Friday, April 25, 2008

Henry Edgar, I need my PR man back

Henry Edgar, John Herriott, Roger Smith,
I have never disputed or debated that he was a showman. I know what that is. It is a "theatrical presentation." Now we can decide who was the best by who excited us the most. I would call it a draw between GGW and Clyde, because although I never saw him live, the tapes I have seen were awful exciting. So you take Clyde, and and I'll take GGW so it is not a tie.
Now gentlemen, Trainer? What is training? Here's where every Beatty discussion bogs down. You can never get past Showman!!!!

Resource: http://www.circusinamerica.org

The legendary Clyde Beatty is our most famous example of the American style. Born somewhere in Ohio, sometime around 1903 (Beatty himself claimed several conflicting versions), he came briefly under the influence of the great Hungarian trainer Louis Roth, did a polar bear act, and acquired his first caged cat act in 1925. He would eventually leave much of the training of his animals to others, while he focused on a theatrical presentation designed to instill fear for his safety among the spectators.
Wade Burck

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