By Theodore Mann With Music and Lyrics By Joziah Longo

Theodore Mann, Artistic Director/Paul Libin, President/E.Colin O’Leary, School Director
Presents
By
Theodore Mann
With
Music and Lyrics By Joziah Longo
A STUDY GUIDE
Compiled by Project Coordinator Jonathan Mann
An Outreach Performance Project of:
Circle in the Square Theatre School
1633 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
www.circlesquare.org (212) 307-0388
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary………………………………………………………………………........ 2
Background – The Musical and Its Production……………………………………. 2
The Fat Horse and Slim Study Guide…………………………………………….... 4
Educational Connections and Opportunities for Research
Cultures in West Texas
American Indians………………………………………………………...... 5
Cowboys…………………………………………………………………… 7
Cowboy Roping, Roping and Art Activities………………………. 8
Immigrant Groups…………………………………………………………. 11
A Brief History of Odessa, Texas………………………………………………...... 12
Animal Species
Horse……………………………………………………………………...... 13
Jack rabbit………………………………………………………………...... 14
Armadillo…………………………………………………………………... 16
Circus Companies………………………………………………………………...... 18
Circus Activity………………………………………………………………19
Polar Bear…………………………………………………………………...19
Rhinoceros………………………………………………………………................. 20
Environment……………………………………………………………………...... 21
Environment Activity……………………………………………………………..... 22
Geography and Geography Activity……………………………………………....... 23
Geology…………………………………………………………………………….. 25
SUMMARY
Fat Horse and Slim tells the musical adventures of a Texas cowboy who lives on the
desert outside Odessa, Texas, with his loyal talking horse. The play is set in 1920.
Slim, who hails from Kansas, and Fat Horse, a Missouri native are former residents of
Odessa, a small railroad town (population 760) that was named after the Russian city that
also has a dramatic nearby mountain range rising steeply from lands below.
During the course of this play, Fat Horse and Slim meet an American Indian healer, a
Spanish trading post operator and his lovely Senorita, and they befriend a jackrabbit, an
armadillo, a rhinoceros and a polar bear. Along the way, our heroes display their ability
to overcome any obstacle -- with the determination and grit necessary for the rugged and
sparse life that they lead.
Eating only coconuts, cactus and palm leaves, the colorful pair joyfully discover Chinese
vegetables from another world, rescue circus animals, and take a trip to the snowy
mountains — that taste like ice cream!
BACKGROUND - THIS MUSICAL AND ITS PRODUCTION
Fat Horse and Slim is the second collaboration in as many years between Theodore Mann
and composer Joziah Longo, who last season teamed up with playwright Michael
Milligan and adapted Aesop’s Fables as a musical. This time, Mann brings characters to
the stage that he developed in the 1960s to entertain his children and later, his
grandchildren. Because they all loved Fat Horse and Slim so much, he was encouraged to
share them with you!
In summer, 2010 Mann and Longo met to clarify the ‘high lonesome’ cowboy folk and
other musical ideas which Longo then crafted to fit the story. Next, actors who are all
graduates of Circle in the Square Theatre School were chosen (or ‘cast’) through
auditions for Mann -- who is also directing, assisted by choreographer Justin Boccitto.
What you will see on stage is the result of four solid weeks of rehearsal and technical
preparations, with the contributions of lighting, sound, costume and mask designers who
help bring the adventures of Fat Horse and Slim to life!
There are several different aspects that go into putting on a professional play. One of the
most important is the person put in charge of the show, known as the director. When you
watch Fat Horse and Slim, look for the director’s hand in the many ways he has decided
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how this play should function and look on the stage – and it’s all done for your
enjoyment!
What does the director do?
The director has a vision for bringing the characters, scenes and story from the page (the
script) to the stage. This involves:
Casting – Many actors apply or audition for the role. The director selects actors who he
or she believes have the right performance skills (acting, speech, emotional capability,
sensitivity, physical comedy, vocal capability, accents, dancing, singing and physical
comedy skills.) They also must have a good work ethic (working hard to memorize their
lines, develop their character, follow the director’s instructions, and show up on time for
rehearsals and performances).
Staging – The director decides where and when actors enter, exit and stand or move
onstage. He also decides where and what set pieces (furniture, plants, etc.) go on stage,
and when they are brought on or removed by stagehands.
