Two
questions, a friend asked if any of the elephants that Mack & Peggy trained
are still alive? If so, are they still working or if not where are they? And do
you know why Opal was sold and how she die?
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Monday, February 17, 2014
From Grace-Swank Davis #2
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5 comments:
Opal was sold to the Stebbing Family Circus in 1978 and some time later they sold her to Mexico.
Mack later trained a number of elephants at his place in San Antonio for people like John Cuneo and Phil Shacht but I'm not aware if any are still around.
The last of the Bailey Bros. herd died at an animal sanctuary in Valdosta, Ga. some time ago, can't remember which one.
Buckles, I spoke with Carin Cristiani on Saturday, and she said that Shirley is still alive, and at Valdosta.
Oscar's Emma died awhile back but she was not added to the act until after the family broke up with Bob Stevens.
Didn't she come from Ben Davenport?
No she was purchased in 1955.
Steve Fanning wrote my father asking how to to break her to down who in turn had me draw a sketch as to how the deed was done.
That was the same winter they were training all those baby elephants at the Ringling quarters for the "Mamas in the Park" number.
Years later Smokey told me that Steve had dropped by asking for some help(evidently my artwork was inadequate)so in the evenings Louie Reed, Smokey and a couple of hands went over to their place and tipped over and sat her up.
I recall Emma Lou's eyes were blue, which reminds me to ask- which of the elephants was billed as Zumbo the albino elephant? What was that all about? Paint?
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