Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Rare Bird Farm #3


Lalea Ray training "Queenie".

Posted by Buckles at 9/29/2015 05:39:00 AM

7 comments:

JIM ELLIOTT said...

Is this the "Queenie" that was Walt Kings at one time?

29 September, 2015 12:44
Larry Louree said...

Is this the Queenie that water sliied at the resort in DeLeon Springs in Volusia County Florida?

29 September, 2015 15:29
Liz (Green) Dane said...

The answer to Jim and Larry's questions is "Yes"! We sold Queenie to Walt King in 1967. He, in turn, sold her to Patti Gatti. She ended up at Wild Adventures in Valdosta, GA.

We water-skied at Ponce deLeon Springs the winters of 1958-1959 and 1959-1960. Ponce deLeon Springs is now DeLeon Springs State Park. An event is being planned for Sunday, Nov 8th. I have been asked to be there to greet the visitors to the Park and to explain what it was like back in the late '50's. And, of course, to talk about Queenie and her water-skiing days.

Liz (Green) Dane

30 September, 2015 18:14
BARBARA WOODCOCK said...

I believe that Mother was training "Queenie" to hold that box that later was a bottle of coke or something like that for a commercial. One thing that I was very proud of was the fact that Mother didn't have to have any ropes or any type of restraints to keep them in the ring. If one would fall down outside the ring, it would scramble up and get right back in it's place in line. Also when Mom would turn all the animals lose in the fields, and she would got out to see them they would push and shove each other to get to her to love her. It was beautiful to see. She also trained two Cheetahs for the farm. And Chic you ask if Mom Trained birds for Green. She trained a fabulous bird act for our circus when she was 18 or 19 years old.......Barbara.....

01 October, 2015 01:06
Chic Silber said...


Were there other members of

your family with your folks

up at this farm park Barbara

& did you get to know Liz

I believe you 2 were about

10 or 11 years apart

01 October, 2015 09:55
Chic Silber said...


If Queenie were alive today

she would be 63 so I guess

more than likely she isn't

01 October, 2015 10:00
Liz (Green) Dane said...

Two comments -- Barbara (and Ben) came to the "Farm" and spent one summer there. (Barbara - was it 1956?) She hand made a two piece velvet material costume for me. I have it to this day and will treasure it always. Perhaps Buckles can locate the picture that I sent to him including Barbara, Queenie, her Mom and Dad, my Dad and myself on "Martha" our bactrain camel.

Re Queenie being alive today - How I dearly wish she were - however, she was euthanized on Memorial Day, 2011. As noted previously, she was at Wild Adventures, in Valdosta, GA. - being sent there from Patti Gatti's several years prior to then. Unfortunately, she was in terrible shape - the top half of about six inches from the tip of her trunk was missing - she had a huge foot ulcer and was severely arthritic. But on a happier note - after being apart for 38 years, Queenie and I were reunited! She absolutely remembered me - with actions that were only displayed with those she loved and trusted. Others sometimes ended up on the receiving end of her trunk!

Liz (Green) Dane

02 October, 2015 12:22

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