Video: Wilbert Behn in his Homemade Arena (1991)
Behn's Game Farm
Aniwa, Wisconsin
We first visited Behn's Game Farm in 1991, and shot this 8mm video. We recorded a bit of the goats and the dog show, but the big performance happened in the indoor "Arena." That's where self-taught lion tamer Wilbert Behn would warm up his audience with his fire-eating, and then bring out his lions and tigers, one by one.
Video Transcript
Wilbert Behn in his Homemade Arena (1991)
Behn: I gotta be real careful, because of what I do.
When I start that music, then whichever door I open up, that cat comes out.
[lights torch]
Now please do not go home and try to duplicate this in any way, shape or form. It's extremely dangerous.
Watch carefully. First, a little breakfast.
They say the fingertips are the most sensitive part of the human body, no, it's a tongue.
Finally a little dessert.
[lively Latin instrumental music]
