The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-01-17
MANY VISITORS At
SHEESLEY'S SHOWS
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
NEW LEoPARDS HAVE ARRIVED
AND ARE BEING TRAINED AT
THE WINTER QUARTERS IN
THE WEST END.

Very many citizens of Pensacola
find their way each Suncay to the
busy winter quarters of the Greater
Sheesley Shows now at the Clubbs'
warehouse and watch the large and
varied collection of wild animals that
are being kept, as well as trained
there during the winter months of
show inactivity. Among the most
noticeable and costly are five full
grown lions with great shaggy names
completely enveloping the heads and
shoulders, and two youngsters now
just a year old.
There are also a number of coug-
airs, bears, and ileopards, ponies and
kangaroo which is now taking
daily lessons in the art of self-de-
tense. The later and two of the Loop
ards have arrived at Pensacola since
the coming of the show and are tax
ing their first instructions in subju-
cation and training at the hands of
young Russian by the name of
Schlehlz. These animals are most
vicious when first taken into cap
tivity and are now being handled in
chains and at the end of long iron
pole which is to protect the trainer
while attempting to show them the
way to be real animal actors. Among
the leopards is the famous "Possum"
which is said to be the most SUBJ
missive of the feline race i'm cap
tivity. Mr.. Sheesley received five
hundred dollaSs.- for the use of this
animal fifteen minutes by one of the
picture show film makers last winter
at Orlando, Fla.
There are now ever a hundred
people spending the winter at Pen
sacola who are members of this show
and who will remain until the season
opens some time in March. These
people are mostly performers, takers,
musicians and managers of the diff
ferent departments of this show.
At the quarters there are carpen-
tiers, machinists, blacksmiths and
painters, alI working like beavers to
get the show ready for the open
ing. All the canvass will be new this
year and is being made in the north
and not foot of cars, fronts or stages
will leave quarters until they have
been thoroughly painted and over
hauled.
Mr.. Sheesley is one of the youngest
owners and managers in the business
and has made all through his own
thrift and energy. He has capa-
city for work which is unexcelled, and
attends to all the minor details even
ord Ji1.ontfy,C
The season of 1915 for most shows
was considered most laborious and
in some instances disastrous, but Mr..
Sheesley has brought with him nice
bank account despite this fact.
For the season now approaching
Mr.. Sheesley will carry fifteen paid
attractions, including the latest at
tractive features and band of TWEEN
ty pieces with a number of free acts.
Much was brought to bear to bring
this aggregation to Mobile, but after
his agents had gone over the grounds
carefully Mr.. Sheesley decided that
the better opportunities were here.
Negotiations are pending relative to
his opening at Mobile at the Mardi
Gras and also at Pensacola. Pensa-
cola will no doubt be the opening
stand and should be, as Mr.. Sheesley
and his people viii easily spend sew
eraI thousand dollars during their
stay here and Mr.. Sheesley has in
view the possible purchase of the
Clubbs' property, and has the option
of another plot upon which to erect
permanent winter quarters for, as he
puts it, the climate, location and the
people with whom he has come in
contact are hard to equal.