Volume V, Issue #85

Civcufr MasterBy Ralph Major (Coronet-April, 1950)

From the 6' platform, a deadly paw swept down in alightning flash of sleek yellow fur. Its unsuspectingtarget was a stocky young man in evening clothes whowas armed only with a whip and a short stick. Asspectators screamed, the huge leopard's needle-sharpclaws sank into the man's shoulder.Acting with experience-whetted instinct, the man liftedhis feet from the floor and hung from the animal's pawwhile the circus audience watched, hypnotized. Then,with a ripping sound, the padded shoulder of the man'scoat tore loose and he dropped to the ground.Quickly he turned to face the hig cat. Brandishing hiswhip admonishingly. Damoo Dhotre scolded his snarlingpupil. "You bad child, ' ' he said sternly, "don't you knowbetter than to attack your old friend? Now. behaveyourself!" When Damoo left the barred cage to theapplause of the circus-goers who had almost witnessedhis death, he made 2 resolutions: never be overconfidentand never again wear heavy clothing.The first resolution stems from Damoo's conviction thatany mistakes by his jungle charges are the trainer's fault;the second, from an in t imate knowledge of wild beasts.An animal attacks its enemies, Damoo knows, with onepaw at a time. That paw pulls the quarry toward thebeast, while the other waits to encircle the victim. So-thesecret is to keep that first paw outstretched. If thematerial of the trainer's garments is strong and does nottear, there is no hope for h im. Damoo's insideinformation on the habits and mental processes of bigcats comes from long experience. At 47, Damoo Dhotreis America's top animal trainer. As a high salaried star ofthe Ringling Bros. Circus. Damoo demonstrates eachsummer before awed spectators the dangerous art he hasbeen practicing since he was ten. In his native country.India, animal t ra in ing has long been an honorableprofession. Damoo was one spangle-struck boy whoactually followed storybook tradition & ran away from

February 15,2000

Rose Alexander & Damoo;home to join the circus. Fortunately and coincidentally.the circus belonged to an uncle, so there was only tokenopposition from his parents. One morning. Damooventured into a cage in the deserted main tent.

(Continued on Page 4)

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FOX 76 4ST3fE JOX !!! * m .•Dear Friends.Happy New Year to all of you. Yes it took a long time forme to get an other letter out, but everything is topsy turbyright now around me. I will explain that later.First of all New Years went great at the Club, but I thinkthere ware lots of people missing. It seems that everyyear less and less people show up. But then more andmore people left us from our world and the newgeneration just does not show up, also the moneys are notthere for a party. There have to be some changes made.The Ring! ing Reunion was great but from 50 people whocommitted them self to come, just 25 showed up. Soagain I made to much food. But what counts, everyonehad a great time.To day we will have the election for the Showfolks andhope everything will come out alright. June Mills willend her raign. I have to say she really worked like a dogand did bring money in for the club. She watched everycent which was spend and she never missed out on beingthere for every event. She had very little help from therest of the board. She started right off with being short 4people. One of them bailed out shortly after she started asPresident. That was the Treasurer. So she did all the timealso the Treasurers job. Well this year we will start outwith no Treasurer and no Secretary. I will report about allthis after to night.I have a house full of children as Tammy showed up withher 4 kids and they keep me hopping. They weresupposed to go back a few days ago but somethingunexpected happened. So they are not with DonnyJohnson any more. Tammy will do advance for theCircus World of Jordan for three month, the children willstay with her mother except Erika who will go with hermother to help her. Tammy also needed a car so shebought one with the help of her mother. Only time willtell how life will go on. Jenny drove to Dallas withTammy to pick up all her belongings from up there. Itwas a whole truck load full.Most of the shows are already out there working. WalkerBrother Indoor Circus, Royal American Circus, I believethe Dubskys also are out and running. I had no time sofar to check them all out. So I will leave this also to mynext letter. The performers also are leaving one by one,so soon Sarasota will be missing all the lively crowd. Iam just putting a short note in. so all of you do not think

