Born into this world some children dreamed of running away to join, Victoria Cristiani Rossi is more than just a child of the circus, she is the circus. From never before revealed stories about life on the road to the circus’ ongoing animal right issues, Rossi offers an inside look into a world normally closed off to outsiders. Interview Rossi, author of SPANGLES, ELEPHANTS, VIOLETS & ME: The Circus Inside Out, for a fun, yet truthful show on what life is really like in the circus. Ask her about: • The truth about some of Hollywood’s biggest stars’ (Joan Crawford, Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and many others) obsession with the circus. • Details and interesting facts about some of the biggest acts under the tents. • The blatant discrimination circus performers face—even in today’s society. • Why there’s a little dysfunctional circus in every family, no matter how normal they may seem. • The rise and slow fall of Americana. Courtesy of David Orr
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Former Circus Child Tells of Life Under the Big Top
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
13 comments:
Hey Wade,
Went to see Zing Zang Zoom today and had a couple of questions about the tiger performance. while watching the majority of the tigers looked aggressive towards the trainer. Is this the way they were trained to perform or is it possible they were with another trainer before the one I saw today? Also there were a couple tigers who really didnt fit in the champagne category or the normal orange, they were an in between color. Is this a different species of Tiger or does it have something to do with breeding and genetics or were my eyes just playing tricks on me?
Thanks a bunch Wade and I would have had those woodland pictures up sooner but my laptop moves like molasses. Once my new computer is hooked up to the internet i will start uploading some. I have about 90 loaded already. Here is the link to the album.
http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/redirishrose/Zoo%20Valentines%20day%202009/
Amy,
Yes too both of your questions about the tigers behavior. I am not aware of a "champagne" tiger. They are either white or they are not. The golden tabby coloration comes in a multitude of shades.
Thank you for the link to your photobucket.
Wade
I thought we weren't supposed to refer to them as white? Or is that only with lions and horses?
Wade- Siberian tigers are a pale 'melon' color rather than the vivid orange as the bengal. If crossed with a white the color could be even paler.
Another explanation is a white tiger was dirty but, I could be wrong.
Anonymous,
WHAT!!!!!!!!
Wade
Amy,
Only lions. You can call a tiger white, if he is, and has stripes, or you can call a horse white, if he is an albino.
Wade
What do you mean "What!!!!!!!!"
You just post pictures of unusual animals and there's no explaination.
However, the Siberian tiger is a pale melon color...FACT!
Description: "The Siberian tiger’s orange colour is actually paler than that of other tigers and it has widely spaced brown stripes rather than black. It has a white chest and belly and a thick ‘ruff’ of hair around its neck."
However, this is a general description of the Siberial tigers coloring and coat. Genetics plays a large role in color and does not have to be one of Marcan's color ranges of tigers.
Matter of fact, the Sumatran tiger is the darkest color of orange.
Most trainers do not work with full blooded Siberian tigers and reason this is probably not known to you. Most trainers are smart enought no to even bother with training a full blooded easy going attitude of the Siberian tiger.
Few trainers have ever trained Sumatran tigers in recent years because of their size and attitude.
As far as explanation to Amy, IF these were female tigers a heat cycle can bring on aggresion as well as many other factors. Not necessarily change in trainers.
I have posted this Anonymous response, so that everybody can enjoy it. Sometimes it is a good idea to post anonymously, that way you can stay hidden and nobody knows who the buffoon is. LOL. The only thing they guessed right, was Amy's name!!!!!
Wade
Hold on here, not arguing with you.
Someone sent me a link to your blog and saw the unusual animals and the comments. This lady asked a question about the aggression of the cage act she saw and the color of the cats and saw a quick answer.
There is no quick answer regarding the aggression as there are many reasons for aggression. As far as color goes, size and attitude it's common knowledge to any zoo biologist and should be to you.
I do not have a Google Account and don't want one. This was the choice to post a reply. Then you call me a Baffoon.
I find that a bit rude.
You seem intelligent and knowledged. Even saw you work a cage act once upon a time. Thought you did a great job and now I see you have a blog that is well put together and from what I've seen so far is quite good.
Maybe I should have been an invited guest? Or possibly just not commented.
That wasn't a hard guess on their part LOL.
Here is a picture, but not sure how much it helps.
http://www.exploringmonkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/tigers_barnum_bailey_circus1.jpg. I remember seeing one of the white tigers and it's stripes were very light, almost non-existant.
Here is another photo showing the difference in coat coloring, they were a lot more warmer though and not so yellow from where i could see which were front row seats next to the circus celebrity seats.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3387/3613336852_a7bd37899e.jpg
Amy,
I assumed you were around for the extensive discussions we have had in the past on coat colors, and if not had seen them by going back into the archives. "Snow white" or few stripes, light stripes is a name coined originally by Sigfried and Roy to "call it something different" from what everyone else had. Even added Nevada to make it real special. Golden Tabby is associated with Josip Marcan/Cincinnati Zoo. I myself, personally only recognize "White Tigers" as a true color breed. The rest are guppies or beta's. Just my opinion. That's all. The color's look very different in the ring lights, which may be colored or bright white at climactic times.
Thank you for the links.
Wade
I think I got it now, and I did read back when I first started following your blog, but it has been a long time and have had a lot more on my plate lately that doesn't involve animals and what not except for the month I spent working at a dog kennel scooping poop for minimum wage. I should be on here more often now that I have steady internet and a faster computer. Thanks again for your insight on my questions. :)
Amy Scott
Anonymous,
Hey Pal, it was you came on hard. Now that we have you half halted, and honoring the bit, let me explain something to you. Say thank you, because we normally don't acknowledge anonymous poster's on this deal.
It wasn't a quick answer, it got to the point. Your answer was a broad as it can get. Take your pick, unless you know the animals Amy was referencing. You were right about Sumatrans being small, but that is all you were right about. Boss, or GGW, or Gunther Gebel Williams had a two Siberians that were so vicious that they didn't have names. They were just called the "Siberian Brothers". There is your easy going attitude. I had one that was so ignorant, he didn't get up to urinate. He just laid in his own urine and matted his coat, which changed colors depending on the time of year and the thickness. There's your easy going. To suggest that the animals on Ringling Bros. may have been dirty was actually the most incorrect statement you made. As you might have guessed we have discussed feline behavior extensively in the past. Click on the manure pile, and go to day one. Amy is our friend, and has been here before, and we all know Amy will sometimes ask something over again, or didn't hear it the first time, or missed it. The archives give her and you the opportunity to "go back." You started reading the book in the middle, and responded with out knowing what the story was about. In addition, I personally am familiar with the animals that she mentions, as well as the person who trained them, and the person who is presenting them.
What's with this google account business? You don't need one to sign your name at the bottom of your comment, and tell folks a bit about yourself. You are welcome any time, as are your comments, just introduce yourself and sign your name. We are friends here, and we respect folks who stand behind their comments and opinions. And we have a great many learned folks from both the circus and zoological field who contribute comments/knowledge to the blog, so the kind word's about this endeavor should also extend to them. Send us a link to that "melon color" deal if you would, or send it to me personally at wburck3@aol.com Click on www.circusnospin.blogspot.com save it in your bookmarks, and come back often with your name you are proud to put with your opinion.
Regards,
Wade
Post a Comment