Franz Tisch

The Elephant Show at the SDWAP began with Don McClennon and Joan Embrey in the mid-1970s.

Not sure on dates but the show progressed when Franz Titsch (sp?) took over. He had Sonita, the older elephant that did the cover routine, that the Park got from Charlie Franks. Franz did train the younger elephants and they all did well. Franz would work the elephants in the ring from off stage - impressed me. I believe he followed Buckles into Circus World and had a pretty rough time.
Jim A.

In 1980 someone in Circus World management had a San Diego Zoo connection and brought in Franz Tisch to take over the elephants.
Some time later, to the delight of the Zoo Officials, they unloaded two dangerous elephants on Circus World, "Toomai" and "Chocolate".
Realizing their mistake both were gotten rid of. "Toomai" to Jacobson and "Chocolate" to the Lowrey Park Zoo (another mistake).

William "Buckles" Woodcock Buckles Blog

I wonder where Franz Tisch is now. He seems to have disappeared. He did a stint with Siegfried and Roy when Gilda went to Vegas, and also worked with the horses purchased from and trained by from Donnie Anderson. When he left S & R he was working with various Andalusian farms.

He had an "Andre Skarbecki" knack of scoring with well to do females.

Wade G. Burck