Last week, on Monday Nov. 4th I posted a picture from Dennis Younger purported to be a "net cage" from 1949 and used on Ringling Bros. There was some speculation about it not being attached to any thing or even looking too secure. The picture above, which Dennis sent to the "history channel"(that sucks Dennis!!!) is also dated 1949 and appears to be either smaller leopards or jaguars. If this was the act that was in the arena, although it would still seem "flimsy" it might explain the "contraption" used in the show. Man was Ringling raggedy and poor looking in 1949. When was Court on the show with his leopards?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Carlo's diamond mesh cable cages continued.
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Wade G. Burck
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5 comments:
I bow my head to you, oh great one.
Yes, the History Channel got the 1949 photos - because for just that, it is the history channel and is a more proper blog for that sort of thing, while your fantastic blog is more for up-to-date interests (but not exclusively.
As only you and I mention the odd and funky arena, I am trying to contact Tom Hamilton so I can ask whether that arena stood under a Ringling tent. Like you, I was shocked that Ringling would have such a ratty looking deal in '49.
Dennis
Dennis,
Don't suck up!!!!! The "history channel" has done more to debunk, when it is allowed to go through, because it doesn't realize it is debunking, jackpot's and the way it was in the "golden age", then anything going.
Wade
This is one of the low silhouette performing cat cages first used by RBBB in 1948.
The idea was to develop a low wagon that minimized blocking the view from the seats. These cages were pulled into the big top and positioned next to the steel arenas. That was done before the show because the cage numbers opened the program. When those numbers were over crawler tractors came in and took them out.
This one was used by Damoo Dhotre’s leopards. It was shorter than the ones for tigers and polar bears. Dhotre’s act included the two black jaguars that had come over with Court in 1940. I don’t think anyone has ever worked a pair of black jags in USA. They can be rough customers.
The only other trained black jag that comes to mind was the one Mable Stark had on RBBB in 1923. It died from shock in the horrible WQ fire at Bridgeport WQ in early 1924 - - they directed fire hoses onto the animal.
Court had sold all his remaining animals to RBBB on November 17, 1944. He then produced one final act - -the so-called ladies and leopards for the 1945 tour. When the act was ready, Court retired and moved back to France.
When the war was over, Damoo came out of the service to take over the leopard act, as he had done in 1940-41. It was loaned by RBBB to Edgar’s Sparks in 1946 and was then back on RBBB in 1947-48-49.
1949 was Damoo’s last season on the show. I consider myself lucky to have seen this act in 1940-41-45-47-48-49. I always thought it was one of sublime elegance.
RJR,
Thank you. You the man, and you came through again with flying colors. "These cages were pulled into the big top and positioned next to the steel arenas". Did you see the picture of the "net cage" supposedly from Ringling in 1949? Is it from Ringling or not?
I can imagine Mable's black jag "tapping out" and going "tit's up" when the fire hose's were cut loose on him. Poor thing probably thought, "what the hell have I done wrong now!!!! I am not fighting or eating anybody, I'm minding my business, staying low under this smoke and Fire House 183 hit's me in the face with the power of a fully loaded hydrant!!!!" LOL
Wade
Wade
So there, we have the answer on B's blog. The arena in question was in fact used under a Ringling tent. What a ratty-tatty thing it was. Still looks like chain and not link to me. DJY
If you find any sucking-up in this comment please let me know.
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