Salt and Sauce helping the war effort

I am very grateful to George Pinder Snr, whose family feature quite heavily in the early part of my book "The Legend of Salt and Sauce", for posting up this archive piece from a Wolverhampton newspaper on his Facebook profile. George told me "my grandmas sister aunt nellie, lived in wolverhampton, and sent her this cutting, i came across it today sorting out some old stuff, its from the 1940s ww2". I don't have the full details yet, but it reveals new information to me about the two famous elephants, Salt and Sauce's activities during the 1940s. Prior to this I understood that the elephants, who were still owned by John "Broncho Bill" Swallow, were touring during the war years (1939-1945) with Paulo's Circus and engaged at various theatrical venues during the Christmas seasons. We did have an unsubstantiated report that they had helped clear a site for the war effort. However, this article shows the two elephants leading a plough for Kingswood Bank farm during the 1940s as a matter of "national importance" for farmer, Robert Wilkes. It was more than likely a type of publicity stunt, which John Swallow - a consumate promoter - would have dreamt up. 




Jamie Clubb's other blogs: www.beelzebubsbroker.blogspot.com www.clubbchimera.com

Passport to yesterday? The Trefoil Guild and exploring the "other country"

With “The Legend of Salt and Sauce” now reaching its second edition’s second anniversary, it has been a little while now since I have attended any signings. Therefore my father and I were delighted to visit the Trefoil Guild to give a one hour talk and PowerPoint presentation on our book. When we launched the first edition of the book it was in front of the Circus Friends Association. When we launched the second edition it was in front of the Wolverhampton Historical Society. Both institutions obviously had a strong interest in the subject. On other occasions we have done signings for zoo enthusiasts and historians who were either interested in the general subject of performing animals in music halls, zoos and circuses or in how the legend of these two elephants impacted on their locality. However, from time to time we get requests from societies – like the Ladies Probus Club – who booked us on the basis of the unusual quality of our subject. The Trefoil Club was this sort of booking.
It is always interesting to not only help bring people’s memories alive again – some of our audience members were into their 80s – but also to listen to their accounts of the times I only know through researching documents, books, photographs and newspaper articles. The era Salt and Sauce lived in was one that dramatically changed around the time their demise thus helping to condemn these once exceptionally well-known elephants to the “forgotten history” archives. Although none of those who attended our talk remembered these elephants - despite one contemporary author quoted in my book calling them the most famous elephants of their time - they did have very fond memories of my family’s elephants. One lady even had several photographs she had published taken in the early ‘60s of my family’s elephants being walked from the now non-existent Chipping Norton station. Despite being interested and buying plenty of copies of our book, much of the discussion and questions centred on my father’s involvement with my grandparents’ large number of elephants.

Michael Sheen: descendent of a wild animal trainer

Image via Wikipedia

I very rarely write anything publically about my parents' business. They work in the media all the time, so it would be  an overwhelming task to report on their activities. It would swamp my already very tight schedule and keep me away from writing about my main areas of interest. To put it simply, my heritage and the other work I do on a day-to-day basis are sources of proud inspiration, but not the main source of my writing material.

However, I am delighted to announce that my father has agreed to be an expert on a television programme on Michael Sheen's lion training great-grandmother (details to be confirmed) on Bostock and Wombwelle's Menagerie.

Norman Barrett receives his MBE

Following on from my post regarding Norman Barrett place on the New Year's Honours List. Yesterday Norman received his MBE at Buckingham Palace.

Fighting the Historical Airbrush: This Time it's Personal!

One thing I got very used to during my research for my first book was the unreliability of witness testimony in the circus world. Much of what had been told and published was purposefully designed to enhance the career of the narrator. After all, that is the nature of showbusiness. It is not always excusable, but at least understandable. My job was to present as honest a picture as I could by using my lived knowledge of being a part of an old circus family and my evolving skills as an historical investigator. However, as I began to delve deeper into the old reports, show programmes and reports from independent eyewitnesses I began to uncover a reality that has gradually been erased from my country’s consciousness. Forgotten histories, in general, are an interest of mine, but as time goes on I have become more shocked than ever at how much my culture has been purposefully airbrushed out. There are many examples, much of which I put down to the UK’s collective cultural flaw of snobbery, are discussed in my book. However, recently the whole issue has come closer to home than I find comfortable.

