Centennial of The Empire Cat Club

CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL (1913-2013) OF THE EMPIRE CAT CLUB

©The CFA Founda on, Inc. June 2020

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Cat Fancy Beginnings in America

Many of us are aware that the first organized cat show was held in 1871 at the Crystal Palace in England. That begs the question, when was the first one held in North America? ʺMilwaukee has won the proud distinction of having the first eat show which has been held on this continent. ʺ Milwaukee did indeed hold a cat show on April 5‐6, 1895 that was attended by more than 2,000 spectators. But, while I am reluctant to re‐ fute Milwaukeeʹs 1895 ʺclaim to fameʺ above, newspaper articles that cat shows were held earli‐ er than 1895 on the east coast of the United States.

An historical cat show catalog exists for a Nation‐ al Cat Show held at the Music Hall in Boston, MA on January 21‐27, 1878. There is also documenta‐ tion of a cat show held at Brunnellʹs Museum in New Haven, CT on February 6, 1882 Shows at the Grand Central Palace in New York City were held as early as January, 1899.

Newspaper articles about the May, 1895 cat show

Courtesy Linda Gorsuch Jackson

From the Collection of The CFA Foundation,

at Madison Square Garden detail much drama, the disappearance of runaway cats, the irritable and tired cats subjected to ʺpetting lavished upon them day and night,ʺ and the biting of owners, as well as the impressive show results and awards. It was at this very show that the well‐known ʺCoseyʺ won a silver collar and medal More often than not, early New York cat shows were held in conjunction with pet shows that principally featured poultry, but also birds, snakes, bees, fish, dogs and cats. Organized groups such as the New York Poultry, Pig and Stock Association managed the shows, often held at Madison Square Garden and attracting thou‐ sands of entries, with more than 200 of them cat show entries. The early cat shows were supported by the Atlantic Cat Club, an early cat club incor‐ porated in March, 1903. Atlantic Cat Club became a member club of the American Cat Association (ACA) which incorporated as a national cat asso‐ ciation on May 1, 1904, In 1906, a difference of opinion about show rules and regulations resulted in a serious rift that led a group of ACA members to resign and form The Cat Fanciersʹ Association (CFA) in February of that year. Five clubs formed the mem‐ bership of the new CFA association, four of them having resigned as members of the American Cat Association — including the Atlantic Cat Club.

That club remained a CFA member club until 1919, at which time it resigned and formed the new United Cat Fanciers Association (UCFA). In 1919, the name of this new association was changed to Cat Fanciers Federation (CFF).

By the end of 1906, CFA had a total of nine clubs, including the Royal Canadian Cat Club, its first Canadian‐associated club which produced CFA’s second show in Toronto during December, 1906. The first CFA show was held by Buffalo Cat

The Emergence of the Empire Cat Club

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The Cat Courier, 1913

Another group organizing pet shows in New York City in the early 20ʹh century was the Empire Poultry Association. They began their pet shows, including cats, in 1910 at New Yorkʹs Grand Central Palace. In 1911, the showʹs news‐ paper coverage reported, “The cat department of the show is held under the auspices of the Cat Fanciers’ Association, and is one of the most notable features, with prize winners from all the recent cat shows in England, France, Belgium, and Germany. There were 235 of them, including Mrs. Chester W. Chapinʹs prize collection of chinchillas and blues, which cost $10,000 in England.ʺ At a December 5, Empire Poultry Associa‐ tion show, a meeting of cat fanciers was held to form a cat club to be known as The Empire Cat Club. The new club would be responsible for the support of the cat shows held in conjunction with the Empire Poultry Association shows. Best Cat at the 1913 show was Champion King Winter, a Shaded Silver Male.

The newly formed Empire Cat Club re‐ quested membership in the Cat Fanciersʹ Associa‐ tion at CFAʹs December 30th, 1913 meeting and was accepted unanimously. The club began with 20 charter members, and had another 20 names on a waiting list for membership.

The work of the Empire Cat Club mem‐ bers on CFA‐associated cat shows began in ear‐ nest, and continues to this day — over 100 years later.

A year later, the club membership had grown to 45 people, and the club started right in on their innovative ideas. In 1914, a show class was established for Champions; previously, only Opens and Novices had been allowed to compete for championship points. The club had quickly gained sufficient prominence that the 1914 CFA annual meeting was held in conjunction with their New York City show, as was the 1915 meet‐ ing.

At the 1916 show, the Best Cat was Blue Lightning of Thorpe, an imported blue Persian male that would eventually leave a profound effect on the breed.

