Posted By thecircusblog on March 1, 2009
The Wallenda Legend Lives On…………The name is legendary, the talent extraordinaire and for three generations the Wallenda family have thrilled audiences throughout the world. Featured here is Delilah, granddaughter of Carl Wallenda doing the human pyramid and like her grandfather… no net blow.
Posted By thecircusblog on March 1, 2009
Above is a collage of Pete and Petrova. I had the pleaure of working with these fine performers in the early 1960 ‘s. I remember them both as being very kind and gentle people. One day between shows Pete and I were talking about his music for his act. He said he wished he could change his music to something more dramatic. I mentioned to him that I noticed that going into each trick, their hand motions were very deliberate and graceful. I suggested the music from Goldfinger ….and from that day forward that was their music for the act. The last time I saw Pete was here in Scottsdale, I think in 2003-04. He was traveling with Tommy Hannaford’s Circus.
Posted By thecircusblog on March 1, 2009
Trudy and Bill Strong both doing toe hangs as the airplane rigging revolves in a circle. I wonder how they controlled the circular motion of the airplane?
Posted By thecircusblog on March 1, 2009
I never saw their outdoor act but from these photos it must have been spectacular. Their indoor act which I did see was a very powerful act. The name of the trick in this photo is a “back angel.” One a still trapeze, it is a relatively simple trick but when you are moving on a high rigging, outdoors with the wind blowing…this trick is very difficult and can be very dangerous.
Posted By thecircusblog on March 1, 2009
This is a shot of Trudy Strong doing a toe hang in their cradle act and as you can see there are no gimmicks on her feet. I don’t know how high she was working as I never saw their outdoor act, but indoors some their rigging was at least eighty feet.
Posted By thecircusblog on February 26, 2009
I never knew Josip Marcan but I admired his tiger act. His presentation was first class, one of a kind. Thank you Wade Burck for the information concerning this fine performer and trainer.
Posted By thecircusblog on February 26, 2009
A series of tigers jumping through the fire hoop. Most animals are deathly afraid of fire. It takes time and training to accomplish this type of trick. Sometimes I wonder if the audience really appreciates the time & effort involved. Other trainers always do.
Posted By thecircusblog on February 26, 2009
More great pictures of Josip Marcan I wish I could have seen this act in person, but I was busy working a comedy chimp act in another part of the world.
Posted By thecircusblog on February 26, 2009
Here, Josip Marcan and his tiger show their confidence in each other. This goes much deeper than just animal training. There is a concept with many people, that animal training has to be forceful and cruel. This is not true. Although the trainer must maintain the alpha position …..that position is arrived at because the animal feels confident in their pack leader trainer and this is done through patient training and reward, whether it be with gentle words and food. Understanding the emotions of an animal and being able to read his body language will eliminate negative results. Yes there are those times when a trainer has to assert his or her dominance. It is done in the way the animal understands.
Posted By thecircusblog on February 26, 2009
Here is Babe when she was near seventy years old. Photo taken mid 60’s at World Jungle Compound, Thousand Oaks, Calif. When I was a child on the circus I would sneak out at night from our house trailer and go to the menagerie where I would curl up to Babe and Dutch and sometimes fall asleep. Of course my father and mother tried put a stop to this behavior however I didn’t always listen and would still visit with the elephants hoping that I didn’t get caught. This behavior did not last, My Dad had a long talk with me.
