Washington Park Children's Zoo - Indianapolis

Indianapolis' first zoo opened in 1964 and exhibited animals until its closure and subsequent transfer to a new site in 1988. This facility first exhibited Asian elephants, before switching to African elephants. Generally speaking, only a single elephant was exhibited with a few instances of two for short time periods.

"Tumthong, a baby Asiatic elephant born in Laos and shipped here by air, was bought for the Zoo with the pennies, nickels and dimes contributed by thousands of school children."
Courtesy of Circus No-Spin Zone

Bernstein Park Zoo

The Bernstein Park Zoo, fomerly located in Monroe, Louisiana, was shut down in 1967 for renovation. It reopened as the Louisiana Purchase Zoo.

A November 1969 news article states the Bernstein Park's elephant died recently. No further information is found regarding the identity or history of this animal. A 1963 news article describes the Elephant House as a "recent development." The 1969 article also references a new elephant is slated to arrive to replace its predesser. Information is only available on two elephants for this facility prior to the discovery of this news article - Michelle and Shirley.

The female Asian elephant Michelle is listed in the North American Regional Studbook for the Asian Elephant with a death date of ~1975. The Murray Hill records compilation lists a more accurate date of July 1974 due to severe arthritis. No further information is available regarding the history of this elephant.

Shirley's history is well-documented from her arrival to the Al G. Kelly-Miller Bros. Circus in 1954 to her eventual retirement to the Louisiana Purchase Zoo in 1977 and relocation to The Elephant Sanctuary in 1999 where she resides to this day.

Shirley w/ keeper Solomon James
Louisiana Purchase Zoo

Further information is sought regarding Michelle and her predecessor.

>> Monroe Morning World 12/29/1963
>> Monroe Star 11/12/1969

Rudy Bros. Circus 1973

The following photos, taken by James Cole, were taken on Rudy Bros. Circus in 1973 in Boston, Massachusetts. Pictured are Eloise Berchtold in Ring 3, Morgan Berry in Center Ring and ( believed to be ) Judy Jacobs in Ring 1.

Morgan Berry's infamous all-male elephant act at this time consisted of Teak, Thai, Tunga, Buddah and Ranchipur. He owned another male Asian Sahib who, per the North American Regional Studbook for the Asian Elephant, was on loan to Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon, for a ride contract. His female Asian Abbey / Me Thai was leased to Hartzell Bros. Circus per the recent research of Bob Cline.

The African elephanrs worked by Eloise, also owned by Berry, consisted of two females and a male - Owala, Shambi and Durga.

The presumed Jacobs elephants would be Dolly and Dumbo. Tina died the previous year in Canada. Peggy was purchased the following month from DR Miller's Carson & Barnes Circus.

Pittsburgh Zoo Elephant Ride 1985

Can anyone tell me who this elephant "Daisy" is at the Pittsburgh Zoo, offering elephant rides for the summer of 1985 ? She is with handler Mike Wilson. Was this a contracted ride or in-house ?

Highland Park Zoo - Part I

The Pittsburgh Zoo has a long history of housing and exhibiting Asian elephants prior to their currently successful African elephant breeding program. Unfortunately, very little of this history is recorded in the North American Regional Studbook for the Asian Elephant. Referencing archived news records of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and others, more insight can be found regarding the Highland Park Zoo's early elephant history.

St. Louis Zoo - Eleanor

The story starts in 1955, with eight elephants imported by Louis Goebel and purchased by Anheuser Busch for the St. Louis Zoo. The new animals were to be trained by Floyd Smith and presented to the public in daily shows, a testament to the Polack act trained by Mac MacDonald. Within five years, three of the group were sold. The first, Eleanor, was sold to the Weed Park Zoo in Muscatine, Iowa, in September 1959.

OpLink - History review (original record card / ks)
0/8 purchased from Louis Goebel Wild Animal Farm ($3,500 ea. price plus insurance, $28,000 total) with funds donated by Anheuser-Busch Charitable Trust. 0/4 arrived at Goebel in May 1954 and another 0/4 in October 1954, where they remained for training by Zoo elephant trainer, Floyd Smith, until being trucked to the Zoo by Anheuser-Busch.

Postcard 4, St Louis Zoo
Postcard Courtesy of S Hoss

Erie Zoo - Tom Boy

Wayne Jackson recently submitted a photo to ShowMe Elephants looking to identify the animal and facility. With the help of former Erie Zoo elephant keeper Kris Hopkins, the photo was identified as Shani of the Erie Zoo. A multiple part series featuring the elephant history of the Erie Zoo will begin, with many animals needing further information to complete their stories.

