Buckles Blog: FROM WADE #2

Saturday, June 29, 2019

FROM WADE #2

8 comments:

Roger Smith said...: This is Robert "Bobby" McPherson, a master trainer on the American Circus Corporation titles. He always wore his gunbelt with the holster in front of his zipper. This brick building shows up in another photo of McPherson with a large group of tigers. That photo was cropped to eliminate McPherson and appear to be a Beatty act when used in selected circus books. This gentleman had a long career both in the ring and the training barn, but was among the legions never rewarded with public acclaim.; 30 June, 2019 20:38
Robert Cline said...: As a historian who loves the Peru winter quarters, this is a photo I have not seen before. Behind the arena is the cat barn. The dark brick was actually a Ben Wallace building built in 1892. When the American Circus Corporation started their huge expansion on this property in 1922, they built their long cat barn between this building and another Ben Wallace building nearly 150 feet away. The sloped object in back is the covered stairway that led to the second floor where all the saddles and harness were kept, cleaned, repaired and built for all the horses, camels, elephants and pigs that pulled a cart.; 30 June, 2019 21:45
Wade G. Burck said...: Roger,

I almost sent these pictures directly to you, assuming you could identify, but then decided to send them to Chic so all could enjoy them. Thank you for iding them.

Bobby, I am going to suggest something to you that I think folk's may be interested in. my favorite scene from the movie "Mad Max" was when everyone gathered around the camp fire for the "tell" where the old historian would tell everybody about the world that used to be, before it was destroyed. There were no pictures, books etc. etc. left and only the "tell", the spoken history was left. There was a young boy 5 or 6 years old who went to every "tell" to listen, as he would one day be the one to pass the "tell" to the next generation.

As Roger is the accepted speaker of the "tell" for all things Jungle land/Thousand Oaks and Jim Clubb has Alfred Court covered, I would suggest that you compile a list of all the people who got their start with exotic animals at Jungle Larry's African Safari, and highlights of their careers after leaving Caribbean Gardens. I strongly feel that for our generation the African Safari was as important historically as Jungle Land in the realm of animal training.

Wade Burck; 01 July, 2019 11:29
Robert Cline said...: Wade,
You are totally correct. The world is a far better place for the people that came through Jungle Larry's and went on to enlighten the world in their own ways. That being said, I "THINK" that you and John Illig in Japan are the last of the Jungle Larry family still performing / training.
Bob; 01 July, 2019 12:55
Chic Silber said...: I believe that joint has

now become the Naples Zoo

I have a sister in law

who volunteers there; 01 July, 2019 13:07
Chic Silber said...: I believe that Pat White

& Roy Wells might have

gotten started there; 01 July, 2019 13:09
Wade G. Burck said...: Bobby,
One more to add to the "THINK" list is Darryl Atkinson, off the top of my head and I am not putting my whip done, unless they put their's down first first. Apparently we were not lucky enough to land a government job with a pension and early retirement, instead choosing to follow the path to fame, glory and riches. Psych......... Come on Bob, compile that list. I wager folks will be surprised at the number who passed under the Toucan entrance sign. By the way, great job at Peru and the Circus Hall of Fame(and others). I was a fan of Baraboo for years, but with the exception of the wagon's they have gotten a bit dicey over the years, while Peru in my mind has taken a step up.

Best wishes,

Wade Burck; 01 July, 2019 13:19
Bob Cline said...: Wade,
I'll work on it and compile some dates, histories, etc. and then share it here with Chic and all. It'll take a few days to track down some information, but it is a fine story to share.
Bob

Thanks for the kind words about Peru. We are fighting a tough battle, but at least we are still fighting the fight.; 01 July, 2019 15:51

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