Thursday, September 29, 2016

#12 Circus World

Jewel New.

5 comments:

Patricia said...

Who has some history on Jewel New?
Where did he learn to train lions?
What ever happened to him?
I only remember something about a park in Texas, and that I enjoyed this big act very much. It seemed he came out of nowhere, then disappeared when his Ringling time concluded not to be heard of again. Did he pass away?

Paul Gutheil said...

I sure hope someone answers your questions Patricia , mine echo yours.

GaryHill said...

You can barely see me at the door to the left of the tunnel. Patricia, Jewel and I came from World of Animals in Mesquite , Tx. I worked the 3 male Asian and Bonnie the African Female in these pictures with the Arias. Anyway Dr Henderson hired me and just before I moved to Venice I asked if there was any work for my boss..Jewel New..we were on Winter Quarters crew. I worked with Dr Henderson and Jewel worked with Hugo Schmitt before Buckles came in months later and took over the herd..Jewel had loaned out a male Lion cub to the Houston Zoo.. we picked him up on our trip to Florida and Jewel lease broke him..Kenneth Feld gave him some more young cats and Charly Baumann became his mentor..When we moved the Circus World elephants to the park, Jewell stayed in Quarters building his act..I had a offer from Great Adventure in NJ and got my trip to Africa to bring back my 25..I stayed 2 years and came back to CW and worked with Jewel as his cats were now getting big. He did work in I think the Catskills for a summer then his cats were sold to Mexico? Jewel had another cat he named after me and did some local stuff...Jewel New passed away in 89..cancer got him.

Patricia said...

Thank you, Gary. I've never heard the full story. He did a nice job with those lions. I do recall wondering how he got away with that "Buffalo Bill" western style costume with all that long fringe flying everywhere. Seemed to me he would have looked like a big chewy toy to the lions, but I guess not.

GaryHill said...

Believe it or not that was one of his best outfits..and the fringe did fly but never seemed to bother his cats..