Lighting and Sound – The director also chooses designers and works with them to
achieve what will best express the play to an audience. This includes where and what
kind of light (color, brightness, narrow or wide focus, moon, sun or snow effects) and
what kind of music or sound effects (wind, rain) are needed to tell the story, in the way
the director envisions it. Professional actors enjoy being lit and know the necessity of
being in the light. When an actor speaks in the dark the audience will not hear them.
Costumes and Props – The clothing worn by characters and the props that they use are
very important ways of letting the audience know the type of person they are and their
line of work. Costumes also create a sense of the period in which the play takes place.
BIOGRAPHIES
Theodore Mann (Writer and Director) is co-founder and artistic director of both Circle
in the Square Theatre and its famous Theatre School. Together with Paul Libin (CITSTS:
President; Jujamcyn Theaters: Producing Director, Vice-President) Mann has produced
more than 150 plays on and off-Broadway. He is a Tony and OBIE award winner. Mann
has also directed such landmark Circle productions as Tennessee Williams’ The Glass
Menagerie and Eugene O’Neill’s A Moon for the Misbegotten. He is the author of the
memoir JOURNEYS IN THE NIGHT: Creating a New American Theatre with Circle in
the Square. www.journeysinthenight.com/about.htm
Joziah Longo (Composer and Lyricist) leads The Grand Slambovians, a folk rock band
known for their electrifying live performances and dynamic personas. They have
produced four studio albums of heartwarming and free-spirited original music, including
their latest self-titled release. In support of this new work, the band will begin touring the
United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada in April. In 2010, Joziah composed and
wrote lyrics for a children's theater production of Aesop's Fables, which was also
performed at Circle in the Square Theatre. www.slambovia.com
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Justin Boccitto (Choreographer)has worked with Mr. Mann on such shows as: The
World Goes Round, Urinetown, Sweet Charity, The Three Little Pigs and Cinderella: The
Oldest Story Ever Told. Other credits at Circle in the Square include The Wild Party and
Tenderloin, hailed by theatre critic Peter Filichia as "Stylish and confident”. Justin
recently directed the national tour of Dance/Speak: The Life of Agnes De Mille starring
Patricia Conolly and worked for The Metropolitan Opera, The NY Fringe Festival,
Papermill Playhouse and The Group Theatre Too. www.justinboccitto.com
THE FAT HORSE AND SLIM STUDY GUIDE
This musical comedy is set in 1920, a time when the traditional life of the American
cowboy -- already much reduced from its heyday due to industrialization -- was about to
change dramatically and in many ways to disappear.
The Chihuhuan Desert, near Odessa, Texas
The world of Fat Horse and Slim is brimming with history, links, maps, coordinates and
other connections and opportunities for Grades K-6 student research. The URLs for
websites from which each area of content was found are shown below each text section,
enabling easy access for further inquiry. Hold down the Ctrl key and click, or just click to
open any link. Please note: bracketed text indicates additions made as needed.
We’ve also included some suggested activities – which can be used to engage and
prepare your students in the weeks leading up to their attendance of Fat Horse and Slim.
If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions about the study guide, please email
[email protected]
4
EDUCATIONAL CONNECTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH
Cultures in West Texas
Native (American Indian)
The Indians of Texas
For millennia, various tribes of native Americans occupied the region that is now Texas.
They were as diverse in culture as the geography of Texas itself. The following is a very
brief overview of the major tribes that existed at the time of the first European
exploration:
•
•
•
The Caddos in east and northeast Texas were perhaps the most culturally
developed. They were successful agriculturists who lived in permanent abodes. It
was a group within this tribe that the early Spanish authorities called the Tejas,
which is said to be the Caddo's word for friend. From this origin, the name
evolved to become the name for Mexican province, then the republic, and now the
state.
The Karankawas ranged along the Gulf coast between present Galveston and
Corpus Christi. They were loosely organized in a very primitive culture, and lived
as mostly fishermen.
The Coahuiltecan occupied the region along the lower Rio Grande. Members of
this tribe eked out a sparse existence, nourished mainly by roots, herbs, and
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•
•
•
prickly pear cactus. Because of their location, remote from the main settlements
of early Texas, they had little contact with the Texans.