Circus travelling connections: a ramble

Image via Wikipedia

Newly Discovered Salt & Sauce Postcard in Hastings

Early in March 2010 I was contacted by a postcard collector called Mark Pearce. Mark had come across an historical postcard picturing four young elephants stood with a group of people outside a possible Music Hall venue. According to Mark the street is one in Hastings, East Essex. He reports that the message on the card’s reverse has been partially erased, but “Lockhart’s Elephants” is clearly visible. The stamp was dated 1906, but Mark was aware that didn’t necessarily indicate the year the photograph was taken.

The venue looks like it might have been the Empire of Varieties, built in 1899 by Ernest Runtz. According to “theatre buff” Alan Chudey it became known as the Hastings “Hippodrome” in around 1907. The turn of the century was a very common time for circus and Music Hall buildings to be constructed, and we can see this happening all over the UK. It was later used as a cinema and then gutted in 1978 to be used as an amusement arcade.

The Lost Lockhart

Henry James Lockhart (real name Locker) was an elephant trainer/presenter born to Sam and Hannah Lockhart in 1861 in London. Henry, known mainly as Harry, was the youngest of the Lockhart brothers. His elder brothers, George and Sam worked together as bareback horse riders and tumblers in the circus before a riding accident broke George’s hip and severed the brothers’ working relationship. Sam sought his fortune at the tea plantation in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), but impressed by the locals’ work with elephants decided to embark on a career as an elephant trainer, which brought him back to the world of circus and Music Hall. Having recovered from his injury George followed suite and developed his own elephant act. Both these brothers became very famous in their own time, in Europe, Russia and the USA. A descendent of theirs, James Pinder has argued that jealousy inspired the elder brother, George, to become an elephant trainer and it is implied his desire to match his brother’s celebrity status, which he almost did, drove him to the tragic end that saw him crushed to death by an elephant at Walthamstow goods yard. What is rarely talked about, however, is the life of the last brother who met a tragic and far earlier demise than George.

Captain Fritz Schulz - The last of Alfred Court's Trainers

The following is a response written by my father to a post on the excellent "Circus NO SPIN Zone" blog by Wade Burk. Fritz Schulz died on 1 February 2010 at 7am in Australia at 99 years of age. He was a celebrated and highly talented trainer who was once employed by the legendary Alfred Court, the man who inspired my father's circus career. The response my father dictated to me was at the request of Wade to give more details on this exceptional trainer's life. Please note it was written for a circus historian and trainer audience. However, it will serve as the basis for the obiturary we will write together for the "King Pole" magazine:

This was very sad news. He was the last of the "Alfred Court Trainers". He joined Court from Circus Sarasani on a recommendation by Max Stolle, where he had been presenting a group of 12 tigers. He took Court's best mixed group over from Louis Kovac (not to be confused with Harry Kovar). It consisted of six male lions, two tigers (one spare tiger), three leopards, three polar bears, two Himalayan black bears and two Great Dane dogs. Occasionally it included a jaguar as well, but this particular animal moved from group to group, so it is hard to keep track of it. It was in the Harry Kovar mixed group when they opened with Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey, as Court took the leopards out of two of the groups to put into his mixed panther act.

By the time Schulz's act reached USA there were only two leopards working, as he lost one, Lisha, in 1939 when working for Circus Scott, Sweden. His booking with Circus Scott was a sudden decision based on an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Switzerland in 1938 when he was working for Circus Knie. Although the disease didn’t affect his animals it curtailed the tour for Knie. The assistant for the act was Joe Walch who later took over one of the mixed groups. Walch was also billed as Zappell.

The picture showing the sit-up was taken in 1939 in the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus winter quarters. You can see a Himalayan bear standing up on the far right. This was Violetta. The other Himalayan bear that stood up next to her was killed in a fight upon arrival. The other bear was substituted by an American black bear, as they couldn't find any Himalayans in USA.

Schulz was interned in 1943 along with the other famous German trainer, Erik Hagenbeck at Fort Meat outside Baltimore. Schulz was eventually released in 1945, but never returned to Alfred Court. He went to Australia to take over from May Kovar on her recommendation. She was working a group of male lions and was having problems and wanted out. Harry, her husband, had already died as a result of the Hartford fire.

