Buckles Blog: Last Night's Soiree!

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

From Shannon.

Paul G said...: Time marches on, just wish it was at a much slower pace. RIP with John Mary Ruth.; 10 November, 2015 17:39
Wade G. Burck said...: Time marching on, Paul? I first met Roy when I went to work for Jungle Larry's African Safari in Naples, Florida in 1973-1974. He from South Dakota, me from North Dakota. He was the "big shot" animal trainer at the Safari, going by the name "Cowboy Row Wells." My first job was as a zoo keeper, but shortly after became Roy's assistant and was given the name "Watusi Wade." Roy was a twin to Cat Stevens at the time with his black curly afro and bushy mustache, and with his black safari hat, with zebra striped band, and boots cut quite a figure. He was presenting 4 male lions, Numa, Rama, Bakuba, Solimon, 6 young chimpanzees, Clark, Mark, Sparky, Holly, Samantha(sign of age I can't remember the name of the 6th one) and two elephants African Kiki, and Asian Babe. The animals had been trained by a Sonny Marine(anyone know what happened to him?) with Roy as his assistant. I got pretty excited about this animal training thing of our's and went to work for Lou Regan after a year with "Cowboy Roy". Roy left the safari a year or two later and hired on with Gee Gee Enggesser. Thus two Dakota boys got there foot in the door of show business and did the best we could to forge a name.

Wade Burck; 11 November, 2015 18:18
GaryHill said...: Nice story Wade..:); 12 November, 2015 22:41

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