The Lipan, or Lipan-Apache, were among the more important subgroups of
Apaches in Texas. They ranged the furthest eastward and had the most contact
with the early Texas settlements. The Lipans fought the Texans, but on many
occasions in the nineteenth century became allies of the Texans in campaigns
against other Indians.
Other related groups of Apaches, especially the Mescalero-Apache, ranged
generally from west Texas into present New Mexico and Arizona.
The well known Comanche tribes were relative latecomers to Texas, after
migrating from the north and northwest. They were perhaps the most troublesome
to the early settlers, and were also the most feared. Their mobility and
horsemanship seemed to amplify their numbers in the eyes of the early Texans.
Copyright © 1995-96 Lone Star Junction
http://www.lsjunction.com/places/indians.htm
Mescalero Apache Traditional Baskets
http://www.cowanauctions.com/itemImages/a0679.jpg
For more, please see the following links:
Please note: It is necessary to scroll to the right to find the text at this website.
http://impurplehawk.com/apache.html
http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Mescalero-Apache-History-and-CulturalRelations.html
http://www.nps.gov/archive/foda/Fort_Davis_WEB_PAGE/About_the_Fort/Indians_of_
West_Texas.htm
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Cowboys
Origins
[In Texas] the settlers were strongly influenced by the Mexican vaquero culture,
borrowing vocabulary and attire from their counterparts, but also retaining some of the
livestock-handling traditions and culture of the Eastern United States and Great Britain.
The Texas cowboy was typically a bachelor who hired on with different outfits from
season to season.
Following the American Civil War, vaquero culture diffused eastward and northward,
combining with the cow-herding traditions of the eastern United States that evolved as
settlers moved west. Other influences developed out of Texas as cattle trails were created
to meet up with the railroad lines of Kansas and Nebraska, in addition to expanding
ranching opportunities in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Front, east of the
Continental Divide.
The Texas cowboy tradition therefore arose from a combination of cultural influences
and the need to conduct long cattle drives to get animals to market under often
treacherous environmental conditions.
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cowboy
Cowboy Fact & Fiction
As the frontier ended, the cowboy life came to be highly romanticized. Exhibitions such
as those of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show helped to popularize the image of the
cowboy as an idealized representative of the tradition of chivalry.
In the 1930s and 1940s, Western movies popularized the cowboy lifestyle but also
formed persistent stereotypes. In pop culture, the cowboy and the gunslinger are often
associated with one another. In reality, working ranch hands had very little time for
anything other than the constant, hard work involved in maintaining a ranch. Likewise,
cowboys are often shown fighting with American Indians. However, the reality was that
while cowboys were armed against both predators and human thieves, and often used
their guns to run off people of any race who attempted to steal, or rustle cattle, nearly all
actual armed conflicts with Native Americans were waged by cavalry units of the U.S.
Army.
In today's society, there is little understanding of the daily realities of actual agricultural
life. Cowboys are more often associated with mostly fictitious Indian-fighting than with
their actual life of ranch work and cattle-tending. Actors such as Gary Cooper and John
Wayne are thought of as exemplifying a cowboy ideal, even though western movies
seldom bear much resemblance to real cowboy life. Arguably, the modern rodeo
competitor is much closer to being an actual cowboy, as many were actually raised on
ranches and around livestock and the rest have needed to learn livestock-handling skills
on the job.
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A classic vision of the American cowboy, as portrayed by C.M. Russell
COWBOY ART ACTIVITY
For a fun art activity, students can color in black and white cowboy images here:
http://hubpages.com/slide/Free-Coloring-Pages-Cowboy/1971334
COWBOY ROPING
Lariat comes from the Spanish "la riata," meaning "the rope," a tightly twisted stiff rope
with a loop at one end enabling it to be thrown to catch animals (sometimes called a lasso
or simply, a "rope").
Roping was invented and developed in the Americas. Roping as known today, especially
from the back of a horse, is only practiced by the vaqueros of Central and South America,
and the North American cowboy. The California vaquero became a master in swinging
his ‘reata’ with such deadly accuracy that even in fights, many a man would not hesitate
to face another one armed with a gun!
www.horseshowcentral.com/flex/roping/453/1
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COWBOY ROPING ACTIVITIES
For Grades 5 & 6
Cattle Roping Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
1. Buy 35 feet of new Manila 3/8 rope.
2. Create a lariat loop, or honda configuration, by tying an overhand knot (making a
simple knot, then passing the end through the rope again before pulling it tight) at one
end. The end result should be a loop 3 to 4 inches long. Make the knot secure by
jamming it, or tightening it thoroughly, so that it won't come undone. Pass the other end
of the rope through the honda and you are good to go.
