BOB CUMMINGS is circus guest on Channel 12, at 7:30 p.m. today. — Circus being a family business, Bob Cummings will bring his ring-side descriptive accent to the first of a new series, “Highlights of the Greatest Show on Earth.”THE ON-SCENE family will be Bob Cummings, his son Robert, and two of their three daughters, Melinda and Candace. Bob and Mary Melinda Ruth, 8, and Candace, 6, will join in with the Ooh’s and Ah’s observations of their two youngsters.
Circus Oddities
TO PULL LION’S TOOTH, START WITH HIS TAIL
A lion tamer in a circus like Ted Peter, who is in charge of the lions, must be prepared to pull a lion’s tooth. Even a small cavity can cause the known unpredictability of a big cat, especially before a camera. It’s important to the animal to be properly sedated and handled in preparation for such an event.
HERE ARE SOME of the oddities Ted Peter has to observe:
Ape — This is the only animal that can distinguish colors. The ape’s teeth are long, black and white.
Lion — To pull one of its teeth, it is placed in a “squeeze box,” a barred area which is pulled through one end of a larger cage. A board is then placed in front of it to prepare the beast for the tooth pulling.
Giraffe and zebra — These are the most hardheaded beasts. Giraffes incidentally have to make some sounds in its throat. They have no vocal cords.
The strange part of the Polar bear: The hair on the Polar bear is like non-skid equipment to keep the beast from slipping on Arctic ice.
(March 31, 1956 – The Province)
