My mother took the picture above in 1974 the day she and my father took me to Clyde Bros Circus were I had arranged for my first circus job. The picture below was taken in 1983 in Tokyo just after I had received word that Ringling Bros. was interested in the White Tiger act for 1984. I am sure I was replaying the incredible journey to that point in my mind. Yes, my roots were different. Like an Oak is different from a Maple. But they are both trees. I do respect my circus roots, which branched off much later in my life. I am fortunate I have two sets of roots, and it allows me to see things differently.
Monday, May 5, 2008
A ten year journey
My dearest friend, and surrogate father Bert Cronk
I first met Circus Fan of America and Salaam Temple Shriner Bert Cronk in 1978. He became such an important part of my family that I asked him to be Adam Godfather. Bert is on my left and below is Bert in 1989 when he and I spoke at the annual Felix Adler Tent Meeting.
Doing many things when you are young, so as an adult you can do what you want
In an effort to instill civic mindedness in my son's, In addition to Boy Scouts, I coached 2 baseball teams, 2 football teams, and was elected President of the Rock Valley Football league, of which I was one of the founding members. Adam, fullback and middle linebacker for the Richmond Comets, and Eric half back, and free safety for the Venice Indians.
Respecting my fathers ideals of Civic duty, and honoring my American roots
My father was a very respected man not only in my home town, but in the State of North Dakota for his Civic duties, and giving of his time an knowledge to others. He was a Boy Scout of America Leader for many years, and this area in Eli Minnesota is named in his honor. When I first retired from the circus at the end of the first Ringling tour. I became a Scout leader and had the once in a lifetime opportunity to go on an Artic Camp out with Adam, and we slept in tents with the troop, and used one match a day to start a fire in 30 degrees or below for 5 day. It was very important to me that my children know my roots, so that they would have a choice someday, circus or something else.
Some more of that American pride.
North Dakota roots might not be canvas roots, but they are no less grand
Uncle Darold, former member of the 7th Calvary Parade Troop, on the old homstead. When I was 5, Uncle Darold caught me hitting a pig one day with a stick to hear it squeal. He made me pick weeds for a week out of the shelterbelt, and wouldn't let me feed the animals for 2 weeks. My father taught me to love an animal, and his brother taught me to respect them.
Uncle Darold taking Eric to the Indian tepee rings(rocks used to hold the tepee secure to the ground) to show him where his father used to find arrowheads. 1982
More roots--the hills where I spent a good deal of my childhood
My Grand father Jacob's original homestead in North Dakota where my Uncle Darold still farms and ranches today, and raises Appaloosa and Belgium draft horses. 
Early roots which may not be known
1955 and is it any wonder I wanted to be Roy Rogers one day. My costumes on Ringling with the Eagle that copied Roy's boot's and shirts, was my way of honoring him
1957 Christmas Grand Sire Jacob Burck and my first "horse"
My United States Navy Seaman father, George Burck and myself at 16 day's old. I don't remember much more then that.
My mother and father, brother Keith and I, the year dad started teaching school, eventually becoming the Principal, before leaving the education field to become a Hospital Administrator. He died 3 day's after seeing me work professionally with my first tiger and elephant act. Adam was 2 months old. Dad missed the great roller coaster ride to the Greatest Show on Earth
My first animal, my dog Bootsie. Penny didn't count because she was mine and Keiths together.
What is more wonderful then a mother?
My mother was very excited when Ringling came to North Dakota for the first time in over 30 years. We finally got her calmed down, and to promise that she wouldn't do any thing to embarrass me. She promised, and then reneged. Note the T shirts she had made to wear to opening night. From the left my sister Greta, Adam in front(he wouldn't wear his shirt) behind her my sister in law Cindy and my brother Mike who trains animals in France, my dear mother Gertrude, Eric and myself, and my brother Keith and his son Asa. In front is my second cousin Dean
Gunther Gebel Williams famous fire stick holding tigers, Pinto and Rolls
With a lot of elephants, horses, hawks, pigs, and wonderful White Tigers leading the way, it culminated in the presentation of Gunther Gebel Williams tiger act upon his retirement. The first man I had ever seen at the first circus I had ever seen at the age of 18. How's that for a full circle. As we go backward in time, I hope Anonymous and any others will understand that I respect my roots very much, as I know what my roots are.