The captain corresponded with me during the mid '80s when I started making my first big mixed group. He was a great help. He even contemplated coming over, but it never happened. I was planning to visit him this year, which is something I now wish I had done earlier.

Alfred Court had a very high regard for Schulz's work. He was impressed when the act had opened at Blackpool in 1938. He asked Schulz if he could try to train one of the tigers to roll over. By the time he returned it was already doing it in the show! In those days the roll over trick, just with one animal, was quite an achievement.

I intend to write a full obituary for the King Pole magazine in the UK. We will post this up on the blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com

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Belated Congratulations to Norman Barrett MBE

Norman Barrett, or Uncle Norman as my generation of circus children know him, made circus history in January 2010. He was awarded the MBE for his “services to entertainment”. Norman will go down in history as the first circus ringmaster to receive this award. Speaking to the World’s Fair newspaper Norman, who was born into the circus, recognized the significance of the award:

“As well as being over the moon personally, I am also delighted for the circus industry, and all my friends and colleagues within it. Awards of this nature are very rarely given to individuals in my profession, especially when compared to other forms of entertainment such as film and theatre. This is a real boost for circus and in my view gives the art form the recognition it truly deserves and, sadly, in modern times so rarely gets”.

These words echo the sentiments expressed in my article, “Circus and Other ‘Low’ Art”. Despite being celebrated by royalty at the annual Monte Carlo Circus Festival, the British circus tradition is often swept under the proverbial carpet for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless, this is a significant moment in modern circus history as audiences start looking more towards live entertainment again and the fascism of political correctness starts to settle down.

Norman Barrett has several connections to my book “The Legend of Salt and Sauce”. He knew the elephant Sauce when she was Cody’s circus and I cite him as a witness source. Furthermore, he is acknowledged as the successor to the famous archetypical ringmaster George Lockhart Jnr, the son of the elephant trainer who was killed by Salt and Sauce, by being Blackpool’s ringmaster and also working at Belle Vue. Both venues had made Lockhart famous and Norman took the mantle on with style, becoming synonymous with the Blackpool Tower Circus.

My parents were among the guests on the celebrity documentary series, “This is Your Life” focusing on Norman Barrett. During the programme Norman was acknowledged for saving the life of one my parents’ trainers at the Blackpool Tower Circus. Louis Pallacio was attacked by a lion during his performance of my father’s lion act in 1986. It was Norman’s experience, pragmatism, quick wits and courage that enabled him to save Louis that day and the Mexican trained acknowledged this on “This is Your Life”. The show, filmed in 1989, was a very emotional experience as the extent of Norman’s influence and his involvement in the world of circus was revealed. Most of the main circus families were in attendance and Cyril Mills, then head of the famous Mills Circus family, was the last guest on the show to pay respect to Norman. Mills were the first family to promote Norman to senior ringmaster.

However, in addition to being a ringmaster Norman is an animal trainer and this was the career he began in. To this day he still presents his famous budgerigar act on Zippo’s Circus along with his ringmastering.

Belated congratulations, Uncle Norman!

George Sanger: Pseudohistorian? Making a Circus of History

In recent times I have become almost as interested in methods to study history as I have in the actual subjects. This has led me to read Richard J. Evans’ book “In Defence of History”. So far, it is an engrossing read that details the history of history and the various competing methods that have evolved over time. I was particularly fascinated in the many attempts to define history as a science, even a social or “weak” science, which it does not happily fit. Nevertheless, the struggle to keep history as an objective study of the past and to establish “facts” is a valiant one, especially in the face of postmodern ideas that have challenged the validity of history altogether. Anyway, having only got through the first few chapters I was delighted to come across a passage that mentions a member of my historical culture, a circus man, “Lord” George Sanger.

Sanger crops up in my book “The Legend of Salt and Sauce” and a relation of his, George Sanger Coleman, in “The Sanger Story”, gave me an interesting if dramatic description of one the characters I was researching, “Lieutenant” Frank Taylor (Aka Alpine Charlie). “Lord” George and his brother “Lord” John Sanger hobnobbed with royalty and ran a circus in the later 19^th and early 20^th century. George is known for making a presentation to Queen Victoria. A disease similar to the one that almost killed the elephant Salt even bore the Sanger name when it wiped out of their herds. George was murdered in 1911, providing a dramatic ending to a dramatic life.

