Wednesday, June 18, 2008

From Adam Hill


MVC-001F, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.


I was just informed on your blog by Liz (Green) Dane that Bessy has passed away in January at Wild Adventures. So I thought I would send a picture of her in 2002 at the mall in Myrtle Beach, SC She is being weighed which is something we did 2 to 3 times a year. She weighed a little over 8200 lb.
Thanks Adam Hill

Posted by Buckles at 6/18/2008 06:11:00 AM

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks Adam. DFoes anyony have the history of "Bessy" ?

19 June, 2008 19:05
Anonymous said...

Hi John

Bessy was one of the four elephants Norma and Pete Cristiani had. They were give to them by Ben Davenport for a wedding present. Then I think when Cole bros. bought the King show she came with it. She was with several differnt elephant over the years on the three different show. Then when Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Just became one show she stayed there untill I retired her at the end of 2002 to Wild Adavengers. Bucles probibly could give more info. He may know who trained her and all the different elephant trainers/handlers she has had. All I know was she was a sweet Lady the years I had the previldge of taking care of her. Adam Hill

22 June, 2008 17:23
henry edgar said...

i believe norma's elephants were bought by beatty cole in 1958 or 1959. then when the corporation put sells and gray on the road, bessie went to sells and gray, in either 1962 or 1963. she performed with beatty anna may on sells and gray until anna may's death, and i believe stayed with sells and gray until the show closed, when she went back to beatty cole. as adam said, she was a very sweet elephant, very intelligent, a hard worker and a good performer. she and anna may were a great team. with sells and gray, she worked with dave mullaney and chuck hayes. i'm not sure if she was there the year frank dailey had the elephants. chris hudson was elephant empress. i don't know who worked the elephants after i was drafted at the end of the 1965 season.

22 June, 2008 18:27
Michael said...

She was there up until at least 1966. I was with Sells and Gray 64-66 the Bill English. Paul Hudson years. Frank Daily was the bull trainer, Johnny Golden the Cat man. Anyway yes both Anna-May and Bessie were great, sweet gentle bulls somewhere I may have a picture of me standing between them taken in 1964 or 65 up in Thetford Mines Quebec, If I can find it I will post it. Frank Daily was also the Prop Boss, and Lil Abner was the Big top boss at the time.

04 September, 2015 15:18

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)