Rich Boy's Toys--Hearst Ranch/San Simeon

Feline enclosures adjacent to the bear grotto's.








For it's time the Hearst Zoo was one of the finer private facility's in the world.

Rich Boy's Toys--Hearst Ranch/San Simeon

Bear Grotto's, on the right, adjacent to the feline enclosures on the left.








Bear Grotto's. Hearst donated most of what was left of his bears, plus funds for "Grizzly Gulch" to the San Francisco Zoo, when he closed the zoo at San Simeon. There have been many interesting accounts written about the Hearst Zoo. At the link below, go to history & art for an interesting account of the zoo plus additional photo's of the enclosures.

Hearst Castle | California State Park

Julia Morgan: The Quiet Pioneer

http://books.google.com/books?id=0_vlbBFgd88C&pg=PA145&lpg=PA145&dq=size+of+rand..

Rich Boy's Toys--Hearst Ranch/San Simeon

Given the expanse of the property the elusive Aoudads, descended from original herds, are seldom seen.



Stock tank

Old feeding station from the Hearst zoo

Rich Boy's Toys--Hearst Ranch/San Simeon

Hearst Ranch along Highway 1 south of San Simeon, California. The zebra's are descendant's of the original stock of the Hearst Zoo

Rich Boy's Toys--Getty Villa

The Getty Villa seems to be more "accommodating" to human comfort then the bear pits were "accommodating" to bear comforts. Information is hard to find about the Getty menagerie. The Museum folks seem to have distanced themselves from the "fact." Does anyone know anything else about the animals J.Paul had at the estate?

Bear pit at Getty Villa which was once J. Paul's home. Like many other wealthy collectors he had a menagerie which included bears, bison, and lions.

Rich Boy's Toys--Paignton Zoo

Mr. Herbert Witley who owns one of the finest private menageries in Europe at Frimley, Paignton Devon in 1927.

Herbert Whitley was born in 1886 and brought up in Liverpool. His father, Edward Whitley was a solicitor, an ardent churchman, mayor and brewery baron. It was the latter that laid the foundation of the family fortune and the basis for the story of Paignton Zoo and the WWCT.

Edward Whitley died in 1892 at the age of 67 and was commemorated by the City of Liverpool by a statue now standing in St. George's Hall in silent company of William Ewart Gladstone, his great friend and rival. The bereaved Mrs Eleanor Whitley proved to be a courageous lady who saw the need to move to new pastures with her five children. In 1904 they arrived at the Primley Estate in Paignton, when Herbert Whitley was only 18.

Herbert Whitley was a shy, self-taught scientist and eccentric. As he developed his animal collections he became known as a mysterious millionaire who was said to live a monastic life in a white mansion on Primley Hill in Paignton. Stories were told of guarded reserves where weird and exotic creatures lived. He opened his animal collections up to the public for the first time in 1923 but closed them again twice due to disputes with the taxman over ‘entertainment’ tax. Herbert Whitley was adamant that his zoo was a place of education so should not pay entertainment tax on the admission charge.

Herbert Whitley died in 1955 and in his will, founding trustee Philip Michelmore was instructed to set up a Trust to manage and control Paignton Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Slapton Ley Estate and all other lands and buildings defined in the will.

Bostock Circus Collector Pin From the Early 1900's

Vintage Clyde Beatty

What man lost his life three day's before the incident above, does anyone know?

Bartlett Society Newletter

Dear All

Zoohistorica 2011 was excellent. Credit and thanks to Herman for the organisation and to the zoos of Leipzig & Halle for being great hosts. We were pleased to raise over a thousand Euros for their Sumatran rhinoceros conservation project - next year is Pilsen Zoo. Susan March MBE has been in touch with us. Despite their graded status the menagerie cages, already fragile due to age, are now under threat from a Tesco mega store. The land may be compulsory purchased and the development forced through by the local council. There will be a public inquiry and once more our advice is required. We need to write to Thanet District Council to confirm our opinion as to the unique historic value of these cages. The response does not need to be detailed as they have our previous submission. I have more information upon request. Any volunteers - more than one response can be sent. Dartmoor Wildlife Park. With the Ben Mees film due for release in the coming months we are already receiving requests regarding the history of the collection at Dartmoor. Thankfully one such communication has been from the founder - Ellis Bowen Daw - so we have a good information source. However we would be pleased to hear from anyone who has other material and or photographs they are willing to share. I hate copyright but we cannot escape that it is becoming an increasing consideration when publishing any research. A gentlemen has written to us concerning pictures of Mickey the Liverpool Zoo chimpanzee. He is researching an old story about this well known local character and would welcome any pictures. Some of the existing postcards have a newspaper connection. Has anyone got any independent material. Nigel George has been in touch with us. His family built and operated the Solent Butterfly House & Little Amazon. "Solent Butterfly House opened in 1983 and closed in 1986. Little Amazon opened in 1988 and closed in 1991. Both closed due to pressure from garden centre site closures and redevelopments."
He is ready and willing to answer any questions we may have and includes a link to some photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ecclestongeorge/395864840/in/set-72157594545287526
Quick plug for the Bartlett Society AGM - 29th October - 12.00 at The Edinburgh Castle, Mornington Terrace, Camden. Non members have no voting rights but would be made very welcome. The meeting is likely to be short with most attendees visiting London Zoo afterwards - only 5 minutes walk away.