3. Hold the honda, and shake the rope until it is free of kinks and twists. Shake out a
noose that is about 5 feet long. Make certain the honda is facing away from you.
4. Stand with the loop well behind you, and the palm of your hand up.
5. Practice roping something inanimate first, like a post. Step forward with your left foot
and throw the loop up and down over the post. Make certain you throw your loop directly
at the post top and not in the post's general direction. Remember to keep your eyes on
your target and practice until you can loop the post consistently. Start about six feet
away, then work your way up to thirty feet away.
6. Move onto a cow. If the cow is standing still or moving to your right, throw the rope
just as you did the capture the post. Learn to throw to the left by swinging the loop from
the right to left.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2077662_rope-cattle.html#ixzz1CBZjspqf
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cowboy
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For Grades K-4
Rope Tricks
What You'll Need:
•
•
•
A rope
A target (e.g. a cone, box, or bucket)
Masking tape
For safety, be sure to have plenty of space around each child. A gymnasium or outdoor
area is preferred.
Preparation:
1. Practice making a lasso to make sure you know how to do it.
2. To make a lasso, form an eyelet loop by folding the end of the rope back over itself;
this is the head of the lasso.
3. Taking that same end, wrap it loosely around the rope twice, and then feed the end
through the double loop that you just made; this knot is the neck of the lasso.
4. Pull it tightly, and you have a lasso!
Lasso Game
Rope the Target - Mark a line on the floor with masking tape or in the grass with spray
paint. Set a cone, box, or bucket several feet away from the line (i.e. closer for younger
children, farther away for older children). Let the children take turns standing behind the
line and trying to throw the lasso around the target. Give each child 2–5 chances,
depending on how many players there are. Keep track of how many times each child ropes
the target. Award a prize to the player(s) who successfully lasso the target the most.
http://www.birthdayinabox.com/partyideas/guidesdetails.asp?aseq=437&bgs=44&dept_id\=\&lk=9394&id=1851
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Immigrant Groups
Who They Were
Irish, German, Czech and other European immigrants settled in West Texas during the
1800s.
Why They Came
As early as 1881 promoters of the Texas and Pacific Railway encouraged immigration by
offering to haul farm machinery and household goods for prospective settlers at no
charge; they ignored the limited rainfall and predicted a splendid agricultural potential for
the area. The first settlement in Ector county was Odessa; in 1882 the town became one
of nine stopping places on the railroad's route through West Texas.
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hce02
What They Did
Local cattle ranchers continued to be noted for their registered Herefords (cattle) during
this period. Almost 24,000 cattle were counted in Ector County in 1910, and in 1914 Joe
Graham and Charles Price shipped 15,000 yearlings from their ranch alone. In 1929,
almost 16,000 cattle were counted in the area. Periodic droughts hindered the best efforts
to establish farming in the county, however, and the number of farms subsequently
fluctuated. In 1910 the United States Agricultural Census found 84 farms and ranches in
Ector County, but only 55 in 1920; there were 107 in 1925, but only 69 in 1929. The
county's population similarly fluctuated, rising to 1,178 in 1910, for example, before
dropping to 760 in 1920. Farming virtually died in Ector County during the Great
Depression of the 1930s; in 1940 the 52 farms and ranches in the county harvested only
583 acres of land.
The great oil strike made in 1926 on W. E. Connell's ranch, however, marked the
beginning of a tremendous boom that fundamentally changed the character of the
county's economy and society. After the Penn field was opened in 1929 and the Cowden
field in 1930, Odessa became the shipping and oilfield supply center for the county's
burgeoning petroleum boom.
