Here is a fine view of one of RBBB's great zebra herds around 1930. John Ringling had an affinity for them and in 1927 imported a herd of 20 to go with six or so already on hand. Breeding was successful and the herd grew over the years.
In this photo the Grevys would be at the far left.
The late Gordon Potter of St. Joseph, MI, counted and recorded everything he saw on all the circuses he visited from the late 1920s through the early 1940s, including the zebras. He reported zebra herds on RBBB as follows - - 1928 (25), 1931 (26), 1932 (31), 1933 (23). The herd was cut down to 11 for 1934 as the show sent ten of them to Hagenbeck-Wallace, likely kept more in quarters, and otherwise disposed of some.
This photo was almost certainly taken in Chicago where, during its annual 8 or 9 day stand, the circus had enough spare time to pose a photo like this, outside the menagerie tent. Harry Atwell must have been the photographer. Much of our photo record of RBBB from this time came through the lens of Atwell's cameras.
Today, it is hard to believe that one circus would carry so many zebras. |
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