Miss Fancy: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Miss | [[Image:Miss Fancy 1915.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Miss Fancy with Allen in 1915]] | ||
'''Miss Fancy''' was an elephant that served as the star attraction at the [[Birmingham Zoo]] when it was located at [[Avondale Park]]. | '''Miss Fancy''' was an elephant that served as the star attraction at the [[Birmingham Zoo]] when it was located at [[Avondale Park]]. | ||
Several competing stories relate how Miss Fancy came into the city's possession. One has it that the [[Birmingham Advertising Club]] bought the 41 year-old for $2000 from the struggling Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus in [[1913]]. They used her as a promotional gimmick and, once the novelty faded, donated it to the city. Another story, promulgated by former ''Miami Herald'' editor [[Ellis Hollums]], is that ''[[Birmingham Age-Herald]]'' publisher [[Ed Barrett]] won her from a circus owner in a poker game. In any case, the ''Age-Herald'' took credit for presenting the animal as a gift "to the children of Birmingham". $500 of was raised through children's donations to provide for her care. | |||
[[Image:Hagenbeck-Wallace poster.jpg|left|125px]] | [[Image:Hagenbeck-Wallace poster.jpg|left|125px]] | ||
Miss Fancy was kept at Avondale Park from 1913 to [[1934]]. She was initially placed under the custodianship of [[Dayton Allen]], who was instructed on her care and handling by circus trainer Curly Hayes. Housed in a green-painted barn, she was reported to have eaten 150 pounds of hay and three gallons of grain per day, washed down with 60-115 gallons of fresh water and supplemented by popcorn, peanuts, apples and watermelons brought to her by residents. Despite being exercised by giving rides to children, she managed to grow from 4,800 to over 8,500 pounds during her residency in Birmingham. | |||
[[Image:Miss fancy.jpg|right||thumb|275px|Postcard showing Miss Fancy]] | |||
She apparently became a notorious drinker, consuming quarts of confiscated whisky provided by city officials during [[prohibition]]. According to one story, [[John Todd]], a keeper later given charge of the elephant, was prone to consuming his share of the whisky and would occasionally ride her, drunk, into downtown. | |||
The $4,600 annual expense of keeping the animal menagerie operating led the city to abolish the informal zoo in 1934. In November of that same year, the Cole Bros. - Clyde Beatty Circus of in Rochester, Indiana announced the acquisition of "Frieda", an 8,600 lb. elephant from Birmingham, "which towered over the other three in the elephant row". Over time, local officials stopped receiving reports of her travels.<sup>1.</sup> | |||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
* "'Miss Fancy', the Elephant Presented to the Children of Birmingham by the Age-Herald, Out for Her Morning Walk in the Avondale Zoo with Her Keeper, Dayton Allen." (November 14, 1915) ''Birmingham Age-Herald'' rotogravure section | |||
* Conway, Chris. "Personable Pachyderm: She Was City's Pride." (July 15, 1968) ''Birmingham Post-Herald''. | * Conway, Chris. "Personable Pachyderm: She Was City's Pride." (July 15, 1968) ''Birmingham Post-Herald''. | ||
* "Circus Officials and Celebreties Meet at Quarters." (November 17, 1934) Rochester (Indiana) ''News-Sentinel'', quoted in Wendell C. and John B. Tombaugh (2001) "[http://www.fulco.lib.in.us/Tombaugh/Fulton%20Co.%20Handbooks/Html/Handbook%20Cole%20Bros.htm Fulton County Indiana Handbook: Cole Bros. Clyde Beatty Circus]." Rochester, Indiana: Tombaugh House. | * "Circus Officials and Celebreties Meet at Quarters." (November 17, 1934) Rochester (Indiana) ''News-Sentinel'', quoted in Wendell C. and John B. Tombaugh (2001) "[http://www.fulco.lib.in.us/Tombaugh/Fulton%20Co.%20Handbooks/Html/Handbook%20Cole%20Bros.htm Fulton County Indiana Handbook: Cole Bros. Clyde Beatty Circus]." Rochester, Indiana: Tombaugh House. | ||
Revision as of 15:43, 6 July 2010
Miss Fancy was an elephant that served as the star attraction at the Birmingham Zoo when it was located at Avondale Park.
Several competing stories relate how Miss Fancy came into the city's possession. One has it that the Birmingham Advertising Club bought the 41 year-old for $2000 from the struggling Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus in 1913. They used her as a promotional gimmick and, once the novelty faded, donated it to the city. Another story, promulgated by former Miami Herald editor Ellis Hollums, is that Birmingham Age-Herald publisher Ed Barrett won her from a circus owner in a poker game. In any case, the Age-Herald took credit for presenting the animal as a gift "to the children of Birmingham". $500 of was raised through children's donations to provide for her care.
Miss Fancy was kept at Avondale Park from 1913 to 1934. She was initially placed under the custodianship of Dayton Allen, who was instructed on her care and handling by circus trainer Curly Hayes. Housed in a green-painted barn, she was reported to have eaten 150 pounds of hay and three gallons of grain per day, washed down with 60-115 gallons of fresh water and supplemented by popcorn, peanuts, apples and watermelons brought to her by residents. Despite being exercised by giving rides to children, she managed to grow from 4,800 to over 8,500 pounds during her residency in Birmingham.
She apparently became a notorious drinker, consuming quarts of confiscated whisky provided by city officials during prohibition. According to one story, John Todd, a keeper later given charge of the elephant, was prone to consuming his share of the whisky and would occasionally ride her, drunk, into downtown.
The $4,600 annual expense of keeping the animal menagerie operating led the city to abolish the informal zoo in 1934. In November of that same year, the Cole Bros. - Clyde Beatty Circus of in Rochester, Indiana announced the acquisition of "Frieda", an 8,600 lb. elephant from Birmingham, "which towered over the other three in the elephant row". Over time, local officials stopped receiving reports of her travels.1.
Notes
1. The Cole Bros. Circus acquired another "Frieda" in 1947. This Frieda died of old age in 1957. Yet another Frieda from the Cole Bros. Circus was involved in a series of fatal incidents and two rampages from 1985-1995.
References
- "'Miss Fancy', the Elephant Presented to the Children of Birmingham by the Age-Herald, Out for Her Morning Walk in the Avondale Zoo with Her Keeper, Dayton Allen." (November 14, 1915) Birmingham Age-Herald rotogravure section
- Conway, Chris. "Personable Pachyderm: She Was City's Pride." (July 15, 1968) Birmingham Post-Herald.
- "Circus Officials and Celebreties Meet at Quarters." (November 17, 1934) Rochester (Indiana) News-Sentinel, quoted in Wendell C. and John B. Tombaugh (2001) "Fulton County Indiana Handbook: Cole Bros. Clyde Beatty Circus." Rochester, Indiana: Tombaugh House.