Friday, August 21, 2009

Bill Emery #5


Scan12039, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

I lifted this picture from a 1937 White Tops that accompanied an article regarding the death of "Ringling Babe" who had been donated to the National Zoo three years earlier.
This picture taken in 1934 when Bill Emery was in charge, includes Sam Gumpertz, Zoo Director Dr. William Mann, Robert Ringling, Emery and Headkeeper W.H. Blackburne.

I have always contended that this was one of Ringling's first two elephants purchased in 1888 while the show still moved overland.
Richard Reynolds adamantly disagrees.

RINGLING BABE
1887 Dan Castello Show
1888-18 Ringling Bros. Circus
1919-34 Ringling-Barnum Circus
1934-37 National Zoo Washington D.C.

Of course the article claims she died at the age of 100 but the mid 50's is more likely.

Posted by Buckles at 8/21/2009 06:43:00 AM

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The combined presence of Gumpertz and Robert Ringling says volumes. Robert's mother, Mrs. Charles (Edith) Ringling, was one of two votes that forced John Ringling out of RBBB active management. The North brothers wouldn't have been caught dead in the same photo with Gumpertz between 1932 and 1937.

22 August, 2009 10:00
Richard Reynolds said...

Yes, I do disagree about the origin and demise of the original RB Babe. I will have to get out my notes to argue my case which I will do in a separate message.

Blackburne was truly a veteran animal man. He went back as far as the 1880s Barnum & London show at least.

He gave a lot of good information about Jumbo. He pronounced that his height at the shoulder was not more than 10 ft.- 9 in. He stated, “He could not have been taller than that because the car we carried him in was exactly 11 ft. high and there was room for the width of a mans hand between Jumbo’s back and the roof of the car.”

Blackburne also provided an account of the herd of 10 giraffes that B&L carried in 1882, how it was done etc. - -as led stock mind you.

They traveled in a special heavily padded rail car and were shown in a small square tent like a marquee with a heavy cord mesh front.

I’m sure losses were high.

23 August, 2009 19:32
quiltedv said...

William "Bill" Emery was my GG Grandfather. I would appreciate knowing which pictures he is in and which person in the photo he is. Thank you for sharing your photos. I always knew he worked for the circus but I did not know in what capacity. Your photos will give me a great look into my family history that until now remained a mystery. Thank You

17 July, 2012 08:35

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