World War I interfered with show production for a couple of years, but Empire re‐emerged in 1919 with a January 14‐15 show held at the Hotel McAlpin in New York City. This show, with 80 entries present, was held to benefit the Sun Tobac‐ co Fund, a fund organized by the New York Sun for the purpose of providing ʺsmokesʺ to Ameri‐ can Soldiers in France.

When the Cat Fanciers’ʹ Association incor‐ porated in the State of New York in 1919, Empire Cat Club was one of the signatory member clubs and thus honored to be listed as a charter member of CFA, along with the Cleveland Persian Society, New Rochelle Cat Club, and McKeesport Persian Club.

In January, 1920, the show moved to Mad‐ ison Square Garden and was held jointly with the Silver Cat Club of Brooklyn. This show attracted the initial showing of NeKong, a Siamese import

From the Collection of The CFA Foundation., Inc.

from Bangkok. Also present was an odd‐eyed white Persian, Houri, considered an oddity in those days. Best Cat, for the second year in a row was Hampton Brushwood Winter Wonder, a chinchilla silver Persian male.

The 1921 show, at the Park Avenue Hotel, had a red (tabby) Persian as Best in Show. Cham‐ pion Red Shadows Il of Rose Cottage, was the Best Cat in 1921 and a winner again in 1924, when he was named best red. The 1924 judge comment‐ ed that, ʺHe has exceptional head and type. Most of the reds still show too much markings.ʺ Red Shadows was also a media darling, with photos appearing in The New York Times on a regular basis.

For the 1922 show, the club established a ʺFuturity Stakesʺ for blue eyed white Persian en‐ tries.

Blue Persian males from Miss Elsie Hy‐ donʹs famous Lavender cattery were named Best

in Show two years in a row. In 1923, it was Laven‐ der Supremacy, and in 1924, Lavender Blue Pro‐ spect. ʺThe sensation of the show was Lavender Blue Prospect — a big fellow who made his novice appearance in a huge coat of beautiful color and, with his copper eyes, won his way right through from Winner to Best Novice to Best.”

In 1925, a blue Persian female named Miss Dennison won Best in Show. Judgesʹ comments included, ʺMiss Dennison adheres closely to standard and is of the cobby type. She is of medium size and her coat indicated fine physical condition, being long and glossy and of fine texture. ʺ The December 1926 show, moved to the Waldorf Hotel, attracted 186 entries. The club did not hold a show in 1927.

The Waldorf Hotel was again the venue for the 1928 show, which attracted 250 entries, including 40 cats ʺof the house varietyʺ. It was

From the Collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc.

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From the Collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc.

noted that, “The heads of the common cats will not be required to be as big as those of the thoroughbreds.ʺ No show was held during 1929, and in 1930 the show was moved back to Madison Square Garden. Held in conjunction with the 2nd National Pet Show; it attracted 300 entries. The 1931 show was a part of the National Pet Show and the number of entries grew to 400. The Sia‐ mese Cat Club and the Solid Color Cat Club held special classes.

The ʺBig Four‐in‐One Showʺ was the bill‐ ing for the 1932 show, which took place at the Ho‐ tel Taft. Four clubs worked together: Empire Cat Club, with Lavender Choice Morsel, a blue Per‐ sian female, being named Best Cat; the winner at the Siamese Cat Society specialty show was Yum‐

Yum; a Siamese female; the Silver Persian Fanci‐ ers and the Solid Color Cat Society each held spe‐ cialty shows on the first day.

1933 saw another combined championship show at the Hotel Taft. Best Cat at the Empire show was CH Pilgrimʹs Speedwell Casanova, blue Persian male; Best Cat at the Solid Color Cat Soci‐ ety specialty show was Blue Splendor of the Sev‐ en Elms, blue Persian male; and Best Cat at the Siamese Cat Society of America specialty show was E‐Took‐Shoo of Newton, a Siamese.

The 1934 show was also a combined show at the Pennsylvania Hotel, with an unusual entry — ʺTopaz Miau, a primitive Burmese, said to be the only one of its kind in the East, There are a few owned by a San Francisco breeder.”

In 1935, the show was again combined and was moved to the Park Hotel. Of the 250 entries, one gained special attention: ʺAn Abyssinian female import, Woodroofe[sic] Ena, two years old, born in London and one of only two cats of its kind now in the country, was entered by Mrs. G. Fiske of Boston. ʺ Empire combined with the Siamese Cat Society in 1936, for a show that attracted 176 en‐ tries. Best Cat at the Empire show was CH Laven‐ der Cara of Culloden, a blue Persian female, and Best at the Siamese specialty show was CH Djer‐ kits Chinkaling of Newton, a seal point female.