“In Defence of History” cites Sanger as being a notorious source for another murder, the alleged kicking to death of a gingerbread salesman by a drunken mob in 1850 at the Stalybridge Wakes. His memoirs had been read by historian, George Kitson Clark and referenced in his book on Victorian England. The report was then repeated as an historical “fact”. According to Richard J. Evans no contemporary reports support this story. There are detailed newspaper reports of the fair, which included archery, morris dancing and a description of an ascent in a balloon. In fact, very little drunkeness was reported at all. We cannot just dismiss Sanger's report, but its validity should be held in question. I spoke quite extensively in “The Legend of Salt and Sauce” about the way fanciful tales were woven around various events in circus history. This helped contribute to my fascination in the way fiction becomes “fact” if a certain story is not checked, but repeated without question and then passed on.

2009: A Year in Review

CCMA – Clubb Chimera Martial Arts

I began a class diary on the first day back in 2009, which I am happy to say I have kept throughout the year without missing a single entry. CCMA is a constantly evolving approach or method – never a system – and it is often difficult for me to explain to interested parties just how much we do or to even convey this in a single workshop. The journal approach has enabled me to do this more effectively, especially now that we also have accompanying footage and more regular photographs. From time to time I have come back to topics that most interest me and have been able to comment on them in a very casual manner rather than the usual essay/article format.

It has been a good year for workshops. I was booked to teach 68 employees of the Law Society’s Forensic Investigation Unit for the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA) over six two day courses. This began late in 2008 and finished in spring 2009. I have received nothing by positive feedback from SRA and a great letter of recommendation. The whole experience gave me the opportunity to tailor my soft and hard skills approach to self defence to a diverse range of people. It was also a challenge to adapt it to a specific work setting. The first day nearly completely soft skills orientated and the second day included pressure tests and confirmation drills.

I also invited to teach two workshops and had a stall at the Martial Arts Festival (MAF) held by Kwoklyn Wan of Urban Martial Arts. The whole experience was great. I got to teach tasters for both my adult and children’s programmes and my students had the opportunity to teach our approach to other martial artists. Kwoklyn Wan, brother of TV personality and fashion consultant Gok Wan, is a force to be reckoned with. I was very impressed with the combination of professionalism and informality of MAF. I now see it as the blueprint for 2010’s “The Martial Arts Show” to be held at Seni’s old haunt NEC, Birmingham on 22^nd and 23^rd May.

I became one of a select number of instructors (four in total, including the founder) to be chosen to teach Mo Teague’s Hard Target. This is a distilled self defence service that is currently being promoted by RST security, a leading UK security consultancy and training business based in London. So far I have taught at two of the three inaugural courses promoted by RST. This began with a weekend course at Woolwich Army Barracks kindly and professionally organized by their Battery Sergeant Major Dave Aiton. Dave is also the instructor of the army judo club and the founder of Effective Self Protection at the barracks. The next time I taught was at the RST offices in London. By this time Mo Teague had done a brilliantly job at refining this service and I can see we will be bringing some “bleeding edge” self protection in 2010. All courses were pretty much packed and the feedback has been very encouraging.

In addition to the diaries I have written several other articles, including some inspired by my conversations with Mo Teague. Another series, “Martial Arts Scepticism”, can be found in Iain Abernethy’s excellent online PDF magazine, “Jissen!” www.jissenmag.com and also the critical thinking martial arts website “Bad Martial Arts” www.badmartialarts.com

I have got back into doing more in-club workshops to raise the standards. I was impressed how fast the attendees of a recent workshop came on in just one day, reinforcing my belief that this is the way forward. These workshops will be held in Kenilworth roughly once a month and are open to everyone. www.clubbchimera.com

The Legend of Salt and Sauce

The second edition of my first book continues to sell and has received all positive reviews on Amazon.co.uk If any readers would like to publish their reports on Amazon, Dooyoo or any other consumer websites I would be most grateful.

This year I was kindly invited to deliver a talk for the women’s Probus club in Woodstock. Dad and I did our usual two-man act. Me reading excerpts and Dad telling the story through our PowerPoint display. It was very well received as reflected by the sales. I have started taking some local bookings for 2010 and hope to be in contact with more interested groups and clubs.

