These animals are "definitely" the real deal, as Bobby Gibbs would never attempt any type of hocum. Coming from Siberia, an area that is cold and snow covered for much of the year, the Siberian Zebra is "whiter" them their African cousins, and illusion given the narrower striping. They are also more prehistoric "donkey" looking with the easily identifiable ^^^ striping pattern on their shoulders.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Bobby Gibbs--Siberian Zebras
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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7 comments:
Bobby brought a white mule liberty act, I think, trained by R.E.Leonard. He never tried to convince people they were really zebras. He figured the words Siberian and Fantasy would "tip" people off. Depending on the prestige of the date he'd work on the quality of the "zebra" stripes with Lady Clairol. It was a pretty nice little liberty act.
I knew Bobby going back to 1965. He looks pretty good in this photo, might even be brother Casey.
Jim,
Granted. But Bobby, being as fine of a "circus spokesman" as there has ever been, didn't tell them they weren't if they asked. So, no he never tried to convince them they were zebras. Same deal with advertising posters and lithographs. You figure "first time only", "direct from," or "world's greatest" would "tip" people off, but as somebody other then P.T. Barnum said, "there is a sucker born every minute." There are still folks who come to Baraboo each summer looking for Salah ad-din, camel trainer and Vizier of the Fatimid caliph. LOL
Wade
Addendum to Jim,
Yes, I believe it was Bob Leonard who trained the act. He also trained a white German Shepard act, that were occasionally "White wolves" if the Hawthorn Wild Animal Fantasy was in the area, with their "White wolves and Leopards."
Wade
Correct me if I am wrong but I think this was a wALT kING CREATION ACQUIRED BY sR. rOBERTO.
Johnny,
I had always heard it was trained by Leonard, sold to Walt, and then sold to Bobby.
Wade
The story as told to me by Gibbs (Not that it means it was true) was Leonard trained the act of white mules. Walt King ended up with them and thought up the Zebra angle which came with the act when Gibbs got it. Bobby had a bunch of great stories about working them without the stripes and calling them Albino Zebras.
Casey,
Albino Zebras, is my point, if we have advanced, and become more conscientious, and justify with "educating" we shouldn't con the public with "white lions".
Wade
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