Wednesday, May 18, 2011

For John Milton



johnny said...

Whenever I see that no talent elephant trick it turns me off to o end. It is obvious tjhat it can be accomplished with old 60 yr. elephants so those shows that hve one or two old ones can fit that into a routine. Here we seldomn see it but obviously it is popular overseas. One year Gunther did it when I was on the show and it left me cold knowing of the young eleophants in the herd elephants in the herd. What a cop-out. I am sure I will hear about this observation. So be it. Johnny

18 May, 2o11 07:12
I wasn't going to say anything, but as you are sure you will hear about this, I thought I would reply. On a scale of no talent to ten, with out getting turned off, how would you rate a pedestal stand by a horse? If it can be accomplished by an old horse is it more or less of a turn off if it can be accomplished by a young, or even small one? As we don't want you to be cold knowing of the young elephants in GGW's herd below are a couple from 1971. Have you warmed up yet? Speaking of young elephants are mounts, T as well as long, popular here as well or just over seas? How old are the babies in the 1972 photo and are they too old to perform this trick today? They have to be what? 35 or 40 years old? Are they performing this trick today? Thank you.

Wade

JMH 1972

GGW 1971

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

tanglefoot said...

Guess I got my comment on the wrong photo as I am referring to that locked trunk girl split. Ony talent necessary is for girl to be able to do a split. I imagone the AR people would beef about that "cruelity to animals.tanglefoot

Anonymous said...

john and wade going at it again thats what makes it interesting ==ray m==

Wade G. Burck said...

Ray,
It was interesting yes, like Howard Cosell and Mohamed Ali, fun between pal's. I love the Col. and could spend hours with him over a cocktail "rehashing" but some folks with a lot of insecurity shut it down.
Regards to you and Nettie,
Wade

john herriott said...

These elephants were Hoxie Bros. and none ever made it to GGW and the GSOE. Hoever the elephant "TOBY" that I brought from Baraboo at last report is still with tgheGSOE and doing whatever the rest of them do and I believe is a key member of the herd. She originally did a good hind leg walk that GGW never let me show him. Also did an elephant, pony, dog act in her Baraboo days. A fine elephant. johnny

Wade G. Burck said...

Col.,
Where are the rest of this group of 5? How would you rate a horse putting it's front feet on a pedestal, compared to a split between two elephants. In my opinion, Tina Gebel was one of the best at it, very very seldom ever used a line for security.
I don't believe Boss ever had a hind leg walk, but I may be wrong. I don't believe he liked them or one foot stands, as they often times crippled the animal. He was quite devastated when Nellie gamed up.
Wade

Anonymous said...

john herriott said...

Thank you Mr. Manero for you info about the elephants. So the middle one has stiff leg and she is the other Asian in the lock trunk split, which indicates my comment to be true about an older elephant not being able to do other more difficult routines. john herriott

19 May, 2011 08:39

Wade G. Burck said...

John Herriott,
????????????? What are you talking about now? "which indicates my comment to be true about an older elephant not being able to do other more difficult routines." You mean more difficult then being the center elephant for a T mount with a bum leg? It makes sense if you want to do a split between two elephants and you have two Asians and an African, that you would use the Asians of equal size. Doesn't it? I don't think your comment indicates any thing more then talking out your ass.
Wade

tanglefoot said...

In the Garden Tina Gebel fell off and I and someone carried her the first aid when she fell doing that trick. From then on she had a mechanic on to a pulley over head. Obviously the decrpit elephant in that act is standing in an uncomfortable position with legs, so it is even difficult to do that. I hoe in the words of Gary Jacobson that the "poor wrethched" thing is retired.

tanglefoot said...

That is the infamous "janet" in the lead. All trunks up.

Wade G. Burck said...

Tanglefoot,
Say "thank you, Wade for letting me back pedal." Where are the rest of these elephant's which should be in their mid 30's now a relatively young age for performing?

"I hoe in the words of Gary Jacobson that the "poor wrethched" thing is retired."

I agree with you 100%, which isn't often. Crippled/decrepit animals have hurt the industry immeasurably by not being retired, and instead paraded in the public eye for all to see. As you know, any animal for a multitude of reason's can become lame. Sometimes temporary, and sometimes permanently. All animal industries retire them, but the circus often kept trying to get an extra mile out of them which made us look worse then we were.
What if a sanctuary like TES or PAWS offered to take the "poor wrethched" thing? Would you be open to that for the well being of the animal?

Wade