Jamie Clubb’s Blog

The blog that was originally created to promote the book has taken on a life of its own. Topics have diverged into a “Forgotten Fame” series, covering people and animals that were famous in their own time. Salt and Sauce were, of course, famous in their own lifetime, but subsequently forgotten as eras changed. So far the series has been posted in four instalments covering Salt and Sauce, Sea Biscuit, Ivar “The Match King” Krueger, the Abernathy Brothers and Captain Herbert Clarke. In addition to this and among other articles, I began exploring a new subject with my father: The Bounce. This unique and exciting wild animal act briefly existed for four decades and then disappeared without trace. What particularly intrigued me was that my grandfather and uncle both apparently performed it and my father almost did. There is controversy over what actually constitutes The Bounce and this was explored in several articles posted on the blog and eventually published in the King Pole magazine.

All the above mentioned articles and much more are on www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com

Beelzebub’s Broker

On 24 March 2009 I launched a second blog (third if you count my martial arts one that masquerades as a website). My written work was diverging so much that I felt it was moving matters too far away from the purpose my main blog, originally set up to promote “The Legend of Salt and Sauce”. Beelzebub’s Broker now contains all my miscellaneous, opinionated and sometimes controversial work. Articles have focused on critical thinking and reviews. However, I have begun a series specifically for the blog entitled “The Icon Series”, where I focus on particular figures in history and fiction that have had an impact on my interests.

All the above articles can be found on www.beelzebubsbroker.blogspot.com

Flight of the Black Swan

I am now a member of the Dooyoo reviewing community under the title Black Swan. Dooyoo is a great site where you can write and earn money for any review written over 150 words. You can get your cheques faster by having them rated highly and crowned by other members. It seems to be a pretty good and honest way for aspiring writers to make a few extra quid on the side. All my reviews will generally be about movies and books. I would highly recommend joining the site www.dooyoo.com

Training

2010 definitely needs to be a year where I get in a more structured training routine for myself. My students are just getting too good! However, in addition to training at the world class Gracie Barra Birmingham (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) for my fourth year under the current best submission grappler (in and out of gi) in the world, Braulio Estima, I have also been able to train at two excellent MMA classes. At last I have made it to Trojan Freefighters in Cheltenham and when possible pop over there for their excellent sessions. On a Saturday before I get stuck into an hour and a half of submission grappling and then an hour an half of traditional Brazilian jiu jitsu, I get in an hour and a half at Chris Rice's excellent new "Sprawl 'n Brawl" clun at the same venue in Birmingham. Unfortunately due to so much going on I have often had to content myself with solo training or roping in anyone I can back at the zoo. Nevertheless, this has made me go back to my roots and develop some great training routines.

Personal

I like to keep the personal stuff as low key as possible, but seeing how massive they have been in 2009 it kind of puts the rest of the round-up in perspective. I started 2009 living in Kenilworth - a once nice little historic Warwickshire suburb with its own castle, now sadly going to the dogs in a big way - and my baby not even three months old. I ended 2009 shaking with excitement that all our house plans have been passed and also shaking with cold as we do our best to manage living in a stationary caravan in one of the coldest parts of the Cotswold countryside! The baby, of course, is now a toddler and up to all sorts, making life even more interesting than before. Meanwhile I have ended up taking on more responsibility with my parents' business supplying trained exotic animals to the film industry. This year we worked on the remake of "Clash of the Titans" (behind the scenes picture above featuring Omar, one of our camels) for several weeks as well as a brilliant live show run at the Old Vic in London with Kevin Spacey in "Inherit the Wind". So for those of you have found it hard to get hold of me, please have some sympathy.

Circus Rosaire - a much awaited DVD

I am delighted to announce the release of the two disc DVD edition of the critically acclaimed "Circus Rosaire" documentary. The Rosaire family and their origins in circus are documented in my book "The Legend of Salt and Sauce". During my research I had the pleasure of interviewing the great Ivor Rosaire, who began his career in elephent training with Salt and Sauce. The story of the Rosaires is a remarkable one. Rupert Croft-Cooke and Ruth Manning-Sanders, two prolific professional writers of the early to mid 20th century, lived with the Rosaires when they toured the UK and wrote extensively on their wondrous time spent with the family.