I am gone for ever. I am still sick but not like most of theothers. I have my back out in three places and am tryinglo get it back in my self, but it is very hard and I am in alot of pain. I do not have the flu. Thank God.The Black Show wil l be in Tampe in a few days,Ringling had there slay in Tampa and St Pete. TommyHanneford will be doing the Shrine dale in Sarasota.The Dubskys second unit had a bad accident and lost allthere equipment. It burned down. Three people wherehurt, one lost his life.Well we had the election at the Club. It was not to legleas it was done in the bar area wilh everyone arounddrinking bul as I was for the last 4 years told, who caresabout law, we do it our way. As I said before, I am verymuch of doing things the right way by following rulesand regulation but you can not win. Hopefully the newBoard will get things back the right way. 1 am sorry toinform all of you, but 1 will not be involved in this, as Ilost by one vote. I had 39 votes and Norma Davenporthad 40. So I like to congradulale Norma and wish her allIhe luck in the world. She will be the Second VicePresident. As Presidenl you will have Dale Longmeyer. Ihope I spelled his name right. Penny Wilson had no onerunning against her so she will be your Vice President.On the Board running most of them won, there were justtwo extra. I can not tell you who all won but I know LaNorma won, Bea Warfield, Ann Copeland, these I amsure off. Still no Secretary or Treasurer. Please everyonedo not think that I am upset or sad that I lost out. This jobis very important and hard job and will all I have goingon right now, I really could not do as Second Vice well.I also know that Norma Davenport will do a wonderfuljob for all of you and I am proud to loose to her as shereally deserves it.Hey all you out there, I need to ask you a question. Whenyou train wild animals in Winterquarters, should that bea free bee??? How much should a trainer get for workingthe animals in a circus season??? Should a animalperformer have a groom and a driver if the cats notbelong to him or her??? I really would very much havean answer to this. I will print your answers in my nextFox letter but will not name names, so do not be afraid towrite me. Sdenka. Mania Kaisers sister had an otherstroke and passed away. Poor girl, she really suffered forquite some time. I just read it in the newspaper and it wasa private funeral. She is in peace now Thank God.Derick Rosaire called me and told me what a great timehe had on a vacation which daughter Kay and Pam tookhim and wife Liza on. (Continued on Page 10)

Inside was an old lioness with whom he had madefriends. When he tried to arouse the senile beastwith taps from a bamboo pole, the lioness suddenlylet out a roar and leapt at Damoo.He fled from the cage and scrambled to the top of ahigh platform. His uncle, called to the tent byexcited attendants, took in the scene at a glance.There was the lioness, by now snoozing peacefullyagain, the open door of the cage-and Damoo-crouched fearfully on his precarious roost."If you want to be an animal trainer," the circusowner called to the boy, "then do it the right way."Thus Damoo was catapulted into his career. Nextday the circus' animal trainer began to instruct himin the wiles and ways of the jungle kingdom. Whenhe was 14, Damoo was performing in the cage. Bythe time he reached 17, he had become a veterananimal trainer.Damoo came to the U.S. just before WW II andnow presides over one of Ringling's featured wildanimal acts-billed as "Graduation Day in theJungle." When the spotlight from the tent-topilluminates the circle of 15' high iron-linkedmeshwork, he unfastens 2 clamps on the door andsteps confidently into the cage. Dressed in a whiteturban and baggy spangled trousers, his upper bodybare except for a bright-colored bolero jacket,Damoo carries no gun or weapon of any kind. Hissole protection is a whip and a stick tipped with arubber plug.As the smiling Hindu stands there casually, a barreddoor at one end of the cage is raised and out walksthe strangest student body any professor evertaught. First, muscles rippling beneath her spottedcoat, comes Sonia. She is followed by Champion,Tabou, Poupette and Eacloo. They look likeovergrown cats, but all are snarling leopards.A soft word of command and each animal climbsatop its pedestal. Then from the opening comeSouris and Ratan. They are pumas. Behind themfollow Jogo and Megus, black jaguars. Next comeMacou and Bangkok, the circus' fierce black

panthers. All are ancient enemies. Loose in theirnative habitat, they would instinctively attack eachother. Yet, in the spotlighted ring, each walksdocilely past Damoo and with a single fluidmovement, springs on a reinforced tub and sitsdown. Among animal trainers, Damoo is respectedfor his ability to make such ancient enemiesbehave.Now the audience is silent. All eyes fixed on thetrainer. He is wholly unimpressed by the gasps offear, for the big cats-Sonia, Champion, Jogo,Macou and the rest-are his friends. He knows themas a father knows his children.Speaking in a low, gentle voice, he urges his pets toassume their positions. Champion, 130 pounds ofsolid leopard, places front and rear feet on 2 tubs.And the 155 pound Damoo stoops and hoists theheavy beast atop his shoulders. Then he paradesabout the cage. One by one, the animalsacknowledge Damoo's soft commands and taketheir places in pyramid formations. Occasionally apanther or jaguar will snarl, or spring at anotheranimal. With a sharp command-or, in exceptionalcircumstances, a crack of the whip-Damoo bringsorder to what could easily be frenzied chaos.How does a single man conpol 11 savage animals?Damoo's answer is disarming in its simplicity-kindness and love. Nothing else. He seldom has towhip his animals. "In school, teachers try to installin children a respect for fellow humans. They try todiscipline, through love and understanding, naivekids who sincerely don't know how to behavethemselves. Well, I try to do the same thing withanimals. You see, they don't know what to do untilyou tell them. And you must not frighten or upsetthem. If you do, like children they'll freeze up. Myanimals, when I begin to train them, are just likekindergartners."Soon school will open for his newest recruits-Cubaand Nola, roly-poly black panther cubs whichalready are demonstrating the ferocity for whichtheir species is notorious. When Damoo appearedbefore a TV camera in NY last year, for instance,he brought Nola with him. (Continued on Page 6)

