Tuesday, April 01, 2008

From Shannon Rahn


Scan000011045, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Dear Mr. Woodcock;

I am doing research for a magazine based in Richmond Hill, Georgia. There was a local zoo, Chico's Monkey Farm, that was operated in this area in the late 60's to early 70's. I believe it was owned by Bob Snowden.

In addition to trying to track down Mr. Snowden, I am looking for any photos of the place that I can use for my article.

I would appreciate any help you or your fans can provide.

Thank you for your assistance.


Shannon Rahn
Richmond Hill, Ga.

stimscrane@aol.com

Posted by Buckles at 4/01/2008 06:28:00 PM

4 comments:

Casey McCoy Cainan said...

Funny Zych and Ben are discussing "Razzle Dazzle" and "patch work" on one thread, and someone comes asking about Chico's Monkey Farm, and the "Fixer". Zych never mind Ben, if you're gonna do it, get the best.

01 April, 2008 19:15
Harry Kingston said...

Shannon,
I suggest you contact Richard Reynolds on this blog as he is the circus animal expert of all time and probably can tell you all you want to know adn then some.
Also Bob Snowden is in the Sarasota area as he attends there showmans club and has more stories than Carters had pills.
Somebody on this blog ought to know how to contact Mr. Snowden.
Harry

01 April, 2008 20:28
24-HOUR-MAN said...

Shannon:
I hope to see Bob at the club Sat. night, & will put him in touch with you, I have your number.

02 April, 2008 00:26
Anonymous said...

I have never seen an inventory of the monkeys at Chico but suspect they were likely commonly exhibited forms - -baboons, macaques, spider monkeys etc - -we know there was at least one Hamadrayas baboon. The gorilla cage Snowden had there was no. 97, the one Ringling built for female Toto in 1941 though Bob has insisted it was no. 98, the nearly identical one built in 1938 for Gargantua. That one is now in Baraboo, WI at the Circus World Museum where it has been restored. There is no real question about that.

I wrote about this very matter for Bandwagon Nov-Dec 2006. Here is what I said - - - -

“The original 1941 Toto cage No. 97 had been sold earlier. A March 1971 writing on a Ringling-Barnum letterhead stated, “Sold to Capital City Shows [a carnival] - - one used semi-trailer used as a gorilla cage, complete with motor-generator, by the owner Jose Tomas of Sarasota.”

“As we pointed out above, in 1953 Mrs. Hoyt bought the 97 cage from Ringling though the circus continued to use it. We think Tomas must have inherited it following her death in 1969. Use of the Ringling letterhead may signify nothing more that a memo by which the circus recorded the wagon’s disposition since it was likely stored at Venice winter quarters at the time.”

“Capital City Shows must have wanted the wagon for a monkey exhibit since a baboon came with it when the carnival sold the cage. The purchaser was showman Bob Snowden. The bill of sale, dated April 23, 1974 recited - -

“Sold to Robert Snowden, one used semi-trailer used as a gorilla cage, complete with generator and air conditioner, plus one Hamadrayas baboon.”

“At the time Snowden operated a roadside attraction called Chico’s Monkey Farm. It was on US 17 near the Ogeechee River at Richmond Hill, Georgia, just south of Savannah. He operated the monkey attraction from 1969 to 1980. After the monkey farm closed, the property, including the gorilla cage, was abandoned. In 1996 Jack Hunter, a Charleston, SC circus fan, went looking for the old cage. He located the site of the monkey farm and there, amid thickets of pine trees and heavy undergrowth, he found what was left of old. 97. As far as we know, its remains may still be there.”

This paper has a good color photo of Snowden with his gorilla cage at Chico. Its number is 97.

Perhaps Ms Rahn could explore the site to see if there is anything left of old 97.

03 April, 2008 13:01

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