Jenda Smaha

From the list of elephant persons Family: Vinicky

Jenda Smaha
Jan Vinicky
Personal details
Spouse(s) Tina Yenda Smaha
Country United States
Locations
Title elephant trainer 1980-1989
Location at Jenda Smahas elephants in United States
Title elephant trainer 1963-1980
Location at Nugget Casinos elephants in United States
Title elephant trainer 1961-1962
Location at Deppe Classic Circus in United States
Title elephant trainer 1958-1961
Location at Adams Brothers Circus in United States
Title elephant trainer 1957-1958
Location at Hagen Brothers Circus in United States
Title elephant trainer 1955-1957
Location at King Brothers Circus in United States
Title elephant trainer 1950-1955
Location at Wirth Circus in Australia
Relevant literature
Biography details

Jan "Jenda Smaha" Vinicky , circus elephant trainer in United States

Born 1932-01-18 in Germany dead 2006-10-27 , son of animal trainer Antonin Vinicky and animal trainer Inge Smaha .

Affiliation with 1 elephants

1: Bertha (from 1963 to 1980)


Jenda Smaha, born Jan Vinicky but adopted his familys stage name as a performer, was a 5th generation European circus performer and a world-renowned elephant trainer. His grandfather Jose Smaha worked as elephant trainer on Circus Kludsky until the bankrupt in 1934, and later on Firma Ruhe in Alfeld, Germany.

Smaha worked as elephant tainer at Nugget casino in Sparks, but is best known for his wonderful elephant Tanya, with whom he traveled the world.

Smaha moved his show and family in 1980 to Botswana, South Africa, where Tanya performed at a hotel casino. He fell in love with Africa and dedicated himself to the protection of vanishing Species. He became a good friend of Dr. Helena Fitchat, director of the Center for Rehabilitation of Wildlife in South Africa.

He and his wife retired to Sarasota in 1989 to reunite with many of the friends they had made in show business who also retired there. Tanya was given to a friend who had a circus in Mexico.

Smaha died in his sleep of Heart failure Oct. 27, 2006, while on one of his many photo safaris in Africa. He was 74.
-Bob Cline, Cheraw, South Carolina, United States.

Records about Jenda Smaha from William "Buckles" Woodcocks Blog at http://www.bucklesw.blogspot.com/
Tony Smaha said his brother told him he wanted to go to Africa "one last time," even though family members had warned him not to because of his failing health.

"He just loved to take pictures and see the elephants," Tony Smaha said. "He loved Africa and he loved safaris. This was his fourth trip."

Jenda Smaha was only in Baraboo for a few years, spending the rest of his life touring around the world, meeting famous people such as Johnny Carson, Jack Nicklaus and Joe DiMaggio along the way. He spent 12 years working in Las Vegas before moving to Sarasota, Fla.

"He got four entertainer of the year awards when he was out in (Las) Vegas," Tony Smaha said.

Tony Smaha said his brother was a pioneer with elephant acts, and was instrumental in starting up the practice of having animals at Circus World Museum.



Records about Jenda Smaha from Bob Cline

Dan, He got the first Tanya in 1970. He got the second Tanya in 1972 now giving him 2 elephants. By 1973, the first one is gone. In 1974 he got the third Tanya again giving him two elephants. By 1975, the second one is gone and he\'s back with one elephant. In 1978 he got the fourth Tanya giving him two elephants again. In 1979, the third Tanya is no longer there. The fourth Tanya stayed with him from 1978 to 1987 until she was sold to George Hanneford. I don't have any record of where they came from, where they went, or exact dates.

Bob Cline, Cheraw, South Carolina, United States. Autor of the book Americas elephants



Siblings

Siblings through the father Antonin Vinicky ( -- ):

  1. Joszi Vinicky Born 1949-05-21 Dead: † 2008-03-06

Jenda Smaha s ancestral Ahnentafel:
P I II III

Jenda Smaha
Born: 1932-01-18

Father:
Antonin Vinicky

Born:

Paternal Grandfather:
Joszi Vinicky

Born:
Paternal Great-grandfather:
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Paternal Grandmother:


Born:
Paternal Great-grandfather::
Paternal Great-grandmother:

Mother:
Ingeborg Vinicky

Born: 1925-12-02

Maternal Grandfather:


Born:
Maternal Great-grandfather:
Maternal Great-grandmother:
Maternal Grandmother:


Born:
Maternal Great-grandfather:
Maternal Great-grandmother:


Reference list

References

Koehl, Dan, (2024). elephant trainer Jan "Jenda Smaha" Vinicky in United States. Elephant Encyclopedia, available online retrieved 21 November 2024 at https://www.elephant.se/person.php?id=361. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:



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Categories elephant trainer | circus | Jenda Smaha | Vinicky family | Born 1932 | Dead 2006 | People from United States

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