Saturday, August 23, 2008
Can anybody interpret this pyramid for me? What is the front and what is the back?
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
A Blog designed for discussion of topics related to, but not limited to, Circus, Zoos, Animal Training, and Animal Welfare/Husbandry. Sometimes opening up the dialog is the best starting point of all. And if for nothing else when people who agree and don't agree, get together and start discussing it, it will open up a lot of peoples minds. Debate and discussion even amongst themselves opens a window where there wasn't one before.
The Circus "NO SPIN ZONE"
Relevent Stops On The Information Highway
- Custom Motorcycle Accessories by Ian
- Bob Cline's Sawdust and Spangles
- Buckles Blog
- Christophe Roullin Circus News
- Gary Robinsons Circus Blog
- Jamie Clubbs Blog
- Marco Kristens Circus Williams
- Ryan Easley's ShowMe Elephants
- Showbiz Daves Blog
- The Bartlett Society
- Thomas Bohners Cage Act History
- World of Dancing Horses
Manure Pile/Post Archive
Consultants
Wade G Burck
Adam R Burck
Eric G Burck
Adam R Burck
Eric G Burck
Posts
3 comments:
Looks like the trainer is behind the cats for some reason.
Hi, Wade ---
I don't know "front" and "back." But I do know the trainer in this picture is Rudolph Mathies. He presented tigers on Ringling Bros. in l921, -22, -23, and -24 and l947, -48, and -49.
The picture, perhaps taken at a bad moment, is from a 1949 magazine article on Dr. J.Y. Henderson. In 1949, when Classen's Bears (Klausser) made its debut in the center ring, Rudolph Mathies was performing in an end ring.
As little kid, I read a lot about Rudolph Mathies in J.Y. Henderson's book "Circus Doctor."
Mathies appears often in the book.
I always pictured him as one of "the good guys."
Like Hugo Schmidt and Albert Rix, Rudolph Mathies was a product of the Hagenbeck Tierpark. (In fact, I think he came to America in mid-season 1947 with Hugo Schmidt -- directly from Sweden where they had been presenting Hagenbeck animals that were sold to Ringling Bros.)
Many years ago, I found myself in Hamburg. So I headed to the Hagenbeck Tierpark. It was cold and snowy. But everything was open.
Near day's end, I found an older long-time employee near the training area. I asked him if he knew Rudolph Mathies. The old timer's eyes lit up. Yes, indeed.
He knew Rudolph Mathies. Said Mathies had retired and (pointing to a nice street of apartment buildings beyond the tierpark) said: "He lives over there."
I thought that was great. The man had presented Hagenbeck animals around the world. Now home and retired, he was living near the animals. --- ToddP
Todd,
Yes it it Rudolf Mathies. I have only had pictures and "eye witness" accounts of his exploits and while I have learned to take those with a grain of salt the last few years, yes the consensus is he was real good. I noted his use of a long lash whip after watching videos of Gerd Semonitt and adopted the style.
That would be Walter Clauser, father of Herta Clauser, now Mrs. John Cuneo, and her mother who you mention making their debut with Mathies in 1949. It appears that the cat's are facing the front, and he is chasing the last cat on the end to the left. No way can he get back to the front. Possibly the stayed behind the pyramid instead of being in front as is normal, and then chased the cats back to their seats, so he could go back in the front and dismantle the pyramid. That's all I can figure out. You missed a chance, if you did not walk over to his appartment and get a handshake and an autograph.
Wade
Post a Comment