Vincent, to the left of the lion sitting on the pedestal you will see what I call a "swing gate". Wilson Story is presenting this Court act, and it is a well photographically documented one from the time, and one of my favorites with lions, tigers, polar, and I believe himalayan bears. Not wanting to risk defiling a "sacred cow", Court usually had these "swing gates" in his mixed act's, and in my mind, took quite a bit away from the skill and time, you would think necessary to build an act like this. I can only assume the act's were put together quickly, to get them in the show. They were used to separate the different species from each other. When an animal got on the seat, the "gate" was either swung up, or attached to a bracket. I have seen both kinds. Most pictures of Courts acts had them in it, and the reason why I like the picture that Gary has identified as being at Blackpool, is that none are visible, or the picture is of poor quality and they aren't readily seen, or the act had finally worked long enough, that they were no longer necessary. As I don't know of any footage available of Courts act's, other then a few bits and pieces, I can't imagine how long the act;s lasted, and what was actually done, what with the bringing in of different species, one at a time or by pairs, and forming pyramids with the mentioned "swing gates." All we have really is still pictures, which don't really tell much, and were normally "posed to perfection" for publicity purposes. All we have is "word of mouth" as to what they did, or didn't do, and we can take that for what it is. Alfred Court is very lucky to have Jim Clubb hanging his paper, and I can only hope to be so lucky one day. LOL
Sunday, November 21, 2010
For Vincent--"swing gates"
Charlotte "Zeke" Walsh
Charlotte was married to Court Trainer Joe Walsh, who was killed, and later she married Tiger Trainer Robert Baudy.
Alfred Court
This is one of my favorite "Court" act's, particularly because there are not a lot of "swing gates" in the picture to keep the animals seperated . It appears to be in a theater. Does any one know if the picture was taken before he came to the states, or after he went back? Or was it taken here in the United States, and what year was this?
Trivia
Sometimes an animal will gain fame and legendary status for various reasons. With elephants it is often their "notoriety," such as Ziggy, Black Diamond, Tusko, etc. Sometimes it is just because of "who" they were, such as Jumbo or King Tusk. In the zoo field that fame is often attained in the breeding shed or a birth, such as Colo, Tony. Some like Jambo go down in history for a particular feat. Some become famous for nothing, except who owned them. What toothless lion, who did nothing, achieved fame and legendary status because he/she was a hermaphrodite, and posted with many people in the arena?
Dick McGraw--St. Louis Zoo
Dick had an odd way of moving, due to a severe injury received in an attack. He kinda "crouched" from the waist and knee's. Does any one recall watching another wild animal presenter, who studied under Dick, "crouch" and move in the same way when he got in the arena, but not when he was out of the arena? Pretty picture, but this set up has to go down in history as the "gaudiest ever produced!!!"
Exonerating Jim Alexander
In 1955, apparently Jules Jacot presented his act at St. Louis, billed as Captain Alfred.
Exonerating Jim Alexander
After pruning and cutting back some of the lumen filled tree's surrounding Jules Jacot's arena it was revealed that "although the St. Louis Zoo called it a lion act, in addition to 15 lions, it includes two European brown bears, a tiger and three mountain lions. He apparently took the "send them in, and send them out" style of wild animal act to a new level.
Scale model circus--Toad Rock Railroad. G scale
The Toad Rock Railroad serves some of the same areas as the East Tennesse and Western North Carolina Railroad. Most of the equipment is ET&WNC. The railroad also operates a large shop which is responsible for building and bridge construction. The shops frequently do custom work for other railroads and also do commercial layouts in resturants.
The railroad itself serves the towns of Toad Rock, Logans Mill and Cranberry. Toad Rock is a mining town with its iron ore mine providing most of the lines revenue. Iron ore is hauled in custom built ore hoppers built by the shop to resemble ET&WNC hopper which are not available commercially. Most of the lines equipment is made by Bachmann and is G Scale. The track and buildings remain outside year round
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