Queenie (waterskiing elephant): Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
m →Pittsburgh Incident: replaced: democractic → democratic; caps using AWB |
m fixed CS1 errors: dates & General fixes using AWB (9816) |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
[[File:Liz Dane with Queenie (waterskiing elephant).jpg|thumb|Queenie waterskiing with Liz Dane, {{circa}} 1958]] |
[[File:Liz Dane with Queenie (waterskiing elephant).jpg|thumb|Queenie waterskiing with Liz Dane, {{circa}} 1958]] |
||
'''Queenie''' (1952 – May 31, 2011) was a [[Captivity (animal)|captive]] female [[Asian elephant]]. She was noted in the late 1950s and early 1960s for [[waterskiing]] for entertainment. |
'''Queenie''' (1952 – May 31, 2011) was a [[Captivity (animal)|captive]] female [[Asian elephant]]. She was noted in the late 1950s and early 1960s for [[waterskiing]] for entertainment. |
||
==Early life== |
==Early life== |
||
Queenie was born [[Wildlife|wild]] in 1952 in [[Thailand]]. She was imported to the [[United States]] and put on sale in a the [[Henry Trefflich|Trefflich pet store]] in [[New York City]]. In 1953, at 6 months of age she was sold to Bill Green, and his daughter Elisabeth (Liz) Green. The pre-arranged purchase was filmed by [[Today (U.S. TV program)|The Today Show]]. The 250-bound baby elephant was later taken to a private zoo in [[Fairlee, Vermont]].<ref name="Whitcomb-2009" /><ref name="Kilby-2009" /><ref name="Beasly-2011" /> |
Queenie was born [[Wildlife|wild]] in 1952 in [[Thailand]]. She was imported to the [[United States]] and put on sale in a the [[Henry Trefflich|Trefflich pet store]] in [[New York City]]. In 1953, at 6 months of age she was sold to Bill Green, and his daughter Elisabeth (Liz) Green. The pre-arranged purchase was filmed by [[Today (U.S. TV program)|The Today Show]]. The 250-bound baby elephant was later taken to a private zoo in [[Fairlee, Vermont]].<ref name="Whitcomb-2009" /><ref name="Kilby-2009" /><ref name="Beasly-2011" /> |
||
| Line 10: | Line 11: | ||
Marj and Jim Rusing, the owners of a Florida tourist attraction called De Leon Springs, introduced Queenie to water skiing in 1950's. Queenie was billed as "The World's Only Water Skiing Elephant" after she replaced the world's first water skiing elephant, Sunshine Sally.<ref name="Williamson-2009" /> |
Marj and Jim Rusing, the owners of a Florida tourist attraction called De Leon Springs, introduced Queenie to water skiing in 1950's. Queenie was billed as "The World's Only Water Skiing Elephant" after she replaced the world's first water skiing elephant, Sunshine Sally.<ref name="Williamson-2009" /> |
||
Liz Dane said Queenie was not being mistreated, "She thoroughly loved skiing. She would put her trunk in the water and get a big scoop of water and spray it all over the place! She loved it. Elephants can swim, That particular area, the water wasn't that deep. And even if she did spill over, they can swim. There was no danger."<ref name=" |
Liz Dane said Queenie was not being mistreated, "She thoroughly loved skiing. She would put her trunk in the water and get a big scoop of water and spray it all over the place! She loved it. Elephants can swim, That particular area, the water wasn't that deep. And even if she did spill over, they can swim. There was no danger."<ref name="Beasly-2011" /><ref name="Williamson-2009" /> |
||
In 1965, she appeared in a series of print advertisement for the [[Mercury outboard motors]] company.<ref name="Tifde-1965" /> She also appeared on [[The Tonight Show]] and on [[I've Got a Secret]].<ref name=" |
In 1965, she appeared in a series of print advertisement for the [[Mercury outboard motors]] company.<ref name="Tifde-1965" /> She also appeared on [[The Tonight Show]] and on [[I've Got a Secret]].<ref name="Kilby-2009" /><ref name="Williamson-2009" /><ref name="Liebowitz-2006" /> |
||
In 1967 Queenie was sold to an "elephant performance team" in Michigan. In 1981 she was sold to Circus Gatti.<ref name="Harper-2011" /> |
