Friday, February 25, 2011

Circus Bears--Presenter Unknown

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is Iwan Ruban in the Moscow state circus in the 1960's
Bjorn

Steve said...

This man was brilliant. He toured Australia and New Zealand, slept in the animal tent and was reputed to drink a bottle of vodka a day.

His animal work will never be forgotten by those of us lucky to have seen him work.

Over here he was billed as Ivan Ruben.

Wade G. Burck said...

Steve,
What were some of the "highlights" of this act? The rope "platform" with the tiger on it is unusual.
Wade

Steve said...

That rope ladder was also used by the bears to enter and, I think, leave the ring.

Act was unusual for the different species mixed together - lion, tiger, puma, bobcat/lynx [it was over 40 years ago!], at least 2 bear species.

Ruben worked the act very quietly with a cane and a whip which he would frequently drop. A massive Grizzly would amble over, pick up the whip, come up behind Ruben, tap him on the shoulder and Ruben would take the whip back.

Heady stuff for a 20 year old straight off the farm!

Wade G. Burck said...

Steve,
I can appreciate that heady stuff straight off the farm. I had some of that when I first saw GGW.
Wade