Circus

In the center of a great steel-barred arena stood famed young Animal Trainer Clyde Beatty. On all sides his animals closed in on him. Lions, tigers and a black panther leaped forward with claws outstretched, fangs bared. But Clyde Beatty smiled imperturbably, with eyes fixed dreamily on the gallery.

This stirring scene was to be viewed in Manhattan last week only on billboards. When Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Circus opened its 1934 season in Madison Square Garden, Trainer Beatty's greatest difficulty was getting his twelve new lions and six new tigers into the arena at all. Through the slats of the wooden runway his assistants prodded viciously. Twitching with stage-fright during their meek performance, the new beasts streaked for the exit at the first signal.

In the gaudy, whirling four-hour show of acrobats, clowns, bareback riders, elephants and seals, circusgoers last week recognized many a familiar face, many an old act. Gauzy, grinning Equestrienne Dorothy Herbert flings her arms and legs about with customary abandon. In their triple-deck pyramid on the high wire, the four Wallendas now make spectators squirm more than ever by perching the two undermen on bicycles. His huge silver cannon this year belches out not only Human Cannonball Hugo Zacchini but small brother Bruno as well.

Gone from the high trapeze is incomparable Alfredo Codona. In Philadelphia last year, ending the triple somersault which only he could do, he slipped from his brother's hands. A guy wire splintered his shoulder joint in five places, ended his circus career forever. In his place in the center ring fly the ten Otaris from Italy. For Codona's grace they substitute neat grey tuxedos with bow ties, somersaults and double passes in mass formation.

Foxy and Jacky. the sea lions who play "America" on tin horns, as usual win more laughs than all 150 clowns put together. People who wonder how a sea lion can be taught to play a tune get little satisfaction from stocky, square-faced Trainer Roland Tiebor who drawls: "Well, first you have to teach 'em to blow through their nostrils." Pressed for details, he adds, "I just talk to 'em.''

Downstairs in the noisome menagerie last week's biggest attractions were the "punks,'' a "hump"' and a "convict" born on the way up from the circus' winter home in Sarasota, Fla. The baby camel was mostly wobbly legs but the baby zebra was already kicking up its heels like an oldster. Nervous and stubborn, zebras can never be made finished performers. Pioneer Adam Forepaugh was the only circus-man who ever made really smart use of them. When he found he could not train his troupe to behave as "Intelligent Striped Beauties taught to perform the most graceful and intricate tricks'' he threw them in chains, exhibited them with huge success as "Terrible and Untamable Tiger Asses."

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