Saturday, May 10, 2008

To Jeff Swanson


Scan000011213, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.


Buckles,

A long time ago I went to see Red Skelton apper at the Nugget in Sparks, NV, outside Reno. The opening act was a single elephant that from the sounds of things was somewhat of a fixture there and had been opening for shows there for years. Can you tell me anything about her? Who owned her? Trainer etc? Is she still alive and performing?

Thanks,
Jeff Swanson

"I'm sure you mean "Bertha" who was owned by and featured at the Nugget Casino for many years.
Unfortunately both she and her trainer Jenda Smaha are deceased"
Buckles

Posted by Buckles at 5/10/2008 08:22:00 AM

4 comments:

sparky said...

buckles

way back in the early 70's, i worked at ringling for hugo, then you, after starting at africa-usa. well, at a-usa, we had an elephant named modoc, and in a recent conversation with a friend, i come to find out that there's a book, by ralph helpher, and a movie about her life. i'd never heard the story from charlie franks while at a-usa, and i'm wondering how accurate is her history as described in the book

mike

10 May, 2008 13:11
Buckles said...

Helfer's book is the worst kind of trash.
About 90 per cent is fabricated.
Most of it concerns "Big Modoc" an elephant with Ringling Bros. that he probably never even saw unless he bought a ticket.

10 May, 2008 13:39
sparky said...

'knowing' ralph, i thought that may have been the case

thanks for the prompt response

and watch that weight. i still remember you in the 220# zone

10 May, 2008 14:01
Anonymous said...

The post card is a fairly common card and was probably given away by the 1000's by the casino. There are 2 more similar to this one and are also very common.
Bob Kitto

10 May, 2008 19:47

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