Bertram Mills' Circus 1927-28 Program #1

I was introduced to Cyril Mills many years ago at the Sarasota Showfolks Club and when he learned that I was an elephant trainer he immediately brought up the Powers Elephants that were featured with Bertram Mills for many years but was an American act. The drawing on the cover of this program brings to mind our former elephant "Anna May". My father worked as a groom for this act when it appeared in Vaudeville in this country. He was so impressed with one that stood on a tub and tapped it's feet with a tambourine while Mrs. Power sashayed around the stage in Spanish motif. Many years later when he trained "Anna May" he decided to duplicate the trick but elaborated by having her skip around the ring and strike alternate feet with the tambourine as seen in the video clip. He also had a "mantea" made, as seen above, plus castinets that fastened to her ankles, much to my dismay since it was my job to fasten and remove these items in a hurry so as not to interfere with the act. There is no running order in this program but in the "Personalia" section, Jeanette Power states: "My elephants have met every President of the United States in the past twenty years and Royalty too. The Prince of Wales is one of their best friends. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught are very fond of them and Princess Pat was delighted with them as well."