"Walt Stimax, Bobby Gibbs, Dorey, Ted Bowman, Gopher Davenport, Emory, TX, 4-12-95"
Courtesy of B Prickett
Courtesy of B Prickett
Ryan E. said...
Do you have any more information about this elephant 'Dorey?' I have never heard of this elephant. Perhaps it is a reused headpiece?
William P. said...
You are probably right. I was just thinking, I should ask someone if they knew anything about this elephant. Could Bobby Gibbs have been transporting this elephant with him. He was only there for a visit. I do not remember seeing it on KR on later dates.
Further research discovers this elephant was three year old Mickey, born to Roman Schmitt's Busch Gardens breeding program.
"Bill Prickett, Bobby Gibbs, Dorey, Ted Bowman, Gopher Davenport, Emory, TX, 4-12-95"
Courtesy of B Prickett
Courtesy of B Prickett
"Bobby Gibbs, Dorey, Gopher Davenport, Emory,TX, 4-12-95"
Courtesy of B Prickett
Courtesy of B Prickett
"Newly painted Van - props, sound, music, ring curbs, Emory, TX, 4-12-95"
Courtesy of B Prickett
Courtesy of B Prickett
My brother and I worked the elephants that year, and trained Mickey. Roman named him after Mickey Mantle known as Dorey in this pic. who is now called Tommy. Lots of name changes for such a little boy kind. We had a total of seven elephants Krissy,Donna,Heather and Lisa. These were african. Boo,Irene and Mickey. The Asians.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, Mike. Thank you for sharing. Do you know which year was the first that Gopher replaced the 'Great American' name with 'King Royal?'
ReplyDeleteThe show was called Starr Brothers circus,and before that Ford Brothers. He purchased some of the elephants from Allen C. Hill's Great American circus, but don't know that he ever used the name Great American.
ReplyDeleteHeres a storyteller telling a story, focused on Bobby Gibbs.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/embed/RHmJ-jy7zFI