Rodeo Days & The Elephant RaceBy Mike Cecere

If you had lo think of the wackiest stun! ever thought upby a circus promoter or press agent, what would you say?High wire walk over a lion cage? A circus parade? Radiointerview of a clown in full makeup?NO, It's An Elephant Race!Maybe if you've never trained, handled or cared forElephants, it would sound like a plausible publicity stunt.But, with on of the main points of training the greatbeasts is to have them stay with you, it's a nutty idea onall points. But sometimes even the best of us get talkedinto a crazy stunt.Well, it was back years ago on a large, long sincebankrupt tent circus, that had a large collection ofanimals and a group of top animal people. One of whomwas my friend, Ken Turtle Benson.And for awhile, the owners of this circus were sold onthe idea of Elephant Races by a promoter I'll call "Ahab"(this is the same guy who wanted lo bring the giraffedowntown daily for a banner deal!) And while a giantwaste of manpower & negligible return at the box office,it was good for a few laughs.One memorable day, Capt. Benson and I drew the shortstraws in the morning lottery and got put on Race duty.So, off we went on a 2 mile hike to town with Big "Boo"and "Debbie," both reliable elephants from HarryLocker's center ring act. Arriving in the center of townwith the giant beasts, we were informed it was the town'sannual "Rodeo Days" Celebration and most of theinhabitants were dressed like extras from "Gunsmoke!"As usual, preparation was sketchy at best, so we foundthe circus committee chairman, who had made the"saloon" a few too many times that day, and ended upcoordinating the event U.S. Navy style, with Capt. Kenin charge. So off we went with the elephants going at aslow, steady pace in the "Race" and would alternatewhich elephant would "Win." Most people took it welland we were usually very well treated and a had anumber of kind people bring treats for the elephants as itwas a thrill, no doubt, to have a live elephant there onMain Street, U.S.A.This particular day was kind of warm, early summer andwe stopped to water the Girls at a kind merchant's frontdoor and stopped to buy a soda from a street vendor atthe edge of town. Once we had left, the event slippedback to semi-chaos and unbeknownst to us, the"Gunsmoke" irregulars were about to stage a mock Bank

Robbery! Well, there we were, ready to walk back to thelot, sodas in hand, when (he gunfire (blanks) started andCapt. Benson shouted. "Incoming!!" What to do?? In oneof those amazing moments of animal intelligence, "Boo."matriarch of the herd, and "Debbie" looked at each other.ears out and said to themselves. "Should We BeFrightened?" Then, as if shrugging their massiveshoulders, they said, "Nah. The Humans Don't SeemWorried, So It Must Be Okay!"I can say that we were 2 relieved elephant men and theguardian angel of elephants was sure watching over usthat day. But we talked it over on the way back andreasoned what a dumb idea the races were and when wegot to the lot, found the offending promoter visiting theshow as he often did (when he should have been outbooking!) and once the Girls were back with the herd,gathered the crew and chased "Ahab" back into his carand rocked it so hard he thought it would tip over. Hestarted up the car and roared out of there and not longafter, stopped promising the sponsors a Race and lifereturned to normal, or as normal as it ever gets on a onenight stand tent show. But, there isn't anytime I watch anepisode of "Gunsmoke" and don't think of Rodeo Day!God Bless America.********************************************

NEWS FROM OUK CIKCUSHovey Burgess sent a beautiful postcard from MonteCarlo Festival. Also fantastic color Cirque stamps! Hesaid the Pyong Yang Troupe from North Korea (7 men,2 women) did 2 triples, back to back, from the verticalcatcher to the swinging catcher-then on the samemomentum, from the swinging catcher to the fixed-cradle catcher! AND there is no fly bar! (If you went,please tell us who was there and the winners! Fred &Susan, please write!!)*********************************************Frank & Conchita Thompson will be the guestspeakers at the Pot Luck Dinner at the Showfolks Clubin Sarasota March 7 at 7:30 p.m. Hopefully, they willshare what they spoke about! Frank has a great article inthe new Animal Trainer Magazine. Great color photosof him and his African elephant, Connie! This is abeautiful magazine with great articles and full size colorphotos. This issue also has articles and color photos ofJohn Herriott and Ellain Rosaire. Also articles ondolphins, llamas & bears by Zoo employees. Morereview in the next issue!**********_********•****_****:**** ***************