The club moved to Commerce Hall in the Port Authority Building in 1937. The Empire por‐ tion of the show had 120 entries, and there were 30 Siamese entries in the Siamese specialty show.

The show was held in conjunction with the Amer‐ ican Mouse Fancierʹs Club, which had 75 mice and rats entered. Empire and the Siamese Cat So‐ ciety worked together on a 1939 show in the same location.

Woodrooffe Ena

From The Cat Gazette, 1935

From the Collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc.

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From the Collection of The CFA Foundation, IInc.

The location of the Empire and Siamese Cat Society show was moved to the Hotel Capitol in 1939. The show had a special entry ‐ ʺLonghair Siamese Makes Debut Here — Outstanding in the two -day show was a long-haired Siamese, four-month-old Pur Thai of Newton, a new breed introduced and developed by its owner, Mrs. Virginia Cobb of Newton, Mass., an eight yearsʹ process, under the direction of a professor of genetics at Harvard University.ʹ

Photo: Times Wide World

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From the Collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc.

Two rare Burmese kittens, Till and Tillie, were among the i6i entries in attendance at the 1940 show. The Domestic Short Hair and Manx Society joined with Empire and the Siamese Cat Society to produce the show Another world war intervened, and no shows were held in 1941 and 1942. In 1943, Em‐ pire again worked with the Siamese Cat Society to produce a show at the Hotel Capitol. Padraic of Bedale, a Siamese imported in 1936, was one of 168 cats exhibited and was named Best Cat at his first show in North America.

The 1944 show, again a combined show at the Hotel Capitol, attracted 194 entries, including 44 Siamese. Best Cat was Arlingtonʹs Leo II, a chinchilla male; Best at the Siamese Society show was Padraic of Bedale (IMP). The 1945 show was held at the Hotel McAlpin, and Best Cat in Show was CH Daybreak of Plumfield, a cream Persian

From the Collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc.

From the Collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc.

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male.

Shows held in 1946, 1947 and 1948 were also at the Hotel McAlpin. In 1947, the Best Cat was Kayru Tally Ho, a blue Persian male.

Empire worked with the National Siamese Cat Club for the December, 1949 show, which benefited the Police Athletic League. The Siamese club invited Mr. Brian Sterling‐Webb to officiate at their show, the first time that an English judge had been invited to participate at a show in Amer‐ ica.

Other British judges who had judged American shows at the time were Louis Wain (1907 Chicago, IL) and Mrs. Campbell‐Frasier (1931, New Haven, CT). This show also had sever‐ al special competitions: 1. BEST ALL‐AROUND CAT; selected be‐ tween pets owned by NSW Yorkʹs underprivi‐ leged children 2. CATS IN THE NEWS, a special exhibit of eats whose heroic deeds have made headline.

3. New Yorkʹs first ʺall catʺ art exhibit, with drawings and paintings by New Yorkʹs chil‐ dren.

4. A celebrity cat competition, for cats owned by stars of stage and radio, with the star owners in attendance.

On November 20, 1950, Empire Cat Club was incorporated in the state of New York. That year, they held their show in conjunction with the National Siamese Cat Club in December at the Hotel McAlpin.

The “PURR” Awards, for the most effec‐ tive use of a cat in advertising, were first preseted in 1951. Award winners for advertising included Bigelow‐Sandford Carpet Company, E.R. Squibb Sons. and the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad for their ʺChessieʺ ads.

Also in 1951, the Empire club began a campaign to obtain ʺa more understanding treat‐ ment of animated cats in cartoon shortsʹʺ. Letters were sent to film companies and comic strip art‐ ists in order to ʺcorrect the erroneous portrayal of cats in picturesʺ In 1952, In 1952, ʺPurrʺ awards winners included Travelers Insurance Company, R.H. Ma‐ cy Co. Inc, and Motorola, Inc. Awards for the 1951 advertising campaigns were handed out at the

From the Collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc.

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Mrs. Julia Hunter judging Siamese at 1956 show. Photo from Cats Magazine, September 1956

annual show held at the Roose‐

velt Hotel.

The January 8, 1953 show at the Roosevelt Hotel had 253 entries. Among them were Bur‐ mese, a breed now recognized by CFA but not eligible for competi‐ tion until September of that year.

The National Siamese So‐ ciety and the Solid Color Cat Club again joined with Empire Cat Club to present the February 4‐5, 1954 cat show.

