The Novemeber / December issue of the Circus Historical Society’s periodical, the Bandwagon, will be in the mail to all its members soon. The magazine is 70 pages long and in full color with numerous photographs and illustrations.

Anyone can join the Circus Historical Society by visiting their website at http://www.circushistory.org  The Join Now button is easily found at the top. the application and Payment just takes a couple minutes. It will be well worth your time.

Former Elephant trainer David Blasko stated the bull hook or ankus is a tool to guide and direct elephants, not to harm them with. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Vice-President of Operations, Tom Albert said “We take proper care of our elephants. We use the tool properly.”

“The animal can feel a bull hook just like a dog can feel a leash. Otherwise, it would serve no purpose. But, it’s not cruel if it’s used properly,” Blasko said.

Ald. Smith, whose bill was passed by a City Council committee Thursday, admitted she had to settle for a lesser Bill as she didn’t have the votes to pass the measure as she introduced it following her 2005 campaign to stop the use of elephants in Chicago.