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hce02
Farming
Between 1900 and 1930, despite periodic droughts, farmers continued to move into the
county in small numbers. A few farmers experimented with cotton production during this
period. In 1908 [the very small amount of] about 800 bales of cotton were ginned in the
county. In 1910 cotton was planted on 222 acres in the county; in 1920, when only about
80 acres in the entire county was devoted to cereal crops, cotton culture occupied 363
acres; in 1930 cotton was produced on 1,326 acres of the 2,580 acres of cropland
harvested. Local farmers also planted hundreds of fruit trees; by 1910, for example, 588
peach trees were growing in the county.
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hce02
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A Brief History of Odessa, Texas
The name supposedly comes from railroad workers who claimed it reminded them of the
Odessa region in the south of Russia. The name did spring up at the same time the Texas
and Pacific tracks were set down in July of 1881. Odessa got a post office in 1885 - a
year before the town was plotted. Odessa was officially organized in 1891, but they didn't
get around to incorporating until 1927.
http://www.texasescapes.com/WestTexasTowns/OdessaTexas/OdessaTx.htm
In 1926, with a major ‘oil strike’ at a local ranch, the remote, wide-open desert area in
which this play is set quickly changed to become an oil-producing region. The population
was only 750 in 1925, but after oil was discovered in 1926, that number shot up to 5,000
by 1929. During WWII the increased need for oil swelled the population to 10,000. By
the time most of the oil had been extracted decades later, these desert sands would be
transformed into the second largest oil field in Texas.
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Species: Animal
Horse
Behavior Characteristics
Horses are herd animals and even the domesticated horse will still retain its natural basic
instincts. Training, temperament and age can all play a part in the way a horse will handle
a situation.
Learned Behavior
This is behavior that the horse has learned through either watching another horse, training
or from its own experiences. Horses are quick learners and if there is a positive reward to
a certain act they will often repeat it. For example if a horse bangs its front feet against
the stable door and then gets fed then it will associate banging the door with the reward
action of getting food. Other examples can include barging through electric fences,
opening stable doors, entering the feed room.
Fright And Flight
Horses are prey animals and have developed quick responses to danger and will run away
from the predator or with a domestic horse anything that the horse feels could be danger
to them. This can often be seen with:
•
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•
•
Spooking - The horse will leap away from an object or noise that it feels is
dangerous.
Shying - The horse will remain looking at the offending object or sound but will
move away from it as far as possible.
Spinning - The horse will turn and try to run in the opposite direction to the
offending object or sound.
Leaping- A horse will often leap forward if it is alarmed from behind. If a horse
is uncertain of the footing or crossing it will often try to leap over rather than go
through, for example a ditch filled with water or boggy patch of ground.
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Sleeping
Horses can sleep lying down or standing up, thanks to a unique locking mechanism
within the animal’s patella [part of the leg]. Domestic horses will often sleep very
soundly lying down in a stable and horses within a group out at grass will often take turns
lying down to sleep as there will be a horse on the look out for predators.
Extrovert or Introvert
Every horse is a very unique and special individual with some horses being very fearful
and others immensely dominant. Knowing your horse’s individual characteristics and
behavior will help you to achieve a successful training strategy and partnership.
http://www.equestrianandhorse.com/equus/behaviour-characteristics.html
Jackrabbit
Antelope Jack Rabbits of the Chihuahuan Desert
Jack Rabbits are true hares because, unlike the cottontailed rabbits, they do not build
nests. The mother simply chooses a place to her liking and the young are born fully
furred, with their eyes wide open.
Of these, only the Black-tailed Jack Rabbit (Lepus californicus) is a desert dweller,
inhabiting all 4 southwestern deserts. His cousin the Antelope Jack Rabbit (Lepus alleni)
prefers to live in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts.
http://www.desertusa.com/july96/du_rabbi.html
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This very large rabbit has a body length of 24 inches, a tail that grows up to 4 inches,
front legs that are 8 inches long and back legs that are 12 inches long. It gets its name
from the fast and leaping antelope. The ears of the antelope jackrabbit grow up to 8
inches and are used not only for hearing but to reduce and regulate its body heat for
survival. Adult males and females do a mating dance with the male chasing the female
and boxing other males for her affection. Breeding year round, they have one to five
babies in each litter. The young are born fully haired, eyes open and able to hop. They
scatter at birth but come back to their mother to feed. The antelope jackrabbit is a
nocturnal creature that feeds in the evening and during the early morning hours. They
use a series of grunts and chuck calls to warn others nearby of danger. They don’t dig or
occupy burrows, but depend on their running skills when in danger. Their tail also acts as
an alert for others nearby showing its white color when it is running. When running from
danger, the antelope jackrabbit is able to move the white color of its sides up and down in
order to confuse predators. Just before taking off, it flashes the white color in its side and
then changes it to brown when coming to a stop. The antelope jackrabbit eats fresh
grasses, cacti and rarely drink any water.