Mrs. Rita Swenson, who passed away in late 2012 at the age of 100, judged the February 3 ‐4, 1955 Empire show as the judge for the associated club, Sol‐ id Color Club of the East. The show, at the Belmont Plaza Ho‐ tel, attracted 250 entries.

Empireʹs January 6‐7, 1956 show was actually 6‐shows‐ in‐1. Winners at each of the club shows were: Best Cat, Empire Cat Club: Nigerette Dark Eye of Wimauma, blue Persian female Best Cat, National Sia‐ mese Cat Club: Cymri Cyro, seal point Siamese_ Best Cat, All Short Hair (except Siamese) Society: Cymri Pad Ma, Burmese Best Cat, Solid Color Club of the East: Cal‐ vertʹs Blue Cadet, blue Persian Best Cat, California Silver Fanciers: Kute Kit Silver Signature 2d, chinchilla silver Persian.

Bestt Cat, Eastern Tabby Tortie Society: Katheʹs Chickadee of Long Hill, blue‐cream Per‐ sian female.

The judging for overall Best Cat in show ended at 1:00am and Nigerette Dark Eyes of Wimauma, a blue Persian female, was selected for the award.

At the January, 1957 show, a special class was open to pet cats owned by under‐privileged children. A 3‐month old kitten, a mackerel tabby named Toy, was the first officially qualified entry

of the Children’s Aid Society. The show featured the Kafir cats among the 200 entries at the Bel‐ mont Plaza Hotel. The Kafir cats, native to Africa, were brought to the show from the zoo in Wash‐ ington, DC. The two specimens were the only ones in the United States at the time. Mrs. Lillian Pedullaʹs rare South American Ocelot, Mr. Chuck‐ le, was also on display at the show.

The 1958 show moved to the New Yorker Hotel, and was honored to have a cat with royal lineage in attendance. Louise Fatima, a 2‐1/2 month old Egyptian cat owned by Princess Na‐ talie Troubetskoy is, according to her owner, ʺdescended from the royal cats of the Egyptian pharaohs.ʺ In 1959, Empire joined forces with the Westchester Cat Club for a show held in White Plains, NY.

The January 16‐17, 1960 show moved back to New York City and the Belmont Plaza Hotel.

Chern‐Sa Hai Top Brass, an Abyssinian, was one of the show entries and helped the club with pre‐ show publicity. 1961 saw another show with the Westchester Cat Club in White Plains. The 1962 and 1963 shows were held back in New York at the Belmont Plaza Hotel In 1964, Empire moved their show to the 71st Infantry Regiment Armory in New York.

This show was where the Korat made its first ap‐ pearance at CFA shows.

Empire stayed at the Belmont Plaza Hotel for annual shows held in 1965 through 1970. At the 1968 show, David Mare (now a CFA Allbreed judge and a Past‐President of the CFA Founda‐ tion, Inc.) worked as a longhair trainee with All‐ breed judge Barbara St. Georges .

The Julia S. Hunter Memorial Trophy was established by the Empire club in 1970, and was presented to the Best of the Best Cat — GC Kar‐ nak Zapata, a seal point Siamese male.

Mrs. Hunter had been a great supporter of CFA and the Empire Cat Club. She was a long‐ time Empire member, president of the club for 10 years, and was also the founder of the Westches‐ ter Cat Club. She was the first US cat fancier to own a Grand Champion, Eastbury Trigo, an im‐ ported red tabby Persian born in 1929. In addi‐ tion, she was first elected to the CFA Board of Di‐

Photo by Denis O’Keefe. From The Star‐Ledger, 1971.

rectors in 1939 and served for numerous years.

She began judging at CFA shows in 1936 and re‐ tired in 1966.

Westchester Cat Club also established a Julia S. Hunter Memorial Trophy. Sadly, the Em‐ pire trophy was inadvertently ruined, but the Westchester trophy is on display in the Feline Historical Museum in Alliance, Ohio.

Julia Hnter Memorial Trophy, Westchester Cat Club. From the uCollection of The CFA Foundation, Inc.

The Hotel New Yorker was the venue for the 1971 show, at which GC Sia‐Mews Dixie Dream was the recipient of the Julia Hunter Me‐ morial Award as Best of the Best Cat. The Empire club tried something different for their February 5‐6, 1972 show and collaborat‐ ed with the Westminster Kennel Clubʹs 96th an‐ nual dog show. Best of the Best that year was GRC Fanci‐Pantz Petti Girl of Araho, a black Per‐ sian female.

From the Sunday Star‐Ledger, February 4, 1973.

Passenger Ship Terminal in 1975, and Apache Chief Mateo was again named Best of the Best.

