How can it be that there is no Hall of Fame for dogs? There is a Pinball Hall of Fame, a Mascot Hall of Fame, a Hot Dog Hall of Fame. There is a Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. There is a Robot Hall of Fame. There is a Burlesque Hall of Fame. There are an estimated 3,000 halls of fame. And no Hall of Fame for dogs.
A “hall of fame” is a Bavarian idea, hatched by King Ludwig I to display portraits of 36 of his country’s most breathtaking Frauleins. In 1853 he built a classical Greek temple in Munich and lined the walls behind the Doric colonnade with busts of historical figures who had brought glory to the kingdom of Bavaria and the Germanic peoples. He called his creation the Ruhmeshalle - the Hall of Fame.But it was really the Americans who took the Hall of Fame ball and ran with it. On New York University in 1901 Henry Mitchell MacCracken launched the Hall of Fame For Great Americans. The first 29 inductees received busts placed in an actual “hall” designed by the esteemed architect, Stanford White. There was no consensus on who was truly a “great American” - only George Washington was inducted unanimously by a board of electors assiduously assembled by MacCracken. No dog was ever included in the Hall of Fame For Great Americans.And so it began. Now quilters are honored, polka dancers are honored, tow truck drivers are honored, stickball players are honored, toys are honored, kites are honored…but not our best friends. Until now.
So let’s get started and meet the inductees into the World Dog Hall of Fame.But before we get going, a word. Some of the stories you are about to encounter may seem the stuff of fantasy to the jaded 21st century eye. But lay down your cynical stick before trying to beat every last kernel of truth from the tales. After all, historians are not united in believing all the stories from Babe Ruth’s life, the greatest of all American sports heroes. It is possible to be famous and not have every scrap of your fame verified. And this is a book that celebrates fame.It’s time to meet…Seaman...frontier explorer, Barry...mountain rescuer, Greyfriars Bobby...loyal dog, Sallie Ann Jarrett...war dog, Old Drum...hunting dog, Bob...railway dog, Nipper...spokesdog, Owney...postal dog, Jean...movie actor, Warren Remedy...show dog, Togo...sled dog, Stubby...war dog, Strongheart...movie actor, Rags...war dog, Rin Tin Tin...movie actor,Hachiko...loyal dog, Mick the Miller...dog racer, Buddy...guide dog, Patsy Ann...town dog, Shep...loyal dog, Skippy...movie actor, Terry/Toto...movie actor, Sinbad...war dog, Brownie...town dog, Chips...war dog, Fala...Presidential dog, Pal...movie actor, Bing...war dog, Smoky...war dog, King Buck...field dog, Laika...space dog, Higgins...movie actor, Count & Dingo...space dogs, Westy Whizzer...dog racer, Ashley Whippet...sport dog, Ballyregan Bob...dog racer, Endal...service dog, Uggie...movie actor, Chaser...smart dog…
