Toni Ann's death affected her greatly.
Her stories of Pat were larger than life. She remembered him as a handsome, kind man, who commanded attention. As a talented majorette for East Bay High, she remembered learning showmanship from Mr. Anthony. She said their house was loud and full of love.
Pat's genuine love for the big cats always impressed her. Rest in Peace, Mr. Anthony.

08 July, 2019 16:07

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