In 1976, the show moved to the Hotel McAlpin, and attracted 380 entries. Best of the Best, selected by Richard Gebhardt, was GC Red Oaks Mill Mella Ella, an odd‐eyed white Manx female.

The 1977 show was again held at the Pas‐ senger Ship Terminal. Best of the Best and Julia Hunter Memorial award winner was GC Surrey Hill Secret, a black Persian female owned by Gene and Patti Darrah. Secret ended the 1976‐1977 show season as CFAʹs Best Cat. In 1978, the show at the Passen‐ ger Ship Terminal featured specialty rings ‐ 4 longhair and 4 shorthair. Best of the Best was GC Jama Kats Midnight Sun, a black Persian male, who was eventually named 1977‐1978 Best Cat in CFA. Staying at the Passenger Ship Terminal for the 1979 show, and again with specialty rings, brought the Empire club and its show numerous accolades.

Reg Riedel and his spotted Safari cats were on exhibit and the center of media attention. Best of the Best, selected by Richard Gebhardt, was GC Clare Way Cheers, a black/white Persian female, who was CFAʹs Best Cat for the 1978‐ 1979 show season. The CFA Showmanʹs Club, formed to give recognition to out‐ standing cat shows that ʺglamorizedʺ the cat, recognized Empire Cat Clubʹs 1979 show as ʺBest Two Day National Showʺ and ʺBest Sweepstakes Show of the Yearʺ. Empire member, Betty Rabinowitz ,was named ʺBest Show Manager of the Yearʺ.

Westchester and Empire clubs worked to‐ gether again on a 3‐day show in 1973, held at Madison Square Garden. CFA judge Richard H. Gebhardt selected GC Karnak Arriba, a seal point Siamese female, as Best of the Best Cat. During 1974, Empire held another show at Madison Square Garden. This time GC Apache Chief Mateo, a silver tabby American Shorthair male, was selected as the winner of the Julia Hunter Memorial award. The show moved to the 16

Bill Wieler

Eb LeSchin

Con‐ tinuing with its innovative ideas, in 1980 the Em‐ pire Cat Club created the LeSchin‐Wieler Empire Cat Club Endowment Fund. Eberhardt E. LeSchin and Dr. John William Wieler were respected members of Empire for many years, with Mr. Wieler serving as club president from 1963 until 1977. This award was established as a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded to a first year veteri‐ nary student who had a special interest in felines.

Empire continued with its successful shows at the Passenger Ship Terminal in 1980.

Best of the Best was GC Mar‐Alʹs Amy of Aristy, a tortoiseshell Persian female.

A move to Madison Square Garden was made for shows during 1981 and 1982. The 1981 Best of the Best was GC Leeʹs Let the Sunshine In, a cream/white Persian male, who would become CFAʹs Best Cat for the 1980‐1981 show season. In 1982, the clubʹs show date was declared ʺEmpire Cat Club Dayʺ by New Yorkʹs Mayor Ed Koch.

The Best of the Best was GC Simbelairʹs Carla of Northbrook, a copper‐eyed white Persian female, again a cat who would take the CFA Best Cat award for the 1981‐1982 show season.

Madison Square Garden was not available in 1983, so Empire returned to the Passenger Ship Terminal for a stellar show that attracted 365 ex‐ hibitors with 570 entries. GC Tchefuncta Tallulah of Chanti, a calico female registered as an Ameri‐ can Shorthair of unknown parentage, was chosen as Best of the Best.

The 1984 show was held in the same loca‐ tion, as were the two shows held in 1985. Best of the Best cat at the November, 1985 show was GC Ramboʹs Rocky Mountain Sunrise, a red/white Persian male, and yet another winner who would end a show season as CFAʹs Best Cat. The 1986 show moved to the Jacob Javits Center in New York, and attracted 600 entries.

Best of the Best was GC Rulewʹs Aduki of Bill Wieler Gavel. Larry Johnson Photo

From the Collections of The CFA Foundation, Inc.

Photo from Cat Talk, December 2020

Nekomo, a red/white Japanese Bobtail male, owned by Douglas Myers and Allen Scruggs.

The 1987 show was held at Silver Cup Stu‐ dios on Long Island, and in 1988 the show moved to the Borough of Manhattan College in New York City.

On February 5, 1988 stamps featuring ped‐ igreed breeds of cats were introduced by the Unit‐ ed States Postal Service at an event in New York City. A May 14th post office cancellation stamp celebrated the Empire Cat Clubʹs 71st annual cat show.

