Henry Bitzenburger’s 1940s Lion Hunting Film

[Wade Phillips]

Does anyone have the film that is mentioned in this article that appeared in the June 1947 “Archery” Magazine? I would like to view the film…

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Bitzenburger and Maull to Preview Picture of Lion Hunt

Henry A. Bitzenburger and Laurie Maull announce the preview showing of their recent lion hunting picture, “Cougars, Hounds, and a Bowman Hunter.” The picture was filmed on their recent lion hunting in Utah and will be shown on the evening of June 27th, 8PM at the Maywood, Calif., Moose Hall, 4433 East 58th St.

The picture was filmed in Technicolor with lots of telephoto close-ups that will make you feel as if you were actually with the boys on the hunt.

After the show there will be dancing to the music of a five-piece Hawaiian orchestra. An admission of $1.10 will be charged to help defray expenses.
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This photograph is of Henry, the lion and Henry's bow, which is a straight grain yew with Easton Style Take Down Sleeve and distinct Bitzenburger water transfer decal. Upper limb is signed “Old Lion Killer” by Henry A. Bitzenburger. Also signed by bowmen who accompanied Henry on this hunt, L.L. Maull, J.G. Daulley, R.W. Stephens. Lower limb signed by Stew Foster and Roland Quayle.

 

[d. ward]

Wade is that the bow that came up for sale last summer on gbay ? bowdoc

[Wade Phillips]

Doc - Who has the film........ ???????

To answer your question, without looking at my records, I'm not certain of the year I got Henry's bow but it was well before last summer. I moved the Bitzenburger stuff into a new display case for Compton in 2007. For the first year of that display, I had just the upper limb in the Bitzenburger display case, then last year before the ABCC meeting in Minnesota, I figured out how to get it rearranged and got both limbs in the display case. Probably need to build a larger display case the Bitzenburger items. Would love to put the whole series of his fletching tools in the display too, but there is a limit to size and weight of these "portable" displays...

[d. ward]

Yes I did recall seeing the bow.I will double check and see if anyone has the film out this way.I wonder if Hayden may have a copy of that film ??? bowdoc

[Wade Phillips]

Doc - This is Henry's T/D bow "OLD LION KILLER" in the Bitzenburger display along with some of his arrows and broadheads and misc items...

 

[JavelinaHink]

Wade....Thanks for sharing the photo....its always nice to see this one again.

[Rick Enos]

great stuff Wade..Will you be bringing some of your displays to Compton.

[Wade Phillips]

Rick - Yes, will bring some of the displays to Compton. They will be set up in the big room next to the breakfast dinning hall.

[Rick Enos]

We'll be looking you up...

[Bjorn]

That is a truly remarkable display Wade. Congrats!

[Wade Phillips]

Bjorn - There are some really nice items in the Bitzenburger display. Have several more items of Henry's items not in the display yet.

The dark arrow on the right side, is Iron Eyes Cody's arrow, made of Osage and a 1939/1940 Bitzenburger broadhead, of which only 2 others like it are known.

Bjorn - I'm sure you remember the "Bitzenburger Pencil" that I bought from you a couple of years back. Now you know why I wanted it for the display. It is right below the photograph of Henry.

[TRAP]

Awesome display, I bet it gets alot of attention at shows.

I'm sure, to many archers, Bitzenburger is just the name of the fletching jig on their workbench untill they see this.

Well done, and thanks for sharing.

Trap

[Bjorn]

Wade, Yes the pencil, and score card.......
a question.........how many years did it take you to collect all the items in that display?

[Bjorn]

My son and I are lucky to hunt at Hillside Ranch; 4000 amazing acres that was an active cattle ranch in the 30's and 40's. The ranch was written up in Architectural Digest in 1938, and was photographed by Ansel Adams on two separate trips by him. A magical place to say the least that today is a rich man's retreat in summer and a hog haven in the fall and winter.......anyway in the rafters of one of several garages on the property was this box; look closely at the imprint on the arrow:
 
Let's look inside the box:
 
These arrows pre-date plastic nocks, Wade confirmed they would be from the 40's.
A few other items, including a beautiful leather pouch, in perfect condition:
 
Note the partial sticker on the box.
And finally a peek inside the smaller compartment:
 
An unused bow string, a few nails, an unmolested package of 'New Skin' and a box of 'Feen a Mint', archery essentials of the grand old days of trad.

[Wade Phillips]

Bjorn - It has only taken 30 years to assemble the Bitzenburger Collection. None of the broadheads were identified as Bitzenburger 30 years ago. I did most of that legwork myself. It has been a very long but very enjoyable mission.

Trap - Yes, at shows the Bitzenburger display gets a lot of attention from those who know a little about Bitzenburger. So many bowmen can only associate the name with a fletching tool.

The unfortunate thing about putting together a display like this is that after it was shown the first time, the interest in Bitzenburger's items skyrocketed.

I should say unfortunate, because as a result of sharing the information, it has only created some immensely stiff competition for items that become available.  Prices of many items more than doubled within a very short span of time.

You wouldn't even believe what some of these heads have sold for since this display was first shown.