http://www.pestproducts.com/hares-jackrabbits.htm
The jack rabbit has become the symbol of Odessa. Beginning in 1932, Odessa held a
rodeo for roping rabbits. In one competition, cowgirl Grace Hendricks roped a rabbit
from horseback in five seconds and beat her male competitors. The unusual rodeo ended
in 1977 because of objections from the Humane Society. Many businesses and residences
about Odessa display models of rabbits.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odessa,_Texas
http://www.texasescapes.com/WestTexasTowns/OdessaTexas/OdessaTx.htm
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Armadillo
Range
The armadillo roams through warm climates including rain forests, grasslands, and semiarid regions/deserts of North and South America. The armadillo has a very low body
temperature and little fat; it can die in cold regions. Found mostly in temperate climates
that suit its metabolism, its highest population occurs in Texas. The Nine-Banded
Armadillo has been expanding its range both north and east within the United States. It is
well-established in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and
Florida.
Diet
The armadillo is an omnivore. The armadillo’s diet consists of termites, ants, worms,
beetles and other insects. They also will eat bird eggs, fruit, berries and various vegetable
crops.
Description
The armadillo is a strange looking mammal. Covered in a protective shell, it is a slow
mover until it is in danger, and then it picks up its pace. It is normally most active at
night, but when temperatures are cool will hunt for food during the warmer daylight
hours.
Physical Characteristics
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bony plates cover the head, back and legs
Yellow/White hair on stomach
Long, tapered-tail covered with bony rings, 5 to 19' in length
Pointed ears
Pointy snout (nose)
Small eyes
Long, sticky tongue
Strong legs
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•
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•
•
•
•
Front legs have four toes with claws
Back legs have five toes with claws
Body size ranges in length 15 - 23" plus tail length
Weight 10 to 22 lbs
Color brownish, tan
Approx. 30 peg shaped teeth
Behavior & Lifecycle
With very poor eyesight, armadillos rely on their sense of smell to hunt. They can detect
a meal up to six inches underground. Their long, sticky tongues help them scoop up
insects easily. They use their strong legs and claws to dig up ant nests to feed on, and to
dig burrows for habitats.
The armadillo walks at a very slow speed, but can run when pursued by predators. They
walk on their front claws and the soles of their hind legs.
Good swimmers, armadillos gulp air to make their bodies float in water, countering the
weight of their heavy shells. This process fills their stomachs with enough air to enable
them to swim vs. walk underwater. The armadillo can choose to walk across the bottom
of a stream or small river underwater while holding its breath.
When not foraging for food, the armadillo is holed up in one of its burrows sleeping.
These mammals can sleep up to 16 hours a day. They often have up to 15 burrows over
their range. Some are up to 5' underground, and anywhere from only a couple of feet to
25’ long or more. Several entrances on each of the burrows create options for escape
from predators.
Armadillos are loners and don’t travel or live in groups. The lifespan of an armadillo is
12 to 15 years.
Interesting Facts
•
•
•
•
•
•
Armadillos are the only mammals to have external bony plates.
The armadillo is the only animal that can carry and spread leprosy. Humans can
too.
The armadillo is the state animal of Texas.
The female armadillo is the only mammal that can give birth to four identical
babies with one egg.
An armadillo can hold its breath for up to six minutes.
The name armadillo comes from the Spanish word “armado” which translates as
“one that is armed.”
http://www.desertusa.com/animals/armadillo.html
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CIRCUS
Circus Companies
By 1910, a number of smaller circuses were using wild animals. By the 1920s, they were
appearing in the major circuses. In 1921 John Ringling acquiesced and the Ringling Bros.
