Tuesday, September 9, 2008

European Elephant act--Presenter unknown Togni Elephants



9 comments:

Wade G. Burck said...

Raffaele or Laszlo,
Both Steve Robinson and I wondered at what type of flooring this is. It looks like ice, but it has to have something in it to make it non slippery. Do you know what it is?

Anonymous said...

Hard rubber

Anonymous said...

Wade - I'd love to know.

In the early 90s, when I booked our show into the only two buildings that we ever showed in, we had Bullen's elephant act in the program.

The building floors were nowhere near as slippery as this floor looks and yet one of the elephant tubs slipped once, dumping the elephant on her side on the floor and nearly squashing presenter Craig Bullen in the process.

A frightening experience - for humans and animal!

Not that I'm planning to show in a building again any time soon but I'd sure like to know what this floor is.

Wade G. Burck said...

Steve,
If it is the same flooring that was there when I saw the show, it is impregnated with something similar to sand that makes it fairly none slippery. I don't remember it being this shiny looking though, and there was shavings on it for the tigers. I don't know how durable it would be to roll up in sections for continuous transport though.
Wade

Anonymous said...

Anonymous - thanks ...... you got a name???

Wade - I just blew the pic up to 200% and I don't see how this floor can roll up at all. It looks like it's all in one piece to me.

Any other theories?

Anonymous said...

Sorry but I don't know , the trainer of the elephants is Jones Togni.László

Wade G. Burck said...

Steve,
That was my point. I didn't think it could be rolled up without the "grit" or what ever it was on the surface eventually flaking/cracking off. It appeared very thick, almost as if it had been poured on.
Wade

Raffaele De Ritis said...

It is heavy painted wood, probably impregnated. It is the same kind you find at Cirque d'Hiver in Paris.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Raffaele.