I woke in the middle of the night and turned on my little TV. There was a b/w film running in silence.
We were at the circus (don't know if it was Barnum & Bailey). The spotlight was full on the satin curtain entrance but it was obvious that something was terribly wrong. Circus people were backing away. There was a big fuss at the satin entrance but nobody came in.
So the "trainer"? Hot-shot big guy in charge of elephants? stepped forward with a great show of power and a small whip. He was wearing a tuxedo. He told others to let the elephant go and called to elephant to come forward. He made a big show of the small whip - I don't know if it was just a prop. He made it snap while he ordered the elephant to Enter.
And then the elephant came in. We saw a huge bull elephant who was no longer taking orders. He picked up the Trainer and threw him on the ground. An assistant-trainer approached - looked friendly - but the elephant picked him up with its trunk and threw him away (causing broken rib).
Then the elephant knocked the trainer back down and stomped once on his head. Calmly, the elephant waited. Every time the Trainer tried to get up, the elephant would stomp on his head again. The circus people were too terrified to approach. Then, when the Trainer was no longer responding (unconscious?), the elephant stomped the guy's head repeatedly and fast.
Then the elephant stopped and just stood there, weaving a little side-to-side. Nobody did anything so the elephant turned and left. We were told that he calmly went for a long walk, left circus grounds, and the police finally killed this "rogue" elephant in a suburban street. The elephant did no other harm.
I was convinced that the Trainer must have used some terrible abuse on the elephant.
This is years ago, but it was live and from that night I knew the circuses must give up animals.
