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The Year in Pictures

Modoc was former Circus elephant Ralph Helfer found for sale in the newspaper that he bought for only a thousand Dollars for a new Television series in 1961 called Frontier Circus (1961) from a private Zoo In the hills of the Ozark Mountains. When Ralph and his friend Frank Lamping drove across the Country on a four day journey with a used van trailer pulled by an old Chevy Bobtail to a small town in the Ozark's they found Modoc on this old dilapidated property and she was already about a thousand pounds underweight because of the terrible condition there with 20 years of neglect and abuse. From her owner Bo Jenkin's, a fat balding man, who kept Modoc shackled with a heavy chain that stretched only about fifteen feet to a dead oak tree surrounded by a four-foot-high barbed wire fence just letting people throw rocks at her for all those years. It took a lot of restraint for Ralph and Frank because they really wanted beat up Mr. Jenkin's because of his cruelty to Modoc but they paid him his money, loaded her into the van trailer and left.

When Ralph and Frank got Modoc back to "Nature's Haven: Wild Animal Rentals" in Van Nuys, California a Veterinarian examined her and told them they gotten her out just in the nick of time because she never have survived another winter back there in the mountains. With the rest of the staff help, they were able to slowly Nurse Modoc back to full health so she would be able to perform for the show. Her experience and training from her circus days came out. Ralph knew then that this lady must have been a star-a great star-to able to perform in the ring without a trainer so Ralph was able to use her on many other Television series and Movies as well.

Modoc was so mellow and gentle that Ralph trusted his own daughter Tana Helfer to play with her and rider her whenever she wanted. In fact Tana rode Modoc in front her whole school to proof to her teacher that she had her own elephant.

In her younger days Modoc once worked with her trainer Bram Gunterstein together in the "North Circus" but the owner Mr. North sold Modoc while Bram was away earning money to buy her himself then by sheer coincidence, after years of separations while driving trough Los Angeles elephant trainer Bram and his wife Gertie drove onto "Gentle Jungle Exotic Animal Rental" in Bloomington, California looking for any work available.

There he heard and recognized the sound of Modoc and he just ran off calling "Mosie, where are you girl, Mosie, Modoc!!

Then a blast of pure vocal energy in a volume not heard before came from somewhere, everywhere. There came Modoc from around the side of the building and when she saw Bram she lowering her head then she came plowing through a fence throwing stakes and wire in all directions.

Bram came running up and when Modoc came to a sudden stop he leaped, grabbing her trunk, hugging, holding! She swung him high in the air, dancing, squeaking, shrieking, and kicking her feet. Modoc was finally reunited with her long lost beloved trainer Bram Gunterstein who all her life had been her friend, her father figure and her mentor. Gertie, too, was held tight by Modoc's trunk and they were all together again. The keeper was awestruck and to ease his confusion, Bram turned and said happily, "Don't worry we're family!" That evening Ralph met Bram and Gertie, while along with the keeper they were up in the barn changing the bandages on Modoc's foot helping nursing her back to health. After Bram and Gertie told Ralph their whole story he gave them a job the next day.

Hollywood and its movie stars fell in love with Modoc, so she had made her comeback-and had risen to stardom again. Bram also built a name for himself in Hollywood as a great trainer that was matched by his reputation as a warm and gentle man.

Modoc was losing her sight in her good eye and soon her eyesight had gotten worse, but as long as she could hear Bram's voice she was content.

Ralph contributed into a pool allowing them to rent a large tent and have erected at the ranch over the circus ring to throw party for Modoc and Bram's 79'th Birthday.

Bram led Modoc, the one, the only "Golden Elephant", into the Center Ring to give her farewell performance and when she heard the music she started to sway, to danced in her own time, more beautiful than ever before.

Hundred had come to say their goodbyes to Modoc and to thank her for all that she had done to better the lives of so many. The audience rose as one. They stood in respect, in honor of a great lady.

Bram died soon after the birthday celebration and Modoc soon followed.

Even in the end Bram led the way for Modoc.

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