The Rosaire family story has always been one about extreme hardship and success through adversity. In my book I detail the problems the family encountered during their very early years when the show was just a three person affair pitched on a showground, just containing "Count" Rosaire, his wife "The Countess" and a strongman. Rosaire was a stage name they changed from Ross. These were tough enough times, working in terrible weather conditions with a one pole tent and having to perform everyday, the last act being a real boxing match that the Count held against an oncomer! Over the years the Rosaires had eight children, each trained to perform several different acts. As time went on each went their own route and some travelled to America.

Circus Rosaire is a documentary that shows that success and hardship continues in tandem to this day and, in many ways, continues the story where my book leaves off. I highly recommend it:
Dear Friends,

We are thrilled to announce that the much anticipated "CIRCUS ROSAIRE" dvd is now available for sale on Amazon.com!

Just in time for the holiday season, this deluxe 2-DISC Special Edition set features the award winning documentary film, along the with an hour long, fun-filled Rosaire Family Circus performance under the Big Top. It also includes nearly 45 minutes of never-before-seen additional scenes and interviews.

If you're looking for a really special gift this holiday season that will be perfect for kids and adults alike, this is it!

To order, simply visit Amazon.com by clicking here:

http://www.amazon.com/Circus-Rosaire/dp/B002X86B78/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1259343981&sr=1-1

*PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE FILM BY FORWARDING THIS TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
And keep all those wonderful emails coming - we really do read them all and love hearing from you.

On behalf of the Circus Rosaire team, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!


CIRCUS ROSAIRE
Film Synopsis

For nine generations, the Rosaire family has entertained audiences all over the world with their legendary animal acts. From lions and tigers, to bears, horses and chimpanzees, the Rosaires are renowned for their unique and respectful way of training and performing with animals. At the height of their fame, they headlined shows for royalty, presidents and legions of fans with their spectacular feats. Today they are struggling to survive in the modern age of entertainment. Major declines in audience attendance, and increasing concern for animal welfare have significantly impacted the Rosaires way of life. Their livelihood and future are at risk as they attempt to carry on the family tradition.

Filmed over a five-year period, CIRCUS ROSAIRE is both heartbreaking and hilarious as it takes an intimate, behind the scenes look inside this quintessential circus family.

CIRCUS ROSAIRE has been screened in over 20 film festivals worldwide, and has won numerous awards. See what all the buzz is about, and order your own CIRCUS ROSAIRE dvd now!

Click to order:
http://www.amazon.com/Circus-Rosaire/dp/B002X86B78/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1259343981&sr=1-1

CIRCUS ROSAIRE Reviews

“ENGAGING AND IMPRESSIVE. PIC SHOULD PLEASE LADIES, GENTLEMEN AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES!”
Joe Leydon, Variety

“CHARMING AND AFFECTING!”
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

“ENCHANTING AND EFFECTIVE!”
John Beifuss, The Commercial Appeal

"CIRCUS ROSAIRE IS A CHARMING, ENGAGING GEM OF AN INDIE FILM!”
Kim Voyner, Cinematical

“TOUCHING AND POIGNANT, ‘CIRCUS ROSAIRE’ IS A DELGIHTFUL TELLING OF A FAMILY TALE THAT’S A REAL AND CLASSIC SUCCESS STORY, COMPLETE WITH HEARTACHES, CONTROVERSY AND LOTS OF LOVE. ”
Robert Waldman, Orato News

“ONE OF THE GEMS IN THIS YEARS SLAMDANCE FESTIVAL!”
David Burger, Salt Lake City Tribune

“INSPIRING TEARS OF SADNESS AND JOY, ‘CIRCUS ROSAIRE’ IS FOR THOSE WHO FIND HEROES AMONG COMMON FOLKS.”
Leah Raquel Ranada, The Source

“AMAZING! YOU CAN’T HELP BUT FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS FILM!”
Chris Steele, Mountain Morning Show

“I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS MOVIE’S SUCCESSFUL RELEASE FOR EITHER THEATERS OR TELEVISION WOULD BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS OF OUR YEAR!”
John Hart, ShowBiz USA

