Buschbom was lucky enough to groom for Rudynoff, and I was lucky enough to groom for Herriott. What do you suppose GGW learned from Fred Petoletti?
Are any of these act's in this clip from Circus Carl Hagenbeck 1940 above Petoletti's?
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Fred Petoletti and 24 Lipizzan's on Circus Williams 1961
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Wade G. Burck
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5 comments:
Have you ever seen something like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho4jJZw6ru8&feature=related
Anonymous,
Never with an animal(and I use that term loosely in regards to this poor lion) held with an "overhead" leash. I suppose it can then be used as a mechanic for an aerial act when this, what ever it is, is finished. Compared to Mr. Petoletti it really illustrates how far some animal training and circus has fallen.
Thank you for the link.
Wade
It seems that petoletti had quite a reputation for excellent liberty training for various European circses. Gunther did work those 24 "white" horses prior to coming here obviously the same act. So I suppose he was in the "ring barn" with this great trainer. Also I am sure GGW was around Franz ALthoff, Carola's brother and a noted libertytrainer. Maybe Petoletti is responsible for both Althoff and Gunther. We find a number of great trainers who never owned circuses but seem to turn up around circvus owners who are also supposedly trainers, who in fact might just be very good presenters. But Fred Knie was a good trainer I am sure and also Mr. Gruss. But we hear names like Gindle, Kossmayer,Vinicky-Smaha, Houcke, Sudlemaier and Petoletti among a few others.Gindle seems to have done great horse, exotic [zebras] and elephants for about all of the noted English circuses of that time. I note Wenzell Kossmayer and then his son or nephew, Douglas as being quite evident around the Schumanns. However It seems Albert Schumann continued with the generational dynasty of being in a class of World's greatest horse trainers for some 4 or five generations and his wife Pauline is equestionably the greatest of female equestrienne artists hands down. Just an interesting observation of yours, truly John Herriott. Yes Jorgen spent time with me in the ring practicing in Buner Hill Cole qtrs, Mills Bros on the road in Indiana, Gil Gray in Dallas qters. and the numerous visits to functions in CWM Baraboo. An hour or so made corrections and, or increased my knowledge in that field and I will always be grateful. One closing day in CWM he asked me if I would allow him to present part of my 12 pony liberty in the show. I was overjoyed and we both entered the ring together and then I handed him the whips and he worked them flawlessly up to the more intricate opart of the act following the ring curb walk. Then I took over and at the end we both bowed together and he took the mike and announced that he was proud to have me as his "successor" You can be sure it was one of my proudest moments, It don't get much better than that.I believe Sue Lenz would have been around and or aware of most of these people and it would be nice to hear her comments. Thanks, johnny
Johnny,
Thank you that is great stuff, once again. Except GGW had "grey" horse's like these Lipizzans, not white horses. Donnie and JoAnn Anderson have "white" horses in the Texas White Horse Troupe.
The words from Christenson that you were his "successor" is indeed a title to be proud of. Luckily for you, I hadn't arrived on the scene yet, or he may not have been so willing to give you the title, and he may have given it to a towner instead. LOL Now, as you got to hang some paper I get to hang some too.
My proudest moment came in 1984 when a show critic in New York upon viewing the opening night show, refereed to me as the "heir apparent to GGW, and I didn't know realize that Gunther had a son in his early 30's." That followed by the description on the video case of Facing the Big Cats in the Big Top "Gunther Gebel-Williams, Charly Baumann, and Wade Burck" followed by the the video review, "the three world famous trainers that provide viewers with a close-up look at some of the most amazing animal acts in the history of the circus, performed by ferocious felines." We both have a lot to be proud of Col.
Wade
I'm happy to here that my relative had a very nice circus.
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