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Shows during 1990‐1992 were held at the Colony Hall, Seaview Hospital and Home on Stat‐ en Island. The show returned to Madison Square Garden in 1993, and moved back to venues on Staten Island for their 1994‐2004 shows (except 2002, which was cancelled).

In 2005 and 2006, Empire held shows in Flushing in Queens County. The 2005 show had 232 entries present, and in 2006 there were 182 entries present and competing.

The 2007 and 2008 shows were held at the Freeport Armory in Freeport, New York. In 2007, 174 entries competed and 177 entries were present in 2008.

2009 saw the club move their show to the Huntingdon Station Armory in Huntingdon Sta‐ tion, NY, where they attracted 158 entries.

In 2010, Empire went back to the Freeport Armory. Their show catalog contained a memori‐ al page for Mordecai Siegal (1935‐2010), promi‐ nent author of pet‐related books, who had been a member of Empire Cat Club for numerous years.

In 2011, the club stayed at the Freeport Ar‐ mory and attracted 130 entries in competition.

That year, the club memorialized Judith Hymas‐ Thomas (1946‐2011), a CFA judge and longtime

Empire Cat Club member.

For the 2012 show, the club coordinated with the Burmilla Enthusiasts of America club for a show that was held at the Lebanon Expo Center in Lebanon, PA. This was the first time in almost 100 years that an Empire Cat Club show was held outside the boundaries of the New York City area.

The 2013 show, celebrating Empire Cat Clubʹs centennial year, was held in July in Somer‐ set, NJ, in conjunction with the Garden State Cat Club of New Jersey. The CFA Foundation attend‐ ed this show with a booth filled with commemo‐ rative items from Empire Cat Club history.

CFA Foundation, Inc. commemorative history booth.

MEMORIES OF THE EMPIRE CAT CLUB

Empire Cat Clubs Members at 1950 garden party. . Photo from Cats Magazine, 1950.

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MEMORIES OF THE EMPIRE CAT CLUB

1963 Show Catalog From the Collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc.

MEMORIES OF THE EMPIRE CAT CLUB

Richard Gebhardt with Persian, April Rain.

Phot from The Daily Record, March 17, 1974

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MEMORIES OF THE EMPIRE CAT CLUB

Red Shadows II of Rose Cottage, an Empire Cat Club Show winner of a crystal radio set.

From the Collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc.

MEMORIES OF THE EMPIRE CAT CLUB

Pegeen & Ed Fitzgerald, longtime members of Empire Cat Club. They were radio talk show hosts in New York City.

Photos from the Collection of The CFA Foundation.

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MEMORIES OF THE EMPIRE CAT CLUB

Empire Cat Club—1979 From All Cats Magazine

A LOOK AT DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE EMPIRE CAT CLUB

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RICHARD H. GEBHARDT There are judges, and there are judges, but only a few of them have the inborn touch.

You are one of them.

-Jean B. Rose 1945 was a momentous year in the cat fancy of North America—a 14‐year old New Jersey boy purchased his first cat, named “Smoke Girl”. From those early beginnings, Rich‐ ard H. Gebhardt would go on to be a driving force in the world of pedigreed cats.

His Silva‐Whyte cattery name would become extremely well known world‐wide for cats he either bred or owned—Trafari, Voo‐Doo, Pola, Nightline, and Designer Genes, to name just a few.

In 1953, at the age of 22, he became the youngest president of the Garden State Cat Club of New Jersey, a position he held for 13 years.

Gebhardt also joined the Empire Cat Club, was President of the club, and a member of their Board of Directors for 21 years. He then held an honorary life membership.

The Cat Fanciers’ Association benefitted greatly when Gebhardt became a CFA licensed judge in 1953, and judged his first show for the Boston Cat Club. Right from the beginning, he thought it important to “glamorize” a show—no wearing a white lab coat, typical judging attire at the time, to judge for him. No, sir, he preferred to wear a smart (and often colorful) sports coat in‐ stead. His reputation as a judge soared and he

was in great demand to judge at shows around the world.

Eventually, Gebhardt turned his attention to cat fan‐ cy politics and was elected Director‐at‐Large of CFA in 1962. He was also President of the newly created Judges As‐ sociation. In 1968, Gebhardt was elected President of CFA, a position he would hold for the next 12 years.

During his tenure, many innovative ideas changed the direction of CFA and its shows—litter registra‐ tions, standardization of cattery names, the “not for breeding” designation, revision of show mechan‐ ics, scoring of Winners ribbons, elimination of Best Opposite Sex awards, awarding of the CFA Medal of Honor, recognition of Top 10 cats in fi‐ nals, and the National Awards still in place today.