Vintage Mable Stark

I wonder where Mable got a $1000.00?

Vintage Clyde Beatty

As "historians" and other "in the know characters" have told us, in no uncertain terms, that Clyde Beatty only trained "full maned, adult animals" we have to assume that he only kept cubs around for publicity and photo shoots, giving/selling them to lesser trainers as they grew up, so he could devote his energies to fresh shipment's of captured "jungle bred killers." Come on!!!!

Clyde Beatty Memorabilia

Back in the day before, to quote Irvin Feld "it has become impossible to make the devil into a hero."

Vintage Circus

Back in the day when being a wild animal trainer meant something special.

Circus Artifacts

!966 program cover with Charly and Kismet

Photo above courtesy of Sara Richards

This is a great picture, I don't know what year of Charly in the outdoor practice arena at the Venice winter quarters, before the concrete sloped floor was pored for Ursula polar bears to take showers. From the angle of the picture it looks like the photographer was on the roof of the octagon ring barn which was just behind and to the side of the arena. I have mentioned in the past that this, in my mind historic cage used by Holtzmier, Williams, Baumann, Bottcher, Chipperfield, Altoff, etc., and myself in 1984 was dismantled and moved to the Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary on Venice Beach when the show left Venice, to be used forever more as a cage for injured Pelicans. What a shame, in the age of "rescuing" circus history that this practice cage was forgotten and over looked.

The United States Takes Home the Breeders Cup

Welcome to the official website of the All Natios Cup - Europe's most ...

Ghazalat Al Khaladiah-by PA Gazsi Bronze Champion Junior Mare

Van Gogh-by Magnum Psyche Silver Champion Junior Colt

Pandorah-by Padrons Psyche out of Bint Bey Shah Tied for first in mares

WH Justice-by Magnum Psyche Gold Champion Stallion

Move in Day

Bombay, Bhutan, and Barwani enjoying breakfast above, after waking up below.



A couple of my guy's babysitting Ramses, who isn't ready to wake up yet, while awaiting the arrival of the rest of the tigers. The youngsters are transported separately from the larger tigers, so we can keep an eye on them better.

Eye Candy for John Milton Herriott--Elephants, dog, ponies and old folks

Any idea what show this is? It looks more like a carnival midway set up then a circus.

Federation Mondiale du Cirque

-- PRESS RELEASE --

Mexican Circus Proprietors’ Organisation Joins the Federation

For Immediate Release

Monte-Carlo, Monaco (26 September 2011) The largest Mexican circuses have joined the Fédération

Mondiale du Cirque, bringing the Federation another step closer to its goal of uniting the global circus

community for the promotion and preservation of Circus Arts and Culture. The application of the

Asociación Mexicana de Empresarios de Circo (AMEC) was accepted provisionally by the Federation’s

Board of Directors at its June 2010 meeting in Montreal, Canada, which also was its first gathering outside

of Europe. Administrative arrangements are now in place for AMEC to officially join the Federation as a

Member. AMEC becomes the first new Member of the Federation since its Founding in 2008, joining circus

associations based in Australia, Canada, Europe, USA and South Africa.

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors concerning AMEC’s membership, Federation Vice-President

Wayne McCary said, “We are pleased to welcome AMEC, which represents the largest circuses in Mexico,

to the Federation. We also look forward to additional new members in the coming months from Latin

America and Asia.”

“The goal is to achieve our mission of preserving and promoting Circus arts and culture by being as

inclusive and representative of all types of circus as possible,” said Federation Executive Director Laura

van der Meer.

