Courtesy of Cha Cha--European Division

Welt On Line
5/4/12

Colonel Joe sei aufgrund seines hohen Alters gestorben, sagte Circus Krone-Sprecher Markus Strobl. Der Elefant war nach seinen Angaben schon über 60 Jahre alt. Tierschützer hatten das Alter mit 48 Jahren angegeben. Dieses steht Strobl zufolge auch in den Verkaufsdokumenten, aber ein Experte hat die Altersangabe später korrigiert. Die Lebenserwartung für Elefanten liege bei 60 Jahren.

Der Zirkuselefant sei nicht krank gewesen, hieß es. Lediglich unter "einigen Alterswehwehchen" habe er gelitten. Erst im März sei er daher zur Reha auf einen Elefantenhof in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern gezogen. Die ganze Herde habe ihn begleitet, da Elefanten nicht getrennt werden dürften, erklärte Strobl. Es sollte dem Colonel besser gehen, daher seien alle überrascht und erschüttert von dem plötzlichen Tod des 3,50 Meter großen und sieben Tonnen schweren Dickhäuters.

'Until Marco Kirsten get's here, below is the best translation Cha Cha, Vice Pres. European Division could come up with, and thing's don't always translate correctly via internet, so it may not be correct.   It seems Markus Strobl, Circus Krone spokesman is saying that the elephant's were taken to Elefantenhof http://www.elefantenhof-platschow.de/ which is odd.  Odder still is the stating of Joe's age as 60(accepted life expectancy of an elephant)years, when it is a known fact that he was 48, born in 1964.   When corrected he states the age is listed as 60 years on the sales document.   Odder still, because why would you exaggerate the age on an animal sales document, especially an elephant?  In this day and age it is so very important to have all your fact's right.  You can surely bet the opposition does.......'

Colonel Joe had died due to old age, Circus Krone said spokesman Markus Strobl. The elephant was according to his information back over 60 years. Animal rights activists had given the age of 48 years. This is according to Strobl in the sales documents, but one expert has corrected the information later age. The life expectancy for elephants lie at 60 years.The circus elephant had not been ill, it said. Only in "some Alterswehwehchen" he had suffered. In March he was so drawn to rehab a Elefantenhof in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The entire herd had accompanied him, as elephants should not be separated, said Strobl. It should go to the Colonel better, so were all surprised and shocked by the sudden death of 3.50 meters wide and seven-ton pachyderm.

Curator, I tried to answer you on the "history channel" but I got whacked with the wreaking ball

 

 

Chic Silber said...

You just won't give up on that

phony title will you Wade

I'm sure that you've beeen called

many things besides your name but

that doesn't really change it

05 May, 2012 08:52

Jim Zajicek said...

Ask the Avg. Person on the street today to name a Elephant and Kirstie Ally will be your #1 answer...

05 May, 2012 10:56

 

 

 Vincent Manero said...

Hello Wade,

From an American point of view you are certainly right. But like Jumbo, Colonel Joe was famous on both sides of the Atlantic. King Tusk was an American legend first. Everybody here in Europe is deeply saddned of Colonel Joe's death. He was not just an amazing Animal. He was the sympbol of Europe's lagest Show and the traditonal Circus.

Question to Wade or Buckles: did Tommy ever performed in RBBB Elephants acts or did he appeared in the specs only?

Vincent


Chic,
    That may be true, but like King Tusk I gained fame with only one name.

Wade Burck

Curator,
       Why are you taking shot's at Kirstie Ally?  What did she do to you?  I'll bet if she weighted another 200 lbs. and you could put her on the bally,paint a banner that said, "Believe it or Not, this butterball hen blew out of Kansas, Dorthy," and charge sucker's two bit's to walk up the steps and look at her, you would be singing a different tune, pal!!!!!

Wade Burck

Vincent,
       No, he did not perform on RBBB.  King's don't perform, they only appear in parade's or review  the parade passing by.  His sheer presence made him more spectacular doing nothing but walking by or standing there in a bejeweled robe looking "kingly."

Dan or Radar,
      Col. Joe's location is listed on the data base as "Platschow Elefantenhof",  What's up with that?  How long was he there?  Wasn't he listed as being on Krone prior?  That has to be a record "record change".


Wade Burck

Play Day For John Milton Herriott And Dave Orr--Unknown Couples

Play Day For John Milton Herriott And Dave Orr--Unknown

Play Day For John Milton Herriott And Dave Orr--Unknown

Play Day For John Milton Herriott And Dave Orr--Unknown

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Play Day For John Milton Herriott and Dave Orr--Unknown

Let's Hope This Beloved Building Can Be Saved 1968

Wonderful old picture of the Venice Arena as it show's the chain link outdoor cage, which became a Pelican cage on Venice Beach at the Pelican Man's Sanctuary when Ringling left Venice, as well as Charly Baumann's "beast wagon's" and the ring barn on the other end.   Alligator pools were built where the old arena used to stand.   Does anyone know what the flag on the roof, with the red X was for, or what it signified?  When a second unit was added the animal tent for animals was set up between the ring barn and the maintenance shop on the left.  The elephant/horse barn is the long white building on the right which the new show's used, while the returning show used the tent.  Those were the day's,  44 elephants in quarters at the same time,  GGW's tigers, Charly's tigers, Wolfgang's lions, Ursula's polar bears.  It's pretty hard to get excited about anything today.  Year's later a wooden fence was constructed between the arena and dirt road(anyone know what that dirt road is called today?) to isolate going's on when the show was in.  When I was there in 1991 rehearsing GGW's tiger act two fender bender's occurred during practice when I would put Prince on the mirrored ball.  Imagine driving down the road and all of a sudden a tiger appears sitting up on the horizon.   The Venice Police came down and requested that I not practice during morning and evening rush hour.  :)

Who Remembers The Monster Known As "The Barn?"

1958 when it was the St. Louis Arena, before becoming the "Checkerdome."  I last played the "Checkerdome" with Ringling Bros. in 1984 when Ward Hall's World of Wonders Side Show was contracted for the date.  I didn't realize there were once "spires" at the entrance until I came across the picture above.  Ward's show was contracted to "test" the public's reaction to a sideshow, and how it would play with the public.  The animal tent's were also opened to the public at St. Louis that year, admission being a side show ticket stub, which is how they got a "count" on how many people viewed the side show.  It was a resounding success and guess what opened the following year on the Red Unit?  That's right, The Living Unicorn which I have been told was Ringling Bros most financially successful show to date. 

February 27, 1999, the day of its controlled demolition.

The St. Louis Arena, known as The Checkerdome from 1977 to 1983, was an indoor arena located in St. Louis, Mo. that stood from 1929 to 1999.  It was directly across from the world famous St. Louis Zoo which made it a great meeting place for zoo and circus animal professionals.  The arena was the site of conventions, concerts, political rallies, horse shows, circuses, boxing matches, Roller Derby competitions, the 1973 and 1978 NCAA men's basketball Final Four, the NCAA Men's Midwest Regional finals in 1982, 1984 and 1993, the 1992-94 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament, and the 1975 NCAA Frozen Four ice hockey finals.  The arena was home to various sports teams notably the beloved St. Louis Blues of the NHL.  In fact Blue's fan's were up in arm's that the site of the former building was not declared "holy land," and given the same designation as Temple Mount when construction of an apartment and hotel complex were started.  :)