From "PopMatters" by Cynthia Fuchs

Cat Dancers on the Internet


"Our teacher used to take us to New York,” remembers Ron Holiday. “The big treat was Radio City Music Hall.” Here in 1954, he and fellow dancing student Joy were enthralled, and they could imagine no greater thrill than one day performing on that grand and storied stage. That is, until Ron, who was slightly older, graduated from school and went off to seek work as a dancer and Joy had a moment of crisis.

As Ron recalls this moment for Cat Dancers, Joy told him she was facing a choice: “I want to become a nun and I want to be a dancer,” she said. Oh, Ron says with an insinuated harrumph: he was furious. “All the work we’ve done and you’re gonna become a nun?” His fate was saved by the Mother Superior Joy consulted, who told her, “Go to New York and dance for God.” Over old-timey footage of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan, and photos of the couple’s early professional performances, Ron exults, “I was so grateful to that nun!”

Ron’s story is like that, full of exclamation points. Introduced in Harris Fishman’s documentary as he’s tending to his dogs and donning his dark curly wig, Ron is a vibrant, self-aware performer. He and Joy eventually married (their wedding photos show the spectacular gown he designed for her), and his memories of their life together are shaped by their shared love of dancing—movement, physicality, risk—as well as their devotion to the temples they made of their bodies. Scrapbooks and magazines reveal this devotion, as Ron smiles over their sublime, nearly Apollonian figures. While he and Joy both danced ballet, and he spent some time as a naked dancer for the Folies Bergère in Paris (a photo shows yet another view of his stunning physique, surrounded by dancing girls and feathers), their genre of choice became adagio, in which, he explains, “the male [is] partnering the female, glorifying her to make her look as beautiful as he can possibly make her look.” Indeed, Joy is gorgeous.

When they made it to Radio City Music Hall, they became famous, earning “kudos and accolades.” Here they met William Holden, who especially liked working with big cats. He so appreciated their help in the show, he gave them a black leopard cub: “We didn’t know what we were getting into,” remembers Ron. Now it came to him, how to extend and even expand their careers. “I dreamt about it first,” he says, “that Joy was a cat, in a beautiful cat costume, and I was the trainer.” This fantasy gives way to reality, as they train their black cat Aladdin to perform on stage, alongside Joy—in a cat costume.

As Ron recalls, their family expanded over the years to include still more animals—tigers, lions, and a jaguar—as well as a third human member. In 1988, the Holidays hired Chuck Lizza as a co-trainer and performer. “He was damn cute and he was a gorgeous male,” says Ron, “He was all man.” And, he adds, Chuck agreed to come on as a performer only if Ron did not insist that he wear tights, a condition to which Ron agreed: “He had nice tight pants that fit his ass real good and then loose, and he looked great.”

As a unit, Ron, Joy, and Chuck understood the complexities of working with big cats, of never taking for granted their fundamental status as wild animals. As Chuck tells a TV interviewer, “There are definite problems and definite dangers to it,” but the three spend long hours thinking about these problems and training themselves as well as their cats. Their show—before the great success of Siegfried and Roy, was the most popular big cat act in the United States (Ron recalls a brief flirtation with Siegfried, whom he describes as “not my type, he was too femme").
So far, so enchanted. Their personal relationship evolves along with their professional relationship—eventually, their intimacy and trust spill over into the bedroom. Though they were aware of rumors circulating among friends and associates, they kept their domestic arrangements a secret

“No one knew really what cat dancers were,” says Ron. Describing their family as “three of the most unique people,” Ron remembers their mutual agreements and lack of expectations or obligations in phrases that sound idyllic, accompanied by a happily plinky piano soundtrack: “No one held anyone and I think in true love, that’s the only way it can work,” he says. “We didn’t have these restrictions that usually start discord in a marriage.” He wears three wedding rings intertwined on a chain around his neck, Ron says, an emblem of their complicated, true love. You know that trouble is coming, if only because Ron is the only narrator for Cat Dancers. Still, the turn their story takes is both tragic and horrifying.