AMEC members include Circo Atayde Hermanos, Circo Hermanos Fuentes Gasca, Circo Hermanos

Vázquez, Circo Hermanos Padilla, Circo Hermanos Suárez, and Circo Rolex, which recently joined

AMEC. Mr. Alfredo Atayde Guzmán serves as president with Mrs. Rosa María Fuentes Gasca as

secretary, and Mr. José Guillermo Vázquez, as treasurer. Mr.. Raúl Suárez Villaseñor, Mr. Alejandro

Fuentes Gasca and Mr.Humberto Padilla Cortes serve as active members.

The Federation looks forward to working with AMEC in the coming months and to the future membership of

other organizations based in the Americas. The Federation also is working to establish relationships with

additional circus associations in Asia, Africa and Europe, including those that represent contemporary

circuses as well as youth and social circus organisations.

The Fédération Mondiale du Cirque was founded in 2008 under the patronage of H.S.H. Princess

Stephanie of Monaco and is headquartered in Monte-Carlo. The Federation is a non-profit organization

created to promote Circus arts and culture worldwide, to serve as a voice for the Circus community, and to

represent Circus interests at the international level.

###

For further information:

Laura van der Meer, Federation Executive Director, at laura@circusfederation.org, tel +32.2.633.1503

Rodney Huey, North American Press Representative, at fmcnews@gmail.com, tel +1.703.627.1080

Dirk Kuik, European Press Representative, at dirk@circus-verlag.de, tel. +49.172.424.1843

John Le Mare, Oceania Press Representative, at john@aladdins.com.au , tel. +61.75.474.4453

www.cirquemondial.org

www.circusfederation.org

'I am still concerned that "inclusive and representative of ALL TYPES of circus as possible" is going to come back and bite the Federation in the ass someday.'

Fully Charged--2011 Red Unit RBBB Circus Opening

Opening in 1992



Courtesy of Mike Naughton

I dyed my hair blonde in 1977 in an attempt at emulating my hero, the great Gunther Gebel Williams. What nit wit trainer last week shaved his head bald in an attempt at emulating his hero, Tabayara? Now you have a reason for wearing a cowboy hat in the arena, putz.

First Meeting of the season--CFA Tent 122

First meeting of the season, Wed Oct 5 at the club house, doors open at 7pm, meeting promptly at 7:30 pm

DESSERTS and RAFFLE ITEMS, please.

Bob Collins, founder of BIG TOP TOURS (highly recommended) and Board Member of Circus Sarasota will be our speaker and will share the inside scoop of the merger of Circus Sarasota and Sailor Circus, this is going to be interesting.

BRING A GUEST if you like, your friends are always welcome.

Two nice videos on the tent's blog, worth a look -

www.tent122.blogspot.com

Jackie LeClaire's youtube scrapbook and the movie trailer for CHILDREN OF ALL AGES which features many circus legends that are members of Tent 122.

Getting things together for the season had a few glitches, the most important was the paid members list which was not updated in a few months which caused many members not to be listed. So sorry for the mix-up, now that everyone is back in town I've met with Lynn (sec/trea), Barry (VP) via telephone and Ron (Past President) and things are back on track. The updated list will appear in the November newsletter.

Please call your friends who do not have internet and remind them about the meeting - give them a call, a great excuse to chat and catch up with the news.

I'm bringing brownies! What are you bringing?

MIke

--
CFA Tent 122 - Showfolks of Sarasota

"The Circus Capital of the World"

Mike Naughton, President

Barry DeChant, Vice-President

Lynn Schnickel, Secretary-Treasurer

Cindy Earl-Brown, Corresponding Secretary

The Day Alice Went Cowboy!!!!

He wasn't a wild kid. He was scared. He knew he was doing something dangerous - but he knew it would help the campaign. It made an amusing gambit at the open-air ball park convention meeting that morning.

"While campaigning for my brother," he said, "I was invited to a ski meet in Wisconsin. The local chairman said if I came to the top of the ski jump, I could meet and talk to people. When I got on top, the people hollered for me to jump. It was either jump, or if my father found out, I'd have to go back to Hyannis Port and lick stamps for the rest of the campaign.

"It's summer now, and there's no snow, so you can't do that to me."

"Since it is summer, and this is Rodeo country, we do have a bronc for you to ride," Hugh Lemire said. "Would you mind?"

