Ballantine Writes Fine Circus Lore

Bill Ballantine, cartoonist, press agent back, banner  panel painter and showland writer, has put together one of the better chronicles of circus life and lore.  It is his first book, "Wild Tigers and Tame Fleas,"  just published by Rinehart & Company, New York at $5. 

Those who recall Ballantine's definitive articles on Art Concello and flying acts will find more of the same excellent cross-sectioning of circus life here.  this is about circus animals, and it is tremendously interesting, covering cats, bulls, and chimps and all the rest.

But it is even more a characterization of animal people, the trainers, most of whom are active and known today.  It starts with pig acts and features Bobby Nelson's.  The bears chapter centers on Emil Pallenberg.  Pat Anthony and that trainer's big cats are detailed in another.  Cats get the lion's share of the book, with more fine chapters on Mabel Stark, Trevor Bale and Clyde Beatty.

Roland Tiebor is used to tell the sea lion story, while Jack Joyce and his camels are another chapter.  A high point is that part devoted to Josephine and her snakes, a good account of Sideshow life.  Craig's Chimps and those of the St. Louis Zoo are included.  Roy Heckler's flea circus at Hubert's Museum, New York, is a dandy chapter.  The elephant finale is another strong section, with attention to Smokey Jones and Hugo Schmide.

Latin and Lore

The book is an combination of show lore and personalities plus insight on species of animals.  One time Ballantine is telling Latin names for various species of elephants and next he's quoting rhymes that are scribbled on the wall of the Ringling bull hands' sleeper.

Ballantine has fascinating pace and wording, a skill at capturing the saltiness and uniqueness of a show guy's conversation.  Scattered thru the book is a collection of circus customs, sayings and superstitions.  The short takes or realism reveal the tougher sides of trouping but not without warmth for the people and the profession.

The chapter on Clyde Beatty stands out as the best.  Here is the Beatty personality, a rundown on the trainer's theories on acts and animals, and a good interview.  It has suspense and you don't quit reading.

But whether he's writing about one off the all-time greats or about any of the unassuming characters that inhabit the showgrounds of the country, Ballantine has the knack for depicting them in their own dialects, whether American, foreign or plain circus.

It all comes off as a good circus book for circus people.

Images:

1 Jack Joyce and His Camels

2 Clyde Beatty

by Tom Parkinson The Billboard December 22, 1958