tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853805336568551814.post3767016920048202576..comments2024-03-16T16:21:55.763-05:00Comments on The Circus "NO SPIN ZONE": Who trained the Powers Elephants?Casey McCoy Cainanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14611037918797096687noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853805336568551814.post-855612481315477602013-09-17T19:54:00.789-05:002013-09-17T19:54:00.789-05:00You might be interested in my latest blog posting ...You might be interested in my latest blog posting “Buy Me Some Peanuts: Elephants Playing Baseball,” which relates to Powers’ Dancing Elephants.<br /><br />You can find it here: http://baseballresearcher.blogspot.com/2013/09/buy-me-some-peanuts-elephants-playing.html<br /><br /> – Tom ShieberTom Shieberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06064785129807399476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853805336568551814.post-37155884258801113342012-04-29T08:29:29.771-05:002012-04-29T08:29:29.771-05:00Bobby,
Wow!!!! Incredible research, and yes it...Bobby,<br /> Wow!!!! Incredible research, and yes it help's greatly. I has always seen Power's listed as the trainer of the elephant act "The Power's Elephants" and as I said previously was surprised to see the name "Robert Orville Tyler" linked to them as the trainer. Mr. Winner got some great paper in 1902, didn't he. Thank you for looking into this Bobby, it is greatly appreciated.<br /><br />WadeWade G. Burckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10571436947092846458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853805336568551814.post-88545586880578944842012-04-29T06:24:22.997-05:002012-04-29T06:24:22.997-05:00Wade,
I have gone back through the historical writ...Wade,<br />I have gone back through the historical writings. I think your opening question of who trained the Powers elephants needs to be examined closer.<br /><br />The Walter L. Main All New Fashion Plate Shows was an all new adventure in 1901. Mr. Main had been in the circus business and retired only to get back in the Business again. W.W. Power was the show's treasurer. William Winner was the Boss animal man.<br /><br />According to the NY Clipper on Oct. 5, 1901 as found on page 679, the Main show was expecting Two Indian elephants to arrive in New York October 4th from Hagenbeck’s Hamburg Animal Emporium.<br /><br />In 1902, Wm. Powers is listed as the Adjuster. Two excerpts from the NY Clipper in 1902 offer a couple more details.<br /><br /> “Mr. Winner is breaking a new animal act for next season that promises to eclipse any before attempted. In it he is using no less than 22 cat animals, three elephants, two horses and a pair of bloodhounds. Winner’s reputation as an animal breaker is well known, and he generally succeeds in all he undertakes.” NY Clipper, Jan. 18, 1902, page 1032<br /><br />Walter L. Main has engaged the following for the winter…. "Wm. Winner will be supt. Of the menagerie as of yore, Richard Jones will again train the elephants, this time an entirely new act." NY Clipper, Nov. 8, 1902, page 819 and 825.<br /><br />By 1903, we know there are now four elephants, namely ADA, LOU, JENNIE and LENA. Wm. Powers is once again listed as the Treasurer and Richard Jones is the Elephant Boss.<br /><br />In 1904, with the same four elephants, Richard Jones is now listed as the Superintendent of Zoological Department while Wm. Powers is the Auditor and Adjuster.<br /><br />Once Walter L. Main sold the show to Wm. P. Hall and retained the elephants, W.W. Powers started working with them. The February 11, 1905 NY Clipper offered the following on page 1229:<br /><br /> "W. W. Power has acquired the four performing war elephants of the Walter L. Main Shows. He has been successful in vaudeville with these big animals, and a new sensational act, now preparing, will be presented in three weeks. Mr. Power says this will astonish the public, as he claims nothing like it has ever been presented in America." <br /><br />So I think that the answer to your question is that Mr. Powers may have refined the act for the vaudeville uses but it appears that Wm. Winner and Richard Jones are the ones that trained the elephants initially.<br /><br />Maybe this helps, maybe not!<br />All my best,<br />BobBob Clinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06322660031390871141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853805336568551814.post-81904519661754339132012-04-28T13:02:20.785-05:002012-04-28T13:02:20.785-05:00Bob,
It struck me as out to all of a sudden co...Bob,<br /> It struck me as out to all of a sudden come across the name "Robert Orville Tyler" as being the trainer of the Powers elephants as well as doing a stint with them at Luna Park. All account's I have read say Powers was the trainer, and Powers was at Luna Park.<br /><br />WadeWade G. Burckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10571436947092846458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853805336568551814.post-34070998398807920882012-04-28T08:12:04.203-05:002012-04-28T08:12:04.203-05:00I'll have to try to do some more research also...I'll have to try to do some more research also. In 1904, Walter L. main sold his entire circus to Wm. P. Hall of Lancaster, MO except the elephants.<br /><br />I have read somewhere ( Need to research ) that Powers was the Walter L. Main show treasurer. The elephants went out as Powers elephants but Walter L. Main still retained ownership for some time. The Powers didn't have the money to buy those elephants initially.<br /><br />BobBob Clinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06322660031390871141noreply@blogger.com