|
|
 |
|
Folklife Database: Interview with Alligator wrestler Richard Bowers
Item Type:
 |
Sound
|
| Series Number/Title |
S1576 |
| Container |
10 |
| Item |
Audio recording |
| Item ID Number |
C83-109 - C83-110 |
| Item Title |
Interview with Alligator wrestler Richard Bowers |
| Program/Event |
Library Folklife Program
|
| Date/Date Range |
05/04/1983 |
| Collector/Fieldworker |
Dyen, Doris
|
| Tradition Bearer |
Bowers, Richard, 1955-
|
| Ethnicity/Nationality |
Native American
Seminole Indian
|
| Genre/Occupation |
Wrestlers
Performers
|
| Subject |
Fieldwork
Interviews
Local history
Oral histories
Life histories
Personal experience narratives
Seminole Indians
Indian reservations
Alligators
Animals
Performing arts
Occupational groups
Occupational training
Tourism
|
| Place Name |
Hollywood (Fla.)
Hollywood Seminole Indian Reservation (Fla.)
Broward County (Fla.)
|
| Corporate/Conference Name |
Florida Folklife Program
|
| General Note/Comment Field |
Two audio cassettes.
Bowers, an alligator wrestler at Native Village near Hollywood Reservation, was born in Fort Lauderdale in 1955. In the interview, he discusses growing up in a rural family and learning to alligator wrestle after a 4-H agent suggested he try it. He learned the practice from Johnny Buck, an old alligator wrestler. He explains how he received his first job from Chairman Billie and says never had any serious injuries. In addition, he discusses the relationship that grew between the Seminoles and alligators; how the Seminoles view alligator wrestling; how the capture the alligators; codes and regulations; the biggest alligator he wrestled (one that was 10 feet long); alligators’ differing personalities and their aggressiveness; praying to thank the alligator after a wrestling match; wrestling techniques and other issues. |
Folklife Database
Search this database for descriptions of photographs and audio recordings from
the Florida Folklife Collection available at the State Archives of Florida. Approximately
46,000 photographic images and approximately 5,000 audio recordings are cataloged.
Contact the Archives to order images and recordings.
Because many of the original recordings are in a fragile condition, patrons
will only be permitted to use digital copies of those recordings. However,
the digitization project is still in progress, and therefore some recordings
may not yet be available. Please contact
us ahead of time to ensure availability.
| NEW AND
NOTEWORTHY ON FLORIDA MEMORY |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Conjunto Aventura
Norteño, sometimes also called Norteña or Conjunto, literally translates to the word “northern,” referring to the region of northern Mexico and present day southern Texas where the musical style originated. |
|
Resources for the 2010 Florida History Fair
This is a list of resources available online from the State Library and Archives of Florida relating to the suggested Florida History Fair topics. |
|
See the "Common Ground" slideshow!
This presentation is part of “Common Ground,” a global event consisting of museums, galleries, and archives worldwide showing the same slideshow of photographs in public spaces on the same weekend (October 2-3, 2009). |
|
|
