Written by: Ryan the Admin at 3:32 pm
Premiering on Monday, December 15 at 8p.m. ET/PT
Before Seigfreid and Roy, there was Ron Holiday, Joy Holiday and Chuck Lizza, a.k.a. the Cat Dancers, one of the world’s first exotic-tiger entertainment acts. For years, the trio led a happy, if unorthodox, life – until a pair of tragedies shattered their lives and dreams.
Cat Dancers tells the mysterious, bizarre and ultimately tragic story of an iconic team of animal trainers: Ron Holiday, his co-star and wife, Joy Holiday, and their lover/fellow performer, Chuck Lizza, who joined the act in the 1980s. Together, the Cat Dancers became one of the first “big-cat” entertainment acts – true forerunners to their eventual rivals, Siegfried and Roy. Ron, Joy and Chuck lived together as a loving if unconventional family until 1998, when tragedy struck. Within a period of six weeks, Ron lost his young lover and then his wife, both to the same beloved white Bengal tiger, who was subsequently shot and killed.
With no Joy or Chuck in his life, Ron spent his time visiting his remaining cats at a ranch for exotic animals, and teaching classes to future animal trainers. This haunting 75-minute film weaves together the Holidays’ personal photographs and video footage of the Cat Dancers performances, along with recent interviews with Ron, the sole survivor, as he reflects on the great loves of his life: Joy, Chuck and his beloved animals.
Technorati Tags: Cat Dancers, HBO, Documentary, Film, Ron, Chuck, Joy, Seigfried and Roy, Tigers, Entertainers
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Written by Ryan the Admin - Visit Website
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Ryan is from California. He graduated from USC with a degree in English. In his free time, when he isn't working as a Literary Illusions gopher (er...editor) he enjoys writing short stories.
I just watched the documentary; I was shocked to read other comments that people might feel that Ron used the tigers to kill Joy and Chuck? It’s a great “hook” to the story, though, and I get why HBO might want to promote it that way. But, I don’t think those two were murdered by Ron via the tiger. The deaths, tragically, seem typical– they way they were “unexpectedly” killed by that tiger; given the fact that the tiger had killed Chuck, accidentally or whatever, weeks before, it did the same to Joy when she was emaciated and shaking before it — like dying prey. It’s a wild animal at heart. Nevertheless, I loved how they all cared for the animals. I was sorry to hear Ron had to put two of them to sleep when he lost their home. Some comments condemn him for that but I understand that love — perhaps he felt like no one could care for his big cat like he could and therefore, the cat would have a terrible life without him etc. it’s crazy logic but I understand it. In total, it was an amazing story and very very sad and tragic. I do feel sorry for Ron. He’s strange, groovy and cheesy but seems like a kind, gentle and caring person; to dedicate his life to taking care of those animals – that’s amazing to me. I don’t think people realize the dedication in time and money, not to mention heart, it takes to do that. Sure, it would be great if all animals could live in the wild and be happy ever after but these days, most wild animals are killed – pouched – for some stupid reason. I was happy to learn these animals had loving caretakers and a wonderful life. I hope Ron finds happiness as he lives out his years in the U.S. or Thailand.