A Celebration of Pigs--One of my most cherished assignments, Toronto Zoo, Toronto Canada
The idea of a pig show was the brain child, of the Bowmanville Zoo Director, to promote the arrival of Wart hogs at the Toronto Zoo. I trained the pigs in Bowmanville before moving them into Toronto. I trained the pigs using a method I had seen the sea Mammal trainers using at Marine land to train Whale. I only switched rewards. They used fish, and I used Captain Crunch cereal. The idea of an "animal show" at Toronto was initially controversial to the PC zoo. They were concerned because I was a "circus trainer" would I use whips and chrome props. I assured them I would not need a whip to train a pig, and we would make everything out of "natural" wood. Plus I would train a pig to recycle garbage, and give an "ecological message". That calmed there fears, enough that they, many months later, roasted a dozen pigs, and had clowns making balloon pigs, at the opening night "members only" preview show at the Toronto Zoo. Don't get me started on hypocrisies and profiling. My circus fraternity disapproved of my zoo association, and my Zoo fraternity disapproved of my circus association. I never cared, I just wanted to train animals and care for them and my family.
Training AC to recycle garbage, and not be a pig.
Paul, this pig was a Canadian "celebrity" before I got him for training. In 1991 at the height of the animal rights issues, a new radio show in Toronto, in a effort to generate callers started a "debate" on whether pigs could fly, and on an appointed day, they were going to push a pig off of the radio tower to test their theory. It was a joke, but the AR seized on the issue and it generated incredible interest. On the day of the "flight", with hundreds of activists and public picketing the radio station. They announced it was a joke, and they just wanted to increase their listening public. Mike Hakenberger, Director of the Bowmanville Zoo called them and said if you are done with the pig he would take it so we could put in in the pig act. I named him Air Canada, and then shortened it to just AC. I really liked him alot. Eric spent a lot of time with him, and you will note him spotting Eric watching me train.
AC's specialty was picking up liter bottles and putting them in recycling boxes. You will note a leash as we were in the initial stages of training. Eventually he did it loose and on his own, and also became a great retriever of thrown sticks.
A Celebration of Pigs--One of my most cherished assignments, Toronto Zoo, Toronto Canada
After the pigs were trained they were moved into the Toronto Zoo where they were presented by Barb Chupa and her staff. They, not being "animals trainers" learned well and did an incredible job with the pigs.
Until the boy's grew into such fine young men, I had to do everything my self.
Showing Isson the sights at the Korakun Sports comples, in Tokyo
Explaining to Conan that he didn't have to be afraid in the ouside cage in Venice, as Ursulla Bouchers Polar bears, and Charley Bauman and Gunther Gebel Williams tigers had practiced here. I think I made him more intimidated. I know I was
Trying to keep up with Kaliff who is trying to keep up with Macho.
Good help is hard to find
Adam and Eric watering the tigers on Ringling
Taylor taking Shaman for a walk
Ban-Seri My most memorable White tiger.
Paul mentioned he had access to the feature I did in Sports Illustrated. The tiger laying on the beach in front of the "No dogs allowed on the beach" sign is Ban-Seri
Eric "helping" by sweeping the floor with a squeegie.
How long does it take to be a tiger trainer?
Adam, if you recall was nicknamed the Adam bomb by his future father in law. At Marineland I was concerned he would leave the dressing room, while I was working and fall into one of the Whale tanks. Initially, I put him in an empty tiger cage and they pulled it out on the stage. Until somebody in the audience reported me to the OPP for "child abuse. From then on I tied him into a chair, and he could watch me and I could watch him while the tigers were working, putting him in the elephant act solved that problem.
Adam telling me what I am doing wrong with the tiger. Much as he does today. LOL That's Targa and also below, who later became my shoulder carry tiger.
Targa was allowed to sleep in the bed, but she couldn't leave the curtains alone.
Adam has always be helpful, if he could stay awake and not play all the time
Macho would take on a bear, if it attempted to come near his adopted siblings.
Adam put Naugatuk 2 in the house, because, "all she is doing is sleeping, she isn't playing with the babies!!!!!"
When I came out of the show in Philadelphia, and asked Adam, "what in the hell are you doing?" He replied, "Making a lake for Tila, so she can learn to swim." That lake was all over the parking lot of the Spectrum.
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