| These next two photos were taken in the early 1970s up in Escondido, California on a John Strong Circus lot. (I believe the young lady standing next to Percy is John Strong’s daughter.) |
Friday, January 23, 2009
Turner Bros. Circus #6
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5 comments:
The Young Lady is Big John's daughter, Sandy Strong.
Big John Strong's winterquarters were adjacent to Jungleland, in Thousand Oaks, and we saw him often. He and Wally Ross were recovering alcoholics, members of AA, and Big John used to bug the hell out of Wally by following him around all day long extolling the virtues of sobriety, which Wally already knew and practiced. Wally used to wince every time he saw Big John coming, and went out of his way to avoid another day of ear-pulling. But Big John always found Wally's hiding places, and the tirade was on again. I'd smile at Wally's eye-rolls during Strong's arm-waving sermons.
I don't think I ever knew Big John's daughter--but as I recall, his son was named, or nicknamed, Sandy. Someone kindly provide the corrections needed.
One night, I took home a Jungleland guy, Elmer Morgan "Chuck" Hayes, who had part-timed with Strong, to their winterquarters. Chuck and I had been to the Rice Paddy bar, and upon leaving, I backed into a ditch, running over a section of Big John's heliotropes. With my headlights beaming to the moon, Chuck laughed so hard he almost couldn't stand up, but he harnessed up Dina, Strong's elephant, and had her pull me out of the ditch. The next day, Strong stood in the Jungleland office, loudly demanding either the replacement of his heliotropes or my ultimate demise. Everyone laughed at him and he left in a huff.
Ah, the memories of Thousand Oaks.
Roger S.
Roger,
Johns son was named John Augustus Strong III, and the elephant in question would have most likely been Nina the first, who I believe ended up belonging to Pat Darby. His next elephant was also Nina (both of which were trained by Smokey I think) and she resides at the C&B
Big John Strong had three Daughters Linda, Sandy, Nicole, and two sons John Strong III, and Terrell. His Elephants name was Neenh. The recently published book "Show Biz Memories" by Winton Edwards, has alot of great information about the early years of the Big Johns Strong Circus.
Roger,
Big John's son was called "Little John" his real name is John Augustus Strong III. The elephant in question was most likely Nina the first, who I believe ended up with Pat Darby and died in a fire in OR. His second elephant was also named Nina and she is part of the C&B herd today. (Both elephants were trained by Smokey I think)
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