In 1967 Queenie was sold to an "elephant performance team" in Michigan. In 1981 she was sold to Circus Gatti.<ref name="Harper-2011" /> |
||
===Pittsburgh Incident=== |
===Pittsburgh Incident=== |
||
In June, 1959 during an appearance at the Bicentennial Festival in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], waves from a passing [[towboat]] caused Queenie to fall off her skis. Bill Green, who had been waterskiing next to Queenie, held her snorkel above the water until a crane was found and used to haul the elephant out of the water.<ref name=" |
In June, 1959 during an appearance at the Bicentennial Festival in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], waves from a passing [[towboat]] caused Queenie to fall off her skis. Bill Green, who had been waterskiing next to Queenie, held her snorkel above the water until a crane was found and used to haul the elephant out of the water.<ref name="Liebowitz-2006" /><ref name="UPI-1959" /><ref name="PPG-1959-06-13" /> |
||
According to a news article from the [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]], the director of the local [[Humane Society of the United States|Humane Society]] said he had "received 25 telephone calls protesting the risk taken by Queenie when she performs on her huge water skis in the [[Allegheny River]]." The article also quoted the curator of [[mammals]] at the [[Carnegie Museum of Natural History|Carnegie Museum]] as saying "An elephant is provided with a natural snorkel tube. Elephants like daily baths. They draw water up in their trunks and squirt themselves. I think water-skiing would be all right if the elephant isn't afraid of it and likes to do it." Additionally, the local [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] county chairman was "highly suspicious of any attempt to eliminate Queenie's act" and quoted as saying "It might be a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] plot."<ref name="PPG-1959-06-11" /> |
According to a news article from the [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]], the director of the local [[Humane Society of the United States|Humane Society]] said he had "received 25 telephone calls protesting the risk taken by Queenie when she performs on her huge water skis in the [[Allegheny River]]." The article also quoted the curator of [[mammals]] at the [[Carnegie Museum of Natural History|Carnegie Museum]] as saying "An elephant is provided with a natural snorkel tube. Elephants like daily baths. They draw water up in their trunks and squirt themselves. I think water-skiing would be all right if the elephant isn't afraid of it and likes to do it." Additionally, the local [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] county chairman was "highly suspicious of any attempt to eliminate Queenie's act" and quoted as saying "It might be a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] plot."<ref name="PPG-1959-06-11" /> |
||
==Later years== |
==Later years== |
||
Queenie was retired from the Circus Gatti in 2003 and sent to the [[Wild Adventures]] theme park in [[Valdosta, Georgia]].<ref name=" |
Queenie was retired from the Circus Gatti in 2003 and sent to the [[Wild Adventures]] theme park in [[Valdosta, Georgia]].<ref name="Harper-2011" /><ref name="Elephant-Enyclopedia" /><ref name="Batty-2011" /> In 2011, she was [[Euthanasia|euthanized]] because of chronic health problems.<ref name="Batty-2011" /><ref name="Poling-2011" /><ref name="Flagg-2011" /><ref name="WALB-2011" /> According to an obituary in the British [[Daily Mail]], "she was believed to be one of the oldest Asian elephants in North America."<ref name="DM-2011" /> |
||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
| Line 33: | Line 34: | ||
| width = |
| width = |
||
| video1 = [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp09lk_kZCU The World's Only Water-Skiing Elephant] from the [[Daytona Beach News-Journal]]. (Provided by Liz Dane) |
