For any of the young European cage act fans who we are pleased to have contributing to this blog how have never heard of this man, his name was Anthony Patrick Vitanza who's stage name was Pat Anthony. He was one of Americas greatest wild animal trainers, and in my opinion was only overshadowed by Clyde Beatty. Pat learned how to train cat's because of what was called the GI Bill. After the war, all American soldiers were given a choice of what they wanted for a job and where they wanted to go to school and the American Government paid for it. Pat wanted to be an animal trainer, and the Government paid for him to go to JungleLand, which was a large zoo/animal training compound in Thousand Oaks California. They trained animals for movies and circus's at Jungle Land and some of America's best animal trainers/animal handlers of that generation worked there.
Pat was a very good friend of mine, who I first met when I was a groom taking care of the animals. He was the only Animal Trainer besides Tony Smaha who treated me with respect and kindness and didn't call me a shit shovler. I have a whip lash that Pat gave me in 1975 before I even knew how to use a whip. He made them himself and they were flat and not round like a normal whip lash. I still have it today and have never used it. I was very proud to have Pat come to the Ringling show as my guest the first year I we opened in Venice. Imagine if you can the thrill and excitement of having Pat Anthony, Gunther Gebel Williams, Charley Bauman, Axel Gautier and Daniel Suskow all watching you on one night!!!!!!!!!
Pat had a lion and tiger barrel roll, a tiger rolling a ball, a lioness named Rita that did a roll over so fast and furious she went from her stomach straight to her stomach without without touching her side. He had some of the best bouncing/ charging lions you would ever see. Mama, the lioness would charge from the left and knock the chair out of his hand and Big Boy a male lion would charge him from the opposite or right side, and he would fight two lions, a male and a female together. He had special pedestals built and the animals stretched instead of sitting like you see in most cage acts. You can see them in the pictures above. His tigers were male tigers and the tiger on the ball above's name was Billy. 
If you are interested in a few more pictures of Pat go to Ivan Henry's blog www.thecircusblog.com look around and you will find more wonderful Pat Anthony stuff.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Pat Anthony--One of America's Greatest Wild Animal Trainer's
Need a job? Run away with the circus--By Andrew McGinn Staff Writer
Springfield, Ohio — The circus is coming to town.
Actually, in these uncertain economic times, think of it this way — a job fair is coming to town.
No resume, references or any real skill other than two working hands (or at least one working hand and one serviceable metal hook) needed.
Just see John Walker, manager of the Walker Bros. Circus, which will bring its indoor, one-ring show back to the Clark County Fairgrounds for two shows on Feb. 18.
Believe it or not, people still run away with the circus.
"There are people here and there that do," said Sashi Meluzzi, Walker's stepdaughter. She retired her trick horse last year to do press for the family circus.
As a hired hand, though, don't expect to just walk in and start taming the dogs and ponies. (Sorry, no lions, tigers or even ligers at this circus.)
More than likely, you'll be the person to set up and tear down or take tickets.
"It's hard work," Meluzzi explained. "You're basically working all day long with a couple of hours for a break."
There are no days off, she said, and the circus travels nine months out of the year.
"It's a repetitive lifestyle," she said. "Some people love it."
And why wouldn't they?
"It's a different lifestyle," Meluzzi said. "You live in a trailer, so you don't have rent."
But if you want to become a trapeze artist, just know that career advancement is basically nil, because, like the regular work world, nepotism rules.
"Everybody on our show right now was born into it," said Meluzzi, herself an eighth generation circus performer.
But just savor the fact that you'll have steady work in a shaky time.
Just don't expect too much.
"Benefits? No. No benefits," Meluzzi said.
Well, no benefits besides the obvious one.
"You're making people happy," she said.
Courtesy of Casey Cainan
Conversation between a Lawyer and a Judge
“As you can tell, they’re in outstanding health,” Simpson said.
“How can I tell they’re in outstanding health?” asked Judge Sullivan.
“Just look at them,” Simpson said
Elephant herd Berlin Zoo
From left to right, Mondula, Jambo, Salim, Shanti, Lakshmi and Mampe
Courtesy of Adaline
For Donavan Glynn
Manure pile--April 19, 2008 How much of this description of what it takes to be a zookeeper in in England in 1930 is appropriate in the field today?
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YOU KNOW YOU ARE A ZOOKEEPER WHEN:
after work, all you attract are flies
your tan lines wash off
your pets greet your shoes and not you
all your pants have stains where you wipe your hands
you never shake hands without brushing your hands on your pants
you walk with a limp because of all the tools on your belt
your snot is black and not clear
you get really excited about a good solid poop
you spend all your vacations visiting other zoos
half your kitchen equipment and a good portion of your kids' toys end up at the zoo
you will eat most anything from the animal cooler as a snack
you don't even notice that you smell until you get into the car with the windows rolled up to go home
you think nothing of pulling off ticks while in line at the local fast-food place
you have two closets...one for work and one for the real world
you have more photos of your animal kids than of your friends
you wash your hands thoroughly BEFORE using the toilet
you politely decline to shake hands because you know WHERE your hands have been
you eagerly shake hands because YOU KNOW where you hands have been
the word "shit" is not a bad word
new rakes and shovels are more exciting than diamonds
you can be bribed to do anything for chocolate cake
you sit on a clothes dryer for warmth
over lunch the discussion involves the consistency of feces
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Manure pile--July 18, 2008 I really enjoy old pictures of keepers and there charges. It was a special part of the zoo field, which sadly has all but disappeared.
