Rueben Castang
Posted By thecircusblog on June 14, 2010
There are just a few that could handle big chimps and make it look easy, Rueben was one of them and just maybe the best of all. The other one other my Dad…. he had a way with chimps. I saw him at the Jungleland compound more than once catch run away chimps that somehow broke out of their cages. Dad, Wally Ross and Louie Goebel went after a chimp called “Sailor” he got the name because his first owner was a US Navel officer and later the chimp was given to Jungleland. Jungleland was located in Thousand Oaks , Calif as there were hundreds of oak trees at the compound. Sailor found the biggest and the tallest tree and there he spent his afternoon swinging from branch to branch taunting the three animal men below, Dad, Wally, and Louie. They all knew that something had to be done before nightfall. Sailor was about 170 lbs and too tough to take on physically. There was only one thing left to do ….. Dad climbed up into the tree and took with him a bottle of Scotch Whiskey. He sat on a limb then pretended to take a drink. Within minutes Sailor was sitting next to Dad and not long after, Sailor had consumed the whole bottle of Scotch. Keeping the tradition of a drunken sailor, he was put back into his cage to sober up safely.
About the author
thecircusblog
My name is Ivan M. Henry and I am the 4th generation of a circus/show business dynasty. I hope you enjoy the blog.Comments
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I have always had the most respect for chimps while working props on all the shows. The most i had was for Joe Lempkes” Susie” she would do the chase the prop guy bit and i was always afraid she would get away from Joe and really get me in my dreams. I remember one time she thru the motorcycle about 20 feet out of the ring. God Rest her ! Joe had her buried over in Pahrump ,Nv. with a very nice headstone. Casey