| video1 = [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp09lk_kZCU The World's Only Water-Skiing Elephant] from the [[Daytona Beach News-Journal]]. (Provided by Liz Dane) |
||
| audio1 = [http://myfloridahistory.org/audio/download/427/FFProgram012a.mp3 Queenie, the Water Skiing Elephant, interview with Liz Dane (MP3)] from ''Florida Frontiers'' radio show, episode 12[http://myfloridahistory.org/frontiers/shows/012], from the [[Florida Historical Society]] |
| audio1 = [http://myfloridahistory.org/audio/download/427/FFProgram012a.mp3 Queenie, the Water Skiing Elephant, interview with Liz Dane (MP3)] from ''Florida Frontiers'' radio show, episode 12 [http://myfloridahistory.org/frontiers/shows/012], from the [[Florida Historical Society]] |
||
| image1 = [http://news.yahoo.com/photos/undated-1958-photo-provided-courtesy-liz-dane-dane-photo-020509684.html Liz Dane performing with Queenie the water skiing elephant in 1958.] from the [[Associated Press]]. (Provided by Liz Dane) |
| image1 = [http://news.yahoo.com/photos/undated-1958-photo-provided-courtesy-liz-dane-dane-photo-020509684.html Liz Dane performing with Queenie the water skiing elephant in 1958.] from the [[Associated Press]]. (Provided by Liz Dane) |
||
| image2 = [http://books.google.com/books?id=TWfbHFP586AC&lpg=PA10&dq=Queenie%20elephant%20waterski&pg=PA10#v=onepage&f=false Queenie, the water-skiing elephant, and trainer Elisabeth Green, 1960s] from the book ''Images of America - Along the Connecticut River'' by Phyllis Lavelle, published by [[Arcadia Publishing]] |
| image2 = [http://books.google.com/books?id=TWfbHFP586AC&lpg=PA10&dq=Queenie%20elephant%20waterski&pg=PA10#v=onepage&f=false Queenie, the water-skiing elephant, and trainer Elisabeth Green, 1960s] from the book ''Images of America - Along the Connecticut River'' by Phyllis Lavelle, published by [[Arcadia Publishing]] |
||
| Line 99: | Line 100: | ||
|author = Whitcomb, Laura jean |
|author = Whitcomb, Laura jean |
||
|date = June 24, 2009 |
|date = June 24, 2009 |
||
| |
|pages = 50–54 |
||
|work = Upper Valley Life Magazine (Hanover, New Hampshire) |
|work = Upper Valley Life Magazine (Hanover, New Hampshire) |
||
}}</ref> |
}}</ref> |
||
| Line 111: | Line 112: | ||
}}</ref> |
}}</ref> |
||
<ref name="Kilby-2009">{{cite |
<ref name="Kilby-2009">{{cite web |
||
|url = http://studiohourglass.blogspot.nl/2009/12/liz-and-queenie-waterskiing-elephant.html |
|url = http://studiohourglass.blogspot.nl/2009/12/liz-and-queenie-waterskiing-elephant.html |
||
|title = Liz and Queenie (the Water Skiing Elephant of Ponce de Leon Springs) |
|title = Liz and Queenie (the Water Skiing Elephant of Ponce de Leon Springs) |
||
| Line 161: | Line 162: | ||
|title = Queenie, the world's only water skiing elephant, dies aged 59 at theme park where she retired |
|title = Queenie, the world's only water skiing elephant, dies aged 59 at theme park where she retired |
||
|author = Staff |
|author = Staff |
||
|date = June 3 2011 |
|date = June 3, 2011 |
||
|work = [[Daily Mail]] |
|work = [[Daily Mail]] |
||
}}</ref> |
}}</ref> |
||
Revision as of 16:27, 29 December 2013
.jpg)
Queenie (1952 – May 31, 2011) was a captive female Asian elephant. She was noted in the late 1950s and early 1960s for waterskiing for entertainment.
Early life
Queenie was born wild in 1952 in Thailand. She was imported to the United States and put on sale in a the Trefflich pet store in New York City. In 1953, at 6 months of age she was sold to Bill Green, and his daughter Elisabeth (Liz) Green. The pre-arranged purchase was filmed by The Today Show. The 250-bound baby elephant was later taken to a private zoo in Fairlee, Vermont.[1][2][3]
Career
Queenie and Dane's act made appearances at state and county fairs, TV shows, and circuses around the country. During the show, Queenie and Dane would water ski, play the harmonica, and dance.
