| Several people have asked about the prop used in yesterday's picture #9. This is a better angle and comes from the original 1954 act that Mac and Peggy trained in which two of these pedestals were used. |
Saturday, June 02, 2007
"Opal" and Peggy MacDonald
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4 comments:
This reminds me of my guilt in not being in touch with Peggy for some time now. I'm writing her tonight. I don't know if she is online. After the deaths of Emil and Hannah Pallenberg, Peggy has remained all alone there in New Braunfels, Texas.
Buckles,
How did Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald get into the elephant business?
Peggy came from the well known Henderson family of circus performers and animal trainers. Her father Lou Henderson might be best remembered in his later years as the trainer of "Marco" the chimp.
Mac had a remarkable career. He once told me that he had served in both World Wars, the 1st in the Navy as a radio operator and in fact had actually signaled the news of the Armistice from a ship in the Atlantic.
He later joined the Army during the 2nd War and served as a rifle instructor stationed in Hawaii.
Mac's first job around elephants was with the Ringling Show in the mid 1930's and he quickly became Larry Davis' first assistant.
From there he joined the Bud E. Anderson Circus in 1939 and trained his first group of young elephants.
After returning from the Army he was in charge of the elephants with both Clyde-Beatty-Russell Bros. Circus and Russell Bros.-Pan Pacific Circus.
1947 began the post-war influx of baby elephants from Asia and Mac trained the Bailey Bros. herd (later to become the Oscar Cristiani elephants).
In 1949 the Tom Packs elephants and in 1953 the famous Besalou Elephants for the Polack Show.
Each was the top act of it's day.
Peggy was kept company by Kathy and visited the family of Hannah and Emil for many years until she passed. She was a wonderful lady.
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