>> "Erie Zoo" at ShowMe Elephants

According to Erie Zoo spokesman Scott Mitchell, former Erie radio personality Barry Grossman once made the profound observation, "Erie people often identify their generation by the elephant at the zoo at the time they were growing up."

Smokey Jones

Circus Fans Association of America

CFA offers you an opportunity interact with fellow circus enthusiasts in many ways. Local geographic groups (called TENTS) provide a chance for folks who live in the same geographic area to attend shows together and to meet to discuss the circus scene. State organizations (called TOPS) organize larger gatherings and special events. Periodically, there is a national convention when Fans from throughout the country convene. //Don Covington, CFA President 2012-2013

Circus Report 09/13/1993

Artie

The following photo was taken by Wayne Jackson in Florida in 1990. The animal pictured is an African male owned by Gary Jacobson.

Lakeside Park Zoo - Judy

A record compilation from the late Murray Hill's Animal Education, Protection & Information Foundation shares names of many elephants not found elsewhere. One such animal is Judy.

The records compilation date in April 1964 the young bull, about three years old, at Lake Side Park Zoo in Jefferson, Ohio. Jefferson, a small village with a current population of about 3,000, is located in the uppermost northeast corner of Ohio. No further information can be found regarding a zoo facility in this location.

Wildlife Safari

The following photograph features the African elephant herd of Wildlife Safari in the early 1990s. A notation on the back, while lacking a date, identifies the young male George as castrated.

A former article at ShowMe Elephants discusses a large import group of elephants to the park from Africa in 1979.

>> http://www.showmeelephants.com/2013/03/wildlife-safari-imports-1979.html

Wildlife Safari
Courtesy of M Easley

African Lion Safari - Brandy

The Hunt Brothers, owners of International Animal Exchange, operated out of Ferndale, Michigan, dealt in an incredible number of elephants. However, their larger animals were transferred through two facilities outside of Michigan - African Lion Safari in Port Clinton, Ohio, and International Wildlife Park / Lion Country Safari in Grand Prairie, Texas. A news article from Toledo documents the shipment of a young elephant to California.

Courtesy of ToledoBlade.com

Moolah Shrine Circus 1992

An assortment of photos of circuses performing in St. Louis have been found in my father's collection. Unfortunately, most are unlabeled and they all are mixed up. An effort is underway to sort the photographs and identify the herds and handlers. St. Louis, Missouri, is the hometown of ShowMe Elephants. It has been fun identifying these sets.

Moolah Shrine Circus, St. Louis, 1992
Courtesy of  M Easley

Moolah Shrine Circus 1990?

An assortment of photos of circuses performing in St. Louis have been found in my father's collection. Unfortunately, most are unlabeled and they all are mixed up. An effort is underway to sort the photographs and identify the herds and handlers. St. Louis, Missouri, is the hometown of ShowMe Elephants. It has been fun identifying these sets.

Moolah Shrine Circus, St. Louis
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

Sparks Casino - Angel

The following page was found in a July 1990 Circus Report, less than a year following the Sparks Casino's purchase of a year old female calf from Roman Schmitt's breeding program at Busch Gardens.

Circus Report 07/30/1990

Moolah Shrine Circus 1988

An assortment of photos of circuses performing in St. Louis have been found in my father's collection. Unfortunately, most are unlabeled and they all are mixed up. An effort is underway to sort the photographs and identify the herds and handlers. St. Louis, Missouri, is the hometown of ShowMe Elephants. I look forward to beginning these sets.

Moolah Shrine Circus, St. Louis, 1988
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

Highland Park Zoo - Rani

The Children's Zoo at Highland Park in Pittsburgh displayed a number of baby elephants, a custom most prevalent in zoos during the 1960s to 1970s. As worded by Toledo gossip columnist Don Wolfe, "the custom of trading in an automobile on a new model every few years has spread to elephants." The North American Regional Studbook for the Asian Elephant does not list any of the in-and-out animals to populate the Children's Zoo but four animals have been found, all using the "recycled" name Rani.

Children's Zoo - Highland Park - Pittsburgh
Courtesy of delcampe.net

Ringling Bros. Blue Unit 1972

Veterinarian John Cunningham of Olney, Maryland, worked on the ringstock crew of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1972 prior to attending veterinary school. During his annual visit to the Kelly Miller Circus, he shared his collection of photographs taken during his employment with the show.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Blue Unit 1972
Courtesy of Dr. J. Cunningham

Planter's Peanut Company

A record compilation from the late Murray Hill's Animal Education, Protection & Information Foundation shares names of many elephants not found elsewhere. One such animal is "Cinderelephant."

Zirkus Charles Knie 2013

Who says there "ain't no cure for the summertime blues?"

Zirkus Charles Knie ( D ) 2013
Courtesy of It's Circustime on Facebook