She became brightened at the blinding lights and sank 4tiny teeth into Damoo's thumb. Damoo bit through hislip to keep from crying out in pain."It wasn't Nola's fault at all. It was mine. I should haveknown she would be scared." Fear will have no place inthe school curriculum the cubs will follow. When theyare 12 or 15 months old, Damoo will take each separatelyinto the cage. As soon as she is accustomed to her newsurroundings, Damoo will slip a rope about her neck,lying the other end to a bar. Then, coaxing her with lightprods from his stick and murmuring soothing words, thetrainer will start training by teaching her to climb atop astool. When he addresses his animals, he speaks eitherHindustani or English. Beta, an affectionate term for"child" is a favorite word.Baitho means "sit down," while Chalo commands theanimal to "step lively." It usually takes 6 weeks to tamean animal to the point where difficult tricks can betaught. Once a young beast has learned to perform alone,Damoo tackles the ticklish job of introducing otheranimals into the cage. This he does by tying them toopposite cage bars with ropes. Every day the ropes arelengthened and the animals slowly advance closer toeach other.The process may be tedious, but. as Damoo says,"Animals are like people. They don't get acquaintedright off the bat." Soon, two, 3, 4 and even more old-timers are admitted to the cage to rehearse with thenewcomer. Gradually, well co-ordinated teamworkreplaces the animal's initial mistrust and fear. And, at theend of several months, Damoo's pupil is graduated as anexperienced performer.Damoo's amazing control over his animals stood him ingood stead some years ago in India. While he wasputting his cats thru their paces in a huge circus tent onenight, the lights suddenly went out.In a cold sweat, Damoo, moving slowly, picked up anunoccupied stool and backed gingerly toward what hehoped was the side of the cage, shouting, "Light! Light!Someone give me light!" A spectator struck a match. Hisneighbor did likewise and soon a flickering wave of tinydots spread through the audience. And Damoo, in thefaint glow from thousands of sputtering matches, saw hisbig cats, majestic bodies motionless, sitting obediently intheir places. "Only true friends would not have takenadvantage of me in the darkness," he says proudly.(At the Cleveland CFA Convention in 1998, John

Polacsek gave a talk and slide presentation on theCleveland waterfront fire of Ringling. 1 turned my headaway from the screen many times, not wanting to see thepictures of the injured and dead animals. In Damoo'sbook. "Wild Animal Man," published in 1961, he speaksof the great tragedy and of his own animals.)"I arrived at the circus grounds from the hotel,breathless. The menagerie tent housing the untrainedanimals, was on fire. My concern was for the animalsthat had been caught in the fire and my concern for theeffect this might have on my own animals. During thenext several hours, I did what little I could to help DocHenderson-to lead any animals to safety and minister tothem.As soon as I felt I was no longer needed, I went into thebig top where my own animals were in their cages. Theireyes wide with fear. Their eyes stared vacantly intospace, their nostrils quivered with the smell of thedreaded smoke and the burnt flesh of their junglecompanions. I began pacing back & forth very slowly. Italked in a low, confident & soothing voice. I keptcalling each animal by name. I don't know how long Ikept this up.The manager of the circus came up and said, "Damoo,these gentlemen want us to cancel the eveningperformance. They are afraid the animals will be tooexcited to perform. What do you think?"I looked at my animals carefully. Champion was in thecorner of his cage, gnawing a bone left over from theprevious day. Sonia was curled up on the shelf of hercage, half asleep. The animals had settled down andapparently forgotten the fire."My animals are fine," I announced. "But what willhappen if they act up?" asked the police chief. "That willconcern only me. No one else is in danger," I said. Thepolice chief said to the manager, "We will permit theevening performance only under one condition. If any ofthe animals show any sign of being nervous, you willstop the show. Is that agreed?" The manager turned tome, "How about it, Damoo?" I grinned. "I will be thefirst to know," I said. I never left the animals. When theywere fed, I ate my meal in front of them. We performedthat night as calmly and with as much discipline asthough nothing had happened." (I taped John's talkand hope to print it in a future issue of BackYard. Thanks, John.)*********************************************

