European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 14, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine american Matador fighting the system in Spain Boa Wollam staff writer n american bullfighter in Spain does t have much of a Chance says Philadelphia bom Matador John Quilon. The Spanish like to refer to me As the Anglo Saxon said he tall strongly built 54-year-old Matador. Kiting at a Small outdoor cafe in Central Seville distracted occasionally by admirers throwing greetings a launched into what seemed to be a recurring theme a gnawing frustration. The Spanish bullfighting Public could Admire an american for his courage or Grace but there s a National Barrier thai keeps them from giving him that unbridled passion he said. Fullon became the first american Matador in Spain in 1961, and he did so in Seville where bullfighting critics Are said to be particularly Lough. He received critical acclaim one bullfighting critic said he was one of the Best non latin lighters to enter the ring. Other were lest impressed. Fulton said Many Spanish bullfighting critics and reporters assume americans succeed in Ifie ring in split of their nationality and fail because of it. You re constantly reminded you re american in gets to the Point where you re pretty proud of  Fulton knows there Are people of Ell nationalities who find wiling bulls in Public a disgusting Way to mane a living. But he loves bullfighting defends it and describes ii in eloquent terms. It s More like Ballet than a sport he said. But it has to be performed spontaneously. Dancers can practice maybe five years before they do Swan Lake. The bullfighter has 1o create As he goes with an unknown medium that can kill him then it s Over he said. The crowd goes Home tha excitement Grace and Tenor of the a Lemoon Wil Naver be precisely re created. But it s a natural High you can Gal in no other Way. The fact that you re risking your life and come out successfully Fulton does t risk his Fife much these Days. He says the National barriers make it Tough for him to fight in Spain. He often travels to Mexico just to practice his Craft Mexico was where he began training for his career in bullfighting. He was 13 and living in Philadelphia when a saw Anthony Quinn and Tyrone Power in the movie blood end Sand. From that Day is dreamed of nothing except ugh Long bulls he accepted an Art scholarship to a University in Mexico the inst tulo Del arte de Al lends in san Miauel de Al lends. He did so largely because he knew Arel ired Matador lived in the area. Fulton who was a fencing Champion in High school traded fencing tips for Bulino Hting lessons with the Matador. The army drafted him he served two years during the mid-1950s. But not even Uncle Sam could . Sparks Fulton paint with blood of Buff Ina a fed monday july 14, 19b6 and soil has been for the american bullfighter in Seville struggling to gel lights to do what he loves and finding various Means to support himself. Those Means have included aiding James Michener in the writing of Iberia doubling for various actors in movie made in Spain painting pictures of bulls using their blood for paint and writing a Book on bullfighting. Fulton s catch As catch can career has taken him All Over Spain and into he presence of Ell kinds of people. He can drop More names than a history Book. He hummed for a while with Ernes Hemingway says Hemingway was a Nice Guy. Fullon recalled a woman who Onca approached Hemingway in a Malaga bar and asked for an autograph. The author replied he would gladly sign a copy of his Book because every Book sold put Money in his pocket. Fulton said Hemingway aware of the bullfighter s struggle to make ends meet once stuffed a $100 Check in his pocket. Fulton played Peter Toofe 8 double when Lawrence of Arabia was filmed in Spain. He also me Anthony Quinn his hero from blood and Sand. Fulton Owten Art studio in Seville where he displays his Bull s blood paintings and other original Art. The paintings in blood the blood of the bulls he has bed Aren t As grotesque As ii might seem. He says they set quite Welt. Ii is the sate of those paintings. Along with that of his Book on Bull fighting and his other enterprises which support him. Fullon has yet to retire from bullfighting he said a fighter can fight until he feels he cant handle ii any  some matadors continue risking their lives into their 60s, replacing the dexterity of heir youth with. Finesse skill and knowledge but Fulton s Days in bullfighting we numbered last year he was seriously gored in Mexico receiving an injury Emil or to one that cited one of Spain s lop matadors recently. Fulton s Goring missed by Millimetres the vein that was severed in the leg of the dead Matador. Vet Fullon was fighting again within Deys. It s like falling off a  he said. You have to gel Bach up he wants to fight in Seville again if the promoters and Public give him the Chance. He is growing his Pigtail for that Day. You know most fighters Wear fake pigtails he said. The tradition is that when a Matador retires after his last Light someone comes out and cuts in Oil. That Marks his official retirement. I m growing mine in ant Kapaon of  the stars and stripes Page 13