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The word "backward shoulder stand" was used in 1977, as Charly told me he didn't have a name for the behavior. Do Gary or Chic, or any others remember what Charly used to do at the end of this behavior after he and Kismet did the "get off me, stay here, get off me, stay here" routine? Charly was quite tall, 6' 4" and rather slim it seems.
Photo above, courtesy of Chic Silber
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The inspiration--Charley Baumann and Kismet
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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57 comments:
The "shoulder drape" was created
as an extension of the "neck &
hair lick" that actually started
by complete surprise to Charly
as he backed up to Kismet one
night closer than usual
He said it startled him but he
had presence of mind not to pull
away as he felt he could trust
her which remained accurate for
many many years (until her final
performance in the Garden)
That was probably the worst night
in his life and I was there
Wade please fix the spelling
in the title block
Chic,
I wanted to see if anybody but you would pick up on it.
Wade
I would guess this photo is
from the late 60s
Was Charly really 6'4"? He is slim too.
Chic,
What happened that night?
That's a hefty looking cat you have there, Wade!
Ryan,
Men use that kind.
Wade
Hmmm ok if that's the story we are going to go with that's alright.
What about the powder blue though?
Is it supposed to make your eyes sparkle?
Hell Wade, I've slept since then, anyway once
Charly was clear, I was moving to another part of the cage, most likely tossing sawdust on them pissin Tigers of his! LOL!
Ryan,
That's right, Pal, and toes twinkle. Boy, are you green. It was a costume for Marineland. And it was aqua as in water and silver as in waves, not powder blue. Note how it blends with the backdrop, yet the majesty of the performance allowed it to stand out. That's what the "show" in show business is all about, Cherry.
Wade
Gary,
He used to pull away and she would pull him back. Then he would turn and "spar" with her. I was lucky, I could buy a ticket, sit in the seats and focus on all the great man did. It is what made the early years on Ringling so surreal, with him outside focusing on me. LOL
Wade
Wade,
I understand your explanation. I guess it was a bit of the towner still left in me that was wondering if they ran out of boy's outfits on the rack.
By the way, I have been away too long from commenting on the blog. Now that I am an 'apprentice' tiger trainer (yes I'm waiting for the jokes from all, including Casey) I need to get back to 'pissing with the big dogs.'
Regards, Radar
Ryan,
"Boy's outfits on the rack!!!!" Take your townie glasses off, Pal. Then you would see a belt by Eaves Brookes, and boot's custom supervised by the great Pat Anthony and pant's by the costumer for Circo Atayde. The vest was an effort to get away from the "circus look" as the park wanted a "park look".
You have been pissing with a big dog, now you have gone under the porch with a pup.
Wade
Eaves was one of the oldest
established N Y costume shops
Brooks had been a uniform shop
that bought Van Horn which was
a major costume shop in Philly
So when Brooks-Van Horn joined
Eaves it became known as Eaves-
Brooks and now they are all gone
But who cares
Charly was, indeed, a huge man - not only in physical size but also as an elegant and polished performer. I first met him backstage at the Garden in the early 70's and was amazed that a man of such height could move so elegantly. My next close up experience with him was on the Japan tour when Charly was the performance director and I was the ring one boss and I made a friend. He had gained weight by then but was still meticulous about his work, a perfectionist about the show, and a great mentor and friend. I feel honored to have known him and will be forever grateful for what he taught me about how a show should be run.
Nothing seemed to ruffle Charly - he remained calm and quietly in control no matter what might problem might raise its ugly head. If you did your job to the best of your ability, Charly looked after you and made sure were taken care of in more ways than just tips. I have a special memory of eating in the Chineese restruant across the street from the hotel in Tokyo and walking in to find Charly devouring a huge plate of fried something in sauce that he certainly should have not have been eating. Suddenly, bottles of beer and food appeared and Charly turned around and laughed as he said, "If you tell Aurecelli you saw me here, you will shovel more shit than you can handle". I'll never forget the "gentle" back slaps that would send me flying as he asked me how I was.
