Elephants and CMP

[Lynn Eades]

Two!, with short legs. Stilts in the back.
Where did Bullens Circus originate from? Did they travel to N.Z.? I think I saw them in about 1961.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Two!, with short legs. Stilts in the back.
Where did Bullens Circus originate from? Did they travel to N.Z.? I think I saw them in about 1961.

I don't remember their travelling Circus, but do remember afterwards when the family (Alfred, and later Stafford) settled in one spot and opened Bullen's Lion Safari at Wallacia in Sydney's west, which later expanded to other sites around the country. Younger generations of the family are involved with Australia Zoo (Crikey!).

[Hanno Spoelstra]

In the movie Dumbo Drop they move an elephant in the back of a CMP bitsa

Originally Posted by cmp_uc_guy

Heres a left hand drive C60 in "Operation Dumbo Drop." with Danny Glover and a few other famous actors.

[Phil Waterman]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

In the movie Dumbo Drop they move an elephant in the back of a CMP bitsa

Hi Lang and Hanno

When I read your post Lang it was strange because I had just come in from working in the shop, and as I often do had the TV on and had just watched Dumbo Drop. So you beat me to finding shot out of the movie Hanno.

You got to wonder what was the story behind the photo Lang, was there any info with the picture?

Now who is searching for war time photos of elephants and CMP?

Cheers Phil

[Richard Farrant]

The story behind the photo is here;
https://northqueenslandhistory.blogs...os-circus.html

The photo caption says c.1930, I would say more like 1950. It was taken at Torren Creek, Queensland. No doubt that was not the only truck that the Jumbos pulled through the creek!

[Andrew H.]

I remember Bullens and Ridgeway circuses coming to New Zealand, when I was a kid. I don't know of a CMP connection, but I do remember two elephants dying from tutu poisoning in the 1950s. They were parked in an open-topped truck at a railway siding and reached up to sample the local greenery. Unfortunately for them it was tutu (Corearia Arborea) which is one of the most toxic plants in NZ.

[Lang]

Richard

Beat me to it.

Bullens and Ashtons were the two circus families in Australia (and also visited NZ). Although there were, and still are, many smaller circuses they were institutions attracting hundreds of thousands during the course of a year. Small names that come to mind, some still operating, are Perry, Wirth, Sole and Silver. Sadly their audiences are dominated by parents and under 12 year olds these days. Adults are catered for by the sophisticated Cirque du Soleil but a far cry from the old traditions.

The big circuses became more and more corporate in the 60/70 period and drifted away to safari theme parks etc. I think Ashtons has revived the name.

I will look for more photos because I am sure I have seen other military vehicles in that role. They certainly had them. Perhaps the Europeans could put up some photos of the huge number of military vehicles used there by circuses

From little things big things grow.

Photo of Bullens Circus 1920 and one of their 4 three-ring tents operating around Australia in 1970.



Lang