Circus presented three arenas of wild animals. In 1922, the Ringling’s featured seven
animal acts; 1923 eight; and in 1924 they featured four wild animal acts. In 1925 the
Ringling circus dropped the wild animal acts, however other circuses continued to use
wild animals in their shows. Joanne Carol joys in her book The Wild Animal Trainer in
America states that “The high point was reached during the “Jazz Age” when over fifty
animal trainers plied their trade….They became the mainstay and feature in all American
shows, including Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.” (p. 61)
http://www.circusinamerica.org/public/acts/public_show/199
The number of circuses traveling on rails reached its high point in 1911, when thirty-two
shows toured the country. The growth of the American circus over the eighteen years was
exponential: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus toured with one hundred cars in
1923, carrying big top tents that could hold more than ten thousand spectators. These
massive shows required fourteen acres of land for all of the equipment, animals, and
people.
In 1905, Bailey acquired full ownership of Adam Forepaugh and Sells Bros. Circus and
then sold a half interest in it to the Ringlings. In 1906, Bailey, who was considered the
best manager in circus history and a model of efficiency and generosity, died. After his
death, the Ringlings purchased the remaining share of the Forepaugh-Sells Circus from
his widow. In 1907, they also purchased their largest competitor, the “Barnum & Bailey
Circus.” In A Ticket to the Circus, Charles Philip Fox quotes a notice from the January
18
26, 1907 issue of Variety: “The Greatest Show On Earth on July 8, 1907, became theirs
[Ringling] for $400.00, the bill of sale stipulating that the Ringling’s would take over at
the close of the season on or about November 1, 1907. News of the sale was withheld
from the press at this time pending the acquisition of public stock in the circus” (A Ticket
to the Circus,p.37). With these acquisitions the brothers from Baraboo, Wisconsin,
became the most famous and admired circus owners in America. They decided to divide
the country in half and continue to operate both the Ringling Bros. and the Barnum &
Bailey Circuses. This arrangement continued until 1919 when they merged the two to
form the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
This success could not go on forever, unfortunately. The eventual downfall of many of
the touring circuses was caused by several factors, most beyond anyone’s control. In
1927, The Jazz Singer opened and kicked off the talking picture and a much more
interesting and complex form of entertainment. Improved transportation and
communication technology made travel easier for previously isolated cities and towns.
Circus day had been a major event in every community that the circus visited for decades,
but now there were other kinds of entertainment. “By the 1920s its physical presence
began to diminish. The morning street parade …. Disappeared at the big railroad outfits.
The ethnological congress and up-to-date spectacles of recent foreign events also
vanished. By the 1930’s audience numbers were … in decline. Urban development and
the rise of the suburbs pushed the show grounds away from the vicinity of the rail
yards…. But more significantly, the circus no longer had a monopoly on novelty or
current events. Movies [and] radio … provided audiences with compelling and immediate
images that displaced the circus as an important source of information about the world.”
(Davis, Janet, The Circus Age Culture & Society under the American Big Top. P. 228229). Worst of all, in October 1929, the crowds that the circuses depended on for their
existence found themselves in the midst of the Great Depression.
http://www.circusinamerica.org/public/timelines?date1=1906&date2=1940
CIRCUS ACTIVITY
Imagine if it was your job to entertain the public with clowning, tricks and stunts, using
animals and people. Name and create a program describing a night at your circus!
Animals – Polar Bear (In the Wild)
Distinguishing Characteristics: The polar bear
has many unique adaptations for dealing with the
Arctic cold. The polar bear's skin is actually
black, which allows it to soak up as much heat as
possible from the sun. They are also great
swimmers and will swim from ice floe to ice
floe. They have been seen swimming 50 miles
away from any ice or land. Polar bears are
usually solitary except for female-cub groups.
http://library.thinkquest.org/3500/images/polarbear_large.jpg
http://library.thinkquest.org/3500/polarbear.htm
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Animals – Rhinoceros (In the Wild)
Rhinoceroses are 'perissodactls', which means 'odd toed ungulates'. 'Odd toed ungulates'
are animals that have hoofs but have a reduced number of toes (usually 3 toes).
Rhinoceroses carry their main weight on the middle toe of each foot. Horses and zebras
are also members of this species, however, they are divided up again into sub-orders.