Charly was an inspiration to a lot of us as was that wonderful and beautiful cat, Kismet.
Chic,
In the 60's and 70's, Hawthorn had all of their costumes/boots made by Nudie's, Ice Capades in California, or Eaves-Brooks in New York. After the retirement of Mr. and Mrs. Cuneo in the late 70's, they were made by Airstream or Country Aire. Anybody who is interested in some of the most beautiful stage costumes in history is interested in Eaves-Brooks, Chic.
Wade
Of the many derogatory quotes
about wardrobe I recall my
favorites include "costumes
by Omar" and "by Jock Penay"
Chic-
I was not making derogatory comments about the costume. I was giving Wade a hard time because he seems to think the costume helped his tiger training abilities. He didn't need it to be great.
Chic,
Don't listen to him. He is just a back pedaling, alibing, agitating, heat merchant, who will suck up in a heart beat if it will benefit him. His current associations will only make it worse.
Wade
Now now Wade, that's not very nice!
You two deserve each other
Knock yourselves out
I get it really
Ryan please ask Casey to get
in touch with me as I've sent
him a couple of notes
Ryan,
I got your nice right here!!!! Feed that pablum to Casey, because we don't eat it in this house.
Wade
He doesn't either.
Wade, I have heard several answers regarding the best tiger trainers. Who would you classify as the top five?
Ryan,
I don't classify the top 5 of anything, unless you give me a standard from which to judge against. When asked who is are the top 5 cutting horse trainers, the record book makes it easy. Best quarter back, same deal. Best actor, Academy awards box office, best song writer gold records. Best pitcher, Nolen Ryan might have a better thought then me. Top 5 wild animal trainers, depends on who you are asking. Take your pick.
Wade
How old were you at that time Wade
Did you mention Marineland (CA)
Were things getting a little
out of hand in that 2nd shot
Chic,
I think 24 or 25. Not California, Marineland and Game Farm, in Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada. No things were not out of hand. That is how it was done. Actually in sequence the pictures are reversed. I walked into Ika, he wrapped his paws/shoulders around my head. After the folks had gasped and screamed to my satisfaction, I turned under him, and finished by styling with the tiger rubbing the sides of my head with his head. Show Biz, you gotta love it.
Wade
I do love it Wade and always have
Wish I could have seen it
Chic,
I love it too. That's why it hurt's so bad, to see what it has done to it's self.
Wade
One more comment to this thread that I apparently did not understand. If Iving Feld told me to wear pink tights I wore pink tights and still did my big trick. I had yellow wardrobe that I spent a lot of money having made but Tommy Hanneford had a personal issue with because of susperstion relative to the collapse of the Wallends Seven in Detroit so I didn't wear my yellow wardrobe. Wade looks great in Pink, Buckles looks great in blue with silver glitter, Barabra looks great in anything, and some folks look great in nothing. Stop and think about it folks - what color was Gunther's real hair? What does it matter what color the costume is? Shouldn't we be concernered more about the who and not the what?
my last month in the hospital left me quieter, but i'm jumping back in. switching back to standards, even the ones wade mentioned are questionable as far as the oscars, tonys,emmys, grammys, country music awrds, etc go. maybe more politics than monte carlo. look at how many of the greatest stars of all time never won an award in comparison to those who only made one or two hits. remember, those awards are declared by voting. for example, paul newman delivered not only the performance of the year the year he made "The Verdict," but the performance of his lifetime. yet no oscar. these awards are often more embarassing than the monte carlo awards. i remember congratulating glennie close on the oscar i was sure she would win for "the Natural." she said thanks but it would go to linda hunt for "year of living dangerously." i was incredulous but she explained: the voters will think i will have many more opportunities. for a character actor like linda hunt, this may be her only chance, so she will get it. linda won in the biggest surprise of the year. i was one of the few critics in the country to get all five top winners correct that year -- because i listened to glennie. the list goes on and on. elizabeth taylor won an oscar for butterfield 8, an awful movie, but it was a consolation prize for losing the oscar for cat on a hot tin roof the year earlier. i don't know about the horse trainners, but all the other best of the best awards have less vaildity than wade's list of 5 top tiger trainers, because when it comes to praise, wade is brutally honest in his opinion. this cannot be said about most major awards.