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the casserole at the Christmas party reminds someone of an animals discharge and you eat it anyway
you lock any and every door behind you
when you go to lunch with coworkers and you realize that everyone at nearby tables asks to be moved because of what you are discussing
your most cherished gift is a Leatherman Super Tool
you shop the toy section in Wal-Mart and you don't have kids, you have monkeys
a three day weekend means the ground in dirt on your hands is gone
you leave a trail of hay everywhere you go
you check to see which way the wind is blowing before dumping anything
you can make water run uphill, because architects believe all drains should be in the highest corner
taking off your boots at night is better than...well, just about anything
talk of animals' feces does not gross you out while eating
your pants and shoes are tan instead of white
perfume is offensive while bodily smells are not
you are not phased by a fecal sample in the fridge next to your lunch.…
you have no pictures of you without animals in them too
you can identify which species a fecal originated from by smell
you're routinely tested for internal parasites
your favorite smells are bleach and disinfectant
your pets aren't the only ones that receive a rabies shot
you look better when you wake up than when you get off of work
you have scars to prove it.
you use an ice chipper as a prying tool
a lock as a hammer
your radio doubles as a handy hose-rest
Hair-ties are also good temporary rubber washers.
friends and family get concerned you are in an abusive relationship because of the number of bruises you have all over your body and the fact that it takes so long to try and remember how you got them.
when all it takes to feel sexy is to not have feces on you.
when you can fall in a pile of poop and laugh it off but if your hose stays kinked for more than 2 seconds while you are hosing you go postal!!
when it's normal for you to have to wash your clothes at least twice to get them clean
when rainy days are the best days, but the day after rainy days are the worst
when you can name more animals than friends
you aren't intentionally showing your underwear, your radio and tools on your belt just happen to pull your pants down
people in the normal world say you have the mouth of a "trucker" or "sailor" and you happen to come up with non-cuss words to replace them because you realize that the public is watching you
you have eaten things off the floor in your area, after you have logically thought about it and use the 10 second rule
You have tasted the food your animals eat
You sometimes wear a face mask but you aren't in the medical field…you have monkeys and are sick
You use duct tape for EVERYTHING!
You have extra socks at work for when the hose springs yet another leak
You don't need to work out because your job is hard enough
You can carry a full 5 gallon bucket of water without spilling a drop
you have sleded on the shovels at work
You think it is funny to through feces (with the rake) while raking at a co-worker
You have been electrocuted by the hot wire..that keeps the Giraffe in
It is normal to get bit or chased by an animal...sometimes daily.
you ask people if they want to see a picture of your baby, and they look at you funny when it's something furry, or feathered, or scaly, etc...
You can hold your tongue (and laughter) when the public asks some of their questions. Gotta LOVE the public.
You sometimes feel like MacGyver because of half the stuff you have built from odds n ends.
you have more uses for hay string then duct tape.
you go to the Doctor and while in the waiting room a nurse who you never met asks what animal tried to eat you this time.
Courtesy of Stefan Grossmann
What is an animal, and what is animal training? My response to the elephant comments on the "history channel"
"The horse has so docile a nature, That he would always rather do Right than wrong, if he can only be taught to distinguish one from the other.” This quote, by Scottish author George Melville(1821-1878) who penned many wonderful books about fox hunting and who was a Captain in the Coldstream Guards, and later a Major in the Turkish Calvary is spoken from experience. The clip above with an incompetent rider illustrates what he meant.
The clip above reminds us, that often times animals can distinguish right from wrong, better then a humans ignorance can.
The clip above reminds us of an animals incredible tolerance for incompetence, and ignorance which leads to abuse. Of all the animals I have dealt with in my life, the only species with this incredible tolerance is an Arabian horse, and an elephant.
London Zoo--Regents Park
Some exhibits were just truly bizarre.
There was a reason bears or felines historically held the "longevity records" in zoo's, and it didn't have a lot to do with how they were cared for. In the photo above it looks like the cub was born, in an empty pool, and straw was thrown over the wall, or it was as close as they had to a whelping den.
San Diego Zoo--1952
Given the hardiness of a bear, the were an ideal subject for making mistakes in animal habitat design in zoo's without killing too many of them, until they came up with a better design.
San Diego Zoo--1952
I'll bet this little "climate controlled" Penguin habitat's/terrariums smelled terrible inside.
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