Thursday, May 04, 2006

To Mr. Hoffman


I never knew Remo Cristiani or his elephants, in fact I was surprised to find this picture. I introduced myself to him once and got the brush off for some reason, so all I know about "Sheba" is what I have in my files.
My first record of her is 1959-60 with King Bros. Circus (Bob Snowden) no idea where he got her, then 1961-63 with Cristiani-Wallace Circus (Pete Cristiani) and finally to Remo from 1964 thru 1984 and no further record.
The "Ramoni" you mention, I have with Mr. Cristiani 1977 thru 1982.
Good luck in Houston.

Posted by Buckles at 5/04/2006 11:54:00 PM

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have never ever seen a baby elephant chained like this person has here. Looks to me like a show off for the group. Does not look like much of a trainer. Any more back ground on him? I know sometimes it is neccessary to keep order. but this picture is just offencive [?] to me. What is this person trying to prove? No wonder he brushed you off Buckles. You would have made him look sick.

05 May, 2006 08:21
Anonymous said...

Not trying to whitewash history, but, judging from the shadows on the ground, this looks like a very early morning break at a truck stop or a pre-set-up -- so we can hope he was just acting the fool for a few minutes, trying to stir up a little interest -- or giving the baby a bit of sunshine and stillness, on a long haul in a state with tougher than average rules.

Inspectors are sometimes more than "belt & suspenders" careful. Some of them may be what my dad called, "belt, suspenders, and a 20-penny nail pounded straight through the navel" -- extra, extra careful, in applying their own state's rules.
(That was a joke, a figure of speech of a bygone era.)

05 May, 2006 12:17
Buckles said...

I don't remember these elephants working many circus dates but plenty of shopping centers and malls.
This is probably one with Remo seen holding court.

05 May, 2006 12:43
Anonymous said...

I have ask several law makers in several states about their chaining laws regarding elephants. They all said the elephants had to be chained. BUT the animal wrong weirdies used the chaining as an excuse to bad mouth the circuses. If you did as they wanted you to you broke the law. Now you have to have electric fences. I sure hope no animal or small child get electricuted trying to see an elephant at one of those scumuaries! Gosh I love that word.

05 May, 2006 14:08
Anonymous said...

I worked with Remo on 2 Garden tours - real nice guy, but shy and almost never talked to anyone. He had one big elephant and two small males. They didn't do tons of tricks, but still a nice looking act. And, yes, he had a beautiful truck with living quarters in the front. The LQs were real plush with a circular bed. Remo was older then, but had a beautiful wife with blond hair past her butt. Looked real good when they did the whirl trick. Very hard working lady too. Lots of times, when the building was next to an open space, he would let the big female loose and when she wandered away he'd stick his head out the door and whistle and she'd come running back like a big dog.
Next I saw him, he had a place out near Arcadia. The female was loose in the front yard and he had an elephant ride sign on the lawn. Probably Remo and the elephant are both dead now.

05 May, 2006 16:46
Anonymous said...

PS
Don't know what Rebecca finds so offensive about the picture. I've seen quite a few elephants chained on just one foot.

05 May, 2006 16:50
Anonymous said...

Oh, just remembered something else about Remo. He used to keep the elephants immaculate - scrubbed every day and he used to oil them just about every week, so they were very dark grey, almost black. It looked pretty sharp with their white harness with wide rhinestone banding, anklets and toenails. They used to be introduced as "black Siamese elephants"

05 May, 2006 17:19
Anonymous said...

Remo Cristiani has passed to the Big Lot several years ago. The blonde with the long hair was Irene. Cosetta Cristiani - Remos wife of many years is still living in Sarasota - but she is in a Nursing Home.

05 May, 2006 18:25
Anonymous said...

Do you know who the elephant in this picture is?

05 May, 2006 19:17
Anonymous said...

Remo and Irene were on Little Richard's Carnival for a few years.As were my brother and I. I remember Irene went over to India,I beleive, and aquired two punks from an elephant orphanage.
Irene. She had some kind of connection over there. And later I beleive she went to vet school.
They both were very particular with the care ofm their elephants.
He was the hardest working man I ever saw for his age and always appeared to be in top physical shape!

05 May, 2006 22:52
Anonymous said...

Probably was showing off with the punk. That's what people do who are pround of their animals, in the ring or out.If they weren't proud, they'd just become animal renters, renting acts out at the lowest cost, even at a loss to cut the throats of independant acts. Then, when they got in trouble with the law, no one would stand up for them. And quite a few would secretly laugh about it.But, we don't know anyone like that do we?

05 May, 2006 23:40
GaryHill said...

I think Rebecca was more offended that Remo would have brushed off someone like Buckles! I took offence to the guy too just because of the same thing Buckles said. I can tell you that the name Woodcock is like a magic key, it has opened many doors, I never would have been able to even look under.

06 May, 2006 02:43
Anonymous said...

Dear Mr Fenne, just consider the source. (Of who said what) and that will make sense to you then. I too agree with you, how can a person take offense at a person in a photograph? Some folks do not kno when to keep it to themselves! She does not have to comment on everything.

06 May, 2006 09:20
Anonymous said...

Yes I do make comments on as many post as I can. I have a circus background that I am very proud of. I also have met a lot of circus people that I am proud to have known that I worked with. A couple that I could have passed by along the way.

07 May, 2006 08:15
ANDY said...

LETS SEE REMO HMMM. COMES FROM THE OLDEST CIRCUS FAMILY IN HISTORY..BUCKELS HOW ABOUT YOU? REBECCA HOW ABOUT YOU?? REMO IS MY FATHER AND I KNOW ALL THE OLD TIMERS REX FREDDIE WOODCOCK..BUCKELS???? DONT PICK ON REMO..GET A LIFE GO OUT SIDE FOR A WALK..IF YOU CARE ABOUT ELEPANTS SEND SOME MONEY TO THE ZOO OR ELEPANT SANTCAURY...

07 February, 2007 16:50

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