Henry,
I hope you are feeling well, old friend. A "questionable" standard is still better then no standard at all. With a standard, yes there can be politics, etc. but not too often, because it is blatantly obvious. The greatest way to keep judging "honest" is the have the judges declare how they rated someone, and why. That is how it is done in horse shows. Not much room to second guess or speculate. What if the judges at MC had to declare how and why they rated an act, as they do on say American Idol? The judges at the Egyptian Event in Lexington were from Denmark, Canada, and South Africa. American judges judge shows in other parts of the world. Why? Because the standards are uniform world wide. The judges have earned and proven their knowledge and impartiality, and if that is ever taken advantage of, their judges cards are revoked, and they don't judge any more. Now that's brutal.
Wade
Warren,
I think the what is as important as the who? I have yet to hear of a short strappy top described as anything but a "Gunther costume", or a jacket with a high collar as anything but an "Elvis costume." The who makes the what as famous and memorable as they were.
Wade
I do not believe that Charly was six, five. I was around him for a number of years and it seems he was about like me, six foot eiter way. What does Henri Schroer think?
I think Johnny is right -- I am 6' and recall Charly being very close to my height.
Johnny,
I am six foot, and he was taller then me.
Wade
At five seven and a half I look
up to most folks
I'm pretty sure Charly was
six two (barefoot)
Well, my memory ain't what it was so maybe you guys are right about Charly's height.
I DO recall being a good deal taller than Gunther! (Although he looked about 6'4" in the ring.)
Wade and Radar, let us know when you two start at it again -- I want to be sure I take cover so as not to get hit by any incoming or outgoing missles. :)
Jack,
See my earlier response to Chic. "Everybody" was stunned at GGW's stature, when meeting him in person.
Amazing!!! I too envision Charly's mirrored ball each time I hear Shangri La. I watched video of him so many times, that when my son Adam was about 8 or 9, and he was watching a video of Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther he remarked, "Dad, they have the music from that tiger guy you watch all the time. LOL Once in a life time presentation with every component at the top of it's game.
A favorite quote of mine, from the movie Gladiator, was spoken by Russell Crowe when Commodus asked him to identify himself. He replied, "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."
Many animal trainers have worn a gladiator's costume, but only one Jack wore it with a brilliance that will be remembered forever, and has made the look synonymous with the man. That was Wolfgang Holtzmeir. My hear bleeds at times, and I regret so much, that my son, who has chosen the craft never got to witness live, these gentlemen, doing what they did.
Wade
Addendum to Chic and Jack,
Rest assured Ryan and I like and respect each other very much. Arrow's/bards among friends is the same gregarious activity that occurs when horse's, dogs, monkeys, etc. "playfully nip." We know the shoe will never fit us, so we don't put it on, by taking it personal. Plus, the punk realizes that I am alpha and he his betta. I'm the one with the stiff upright tail, and he is the one with the limp between the legs tail. I rule, and he wishes he did in essence.
Wade
LOL. Of course I know you dudes are just playing around. And, it's fun to watch!
Jack,
I didn't want to break his heart, when he thought I would joke about him being an 'apprentice' tiger trainer(his words, can you believe it). The only thing I could come up with was "moron tiger trainer", and that isn't a joke.
Wade
Wade,
I agree with your addendum except the tail between your legs. I'll still fight; I'll just get my ass beat. And "Apprentice?" Shiitt... Casey said I am "Assistant" tiger trainer now. :) Yesterday rolled over three of the four tigers. Why doesn't everyone live the circus life? Nothing better - anywhere
Radar
Baby Gunther,
"Why doesn't everyone live the circus life?" You will find out soon enough.
"Nothing better - anywhere" It seems that way at first. The followers of the Peoples Temple at Guyana also thought Rev. Jim Jones was quite the deal initially.
