Birthday Memories for Mack MacDonald, November 15, 1903-September 22,
1983.
Photo with Babe, Bailey Bros. Circus, 1947. Peggy wrote on the back, "I think this is the way most people will remember Mack." Buckles has mentioned that Mack gave his career a "boost" along the way. It was only fitting as Buckles' dad, William Woodcocks, had done the same for Mack years before. They all shared one thing in common, their love for the elephants. |
Saturday, November 15, 2014
From Billie Schuller
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3 comments:
"Babe" is out of the Bailey Bros. elephant act later owned by Oscar Cristiani.
The "boost" Billie refers to was in 1948 my father was working this Bailey Bros. act in New Orleans at the Tom Packs Shrine date and Jack Leontini was so impressed he asked my Dad if he would be interested in training the the five baby elephants Mr. Packs had just purchased.
After explaining who the trainer actually was they contacted MacDonald and a deal was made.
That's show-biz.
I always wanted to send this example of connection. I received an email a couple of years ago with this request:
"I am a writer working on a book about circus elephants and I am trying to locate the Billie for whom Buckles Woodcock named an elephant he trained in the early 1970s. Would that by any chance be yourself?"
I emailed her the information about the namesakes of Billie, the elephant, and Billie Ray, Barbara's sister.
Her reply:
"Thank you so much for this information. You cleared up a real mystery! I'm amazed at what a small world the circus world is."
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