Using amateur footage of the stage performances, as well as Ron’s interview segments and terrific archival photos, taken from his private collection as well as a public record, the film also contrasts this romantic past intercut with Ron’s present life as an animal trainer instructor in Florida. “My degree is in life,” he tells his students. “I am going to be 70 years old in February. I’ve been training animals for 50 years and I’ve made a lot of mistakes.” The film, however, is not focused on mistakes. While it raises questions about the boundaries between humans and animals, about the dangers of living too closely with creatures that are at base wild, instinctual, and remorseless, Cat Dancers is also a very detailed, very moving portrait of a family—unapologetic and faithful. “Animals are animals,” says Ron. “And no one can understand that you can love an animal to the point that you are responsible to that animal.” Still, as he explains it, that responsibility is unmistakable.

Cat Dancers

In early December, HBO aired a documentary titled "Cat Dancers." It is the story of three extrorinardy people who worked with large circus animals. The documentary is shot in a multiple of styles, from grainy footage to present day, giving the feel that the performers have been around for decades, which they have.

Ron and Joy Holiday are the main characters in this amazing documentary, and later they're joined by Chuck Lissa. The three of them work with the big cats until tragedy strikes two of them, Joy and Chuck. In addition to being performers, the three were also bed-mates.

Told from Ron's perspective, this is an incredible story, and we thankfully have footage of the past performances. This is one documentary not to be missed and hopefully we can get some links to when and where this will air again. Whatever you have to do, don't miss this one.

We just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sorry we've been away . . .

With all that's been going on in the world, can you blame us? That, plus, several of us have taken up new jobs, been on vacation, and tried to alter the state of the world as best we can with what we've been given.

This is just to let you all know that we're still hanging around!

Watch this!!!!

We all agree that this is our favorite watch in the world. Not cheap, but then, you get what you pay for, right? So far, three of us have this baby. Rather than rant about it, just read the facts.

by Boa Man

NOW IN TITANIUM, NEW CITIZEN ECO-DRIVE TITANIUM SKYHAWK AT

The new, fully loaded 3rd generation Skyhawk redefines atomic timekeeping with radio controlled accuracy and Eco-Drive technology. Radio signals are received both automatically and on-demand by the fully loaded Skyhawk A-T.

Atomic Timekeeping with Radio Accuracy

Eco-Drive Technology (Solar Powered so you never have to change a battery)
World Time for 43 Cities

2 Alarms

24 Hour 1/100 Second Chronograph

Perpetual Calendar to the year 2100

Analog/Digital Displays

99 Minute Countdown Timer with Alarm

Water Resistant to 200 Meters (660 Feet)

3-Day Low Charge Warning (Will notify you 3 Days before the watch completely stops)

180 Day Power Reserve when Fully Charged (Approximately 2.5 Years with Power Save

Function - 150 Hours to fully charge in average lighting)

Power Save Function

Power Reserve Indicator

Titanium Case and Bracelet

Fold-Over Clasp with Double Hidden Push Button Release

45mm Case Width without Crown (Approximately 1 3/4")

Edith Head--World's Greatest Costume Designer and a Great Lady

The Edith Head page

Born: Edith Claire Posener, in Sand Bernardino, CA.

Jewish, though claimed to be Catholic.

First worked for Paramount Pictures

Died October 24, 1981 in Los Angeles, CA

Head received more Academy Awards than any other woman in history. She was nominated for 35 of them. You’ve probably not noticed her name in the credits, but one thing is for sure—you’ve seen her designs. There’s probably more than one movie of hers that you love, and if you were ever wowed by the clothes, well, that’s Edith Head’s work.

Head consulted her stars more than any other designer; especially the women. Ginger Rogers, Shirley Maclaine, Anne Baxter, and Bette Davis were only a handful of her clients and actresses. She was lampooned for her aversion to unions and worked for not only Paramount, but Universal as well.

