World Jungle Compound Entrance
Posted By thecircusblog on February 19, 2009
It seems like it was just yesterday when Dad & I performed there….. its all gone now, but for the memories. We wintered Pan American Shows a block away, also Jungle Land Circus. Some of the finest wild animal trainers got their brake at this place. I can’t begin to tell you how many motion pictures were shot at the compound. This photo was taken in 1950 in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Enjoy the photos that follow. Notice above the word World you can see Trader Horne’s name and above the word Compound you find the name of Billy Richards of Al G. Barnes. There was only one thing I did not like about the front entrance. The elephants did not have their trunks up.
A very informative comment was made by Nita Jacobson Chewning.
Thank you.
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
8 Responses to “World Jungle Compound Entrance”
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I am Billy Richards grandson.
I would like to here more about the compound history.
Billy Take a look at the circus blog Regards Ivan
I am Isaac Sherman Horne’s great great granddaughter. Do you have any photos/memories you can share? I have a copy of the Horne Zoological Arena stationary, and a few photos.
Thank you.
Christy
I am Billy Richards great niece. I don’t believe they had children. I have many of the original skins, films etc…
my maden name was Jacobson, my papa took care of the chimps, and lyons in 1950, my mother cooked in the restaraunt that was there, My papa was Swedish. I was 9/10 then, and now I am 72. But I remember so much as if it were yesterday. My papa was at the farm working when Mable Stark was injuured by her tigers. Ihave suearched for some one who may have pictures back then as I know my papa was in some of them attending the animals. I loved running around that place.
I was friends with Elizabeth the daughter of the lady who managed the place where my mother worked. it was being mangaged or owned by a french lady and her brother. Elizabeth and George DeBroniac. I am not sure of the last name spelling. If you have any old pictures that may contain pictures of my papa and mama. please can you let me know by email.
Nita Jacobson/Chewning
I am Isaac Sherman Horne’s great neice. I appreciate this website and am a great lover of animals. My uncle passed when I was 4 years old, but I have many memories of his wife, my Aunt Grace, talking about her and my uncles travels. I have a lot of memories of Jungleland, and staying at their house, which was located across from Jungleland (on the other side of Thousand Oaks Boulevard). I used to fall asleep hearing lions and peacocks. It was great fun!!
Ada Horne Hardy was my great grandmother. Her daughter, Grace Ardyce Hardy Chinnery was my grandmother. I have three photos of the Horne Zoological Arena taken in Independence, Mo before it burned to the ground at a $60,000 uninsured loss- covered by the NY times. That is when they moved to California.
Can someone who has photos of the animals please email me? I would love to see some. I’ll pay for copies or a flash drive.
My great grandfather was Jacob Amrhein who had owned the animals at San Pedro Park Zoological Gardens. Unfortunately he died of TB and his animals were sold to Sherman Horne for a song and a dance, not literally and were to be transported to the Kansas City Zoo. Fortunately, the animals were not transported there because of a ruling with the Mayor Callahan of San Antonio being on recess at the time. So the injunction was lifted and the animals remained. I believe my great grandfather’s animals were then put at Breckenridge Park,home of the San Antonio Zoo today.
My reason for this inquiry is that his 3 young children continued to run the zoo after he died as orphans, (their mother dying shortly after her arrival in 1905). The story is endearing, triumphant and yet sad, all the while showing love and determination. If anyone has information on the Jacob Amrhein animals, the San Pedro Zoo, and his wife Helena and their 3 children Leona, Frank and Jack I would be grateful. Photos would be amazing of course! Thank you