 My father told me extra cats were added for the Garden date in an enlarged ring that also accommodated a 20 horse Liberty Act. As I understood it, after the last cat was seated the Capt. would salute the audience then start sending them back out. |
Saturday, September 05, 2015
Still More Cats! #5
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Photographer to the stars, James J. Kriegsmann's id is seen in the lower right hand corner.
According to wikipedia Karl Wallenda was a friend and client of Kriegsmann.
A Kriegsmann photo was a symbol of class in show business, not just the circus business.
There were a few more celebrity photographers, one being Seymour who I think was in Chicago.
More on Kriegsmann
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_J._Kriegsmann
Mike- Maurice Seymour I believe
Jacobs must have offered more than the in-and-out. We see his barrel @ lower L, and his wire rigging strung across near-center. Having serious experience with gang fights around the tunnel door, Jacobs placed his safety cage out front. This arena was the largest shown stateside--it measured 50-feet in diameter. Arguments continue over the number of cats that year. The show advertised 50. Counts from the photo usually bring in 35 or so. Judy Jacobs Kaye told me her father carried 55 lions and tigers that year, and at various times in the season, worked between 35 and 52.
Remember, Jacobs lost a lot of lions before the 1st 1939 under canvas date in Long Island City. They has been shipped in shifting crates from Boston, and they were simply loaded on the first section flats. The late Bob Good Sr. was there and took photos. The crates were covered with tarps and some of them were too tight causing the lions to suffocate en route. That would have cut down the number of lions available for the arena during the rest if the season.
I saw this act in Atlanta in 1939 and though I was quite small I recall a lot of action in the arena. No in and out deal.
Again we must thank RJRIII for sharing his memories and his great knowledge.
Mr. Reynolds is right. The boys' hearts were in the right place to protect the lions from the bitter New England cold, but their overzealous intentions did not allow for ventilation. I've read several accounts that 9 lions were lost to suffocation.
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