Fortunately, Gebhardt chose to share his superb knowledge and vast expertise by taking up a writing career. It began when National Geographic selected him as their consultant for a 1964 multi‐page spread on cats. Numerous books, and collaborations on books, followed with The Complete Cat Book being the most noteworthy of his publications. His contributions of articles to books and magazines have left an invaluable resource for breeders for decades to come.

For many years, Gebhardt was a much sought‐after guest for appearances both on talk radio show and on TV. His legacy knows no bounds.

ED & PEGEEN FITZGERALD

Edward and Pegeen Fitzgerald were Empire Cat Club mem‐ bers with a famous “other” life. The couple hosted a radio talk show, broadcast on New York’s WOR live from their home. They literally pio‐ neered that style of radio talk show.

Called “The Fitz‐ geralds: Book Talk, Back Talk and Small Talk”, the show attracted as many as two million listeners in its heyday.

The shows, un‐ scripted except for the commercials, was the usual morning banter between husband and wife, and often focused on their love for cats and various activities with groups that found shelter for those that were homeless.

Mrs. Fitzgerald was also a painter, often choosing a cat as her subject.

The New York Times published the follow‐ ing by Peter Flint, on January 31, 1989 “With ease and good humor, Mrs. Fitzgerald, a calm, homespun liberal, and Mr. Fitzgerald, a scholarly, theatrical conservative, bounced ideas, events and viewpoints off each other. Their casual preparation usually involved only glancing through newspapers and their mail.

Their only script was commercials, which they themselves styled, and they delivered them unobtrusively and at random. Their commentary, punctuated by the purring of their many cats, concerned the doings 28

of friends and acquaintances and oddities in the news, and included occasional comments designed to shock bluenoses. The couple occasionally bickered on the air, but with wit and affection, in an effort to project the reality of their long marriage.

The loyalty of many listeners who regarded the Fitzgeralds as friends or part of their family frustrated some broadcast executives who tried to take them off the air several times. This loyalty extended to listeners who sent them their cats when entering nursing homes and others who willed their pets to the couple, who often had 10 cats in their apartment and 100 at their weekend home.

In Mrs. Fitzgeraldʹs last years, she continued to maintain the Last Post, a shelter in Falls Village, Conn., and also aided many orphans, convicts and former convicts.”

In 1977, CFA presented Pegeen Fitzgerald with the CFA Medal of Honor in recognition of her humanitarian work on behalf of cats. Mrs. Fitzgerald headed several animal protection groups. Over 100 cats were kept at their weekend home on Hay Island, CT and she located homes for over 3,000 cats a year through the radio pro‐ gram.

JULIA S. HUNTER

ment in 1933, and never beaten for ‘Best of Color’ in any Show, and was the first cat to win a CFA Grand Championship. He never sired a cat quite as good as himself, probably due to the fact that there were no females in this country his equal. His gorgeous head, round muzzle, brilliant color, marks and type, did more to improve the Red Tabbies than any one cat ever has, and even today one can still find traces of these characteristics in his progeny, particularly his muzzle.”

“His most worthy sons—GC Kopper Kettle Krusader of Rockridge (owned by us) and CH Kopper Kettle Kourdeleon (owned by Dr. and Mrs. H.K. Miller of Columbus, Ohio) were litter brothers bred by Arch Horn. Both were outstanding. Trigo also sired many beautiful Torties and splendid ‘show-type’ Creams. “ In addition to her breeding, judging com‐ mitments and club involvement, Hunter also served on the CFA Board of Directors. She is yet another Empire Cat Club member who served CFA as a Director‐at‐Large from 1939 to 1964 (with the exception of during 1955 ).

GC Eastbury Trigo

Mrs. John S. (Julia) Hunter was a longtime member of the Empire Cat Club, and the club President for 10 years.

Prior to beginning her ca‐ reer as a judge for CFA in 1941, Hunter was a judge for UCCA during 1933‐34, and for CFF start‐ ing in 1936. She retired as a CFA judge in 1966, after a rewarding 30 year career as a popular judge in multiple associations..

Hunter was also the founder of the Westchester Cat Club, which established the Julia S. Hunter Memorial Trophy, a large silver bowl, in her honor. This engraved Westchester Cat Club trophy is on display in the Feline Historical Museum in Alliance, Ohio.

