It Could Have Been Me

By Larrywomack.com

The incident, several years ago, of a chimpanzee mauling the friend of its owner, reminded me of a potentially life changing situation that occurred during my sophomore year in college.  My best friend, Jesse Coles and I were music majors at Austin Peay State College in Clarksville Tennessee.  Jesse was also the band director at the county high school.  Jesse had rented a “wild animal” show from a local entrepreneur, to use as a fundraiser for the band at the county fair.  He asked me to serve as the barker for these “wild animals” that included a sullen spider monkey, a malnourished porcupine, a smelly jungle rat, assorted snakes, and a lethargic iguana lizard.

I wore tan Bermuda shorts, a tan shirt, and a pith helmet.  And, I carried a wooden drill team rifle as I enthusiastically encouraged the fairgoers to visit the “largest” (and only) exhibit of wild animals on the midway.   On the morning of the second day, I noticed an elderly gentleman in a tan fedora and dressed in jungle attire (that was more authentic than mine) watching me from a distance.  He was smoking a cigarette backhanded, European style, and drinking from a large porcelain cup.  The man watched me for about twenty minutes then disappeared, reappearing after lunch.  He then stayed for another twenty minutes, finally disappearing into the crowd.

In the afternoon, Jesse and I took about a half hour off to tour the midway.  On our tour, we came upon a large sign promoting the evening’s grandstand featured act, Oscar Konyot and His Amazing Chimps.  We recognized Mr. Konyot as the man who had been watching my performance as a “wild animal” sideshow barker.  That evening we attended the chimp performance and were amazed at the chimps’ antics and tricks that included walking a tight wire and riding small motorcycles.

The next morning Mr. Konyot reappeared, standing in the shadows watching me enthusiastically invite the county fairgoers to see the “wild animals.”

After lunch, he reappeared, walked up to me and said, in broken English with an Italian accent, “My name is Oscar Konyot. Would you like to come to my trailer and see my chimps?”

I introduced myself and said that I would like to do that and then asked him if two thirty would work.

He said, “I will see you there, areva derchi.” And walked away.

For the rest of the afternoon, Jesse and I speculated as to why this man singled me out to visit his chimps.  I concluded he considered me a colleague and was just looking for friendship and conversation.  Jesse speculated it was more than that.  Jesse said he thought Mr. Konyot was looking for a protégée.

When I arrived at the trailer, Mr. Konyot greeted me with his coffee cup in one hand, while holding a chimp.

“This is Coco and Coco this is Larry.”

The chimp jumped into my arms and planted a wet kiss directly on my lips.

“Come inside. Let me introduce you to the crew.”

There were four chimpanzees.  Two sat in small rocking chairs.  One was at a table eating a bowl of cereal and Coco stayed in my arms.  Coco occasionally picked at my hair, gently slapped my face several times and gave me two additional kisses directly on my mouth.  After about fifteen minutes of discussing the chimps, Mr. Konyot remanded them to their cages and to lock the doors.  The chimps shut the doors and placed pins in the catches.

“Larry, at some point I want to learn of your history.  But I want to begin our dialogue with mine.  As you know, my name is Oscar Konyot.  I am from a small town in Northern Italy, Livigno.  My family has been in the circus for generations.  During the War, we farmed and tried to remain as neutral as possible as the German and Italian Armies ravaged our land and our village.  We kept our animals on the farm including a lion, a bear, a pigmy elephant and three horses.  When the soldiers would come through we would entertain them and they never brought us harm.

After the War, my brother, cousins and I formed the Konyot Circus.  We hired additional performers and played villages throughout Northern Italy and Southern Germany.  My act received considerable notoriety and was the featured act of our circus.  I am the only man in the world to place his head in a lion’s mouth.  In 1947, John Ringling North, the proprietor of the Barnum & Bailey Circus came to see us perform in Milano.  He was duly impressed by my act and invited me to join his circus.  Though he offered me a great sum to come to America with my lion, I declined.  After he had up the ante several times and realized I was not going to take him up on his offer, Mr. North offered to buy my lion and return to America without me.  Though I considered his plan foolish, the money was too significant for me to turn down.”

About a year later, a representative of Mr. North tracked me down with another offer for me to appear in his circus.  It seems that Mr. North had erred when he assumed that the trick lay in the mouth of the lion.  You see the essence of the trick resided in my head, not the lion’s mouth.  Several other tamers had tried to reproduce the trick but to no avail.  Mr. North’s representative not only offered me a grand some to come to America, he said I could bring the other members of my performing family with me as well!  That’s how I became known throughout the world as the only man to place his head inside a lion’s mouth without injury.”

As he finished this portion of his story, he pointed to a giant poster of him performing this dangerous feat.  I told Mr. Konyot that, as a boy, I had been privileged to see him perform in person.  He was pleased.  I also told him that I had seen his chimp act on the Ed Sullivan TV Show and enjoyed it immensely.

“When did you start doing this act?” I asked.

“As the lion and I aged, my act became less dynamic.  The circus wanted me to train another lion but I was not up to it.  In 1953, when Barnum &Bailey hired a new lion tamer from Cole Brother Circus, I bought the chimp act from a friend. We’ve been together ever since, though I have replaced several of my boys over the years.”

“Larry, the grandstand show begins at 7:PM.  At six o’clock, my boys and I will go out to set the stage.  I would like for you to watch us prepare, see the show and then, in the morning have coffee with me in the performers commissary tent at 8:AM.  I want to have a serious discussion with you at that time. Will you do it?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“Good. Boys say areva derchi to Larry.”  The Chimps waved and chattered as I left the trailer.

Jesse said, “I told you so!  He wants you to take over the act when he retires!”  I replied that working with chimpanzees was not a part of my dream to become a famous popular singer.

“You’ve always said you wanted to be on the Ed Sullivan Show.  Here’s your chance.”

I said, “I want to sing on the Ed Sullivan Show.  This was not what I had in mind.”

Jesse and I continued our discussion of my potential career as a circus performer until 5:45 when I went down to the grandstand to watch the setup.  That night, Jesse and I continued our discussion.  I finally agreed to hear Mr. Konyot out and to discus his offer with Jesse before telling Mr. Konyot no.

The next morning, I met Mr. Konyot for coffee.  We were surrounded by roustabouts, sideshow freaks, and carnies.  Mr. Konyot told me, his wife of thirty years had died ten years ago.  He said, he lived with his chimps on a two-acre compound just north of Sarasota Florida.  I was surprised to learn that the chimps actually cut the grass around the home with a push mower, raked leaves and generally ran loose on the compound.

“Larry, I want to retire in three years and want someone to take over my act.  I think you’re the man,” said Mr. Konyot.  “You are a performer and entertainer.  I can see that from the way you handle yourself at that “wild animal” show.  From what I can tell, they aren’t even really wild animals but you making the show sound inviting.  I want you to come live with me this summer.  If you find over the summer that you are not cut out for this work, at least you will have an adventure to tell your grandchildren.”

“Mr. Konyot,” I said.  “I will meet you here in the morning with my answer.”

The next morning after another nightlong discussion with Jesse, I respectfully declined Mr. Konyot’s offer.

Several years later, I saw Oscar Konyot and his Chimps on a televised circus show.  By his side was a young man dressed in khaki wearing an Aussie Outback hat.  I couldn’t help thinking, That could have been me.