Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Coop & Lent Circus 1918 #1


This was an early and I might add, unsuccessful attempt at a motorized circus.. The elephants were owned by Rhoda Royal, "Helen", "Victor", "Carrie" and "Muggins".
Two years later Mr. Royal took out his own circus, this time on rails but with not much more success. At age 16, the Rhoda Royal Show in 1920, was my fathers first circus. He told me how much he was impressed with these same four elephants and that their trainer "Elephant" Kelly, tolerated his endless questions.

Posted by Buckles at 9/06/2006 02:32:00 PM

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

THE ELEPHANT WAS NAMED AFTER RHODA ROYALS WIFE. I WAS TOLD THAT SHE WAS TRAINED BY AFROAMERICAN ELEPHANT TRAINER, SIDNEY RINK. SHE BECAME ONE OF THE 101 RANCH ELEPHANTS AND THEN TO THE RAY ROGERS CIRCUSES AND THEN COLE BROS WITH JEAN AND EDDIE ALLEN. I WORKED HER DURING THE YEARS OUT OF [TERREL JACOBS, COLE BROS.,PAUL KELLY PLACE IN BUNKER HILL, PERU] AND THEN AGAIN ON HOXIE BROS. WHERE HER CAREER ENDED. NOT A VERY HANDSOME ELEPHANT WITH RAGGED EARS BUT NEVERTHELESS A GOOD OLD CIRCUS ELEPHANT. I AM REFERRING TO CARRIE FROM THE RANCH HERD.

06 September, 2006 16:28
Anonymous said...

This show was out from 1916 - 1918

06 September, 2006 21:22
Anonymous said...

I NOTE WITH INTEREST THE COOP AND LENT PHOTO WITH REFERENCE TO RHODA ROYAL AND CARRIE THE ELEPHANT. RHODA ROYAL NAMED HER AFTER HIS WIFE CARRIE. SHE WOULD BECOME ONE OF THE NOTED 101 RANCH HERD AND WOULD BECOME ONE OF THE COLE BROS. ELEPHANTS FOR MANY YEARS, WHERE I GOT ACQUAINTED WITH HER AND WOULD GO FROM COLE TO THE BIG KING BROS. BOTH OF US. WE WOULD THEN GO TO HOLLYWOOD FOR TWELVE WEEKS TO DO THE MGM MUSICAL JUPITERS DARLING. WE WERE TO GO FROM CULVER CITY STUDIO TO LOCATION UP IN THE MOUNTAINS AND FOR PUBLICITY BEKINS VAN LINES OFFERED TO MOVE THE TEN ELEPHANTS. THESE WERE OLD RAILROAD SHOW ELEPHANTS AND DID NOT COTTON TO LOADING IN SOME LITTLE SEMI TRAILERS. WE LOADED TWO TO EACH TRAILOR. I WAS BERT PETTUS ASSISTANT. WITH SOME DOING WE GOT THEM LOADED EXCEPT CARRIE. WE FINALLY TURNED HER AROUND AND BACKED HER IN. NOW I REALIZE MAYBE THATS HOW SHE LOADED ON COOP AND LENT..SO SHE ENDED UP ON HOXIE AS DID I. SHE WAS NOT A VERY HANDSOME ELEPHANT WITH BONEY HEAD AND RAGGED EARS,BUT CERTAINLY AND OLD CAMPAINER. IMAGINE THE NUMBER OF GAZOONIES THAT YELLED MOVE UP TO HER OVER THE YEARS AND SHE SEEMS TO HAVE PUT UP WITH ALL OF THEM. WHAT A BOOK SHE COULD HAVE WRITTEN. NOW RHODA ROYAL WAS QUITE A GUY. FROM A RINGLING GROOM TO A FAMOUS HORSE TRAINER. HE WAS LIKE CONCELLO WHEN HE HAD ALL THE MAJOR CIRCUS FLYING ACT CONTRACTS AND ALL FLYERS OF NOTE WORKED FOR HIM. IN HIS HEYDAY RHODA HAD SUPPLIED HORSE ACTS AND TRAINERS FOR MAJOR CIRCUSES AND EVERY NOTED TRAINER OF THE DAY EITHER BROKE IN OR WORKED FOR HIM. JOHN SMITH AND OTHERS OF THOSE DAYS REFFERED TO HIM AS RHODIE. REX ROSSI TOLD ME THAT HE WAS ON THE TOM MIX CIRCUS WHEN IN HIS LAST YEARS HE WAS EQUESTRIAN DIRECTOR AND DROVE A FINE HARNESS BUGGY IN SPEC WITH TOP HAT AND RED BEARD. HE DID OWN ELEPHANTS AND ALWAYS WENT BROKE TRYING TO RUN HIS OWN SHOWS.

07 September, 2006 11:00
Anonymous said...

To the one and only Mr. John Herriott:

When I "read" your postings I can actually "hear" your voice.

07 September, 2006 13:32

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