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Tassing Of Our Circus friendsFrom Frank Thompson: Teresa Morales, a circusstar of the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. died in a Miamihospital January 29, 2000. The widow of well-known concessionaire, C.J. Matchett, she was 86-years-old. Ms. Morales was the last of a famousfamily troupe which presented a variety of circusacts. She was best known as a "heel catch" aerialist.With her brother and three sisters, they representedthe 6th generation of performers in their family.She was a featured performer with many circuses,including the John Robinson Circus, Downie Bros.Circus, Seils-Sterling Circus, Polack Bros. Circus,Biller Bros. Circus and many others.She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. CathyMoore & Husband Byron, of Tampa, Mrs. JuanitaSmith & Husband David, of Tampa and Mrs. VickyYork, of Miami. Nieces and nephews: Mrs.Dorothy Yerkes of Los Angeles, Mrs. ConchitaThompson of Bradenton, Mr. Felix Morales, Jr. ofTampa, Mr. Pedro Morales, Jr., Tampa and Mrs.Toni Lamb of New Orleans. Grandchildren, David,Jr. and Michael Smith, Monica York, Tara Lorenzo.Great-grandchildren Kristine and David III Smithand Samantha Lorenzo. Services were heldThursday, Feb. 3, at 4:30 P.M. at Hamilton FuneralHome in Riverview, Florida. (Thanks to JimElliott for sending along the write-up from thepaper.)(In a 1949 newspaper ad I have, from Rutland, VT,for Biller Bros. Circus, it says, "Netless TrapezeSensationalist Teresa Morales." Also the CristianiTroupe, Rita Biller, Ki-Gore and his 6 NubianLions, Mario & Josefina Ivanov, wire stars, BettyBiller, famous equestrienne." "See the herd of BabyElephants that were flown by plane from Bangkok!A Supreme Achievement in Clean Amusement!New Pre-War Prices, 50 cents, child-75 cents adult.Note: This is positively the only Big Circus toexhibit in this vicinity this year! June 25, 2:30 & 8.+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +From Don Wixom: Lydia Herrmann, 71, ofMyakka City, passed away Feb. 4 in Manatee

Memorial Hospital. Lydia was born inCzechoslovakia and came to this country fromAustria in 1964. She is survived by her husband,Ottomar; a daughter, Gabriella; a son, Guido and agrandchild.***************************************

Father Ralph Pollone of Pittsfield, MA had aheart attack Feb. 9 in his rectory while cooking ameal for friends. He just collapsed and diedinstantly. Funeral was Feb. 12 at St. Mary's Churchin Pittsfield. His body laid in state in the Church onthe llth. Thanks to Father Jerry Hogan for thisinformation. (If anyone would like to share theirmemories of Father Pollone, please write and theywill be included in the next issue.)Jane Nida reports Father Jerry Hogan hasreceived national attention with an article, withcolor pictures in the March, 2000 issue of Lifemagazine, covering pages 58-63.****************************************

Magician Doug Henning has died of liver cancerat the age of 52 on Feb. 7 in Los Angeles. He wasborn in Winnipeg, Canada. He had been sufferingfrom the cancer for five months. The attention hewon on Broadway helped Henning land an NBCspecial called, "The World of Magic." He won anEmmy by recreating Harry Houdini's "WaterTorture Escape" before a live audience. The showalso received seven Emmy nominations. He issurvived by his wife, Debbie.

Richard Reynolds, of Atlanta, sent along anewspaper article from Paris. A male hippo in rut,an annual state of sexual excitement, apparentlymistook a tractor for a rival-or a female hippo-andtrampled the director of a Zoo near Bordeaux.The hippo charged through an electrified fenceNov. 1 and raced after the new tractor, tramplingthe director, Jean Ducuing, who was cycling past.Workers later succeeded in driving the hippo backinto its enclosure. Komir, 7, weighs 2 tons. Anemployee said, "Komir had always been jealous ofthat tractor. He saw it as competition." A pictureshowed him & Ducuing playing in 1994 in the water.

Ill(Yes wife, they kept it a secret for several months thatthey got married. I think this is the greatest news 1 got,they are such a wonderful couple.) Back to the vacation,the first place was miserable and very expensive. Thelandlord really treated them like dirt, so the)' moved to another place which was the greatest. Pam caught a fish ona fishing cruise which was the biggest they ever saw.even the captain said so. I am glad for you Derick, youhave a bunch of wonderful kids.Sheela Wallenda, the late Gunther Wallendas wife hadan other stroke which left her paralized on one side. Sheis in terrible condition and has no spunk any more.Gunthers daughter Sandy is trying her best to perk herup. Sheela also sold her condo and now Sandy has to seewhere to store all her belongings. Also the doctors willnot let Sheela go to Sandys home as in her condition,there is just no way that Sandy could take care of her.Her daughter Liza is expecting her second child and atthis time can not be no help at all. as she hascomplications with her pregnency. Sheela was a tallperson and as I was told went down to just 105 ponds.The Sarasota Circus finished here and 1 did not have hada chance to go see it. Just to to busy. The tent will stay upfor the whole year as the Van Wetzel rented it they arerenovating the building.Johny Peers lost his mother a few days ago. She also hadsuffered for a long time and now found her rest. I hopeJohnnys father can get over the loss, he is not in verygood shape any more.Gaylord Maynard is still in town. He was performing atthe Sarasota Circus.Norbu is reporting that daughter Noby was the stuntcoordenater for the Superbowl Aerial Girls Show on thewebs. I watched it but they really did not give them muchcredit. 1 was disapointed, as I was told how hard the webrutine was.Well it is that time again to end this letter. It always isnice to chat with all of you. I am at this time kind ofdepressed, but 1 know I will some how snap out of it.