“ONE OF THE MOST BUZZED ABOUT FILMS….CIRCUS ROSAIRE IS A LOVING PORTRAIT OF A FAMILY’S STRUGGLE TO PRESERVE A FADING INSTITUTION.”
Salt Lake City Tribune

“BIG TOP FUN!”
Philippine Journal

“GENUINELY MOVING!”
Glen Schaefer, The Province


UPCOMING SCREENINGS

Saturday, December 5, 2009 – 3:15PM
Alaska Experience Theatre
4th Avenue Marketplace
333.W. 4th Avenue

Friday, December 11, 2009 – 8:15PM
Anchorage Museum
121 W. Seventh Ave


VISIT THE OFFICIAL FILM WEBSITE:
www.circusrosairemovie.com

My Kingpole Article

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Earlier this year a series of emails and subsequent discussions on Facebook prompted my father and I to write and research on a unique but relatively short-lived wild animal act known as the "Bounce" (aka the bouncing lions or the bouncer wagon). It became a series of posts on this blog as more information came to light and eventually materialized into an article that was published in the Autumn 2009 edition of the Circus Friends Association magazine, the King Pole. I now reproduce this article below. Since the article was written my father has uncovered a photograph my Uncle Dicki performing his version of the Bounce in South Africa. As you may gather from the piece I wrote there was a degree of debate as to whether or not what my uncle performed could be considered to be a Bounce act. Dad argues that this particular photograph proves undeniably that my Uncle Dicki performed the Bounce.

Towards the end of the 19th century European circus saw the gradual decline of wild animal acts being presented inside "beastwagons" (mobile caged containers, now used on circuses just as sleeping quarters) in favour of the new caged arena style acts. However, there would be one last innovative and exciting twist in the history of the beastwagon act. This came in the form of the “Bouncer Wagon Act”, often known as the “Bouncing Lions” or, quite simply, as the “Bounce”. The act is remarkable for a few reasons. Firstly it seems to be a uniquely British invention that was never adopted outside the United Kingdom. Secondly it saw a

A Bit of Sauce on the Paul O'Grady Show

On Monday 2 November the Paul O’Grady Show presented a feature on circus. My parents have supplied a lot of animals for the show, but for some reason we were overlooked. Anyway, among the guests was none other than Ida Rosaire, the youngest member of “Count” Rosaire’s children. Her brother, Ivor began his elephant presenting and training career with the two famous elephants, Salt and Sauce, who are the stars of my book “The Legend of Salt and Sauce”. In fact, Ivor features predominantly in the book. However, Ida also features alongside these two impressive pachyderms. She was carried in Sauce’s mouth and it was a picture of this trick that she showed on the Channel 4 show.

This trick had been taught to Sauce in the 1930s by her then owner John “Broncho Bill” Swallow. According to his groom, Sid Watts, Swallow had returned from the continent having seen the trick and decided to include it in his act. He first practiced with a life size dummy before trying it out on Sid. After it had passed the Sid test, the likes of Zena and Ida Rosaire also performed the trick. The trick also formed part of a new act instigated by Ivor and Swallow, known as the Tableau act. This was a classy elephant act involving elephant tubs and dancing girls. Cissy, Ida and Zena all featured in it and at a later stage so did Clara Paulo from the equally famous Paulo family.

Extracts from "We Went to the Zoo Today"

Here is an extract from Alan Ashby's excellent new book on British postcards during the golden age of the zoo. As you can see in the examples below, Alan has done his best to present the postcards in their raw form. I particularly like this touch.

The top picture is of Bostock and Wombwelle's Menagerie taken from my father's collection.

The bottom picture is of Purchase's and Chipperfield's Combined Menagerie. Regular readers of this blog will recognize that this was the menagerie where my grandfather (pictured far left) rescued Captain Tommy Purchase (most likely inventor of the "Bounce") from the lion's cage. My great grandfather is on the right. Rosie and Gracie Purchase are dancing on the show front. Rosie, daughter of Tommy Purchase, was the one dancing in the lion's cage when the accident occurred. The lady of the top of the ladder in the centre is my great-aunty Margery.