"After going down that ski jump, nothing really matters much," Ted said. He gave a talk on farm problems, but the conventioneers were already thinking about the arena that afternoon.

The Rodeo was underway as Ted changed into borrowed cowboy clothes in a trailer behind the chutes. When he could only get his cowboy boots halfway on, a dozen cowboys offered to loan him theirs.

"You shouldn't let the kid ride the horse. He'll get hurt. Don't do it," an old cowboy muttered as Ted tried on the boots. Somebody gave him chaps, spurs, and a hat.

"I've got to have a horse that bucks," Ted said, walking bowlegged toward the chutes.

"Do you want to go first?"

"I don't want to go at all. Let me watch one first."

The first rider was thrown off almost immediately. "Getting off looks easy. I don't have to learn anything about getting off. But I'd like to stay on until we're into the arena.

"What do I do when I get on?"

"Just jab those spurs into him about three times as he comes out, and fan him with your hat."

His mouth was tight - he really was scared as he handed Hooten his wallet. "Here goes Buck Kennedy. I hope I get out of this alive.

"Will this horse buck?" he asked the cowboy who was helping him get on the horse? "It isn't a clunker? Would he be here if I weren't here? Are you sure he'll buck? All this won't be worth anything if I dont' get thrown into the air. I'll be goddamned mad if he just walks out of the chute."

The helper reassured him. "If his brother has the kind of guts the kids has, he'll be a great President," another cowboy commented as Ted settled on the horse.

"Somebody special will be coming out on the next horse," the announcer said. The chute opened. Holding his free hand high, Ted gave the horse a couple of jabs as it bucked out of the chute. The horse unloaded him on the third jump, 5 1/2 seconds later. It was a creditable riide, and they cheered as he limped from the arena. "That sure stretches me out," he said. In the trailer, his hands were shaking.

At the convention that night, there was a big hand, and a big laugh when, introduced as one of Montana's best bronc riders, he limped onto the stage. The limp was real. His right thigh was so bruised, and his leg so stiff he could hardly get into the Reber's plane to fly to Billings that night. George Larson's photo of Ted on the bronc made the newspapers throughout the U.S., Time, Life, and became a campaign-ordeal classic. Ted sold a lot of people that day.

For Frank Curry

When you spend a good part of the year living in this, when the weather get's nice you play hard, real hard.

The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale is a major auction of rodeo stock held the third weekend every May in Miles City, Montana and the premier social event for the community. Accompanied by a parade, a horse racing meet, a bull riding rodeo and a number of social activities, it attracts rodeo stock contractors from the United States and Canada who are looking for saddle bronc, bareback bronc and bucking bull prospects.

Horses consigned to the sale are not "wild" horses or Mustangs which, under the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, cannot be sold. Rather, consignments are horses selectively bred as bucking stock, excess or unsalable young horses from large ranches, and spoiled riding horses that have become particularly adept at bucking off riders. Likewise, most consigned bulls are bred specifically as bucking stock.

The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale was also the theme of a novelty country western song by Montana writer Greg Keeler, on the album Songs of Fishing, Sheep and Guns in Montana. The sale is held annually, regardless of weather.









World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale Web Site

There are rodeos and then there are rodeos. The World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale is in a category by itself. In fact, many rodeos have their roots right here in Miles City, as the Bucking Horse Sale annually debuts some of the finest bucking stock seen on the continent. Held the third full weekend in May each year, the BHS offers a special brand of rodeo action born right here in S.E. Montana.

The Bucking Horse Sale celebrated its 50th anniversary in May 2000. Some of the best bucking stock in the nation have been showcased in Miles City since 1914, when the Miles City Roundup began. Today, top rodeo contractors come here to buy the stock they will use to entertain millions of Americans in years to come. The classic confrontations between cowboy and bronc start Friday evening and by the time Sunday afternoon draws to a close, several hundred ornery critters have given their first indications of whether or not they will join the bronc hall of fame with the likes of SkyRocket, High Roll, Big John, Dark Journey and Jake.

Still, there is much more to this annual extravaganza which celebrates the spring and escorts in the summer. Besides excellent bronc and bareback riding, the Bucking Horse Sale also offers a Thursday night concert, Friday night bull riding, pari-mutuel horse racing on Saturday and Sunday, the BHS Trade Exposition, a street dance on Friday and Saturday nights with 3 different bands playing all at once, a Saturday morning parade, lots of area entertainment and a Match Bronc Ride on Sunday that features some of the top saddle bronc riders in the world!