Till Next Time, Lots of LoveAlways Your Fox

PS. The installation of officers dinner turned out great.Some of the new officers could not turn up because ofother commitments. June Mills handed out awards to herboardmembers and thanked Cathy Nelson special for herhelp, which all of us know how great of help Cathy was.The new President gave June and Cathy roses and said a

beautiful thank you and gave roses to Jenny Wallenda.which she very much appreciated, as she knows it camefrom his heart. 1 also heard thai they now have Corky asSecretary which is great. Oh yes, 1 forgot to tell you allone more thing. They forgot all about swearing the newofficers legally in. This was supposed to be done on theinstallation dinner. Oh well they can do it later I guess. 1know that Dale is very much on doing it right but thiswas anyway not his thing, it was the outgoing boardsresponsibility, not the new board.I also was informed that Paul Nelson, Cathy's husbandwent over to the other world, which must be a wonderfulplace to go to as so many of our people are already thereand I am sure prepared a place for all of us. I miss themall and hope they will also be kind to me when it is mytime to join them. Cathy, please look at it this way. He ismuch better off, now he is in peace.

May God Bless You All,Always Your Fox *

The Fox Loves You All*********************************************

No More Elephants In The ZooPeggy Williams reports the Zoo director of theHenry Vilas Zoo in Madison, announced Feb. 10that "Winkle" and "Penny" will be removed fromthe Zoo as soon as this spring. This will make theZoo elephant-free. Where they will be sent wasuncertain as of Thursday. Concerned elephantadmirers argued a new "open elephant facility"would not fit "master plan"-wise in the Zoo andwould cost a lot of money. The Madison Zoo is oneof the last free Zoos in the country-totallysupported by grants, funding and taxes. Animalrights activists have already been successful inremoving a large portion of the primate populationfrom the Zoo.****************************************

Fun At The Florida State FairIf you love animals, there are many shows tochoose from at the Fair. Appearing there are theBaboon Lagoon; Rosaire's Racing Pigs; Welde'sBear Show; Muttville Comix; a Bengal TigerShow, plus the Royal Hanneford Circus. Onopening day, a black dairy cow gave birth in theMooternity Ward!****************************************

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WEVfS TUOM OUK CIKCUS FRIEHVSBud DeVere reports in the Kenneth Felci TentNewsletter he really enjoyed the Sara sot a Circus, withthe Tangier Troupe. Gay lord Maynard. Dolly Jacobs andYuri. Ms. Youens, hula hoops, David Rosaire's dogs,Grandma (Barry Lubin) and Chucko. Manuel Goncalves.with rolla-bolla, Renaldo, Duo Design, hand balancing,Guiming Meng. balancing.Bud's second cousin. John Herriolt. was one of theinductees at the Ring of Fame. Also there was Bud's twofirst cousins, Gee Gee Engesser and Peggy Earl, with herhusband, Wayde. Bud finally met Gee Gee's son, BillyPowell, who is Vice President for Feld Entertainment.Bud's newsletter included the Quote of the Day: "Whenwe think of Circus Sarasota, we can be proud. Theirinternational array of world-renowned circus artists andprogram of artistic excellence is an outstanding Culturalcontribution to the State of Florida," said KatherineHarris. Secretary of the State of Florida.Bud also sent along a copy of the Sarasota HeraldTribune's coverage of the Ring of Fame ceremonies. Inthe pictures were the plaques with Tina Storey; SteveSmith with John Herriott; circus great, Hub Hubbell andEmie "Blinko" Burch.At the CFA Convention in Sarasota, Ed Limbach,moderator on membership recruitment, fund raising, etc.has invited Bud, Clark Beurlen, Mary-Jane Foote andJim Ridenour as panelists. (Thanks, Bud!)*******************************************

