"Mabel" at left, 23 years later with Carson & Barnes in California when the show was owned by Jack Moore. The other three are "Jenny Woodcock" as my dad called her, "Josky" and "Wanda"
Photo from Chang Reynolds.
MABEL
Imported by W. P. Hall
1927-31 Robbins Bros. Circus (Fred Buchanan)
1932-33 Hall Farm
1934-37 Seal Bros. Circus (Bud Anderson)
1938-40 Parker & Watts Circus
1941 Ira Watts
1942-49 Hamid-Morton Circus
1950-52 Al G. Kelly & Miller Bros. Circus
1953 Cole & Walters Circus (Herb Walters)
1954-68 Carson & Barnes Circus (Jack Moore)
1969-72 Carson & Barnes Circus (D.R. Miller)
1973 Sold to Gran Circo Union (Mexico)
"During the winter of 1953-54 Rex and Barbara along with in laws Ruben and Lottie Ray came into Hugo prior to opening with Jack Moore's show, Ben would have been less than a year old.
D.R. leased "Mabel" to Jack, his first elephant, and I recall my dad practicing her in quarters with this young couple but not much more"
Buckles |
2 comments:
Mabel was a great elephant--very gentle; i worked her in a 3 act on Dory's show in 72 when i was the announcer, she was the lead bull in the act and had one speed, slow! But she was reliable and easy to handle. Had most likely done the same act forever as i think she was close to 50 when i was around her and i see the year we worked together was her last on C&B. she was a nice looking elephant, very blump. Dory was on an elephant buying spree in those days--at one point in 72 i think we had as many as 30 or 35 elephants on the show--imagine! I used to follow Dory and Mrs. Miller overland as we'd stop and have breakfast together--one day he handed me $5,000 in cash in an envelope and had me mail it some guy for the purchase of an elephant, which arrived a week later. Amazing. not sure how many bulls the Millers still own but Dory sure loved owning them--i believe he even bought some off of Ringling at one point,
D.R. must have trusted you more then me.
Early that same year he mailed me $10,000 cash to buy the three MGM elephants from E. James Strates.
I was out back hacking down jungle when the Post Man drove up and handed me the envelope.
I had to sign.
Post a Comment