She also designed the uniform for the United State Coast Guard in the 1970s. Her last film was “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid.”

Some of her best-known movies (and this might surprise you) are as follows:


Sex and the Married Woman (1977)

Airport (1977)

The Man Who Would be King (1975

Ash Wednesday (1973)

The Sting (1973)

Pete ‘n’ Tillie (1972)

Topaz (1969)

This Property is Condemned (1966)

The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)

36 Hours (1965)

Love with the Proper Stranger (1963)

The Judy Garland Show (1963)

Come Blow Your Horn (1963)

Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

Summer and Smoke (1961)

Sabrina (1954)

Knock on Wood (1954)

The Naked Jungle (1954)

Roman Holiday (1953)

Come Back, Little Sheba (1952)

A Place in the Sun (1951)

Sunset Blvd (1950)

Beyond the Forest (1949)

Red, Hot, and Blue (1949)

And about a hundred other film, too numerous to mention.

We love her and there’s never been anyone like her. A great designer who has yet to be surpassed in motion picture history.

Quotes:

I've designed films I've never seen.

If it is a Paramount film, I probably designed it.

What a costume designer does is a cross between magic and camouflage. We create the illusion of changing the actors into what they are not. We ask the public to believe that every time they see a performer on the screen he's become a different person.

I have yet to see one competely unspoiled star, except for Lassie.

You can lead a horse to water and you can even make it drink, but you can't make actresses wear what they don't want to wear.

[1977 comment on Jacqueline Bisset] One of the greatest bodies I've ever worked with. But besides that she is rather the opposite, because she is so damned intelligent. It's a strange combination, almost a double personality.

[on Grace Kelly] I've dressed thousands of actors, actresses and animals, but whenever I am asked which star is my personal favorite, I answer, "Grace Kelly." She is a charming lady, a most gifted actress and, to me, a valued friend.

[on Kim Novak] I don't usually get into battles, but dressing Kim Novak for her role in Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo" put to the test all my training in psychology.


We salute you, Edith Head!

Qunicy Jones

• Quincy Jones was born on March 14, 1933, in Chicago, Ilinois. He most often associated with New York or Los Angeles, but Chicago is where he got his start. His mother was Sarah Frances, who was a schizophrenic, and Qunicy “Delight” Jones, Sr.—a semi-professional baseball player. A bit of trivia: Q. Jones’, Jr.’s mother is a descendant of Mary Belle Lanier, who is the daughter of James Balance Lanier, who is second cousin four times removed from George Washington. Whew! But wait—it gets getter. James Balance Lanier is the first cousin of John McCain’s maternal grandfather, making him ALSO related to G. Washington.
  
  Jones attended many schools, including the Schillinger House in Boston. He toured with Lional Hampton; a reason to abandon his studies. He also freelanced with the likes of Count Basie, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughn, and Duke Ellington. Not to bad, eh?
  
  Jones toured with Dizzy Gillespie around the mid-fifties and got a contract with Paramount records—this really started things off. Then Jones moved to Paris and studied music there for a time.
  

• Some notable things about Mr. Jones:
  
  
• He discovered Lesley Gore
  
• Wrote the musical score to “In Cold Blood”
  
• Worked as an arranger for Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Dinah Washington.
  
• Scored the movie “The Color Purple” as well as produced it.
  
• Has published an autobiography
  
• Worked with Michael Jackson, most notably producing “Thriller.”
  
• Has never learned to drive.
  
• Suffered a cerebral aneurysm that almost killed him in 1974.
  
• One of the founders of the “Black Arts Festival” in Chicago.
  
• Was married to Jeri Caldwell, Ulla Anderson, and Peggy Lipton.
  
• Attended Berklee College of Music.
  
• Received the Legion d/Honneur.
  
• Had a cameo in “Austin Powers in Goldmember.”
  
• Played the trumpet.
  
• Was partners with Bob Russell.
  
• Was the first Afro-American to be nominated for an Academy Award in Best Original Song.
  
• First Afro-American to win the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.