Wednesday, August 02, 2017

#3 Chimp Acts


8 comments:

Bob Swaney said...

Two classy folks.

Chic Silber said...


Sue might fill in the blanks

Where & when & names & ages

(We all know who Rudi is)

Patricia said...

As I said a couple of days ago, I have a lot of respect for people who work chimps, adult chimps give me the heebie-jeebies. Two hoots from the belly and I'm out the door.
I started with chimps at Jungle Larry's in 1974, I had an act with four and Roy had an act with five.
Roy's oldest chimp, Clark, didn't like me. Clark bit my knee and threw poop at me- at least he was honest about his feelings. I had a hard time connecting, even with my group; I was always suspicious they were a little more clever than me.

I enjoyed them though, I think I was taken back to my childhood. I didn't have a favorite doll (didn't like dolls, I liked stuffed animal toys)and spent many years with Jo Jo the Chimp and Chester O' Chimp, who had a pull string and spoke phrases with an Irish accent. I don't think I ever missed an episode of Lancelot Link.

My hat is off to you, Sue. You and Rudy had that special something it takes to handle these incredible animals with such great success.

Sue Lenz said...

Photo taken at Cirque D'Hiver, Paris France 1964/65.

For Chic: Chimps from the top are Sita, Freddy, Louie, Bobo and Sally.
Sally performed at every performance that Rudi & I ever worked together from 1964 until the end of 1994.

Chic Silber said...


In my 56 years in the business

I never saw better behaved or

better performing chimpanzees

I have seen some pretty ornry

elder of the species that were

enough for me to learn to keep

plenty of distance between us

I was taught early on not to

make eye contact with any big

chimps or babboons as it was

considered a challenge & I had

no problem in lesson learned

The worst of the BIG males was

known as Congo in a truck show

on Beatty billed "Killer Ape"

I forgot whose chimp on Jimmy

Harrington's Puerto Rico date

was able to got hold of the

short pipe that fell out of

a sleeve & chased the trainer

all over the outfield of the

Estadio Hiram Bithorn where

we were showing (very Exciting)

Thanks Sue for the details

I'm in Atlanta changing planes

Will be back in Sarasota just

in time for the memorial event

at the club for Mike Morgan

"ShowFolks Club at 5 pm"

Chic Silber said...


Didn't you have 6 chimps

in your rock & roll band

on that rotating platform

An incredible display

Harry Kingston said...

Yes Rudi and Sue were a class act and great real show folks.
Had great visits with them both.
I remember on Clyde Bros Howard Sueze show and Lucky Larabee was the ring master he had a 38 tucked in his back when the chimp act came out for protection.

Chic Silber said...


How early did Rudi start

training chimpanzees Sue