thecircusblog | September 9, 2012
Ray Chandler seen here with baby Rocky. The mother and child may be the Bill Olney family. I received some interesting information from Charles Chandler, the son of Ray Chandler. In 1959 Ray was hired by Disney studio to be the head stock tender on a movie called Swiss Family Robinson. The baby elephant Rocky, […]
thecircusblog | September 9, 2012
Babe was one of the nicest elephants anyone would ever want to work with. She was on many circuses, had many handlers, and was bought and sold–I really don’t know how many times. There is one story about her that I remember well as I was there. It was the new edition of the Yankee […]
thecircusblog | September 9, 2012
This is a trick , not a mishap. Some trainers call this trick The Lay Down. As you can see, a person lays flat on the ground and the elephant walks over and kneels down, looking like it could crush the person. It is performed to show the confidence that the trainer has in the […]
thecircusblog | September 9, 2012
This photo was taken by the Kalamazoo, Michigan Gazette News, mid 1950’s. Babe was a good, safe elephant and never was a problem. In this photo under Ray’s direction she performs what looks like a very dangerous trick. Babe would place her food just inches from the face of a person. Ray would perform this […]
thecircusblog | September 9, 2012
A few days ago I got an email from Janice Chandler. She related to me some little stories about her childhood. I enjoy reading them and I thought you might too.
thecircusblog | September 9, 2012
thecircusblog | September 9, 2012
After Neil teamed up with Harry “Mop Head” Ross they created a wardrobe look alike, sort of a mini-me. Their make-up was the same but with one exception: Rossie had an off centered nose and wore a dog collar around his neck. This photo was most likely taken on the Ken Jenson Show or Rudy […]
thecircusblog | September 9, 2012
Neil “Shorty” Chervenak, the last I heard he retired and was living in Oregon. A little known fact: Neil at the age of 15 was hired by Ray Chandler. Ray basically took Neil under his wing and broke him into the business on the Gene Holter Show. Neil learned his skills well from Ray and […]
thecircusblog | September 9, 2012
This was a publicity shot to promote Chucko’s circus. Wally Ross and baby Marjie were an important part of this promotion. One of the sponsors of the event stands to the right with Marjie. The baby elephant I believe came a from Jungleland? The photo here was shot around 1959 or 1960?
thecircusblog | September 9, 2012