Rhinoceros Characteristics
Rhinoceroses are large, thick skinned animals that can grow to be between 3 and a half
feet to 6 and half feet tall at the shoulder and they can weigh between 1 - 2 tons. A
rhino’s skin is around 1.5 - 5 centimeters thick and is formed from layers of collagen (the
main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant protein in mammals),
positioned in a lattice structure (crisscrossed framework).
http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/wildlife/rhinos/rhino_about.html
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Environment
The Chihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert extends over a large area of northern Mexico and projects into
the southern part of the USA, including west Texas and parts of New Mexico and
Arizona.
The characteristic landscape, vegetation and animal life of this region is largely
determined by a few basic factors.
•
•
•
This desert region is at a relatively high altitude, typically 3200 to 4800 feet,
falling to about 1,000 feet along the Rio Grande River.
The summers are hot, but the winters are relatively cool, with frequent night
frosts.
Nearly 80% of the region has calcareous [calcium-rich] soils derived from
limestone beds. This indicates that the whole region was once submerged beneath
the sea and was lifted by geological events. In many parts of the Chihuahuan
Desert the thin soils overlie a layer of compacted lime, called caliche.
http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/na/na1303_full.html
Climate
Summers are long and hot. Winters are short but may include brief periods when
temperatures fall below freezing. The climate is distinctly arid. Average annual
temperatures range from 50o to 65oF. Mean annual precipitation is around 8.65 inches.
http://biology.usgs.gov/cro/d-chihua.htm
Plants
Agave (lechuguilla) species in the Chihuahuan Desert
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Extensive arid grasslands cover most of the high plains in the Chihuahuan Desert. Cacti
(particularly prickly pear, creosote bush, honey mesquite), and yucca are abundant. A
number of shrubs, mostly thorny, are typical. They frequently grow in open stands, but
sometimes form low, closed thickets. In many places, they are associated with short
grass. Cottonwoods and other trees may grow beside the [shallow] rivers; and juniper and
pinyons are prominent in [some areas of] western Texas. Some isolated mountains carry a
belt of oak and juniper woodlands, pines, and firs.
http://biology.usgs.gov/cro/d-chihua.htm
DESERT ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITY
Imagine if you and your horse had to live outdoors all year in this desert.
Make lists of:
1. What you would most like about living in the Chihuahuan Desert.
2. What parts of this environment would make it hard or easy to live here?
3. What would you like the least about living in the Chihuahuan Desert?
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Geography
Odessa, Texas
Coordinates:
31°51′48″N
1
02°21′56″W31.86333°N 102.36556°WCoordinates:
31°51′48″N 102°21′56″W31.86333°N 102.36556°W
Counties
Ector, Midland
Area
- Total
- Land
- Water
Elevation
- Density
Time zone
- Summer (DST)
Area code(s)
FIPS code
GNIS feature ID
Website
36.9 sq mi (95.5 km2)
36.8 sq mi (95.3 km2)
0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)
2,900 ft (884 m)
2,471.6/sq mi (954.3/km2)
CST (UTC-6)
CDT (UTC-5)
432
48-53388
1343067
www.odessa-tx.gov
GEOGRAPHY ACTIVITY
Click the ‘Coordinates’ link above to find a world of tools and discover more about
Odessa, Texas. Compare it to your home town. Answer these questions (in writing if
possible):
1. How is Odessa, Texas different than where you live?
2. What are the most important geographical facts about Odessa, Texas?
3. How many states and countries does the Chihuahuan Desert extend into?
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Texas Rivers Map
ODESSA IS LOCATED IN ECTOR COUNTY, WHICH HAS NO MAJOR
RIVERS OR LAKES. ECTOR COUNTY CAN BE FOUND ONE COUNTY
EAST OF THE 45 DEGREE ANGLE THAT SHOWS THE STATE LINE OF
WESTERN TEXAS.
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Texas Elevation Map
THERE IS A 140% RISE IN ELEVATION FROM ODESSA’S DESERT
TO ITS MOUNTAINS.
Geology
This area is mostly desert and has undulating plains with elevations near 4,000 ft, from
which somewhat isolated mountains rise 2,000 to 5,000 ft. Washes, dry most of the year,
fill with water following rains. Small whirlwinds constantly play over these dry playas
when they are heated by summer sun. Extensive dunes of silica sand cover parts of the
area.
http://biology.usgs.gov/cro/d-chihua.htm
If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions about this study guide, please email
[email protected]
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