WILLIE B IS DEADBy Richard Reynolds

February 2: Sad news...Just got a call fromZooAtlanta advising that our great old malesilverback lowland gorilla, Willie B II, passed awaythis afternoon. He was 41 and had been sufferingfrom a combination of pneumonia andcardiomyopathy. Willie B took his name fromAtlanta's long time mayor (1937-1961), William B.Hartsfield. The animal was Zoo Atlanta's secondgorilla. The first, Willie B. I, was here from 1959until his untimely death in 1961.A new gorilla was obtained through animal dealer,Dr. Deets Pickett, of Kansas City and arrived at theZoo on May 6, 1961. About 2 1/2 years old whenhe arrived, he was first named "Lumumba" afterPatrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the

newly (1960) independent Congo (later Zaire andnow Congo again.) The little gorilla's name wassoon changed to "Willie B. 2nd" and over time, hebecame simply, "Willie B." He was born in thewild in West Africa in or about November, 1958.Hene, he was 41 at the time of his death.Willie B. was at the Zoo for 38 years, 8 months and27 days. While that is nowhere near the 50+ yearslogged by old Massa, first with Mrs. Gertrude Lintzand then, at the Philadelphia Zoo, it is still a verygood gorilla longevity. I believe Willie B. holds thelongevity record for any mammal at Zoo Atlanta.None of our elephants have lived there that long.(Richard was one of 8 speakers at the Celebrationof Willie B.'s life at the Zoo on Feb. 5. "There musthave been 1,000 to 1,500 people there." Remarksby Richard Reynolds III, Zoo Atlanta's Historian:It was Saturday night, May 6, 1961 when ourbeloved gorilla, Willie B., came to our Zoo. Earlierthat evening, he arrived by plane at our airport. Hecame here from Kansas City, accompanied by Dr.Deets Pickett, a veterinarian and animal dealer whosold him to the Zoo for $5,500.Our new little gorilla was wild born..in WestAfrica's Cameroon as far as we know. He weighedonly 65 pounds when he gouhere. The best estimateof his age was 2 1/2 years. That would mean that hewas born late in 1958.Our late animal hero was called Willie B. theSecond because he had a predecessor with the samename. The first Willie B. was never a healthyanimal and lived here for only 2 years, from June,1959 until April, 1961. However, he was animportant animal because he was the first gorilla tolive in Atlanta and the first in our Zoo's newprimate building. And, he had one great moment ofnational fame. That came in 1960, when hegarnered several hundred write-in votes in thegeneral election for Georgia's 5th CongressionalDistrict. As far as we know, he was the only gorillato come that close to a seat in Congress.His replacement, Willie B. Second, the greatsilverback male, silverback male, whose life we

celebrate today, reigned supreme at Atlanta's Zoofor 38 years, 8 months and 27 days, until heartfailure took him from us on Wednesday (Feb. 2) atage 41.He lived here longer than any other animal in thehistory of our Zoo. Elephants are often the longestlived of zoo mammals, but none of ours haveoutlasted Willie B. We had two Asian elephants,Maude and Coca II, who were here 30 and 36 years,respectively, but Willie B. topped both with over38. As far as we know, only 6 gorillas have livedhere in America longer than Willie. The champ inthat department was "Massa" at the PhiladelphiaZoo that died there in 1984 after an astounding 53year and 3 months, under human care.However, none of these other long-lived gorillasmeant as much to their zoos as Willie did to ours.He was our symbol and we shall miss him.*********************************************

"KENYA" FOUND DEAD"Kenya", 18, the African elephant of the RamosFamily Circus died Feb. 4 at the family compound.A necropsy was done but results are not back as ofthis writing. Specialists at the University of Floridaand the National Zoo in Washington, DC wereanalyzing tissue samples. Kenya's regular vet,Thomas Schotman, received a call from the trainer,Lance Ramos, around 11 p.m. on the 4th sayingKenya was uncomfortable, bloated and showingsigns of abdominal pain. Kenya died a short timelater. (More in the next issue.)****************************************

2000 Circus Historical Society ConventionThe annual CHS Convention will be held in thetwin cities of Bloomington/Normal, Illinoisbeginning Sept. 6 and concluding Saturdayevening, Sept 9 reports Richard Reynolds.Carson & Barnes will be the Convention Circus onSeptember 7. Illinois State University's Gamma PhiCircus is trying to find the best place possible tohost the circus. The students are very excited aboutsponsoring this circus and they will do very well atselling tickets. They are looking forward to meetingthe show's performers and seeing all the animals.

