Career Overview		Career Timeline

	Gunther's Greatness: A Timeline
	1934-1945		1946-1954		1955-1969		1970-1979		1980-1989		1990-2001

1970: On August 17 in Houston, Texas, Mark Oliver Gebel is born to Sigrid and Gunther Gebel-Williams. 1971: A history-making performance: Gunther startles the Circus world by assembling an act featuring three tigers, two horses and an African elephant. Gunther becomes a favorite interview subject with the national media. Noted essayist Edward Hoagland terms him: "the Nureyev of show business. . . a Circus by himself." Gunther stars in the NBC-TV special, Highlights of RINGLING BROS. AND BARMUM & BAILEY CIRCUS, hosted by Jack Cassidy. 1973: Gunther is the focus of an in-depth profile in the New York Times Magazine. The American Guild of Variety Artists honors Gunther by naming him Outstanding Circus Performer of the Year. Gunther stars in the NBC-TV special, Highlights of RINGLING BROS. AND BARMUM & BAILEY CIRCUS, hosted by Lorne Greene. 1974: Gunther conceives of a new and daring Circus act, to feature fifteen leopards, three panthers and two pumas. During the course of the next three years, he will "make practice" with the new animals each and every day-until the act is perfected. 1975: The king of beasts meets the king of late night entertainment. With a tiger in tow, Gunther guests on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. In prime time, Gunther is the star of the NBC-TV special, Highlights of RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS, hosted by Bill Cosby. Gunther salutes his new country as Ringling Bros. and Barnum &. Bailey Circus celebrates the American Bicentennial. In this 105th Edition, Gunther stages an "Elephant Roundup," using only his voice to command three rings of elephants and horses. 1977: After three years of intensive rehearsal, Gunther proudly presents his new troupe of performing panthers, pumas and leopards. The debut is a sensation. . . and a new star is born when Gunther drapes an obliging leopard named Kenny over his shoulders and exits to the cheers of the audience. Word spreads of the entertainment world's hottest new team. Gunther and Kenny film their now-famous American Express commercial. Gunther scores a pair of prime time television successes. He is featured in the NBC-TV special, Highlights of RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS, hosted by Gene Kelly. In the same year, he stars in his own CBS special, Lord of the Rings with Tony Curtis. 1979: December 21. Saying "I've wanted this for a long time," Gunther Gebel-Williams becomes a United States citizen in a ceremony at the Federal courthouse in Tampa, Florida. Gunther stars in the nationally-televised NBC-TV special, Highlights of RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS, hosted by Danny Kaye.

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