elephant

Wirth Bros was founded by the children of a Bavarian musician, Johannes Wirth (1834 – 1880), who arrived in Australia in 1855. The family worked as itinerant musicians, including for Ashton’s Circus, before establishing a musical and acrobatic troupe that evolved into a travelling circus. By 1887 Wirth Bros Circus was the largest circus in Australia, under the management of Phillip Wirth (1864 – 1937) and his brother George (1867 - 1941). In 1889 they began transporting the circus by train, a practice that continued for the rest of Wirth’s existence. In the 1890s Wirth Bros Circus performed in New Zealand, South Africa, Java, India and England, the first international tour by an Australian circus. Wirth’s Circus (as it was known from 1930) operated a two-year national touring cycle, which included annual visits to Sydney (at Easter) and Melbourne (around the Melbourne Cup, when they presented a gold-mounted whip to the winning jockey). The circus predominantly used imported international acts, with up to 40 performers, 10 elephants and 40 horses, with wild animals and support staff. They also staged a pantomime each year at Christmas time. Wirth’s Circus went into decline with the introduction of television and rising transport costs. On 27 December 1953 Wirth’s Olympia was destroyed by fire, and the circus finally closed in May 1963. Source: collections.artscentremelbourne.com.au/#browse=enarrative...

French was there too - Elephant Rock, Portrush

It really does resemble a pachyderm in so many details! A wonderful shot and French's shot is even more convincing!

I'm seeing many elephants - but at least they're in black and white and not pink.

Mr Mason copied Mr French - catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000325484 Tusk tusk !!

I thought I knew that bit of coastline. Where is this formation? Is it west of Portrush (towards Portstewart?) or east of Portrush (towards Dunluce and the Causeway?)

Some of the Wirth's Brother's Circus elephants: * Alice Died 30 April 1956 the first mention of this elephant was from an interview with Doris Wirth in 1927. She was put down at Wirth's property by a veterinarian at around 65 years of age. * Cardie (Cardigan) Wirths had obtained Cardie around circa 1902 (yet to confirm this year). He had numerous incidences of attacking his keepers. In 1923 during a performance in Queensland Cardie attacked his trainer. He was subsequently shot in July 1923. * Ghuni Sah (Ghunah Sah) This elephant was obtained by Wirths around 1898/1900 and was billed as 'The Bucking Elephant'. She was purchased in Rangoon from a Scottish Timber Merchant (from interview with Phillip Wirth). Her death date is unknown. She possibly died from eating superphosphate when Wirth's were touring Western Australia. * Toby The First Toby was obtained by Moore Park from W.H Hartley in 1887. Hartley had used her as a performing elephant. Toby proved to be of difficult temperament and was sold to Wirth's Circus around 1904. She had several escapes during the time they owned her. In 1915 Toby became ill and died. Source: circuszooanimals.blogspot.com/2011/05/list-of-wirths-circ...