Ephraim Thompson (October 28, 1859 – April 17, 1909) was a well-known American elephant trainer.

Career

Thompson was trained by

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, who was inducted into the

Circus Hall of Fame The International Circus Hall of Fame is a museum and hall of fame which honors important figures in circus history. It is located in Peru, Indiana on the former grounds of the Wallace Circus and American Circus Corporation Winter Quarters, als ...

in 1979. Thompson was part of the

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Show but since he was black, he was forced to remain in the background while Addie Forepaugh Jr. presented the acts. In 1887, he performed with

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's International Circus from April to September. In 1895, he was with

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performing a tight rope trick between two elephants that were holding the rope. In 1902, he performed at the Blackpool Tower Circus in England. He eventually went to Europe with his act in the 1890s and 1900s. He actually had a somersaulting elephant in his act. the first great American elephant trainer—and, by all accounts, the most humane.

Family life

Born October 28, 1859, in Ypsilanti,

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, and died April 17, 1909, in

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, Egypt. He married Dolinda de la Plata née Roba in 1887 and had a son in 1889 named Leo. At the time of his death he was married to the circus performer Jessie Kelly (Leopold), who after Thompson's death married the acrobat/comedian/ringmaster Sam Nagle (Elton), who was best known for his act "Domestic Mishaps," performed at the

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before the

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, a notoriously dour man who nonetheless laughed throughout Elton's performances.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Ephraim American circus performers 1859 births 1909 deaths