Friday, September 14, 2007

Wally Ross (From Daryl Hoffman)


unknown, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Mr. Ross was probably the best all around animal trainer I ever knew.
He started out as a kid with Cole & Walters Circus and when the elephant man blew he just started working the act. The same thing happened in 1953 with Wallace & Clark Circus, when the trainer that came with the Cole Show bulls that Luke Anderson had hired took off, Wally jumped in and again finished out the season.
When Luke sold "Gentry Babe" to Gene Holter, Wally went along and became an official California guy and before long was doing movie work with an incredible variety of animals.
I knew him best from his days at Jungleland when I would camp there with the Polack elephants however people over East might remember him when he was in charge of the elephants with Vargas where he was the original trainer of "Colonel Joe".
I was told that at one time he was employed by the US Navy to train porpoises.
Maybe Roger Smith could tell us what elephant this is and who the people might be.

Buckles

Posted by Buckles at 9/14/2007 06:46:00 AM

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wally Ross and Morris Wintermantel worked with the Navy's marine mammal program in its early days. Their work with a dolphin named "Tuffy" is legendary. Wally told me the Navy had hired a group of PhD's to train animals. He said they could write reports and "sound like space pilots" but couldn't get the animals to do anything. Wally and Mo came from working sea lions in California amusement parks and knew how to get results.

I met him when he was on Vargas and I was starting out with sea lions. He was encouraging and helpful with training and show advice -- a nice, and talented man.

14 September, 2007 07:20
Anonymous said...

Wally had the Vargas herd when I first went there in 1974. He and Bones Craig were always a pleasure to deal with when we needed work bulls for the big top. Colonel Joe was known as Dillinger back then, and I remember the African Kora had a habit of turning in circles as she left the menagerie tent and headed for the big top. The big top was a 160' x 310', built by O'Henry, we were constantly repairing it as the cables were cut the wrong length.
Erik Jaeger

14 September, 2007 19:25
Anonymous said...

first time i was in the vargas show Wally was the elephant boss and i was his groom and what a pleasure to have being around him . years later we ran into each other in california doing studio work he was living in Thousand Oaks he intruduce me to a senior elephant gent name Charly Franks if there is any one out there that can shine a light on who was and what shows he work ? CleanRaul

15 September, 2007 00:18
Anonymous said...

first time i was in the vargas show Wally was the elephant boss and i was his groom and what a pleasure to have being around him . years later we ran into each other in california doing studio work he was living in Thousand Oaks he intruduce me to a senior elephant gent name Charly Franks if there is any one out there that can shine a light on who was and what shows he work ? CleanRaul

15 September, 2007 00:18
Anonymous said...

The elephant here is Bimbo, the one Arky handled for the CIRCUS BOY television series. Photos of Arky with her show the distinctive left ear and the same tusks. I believe the people in the howdy are from 2oth Century-Fox, but I can't name them. Wally left to train seals for the Navy during my time there, but returned to Jungleland after a relatively short time.

15 September, 2007 01:45
Changeling said...

I am the great niece of Wally and I love learning more about him! Thank you all for your stories!

17 December, 2017 20:22
elephant girl said...

Amanda, I would love to get in contact with you. Wally and my father, Roy Kabat, worked together for many years. Wally was my mentor and like a second father to me. Loved him dearly. Robin Kabat Dickson

14 March, 2018 14:04
TRISHA HEGLAND said...

I WORKED WITH HIM ON CIRCUS VARGAS. DROVE A TEAM OF PONIES IN SPEC AND ELEPHANT ACT SHOWGIRL

29 June, 2018 03:50
TRISHA HEGLAND said...

I WORKED WITH HIM ON CIRCUS VARGAS. DROVE A TEAM OF PONIES IN SPEC AND ELEPHANT ACT SHOWGIRL

29 June, 2018 03:54
Changeling said...

I somehow did not get any notice that you all had responded! Please email me! aduh1988@gmail.com

07 December, 2018 10:22
Unknown said...

I met Wally when I was a student at Moorpark College in the EATM program. I was hired to be his groom and take care of the animals that stayed at the old Jungleland facility in Thoussnd Oaks. Circus people and studio trainers were frequent visitors. He was my mentor and second dad...we performed together as the Wally Ross family in 1979 when the Herriott family left mid-season. I worked the Andalusian liberty act, originally trained by Glen Randll and high school dressage horse named Scirocco, which Wally let me train.

24 March, 2021 12:22
Unknown said...

The previous comment is from Tina Risdon-Nuss

24 March, 2021 12:26
Changeling said...

How wonderful! If you have any photos please email!

29 March, 2021 12:17

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