Mac MacDonald #1

Scan11673, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Mac and "India" with Bud E. Anderson Circus 1940. Mac told me that he started out working for George Denman on the Ringling Show in the early 1930's and became Larry Davis' assistant when he had the herd 1936-38. Walter McLain brought his own crew from the Barnes Show in 1939 and Mac managed to land a job with the Bud Anderson Show. Anderson had brought him over to train five young green elephants "Modoc", "Empress" and "Judy" from the Cole Show and two imported punks "Bonnie" and "India". Mac once told me that coming from the Ringling Show, they assumed he would be an expert trainer but only having had experience with adult elephants he didn't have a clue. He regaled me with many stories of training by "trial & error" and added that fortunately Matt Laurish, a horse trainer with a lot of all around training knowledge, gave him a lot of tips and Mac being blessed with an incredible work ethic eventually got the job done.