Wade
P.S. to Jack Ryan,
Ryan has corrected me, he is not a "moron tiger trainer" he is an "assistant to the moron tiger trainer." Thanks for the clarification, Ryan.
Radar,
You had to drag me in. Wade, and Jack already knew that the "title" assistant anything is generally a replacement of deserved monetary gain. But now you have advertised it, and I get called a moron, by a guy wearing powder blue spandex and a brassiere. We all know that the peroxide he used in his hair trying to be GGW killed a ton of brain cells, and he gets confused,,LOL.
As far as the "stand there and fight" comment, I will remind you of that the next time you make a smart ass comment and I start to get out of my chair only to see you spring like a gazelle into the horizon. (folks he covers 100yds in three hops),,,LOL
Damn. These wild animal trainer dudes really know how to shovel the shit on each other.
Gonna pop some popcorn and sit back out of range and watch the fireworks! LOL :)
Casey,
You got called a moron, by someone who know's a moron. It's that simple, nothing to do with peroxide hair. By the way Cookie, from 77 Sunset Strip where is your corvette? Poor imitations of? At least you knew who I was attempting to imitate. Nobody would have ever guessed Jim Fowler was who you were trying to copy with the khaki jacket. Jim had a macho, he man look that was miles away from the lame bush hat you wore.
I will respond for Radar, because he has already told me about you getting out of the chair: "I had to just turn and run away quick, for both of our sakes, or I would have probably killed the mutt, and then got fired." Unquote
Wade
Nothing to worry about Jack
These guys are all shooting blanks
I've hand loaded blanks for years
(and still do)
Wade I think you meant "gamma"
the least dangerous of the atomic
radioactive particles
Casey your mention of 'assistant'
reminds me of a very funny time
when the difference between
'assistant' and 'assistant to the'
became a big issue on Ringling
I know the mention of Bramow
(scooter to many) can open up
a can of worms but so what
A headliner at the time hated
him (along with many others)
and made a big point to keep
emphasizing the "To The" in
scooter's program credit
To this day I have friends
that keep this expression alive
Chic,
No, I meant beta, a lower ranking member(Radar), under the alpha leader(that's me) in a wolf pack. I would have called him the Omega, but because it sounds neat, he would have misunderstood, not realizing it is the lowest ranking member of the pack. So I just referred to him as beta(which technically Casey would be), which he understood meant, "you sure aren't me, so go find a rock to curl up under."
Wade
Jack,
I think you misinterpreted something. It is a Wild Animal Trainer and Casey and Radar rolling in the mud.
Wade
Damn...at 50 comments and the battle rages on! LOL.
*Jack shuts big mouth, goes and sits in the corner and keeps watching.*
Wade,
Wild Animal Trainer!!!
I don't care if those skinny ponies are from Arabia or Egypt or where ever, they aint wild animals,,,,LOL
Or were you talking pre-retirement?
I can easily buy "exotic"
and probably several other
adjectives but "wild" is a
little much nowadays when we
probably ran out of "Jungle Bred"
many years ago as in
"Consisting Of Jungle Bred Black
Maned Nubian Lions And Royal
Bengal Tigers In One Assemblage"
"Trained And Presented By The
Incomparable" (fill in name)
Jack,
"Domestic" meaning bred in captivity for a purpose is the most adequate word. I wouldn't put too much stock in the "jungle bred" fantasy of the old day's. It just sounds good saying it, and even better in print. That is Circus History. Leave it be, don't be mucking it up with facts.
Casey,
Dr. Wilder Penfield was still Dr. Penfield when he retired. He wasn't practicing the medical craft, but he was still the best at cracking a skull and having a look inside. You never quit being what you are, and practicing a craft daily doesn't make you what you aren't.
Wade
Wade,
Think your comment about "domestic" should have been directed at Chic, not me.
I still have my mouth shut and ain't said a word. :)
Jack
Sorry Jack. My apologies. Jack Ryan with his mouth shut seems as much a waste as poring gas on the ground. Pure gold flowed from those lips.
Wade
Wade,
Well, thanks. Have to agree that ME with my big mouth shut is a notable event.
Best,
Jack
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