This wil l be a treat for the whole universitycommunity! The CHS speakers will make theirpresentations in the Circus Room and Old MainRoom at Bone Student Center at the university.This is located near Milner Library, home to thevast circus collections. The Banquet will be onSaturday night, the 9th.An educational and entertaining program is beingprepared, reports Richard. Those already on thecard as speakers are Linda Fisher, with an accountof Agnes Lake, the famous Equestrienne; JohnMcConnell, describing how he produced and touredhis Circus Royale (hopefully, his son, Eric, myformer boss on the Big Apple Circus, will also beable to attend!); Brett Mizelle speaking on "TheDownfall of Taste & Genius-Animal Exhibitionsand the Struggle Over Acceptable Leisure in theEarly 19th Century; Nigel Rothfels, the CarlHagenbeck scholar, discussing Hagenbeck and theCircus in the 19th and Early 20th Centuries; BillSlout and his "Two Rings and a HippodromeTrack," the story of how and when one ring becametwo and then three; Stuart Thayer with a slide showon early bandwagons and your editor, CherieValentine, telling the story of my family, the FlyingValentines of Bloomington, Illinois. Otherstimulating speakers will be added soon.Convention headquarters will be at the BestWestern University Inn in Normal. If anyone hasany questions about the Convention or of the twincities, please write or call Cherie. Want to knowhow you can join the Circus Historical Society andjoin in on all this fun?? Please contact Cherie orRichard Reynolds, 1186 Warrenhall La NE,Atlanta, GA 30319 or contact Secretary/TreasurerDave Price, 1954 Old Hickory Blvd., Brentwood,TN 37027. Come join us and have a great time. Youcan also visit our Miller Park Zoo!*****************************************

Carson & Barnes new Route Books are available!!Please send $15 plus $5 postage & handling to:1999 Carson & Barnes Route Book, PO Box J, Hugo,OK 74743. Checks payable to A.C. Beach Corp.*******************************************

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Q. WHAT'S SOUSA'S 'GLADIATOR' DOINGA CIRCUS ALBUMS

WHITWIARSH RECORDINGS PRESENTS:

VOLUMES 17 & 18

SOUNDS OF THE

MARCHESSOUTH SHORE CONCERT BAND RICHARD WHITMARSH

VOLUME SEVENTEEN-Side One• Eclipse Galop (King)• In A Persian Market (Ketelbey)• Shoutin' Liza Trombone (Fillmore)• Sunnyland Waltzes (Rosner)• Premier (Lawrence)• Caravan (Lehrer)• Hungarian Medley• Gladiator (Sousa)• Fez (Panella)

Side Two• Baby Elephant Walk (Mancini)• La Pstoma (Yradier)• Mr Trombonology (Davis)• Sheik of Araby (Smith / Wheeler / Snyder)• Crazy Bone Rag (Johnson)• Curro Cuchares (Metallo)• Chinatown My Chinatown (Schwartz)• Castles In Spain (Ancliffe)• Golden Plume (Huff)

VOLUME EIGHTEEN-Side One• Mi!e-A-Minute Galop (English)• A Vision of Salome (Lampe)• Easy Coin' (Warner)• Bolero (Ravel)• Balioonograph (Eisenberg)

• Deep Purple (Rose)• Argentina (Damereil / Evans)• Baby Boo (Jewell)

Side Two• Bill Lee's Triumphal (Pruyn)

• Fairy Kisses Waltzes (Johnson)• Knockout Drops (Klickmann)

• Bulgarian (Straus)• Everybody Two-Step (Herzer)

• Mosquitoes' Parade (Whitney)• Castanets (Carazo)

• Big Time (Basile / Longo / DeMasi)

PLEASE RUSH THE FOLLOWING SELECTED ITEMS TO:

NAME

ADDRESS,

CITY

STATE ZIP

n VOL 1 n vol. 7 n vol. 13a vol. 2 n VOL s a vol. 14a vol. 3 a vol. 9 a vol. 15nvoi.4 a vol. 100 vol. 16a vol. 5 nvoi.ua VOL 17nVol.6 a Vol. 12dVol. 18

$10.00 each cassette

$15.00 each CDplus $1.00 each Shipping/HandlingS2.00 each International S/H

CHECK/M.O. PAYABLE TO:Wnitmarsh Recordings

P.O. Box 357East Bndgewaler. MA 02333-0357

• The most complete series ofauthentic circus music on earth.

• Great music from the golden ageof the American circus.

• Performed by 25 enthusiasticmusicians.

• Original manuscripts.

• All the excitement of the greatdays under the big top.

• Circus Marches - Waltzes - GalopsTrombone Smears - Paso DoblesClown Walk-Arounds

* One season only -1929 • Sells Floto • The huge muleelephant "Snyder" walked the entire length of thehippodrome track on his hind legs with LUCIA Zoraperched on one tusk while the band, conducted by VicRobbing, played the Gladiator march.

www.soundsofthecircus.com E - Mail: circus@thecia.net

Paul Ingrassia presented certificate to John HerriottTommy Hanneford, next to John, sponsored him.

' S1&Photo By Bud DeVere

Back Yard1522 Clinton Blvd.Bloomington, IL 61701

FIRST CLASS MAIL!

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