Hunter was a breeder of several breeds— Abyssinian, Siamese and Domestic (American) Shorthairs—but it was with the Persian breed that she made her mark in Cat Fancy history. Her Rockridge cattery specialized in red tabby Per‐ sians. Eastbury Trigo, a red tabby Persian male imported from England was the first cat to achieve the Grand Champion title in CFA. In a 1958 CFA Yearbook article, Hunter told the story of Trigo: “About the time of our entry in the fancy, around 1930, the phenomenal Red Tabby male Eastbury Trigo (bred in England by Mrs. Fosbury) was imported, and became the first Red Tabby to consistently win ’Best Cat in Show’ over the then existing outstanding Blues. His record—12 times ‘Best Kitten’ in England; 9 times ‘Best Cat in Show’ - all of which were All-breed Shows in this country before his retire-

EBERHARDT LESCHIN JOHN WILLIAM WIELER

Dr/ John Wiliam (Bill) Wieler

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Eberhard (Eb) LeSchin

Eberhardt (Eb) LeSchin was a longtime member of Empire Cat Club. When the Westches‐ ter Cat Club was re‐activated, LeSchin was a natu‐ ral to be elected as their President. He also served on the CFA Board of Directors as the North Atlan‐ tic Regional Director from 1964 until 1974. For his service, he was presented with an engraved silver bowl by the North Atlantic Region clubs. This bowl is now in the collection of The CFA Founda‐ tion.

Dr. John William (Bill) Wieler was also a longtime Empire Cat Club member, and served as the club President from 1963 until 1977. Upon his retirement from office, Wieler was presented with an engraved gavel commemorating his years of service as the club president. This gavel is also in the historical collection of The CFA Foundation.

Together, Wieler and LeSchin bred Sia‐ mese and Burmese under the LeSchin‐Wieler cattery name and produced many Grand Champi‐ ons.

To commemorate the contributions of these two gentlemen, the Empire Cat Club estab‐ lished the LeSchin‐Wieler Empire Cat Club Schol‐ arship in 1979.

The scholarship was a $1,000 award given to a first‐year veterinary student, with preference given to children of Empire Cat Club, or other CFA cat club, members.

Among the distinguished recipients of this scholarship is veterinarian Kate Faler, the author of This is the Abyssinian Cat, published in 1983.

MORDECAI SIEGAL

Mordecai Siegal was an author. That’s putting it mildly.

Truth be told, he was an amaz‐ ing and prolific writer about a subject he cared a great deal about. That subject was pets beit dogs or cats, Mordecai would write about their care, their lives and he loved doing it.

Steve Dale wrote a very eloguent obituary on the pass‐ ing of Siegal in 2010, and with his permission, we have includ‐ ed some of that eulogy here: In total, Siegal authored 33 books, and according to Dale, “… in the process, changed the face of pet writing.”

Co‐authored with Matthew Margolis, a dog trainer, the first book, Good Dog, Bad Dog was released in 1973. While the majority of his works are about dogs, he wrote about cats as well. Often co‐authored with Margolis, his dog books include When Good Dogs Do Bad Things (with Margolis),” I Just Got A Puppy. What Do I Do? (with Margolis)” Woof! (with Margolis),” “UC Davis Books of Dogs.

Siegal was a strong supporter of the Dog Writer’s Association of America (DWAA), as Dale noted: “He served as President of the Dog Writer’s Association of America (DWAA) from 1994 to 2000.

Among his many honors, colleagues gave him those that mattered most; he was twice presented with the DWAA Distinguished Service Award (1987 and 2000) and he was inducted into the Dog Writer’s Hall of Fame in 2007. “

Dale also notes, “He’s also written for seemingly every magazine there is, including “Redbook”, “Harper’s Bazaar”, and “Reader’s Digest” to name a few, not to mention nearly every dog and cat magazine. “ Siegal was a member of the Empire Cat Club, and had a caller‐interview radio show in New York City, called “Vets and Pets.”

His writings on cats are important resources for all cat lovers. Whether in a magazine article or a book, Siegal passes on an immense knowledge about the cats and their care.

His cat books include The Cornell Book of Cats, The Good Cat Book, Understanding the Cat You Love, and Simon and Schuster’s Guide to Cats.

In 2004, Siegal edited The Cat Fanciers’ Association Complete Cat Book, an official publication of CFA. Written by CFA and its associates, the book is a complete anthology on the history of the Cat Fancy, the pedigreed breeds, and the health and care of cats.

Siegal was a founding member of the Cat Writers’ Association (CWA), following in his tra‐ dition of working with the Dog Writer’s Associa‐ tion of America. He was also the recipient of many of the CWA annual awards.

Wri en by Karen Lawrence © The CFA Founda on, Inc June 2020 32