We Went to the Zoo Today

I am delighted to announce the release of Alan Ashby's new book on historical zoo postcards "We We Went to the Zoo Today... The Golden Age of Zoo Postcards". This book is a wonderful illustration of the bygone years of the zoo - both good and bad- in the UK. From an historian's point of view it helps to bring to life a time that seems so far removed from today.

However, the production of this book is its main appeal. Alan has taken great care in the way he wanted to present this old and often rare postcards. They are shown "warts 'n all" if you like, including fraying around the edges and other imperfections, which is as good an analogy for the right way history should be presented!

See: www.antiquexplorer.com/bookshop/bookszoopostcards.php
Ebay item 350267390922
We Went to the Zoo Today... The Golden Age of Zoo Postcards
Product Details
Hardback: 120 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9563831-0-5
Size: 180mm x 177mm
Full colour
Product Description:

In the early 20th century just as now, a day at the zoo was a break from routine, an enjoyable diversion. However, the passage of time has gradually revealed some fascinating and marked differences between then and now. The postcards in this new book often show a politically incorrect world where giving a lighted cigarette to a chimpanzee was not considered out of the ordinary, where enticing a bear to climb a pole to earn a tid-bit or riding on just about any animal that would tolerate it, was the norm, all part of the fun. 'We Went To The Zoo Today...' takes a close look at this world. The postcards featured would almost certainly be impossible to duplicate as a collection of originals and, even if that were not true, it would take years of searching and many hundreds of pounds, to gather a comparable set. Look at the curious zeedonk on page 78, the famous elephant trainer, Lorenzo Lawrence, on page 48 or the boxing kangaroo on page 38. All are now scarce, and most of the zoos shown are now long closed and some virtually forgotten. 'We Went To The Zoo Today...' contains almost two hundred of the best postcards of their kind. They are often amusing, sometimes poignant, but always of interest. This book endeavours, and hopefully succeeds, to give these �silent snapshots� the voice they deserve. This book includes a History of the Picture Postcard and helpful tips on how to date postcards. Zoos featured are: London; Dublin, Belle Vue; Bristol; Rosherville; Blackpool Tower; Southport; Alexandra Palace; Stoke-Sub-Hamdon; Halifax; Maidstone; Edinburgh; Paignton; Grimsby; Whipsnade; Chester; Oxford; Chessington; Liverpool; Dudley; Wellingborough and Travelling Menageries.

Did Granddad Bounce?

The bouncer wagon investigation persists, as does the controversy. At the time when I initially started posting up information here I received feedback from fellow circus people who weren't sure whether or not their relations had worked this rather unique and short-lived circus act. My father helped explain what was defined as the Bounce (aka Bouncing Lions) as opposed to other old fashioned wild animal acts performed in the beast wagon or a small cage based on the dimensions of the wagon. I was confident that my family worked the act. My grandfather (Dick Chipperfield) had saved the life of Captain Tommy Purchase, the apparent inventor of the "Bounce". When Purchase died, my grandfather would take on his bouncing lion, Old Vic. Years later the whole act was supposedly resurrected for my uncle Dickie to work when he was 15. He performed the act for a televsion show and then later was banned by the authorities due to his age. The act was taken over by my grandfather, my great uncle John and Terry Duggan. Dickie would later get back in the wagon in 1965 for the Chipperfield's tour of South Africa. The wagon used seemed to be influenced by Tommy Kayes, a man who undoubtedly performed the act and made it his full profession. Many years later and Martin Lacey Jnr works a trick with his lioness, trained by my uncle Dickie, that closely resembles the behaviour trained for the Bounce. It would appear that the Chipperfield family definitely were bouncing act performers.

Or were they? Old time slanger of the Bounce and professional journalist Eddie Campbell wrote an article back in 1976 that wrote his recollections and the history of the act. The Chipperfield family were not mentioned once, except for a reference to my uncle Dickie's work with leopards when Eddie pondered whether the Bounce could be worked with other Big Cats. Editor of the King Pole magazine, David Jamieson, actually pushed Eddie on this. David told me that Eddie did not consider the acts performed by the Chipperfields to be a real Bounce. Even if this were the case, I think it is important to mention that they did promote the act as such and Kayes was clearly an inspiration. We are currently trying to source more film footage to see whether or not the actual Bounce trick was actually performed. I would like to say "Yes", but as a true historian and rational sceptic, I also have to accept the burden of proof.

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