Clyde Beatty in his iconic outfit. Beatty’s image on circus posters guaranteed huge box office sales.

When you think of a lion tamer, you probably imagine a guy in a safari outfit, pith helmet and wielding a chair and whip.  That’s because the most famous lion tamer ever, Clyde Beatty, dressed in safari gear, and wielded a chair.  Beatty was so famous that the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey’s Circus once delayed the official opening season of their show so that he could participate.