Marj and Jim Rusing, the owners of a Florida tourist attraction called De Leon Springs, introduced Queenie to water skiing in 1950's. Queenie was billed as "The World's Only Water Skiing Elephant" after she replaced the world's first water skiing elephant, Sunshine Sally.[4]
Liz Dane said Queenie was not being mistreated, "She thoroughly loved skiing. She would put her trunk in the water and get a big scoop of water and spray it all over the place! She loved it. Elephants can swim, That particular area, the water wasn't that deep. And even if she did spill over, they can swim. There was no danger."[3][4]
In 1965, she appeared in a series of print advertisement for the Mercury outboard motors company.[5] She also appeared on The Tonight Show and on I've Got a Secret.[2][4][6]
In 1967 Queenie was sold to an "elephant performance team" in Michigan. In 1981 she was sold to Circus Gatti.[7]
Pittsburgh Incident
In June, 1959 during an appearance at the Bicentennial Festival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, waves from a passing towboat caused Queenie to fall off her skis. Bill Green, who had been waterskiing next to Queenie, held her snorkel above the water until a crane was found and used to haul the elephant out of the water.[6][8][9]
According to a news article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the director of the local Humane Society said he had "received 25 telephone calls protesting the risk taken by Queenie when she performs on her huge water skis in the Allegheny River." The article also quoted the curator of mammals at the Carnegie Museum as saying "An elephant is provided with a natural snorkel tube. Elephants like daily baths. They draw water up in their trunks and squirt themselves. I think water-skiing would be all right if the elephant isn't afraid of it and likes to do it." Additionally, the local Republican county chairman was "highly suspicious of any attempt to eliminate Queenie's act" and quoted as saying "It might be a Democratic plot."[10]
Later years
Queenie was retired from the Circus Gatti in 2003 and sent to the Wild Adventures theme park in Valdosta, Georgia.[7][11][12] In 2011, she was euthanized because of chronic health problems.[12][13][14][15] According to an obituary in the British Daily Mail, "she was believed to be one of the oldest Asian elephants in North America."[16]
See also
External links
| External media | |
|---|---|
| Images | |
 Liz Dane performing with Queenie the water skiing elephant in 1958. from the Associated Press. (Provided by Liz Dane) | |
| Queenie, the water-skiing elephant, and trainer Elisabeth Green, 1960s from the book Images of America - Along the Connecticut River by Phyllis Lavelle, published by Arcadia Publishing | |
| Audio | |
 Queenie, the Water Skiing Elephant, interview with Liz Dane (MP3) from Florida Frontiers radio show, episode 12 [1], from the Florida Historical Society | |
| Video | |
 The World's Only Water-Skiing Elephant from the Daytona Beach News-Journal. (Provided by Liz Dane) |
- Dane, Elizabeth G. "Only in New England: An Elephant Never Forgets". Yankee (magazine) (March/April 2008).
References
- ^ Whitcomb, Laura jean (June 24, 2009). "Animals of the World in Fairlee, Vt. Backyard" (PDF). Upper Valley Life Magazine (Hanover, New Hampshire). pp. 50–54.
- ^ a b Kilby, Rick (December 2, 2009). "Liz and Queenie (the Water Skiing Elephant of Ponce de Leon Springs)".
- ^ a b Beasley, David (June 3, 2011). "Water-skiing Asian elephant dies in Georgia at 58". Reuters.
- ^ a b c Williamson, Ronald (October 2, 2009). "Water-skiing elephant at DeLeon Springs". The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
- ^ Tifde, Tom (September 2, 1965). "No Elephant Joke, Queenie Does Ski". Meriden Journal. Newspaper Enterprise Association.
- ^ a b Liebowitz, Sarah (July 18, 2006). "Queenie and friend reunited". Concord Monitor. [dead link]
- ^ a b Harper, Mark (June 1, 2011). "Water-skiing elephant dies". The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
- ^ United Press International (June 9, 1959). "Man Saves Elephant From Drowning". via Reading Eagle.
- ^ "Any Lady Elephant Has a Mind of Her Own - Ski or No Ski Up to Queenie". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 13, 1959.
- ^ "Queenie May Get Skids On Skis In Skit Here". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 11, 1959.
- ^ "Queenie at Wild Adventures". Elephant Encyclopedia. June 4, 2011.
- ^ a b Batty, David (June 3, 2011). "Queenie, the waterskiing elephant, dies". The Guardian.
- ^ Poling, Dean (June 1, 2011). "Wild Adventures' Queenie the elephant dies". The Valdosta Daily Times.
- ^ Flagg, Bryan (June 10, 2011). "Famous Elephant With Local Ties, Dies At Age 58". Northcountry News (New Hampshire). p. A1, A3.
- ^ "Famous elephant dies at Wild Adventures". WALB News. May 31, 2011, updated: June 3, 2011.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Staff (June 3, 2011). "Queenie, the world's only water skiing elephant, dies aged 59 at theme park where she retired". Daily Mail.