Gunther Gebel-Williams
Encyclopedia
Gunther Gebel-Williams (September 12, 1934 - July 19, 2001) was an animal trainer
for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Circus
from 1968-1990.
, Germany
. As a child he and his mother became refugees when the communists took over Silesia
. His father was still missing in the Soviet Union
when he and his mother started working for Circus Williams in Germany in 1947. When the circus owner suddenly died, his widow asked the then 18-year-old Gunther to train and take over which began his career as an animal trainer. Gunther Gebel took on the additional family name of Williams.
with Johnny Carson
, in addition to his work with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, accelerated his renown as a tamer primarily of elephants and tigers. Gunther Gebel-Williams has a son, Mark Oliver Gebel, and a daughter, Tina Gebel-DelMoral. Their mother is Sigrid Gebel.
Animal training
Animal training refers to teaching animals specific responses to specific conditions or stimuli. Training may be for the purpose of companionship, detection, protection, entertainment or all of the above....
for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is an American circus company. The company was started when the circus created by James Anthony Bailey and P. T. Barnum was merged with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Ringling brothers purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907, but ran the circuses...
Circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
from 1968-1990.
Early life
Gebel was born in Schweidnitz, Lower SilesiaProvince of Lower Silesia
The Province of Lower Silesia was a province of the Free State of Prussia from 1919 to 1945. Between 1938 and 1941 it was reunited with Upper Silesia as the Silesia Province. The capital of Lower Silesia was Breslau...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. As a child he and his mother became refugees when the communists took over Silesia
Expulsion of Germans after World War II
The later stages of World War II, and the period after the end of that war, saw the forced migration of millions of German nationals and ethnic Germans from various European states and territories, mostly into the areas which would become post-war Germany and post-war Austria...
. His father was still missing in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
when he and his mother started working for Circus Williams in Germany in 1947. When the circus owner suddenly died, his widow asked the then 18-year-old Gunther to train and take over which began his career as an animal trainer. Gunther Gebel took on the additional family name of Williams.
Career
Gebel-Williams was a well-known circus animal trainer. He came to prominence during the early days of television when the circus was still a popular form of entertainment. His appearances on television shows like the Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight ShowThe Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
with Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
, in addition to his work with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, accelerated his renown as a tamer primarily of elephants and tigers. Gunther Gebel-Williams has a son, Mark Oliver Gebel, and a daughter, Tina Gebel-DelMoral. Their mother is Sigrid Gebel.