This is George Forman, a famous boxer from the United States giving a bottle to Dave McMillans contact tiger, Bombay. Bombay was the tiger that rode in the side car of the motorcycle when Dave made his entrance. That's Dave's arm and legs behind Bombay. You can see by the large arena sections that the act had a difficult time being hauled for a circus, so it always stayed in a park. This picture is when the act was at Great Adventure, in New Jersey. Dave was an amature boxer and became good friends with George Forman, much like Martin Lacey Jr. and Klitschko.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
For Thomas Bohner--George Forman and Bombay
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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5 comments:
I was at Dave's house in New Jersey around 83 - quite a luxury dwelling. It was in the winter and the park provided nice facilities for the tigers and he had several grooms (I think also paid by the park). From his house and furnishings, sports car, etc, I gathered he had a very sweet deal with the park. I'm sure he could easily have afforded to get another set of equipment more suited for the road, but with a deal like he had, the idea of frequent loading and unloading cages and props, long jumps and everything else that comes with being on the road, it probably didn't seem that attractive.
I have Daves act on film. I took it when Jewell and I visited Great Adventure when we were in NYC in 78. I need your snail mail address and I will send you a DVD of Him, Jewells act, alittle bit of Buckles at CW and the elephant walk to the train from CW when we went to the Blue show from CW.
Anonymous,
Never assume someone has a sweet deal because of what they drive or where they live. This is America, he may have had great credit. Big contracts can also be signed unknowing, and later it just tolerated, as it is cheaper then getting out from under it.(Except for Ringling at Circus World, right?) Dave didn't wan't to go on the road, you are correct. I don't see how anyone would want to, except to try it and see what it was like. I loved the 4 months each year at Marineland and wish it could have been twelve.
Wade
Six Flags Great Adventure, recently cut their current tiger show.
Diapered Darkness,
That is the strangest "cute name" I have ever heard!!!! I hope you are not some kind of sociopath. I didn't realize they still had a "tiger act" at Great Adventure. It must have been weak, and nothing at all like what Dave presented there. Can you give use more detail's about the act, and who presented it?
Wade
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