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.

George Carden Circus Int'l 1980s

The following photograph can be found at Angie's Circus City Diner in Hugo, Oklahoma. It was posted to the Circus Historical Society's Facebook page with a question to the identity of the show, animals and handlers. Veteran bear trainer James C. Hall answers the inquiry.

Taken at Angie's Circus City Diner
Courtesy of R Easley 01/2013

Circus Vargas - 1974

The 1974 Circus Vargas herd featured a herd of nine ( including an African and a male ) in its second year of owning, rather than leasing, elephants.

Colonel, Koora and unknown w/ Wally Ross
Courtesy of Buckles Woodcock

Elephantastic! A Century of Pachydermic Pageantry

Clocking in at just under two full hours, this magnificent collection of all things pachyderm contains 28 different elephant acts (some partial and many complete), in addition to several additional accompanying vignettes filmed on various shows around the world. Among those featured in performance are trainers DANIEL SUSKOV working the Tarzan Zerbini elephants (1990) - OSCAR and MARIAN CRISTIANI, filmed in 1969 on Rudy Bros. Circus, in Honolulu - CHICO WILLIAMS and DELILAH WOODCOCK with “TOTO” the elephant, as captured on New York’s famous Big Apple Circus (1984) - KAYE'S HOLLYWOOD ELEPHANTS with Judy Kaye, also shot in Hawaii with the E.K. Fernandez Circus - BOBBY and ROSA GIBBS at Baraboo’s Circus World Museum in the mid-1970's - JEAN SCHMITT with the Ringling Barnum Circus World herd (Orlando, FL) - PHIL and FRANCINE SCACHT with “DONDI” from a Chicagoland TV special (1986); REX and AVA WILLIAMS with the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. elephants on the 1967 TV show, "Coliseum" - BUCKLES and BARBARA WOODCOCK working the RBBB herd in 1978 - JENDE SMAHA with “Bertha” and “Tina” from a rare Hollywood Palace kinescope, and several others.

A number of global offerings are included, as well, such as KENNY BENNEWEIS and Denmark’s renowned Circus Benneweis elephants (1992) – the CEASAR TOGNI elephants, from a 1960's episode of Don Ameche's "Int'l Showtime" - MARY CHIPPERFIELD working a single elephant with a canine sidekick - BOBBY ROBERTS and the Robert Bros. Circus elephants from England, and so on.

An extreme rarity, also featured in this already top-heavy program, is a wonderful piece of vintage 16mm film showing MACK and PEGGY MacDONALD training the legendary Polack Bros. Circus “Beasalou Elephants” at their home, in San Antonio, Texas, in 1963. No spangles or make-up here: just fascinating, intimate footage never before seen, shot nearly fifty years ago. There is even a short clip of Mack and Peggy working with TOMMY HANNEFORD and baby “INA,” also in Texas.

ELEPHANTASTIC! is a compilation of privately shot 8mm, Super 8mm, and 16mm films, some of which date way back (i.e: a 1908 film of "Jumbo" the elephant, working on a vaudeville stage in Chicago), videotapes, and vintage television appearances from the U.S., Mexico, and Europe. Never before has there been such a comprehensive collection of outstanding, one-of-a-kind elephant footage offered! Break out the peanuts, sit back, and wrap yourself up in trunk-loads of tantalizing tricks!


This new compilation produced by Timothy N Tegge can be ordered online at CircusTimeVideo.com for $19.95. A check or money order may also be sent to P.O. Box 661 - Baraboo, WI 53913. Make them out to either Circus Time video or Timothy Tegge. If you cannot see this for sale on the site yet, check back! This is a brand new release and should be available for viewing by Monday, December 13.

Additional information can also be found at Elephant-News.com and Buckles Web Log.

Henry Vilas Zoo 1981

Wayne Jackson, the retired "Wanderin' Elephant Man," recently shared this picture taken at then Henry Vilas Zoo in 1981. He inquired what became of these young elephants.

Circus Vargas - Jack

A note regarding Circus Varas news in June 1976 Circus Report announces the addition of an eight year old male to the show, bringing the herd size to ten.

Circus Report, 5th year No 24, Page 15, 06/14/1976
Courtesy of CircusHistory.org

The Father's Photographs - Oklahoma City Zoo

The following photographs were taken in the early 1980s at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

Photo 1, Oklahoma City Zoo, early 1980s"
Courtesy of R Easley

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

Circus Vargas - Dutchess

ShowMe Elephants recently discussed the beginnings of the Circus Vargas-owned elephant herd under owner Cliff Vargas and elephant trainer Wally Ross.

The 1974 Circus Vargas herd featured a herd of nine ( including an African and a male ) in its second year of owning, rather than leasing, elephants.

Colonel, Koora and unknown w/ Wally Ross
Courtesy of Buckles Woodcock

The first five elephants, acquired in 1973, were acquired from Gene Holter of California - Minnie, Colonel Joe, Shirley, Virginia ( renamed Lottie ? ) and Judy. Four more animals were acquired the following year - Hattie, Trixie, Koora and Dutchess.

The Father's Photographs - Lincoln Park Zoo

The following pictures were taken in June 1993 at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, Illinois. At the time indicated, three elephants resided at the zoo - 18 year old year old Asian elephant Bozie and her three year old daughter Shanti and 15 year old African elephant Binti.

Photo 1, Lincoln Park Zoo
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

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.