Jan Vinicky, aka, Jenda Smaha, Elephant trainer enjoyed international spotlight; friend of George Burns
Hoodini
By MARK ZALOUDEK
November 11. 2006
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061111/NEWS/611110571
[caption for webpage photo]
Animal trainer Jenda Smaha, right, performed for Queen Elizabeth in
1967 with his wife, Rena, comedian Bob Hope and Tanya the elephant.
Smaha entertained in Vegas for more than a decade.
SARASOTA -- Thanks to his 4-ton show business partner, Jenda Smaha
mingled with celebrities and became something of a celebrity himself,
performing for Queen Elizabeth II and appearing in a James Bond movie
starring Sean Connery.
Smaha's family says he had a sixth sense when it came to animals,
especially elephants.
The fifth-generation European circus performer entertained audiences
worldwide with one of his favorite pachyderms, Tanya. They also
performed in Las Vegas for more than a decade.
"He had a wonderful kinship with elephants and was in sync with them.
Even before they'd show a sign of what they were going to do, he just
knew they were going to move in a certain way or reach for something,"
said his daughter, Regina Vinicky of Las Vegas.
He treated his animals like family, she said.
"There were times when Tanya got sick and he would sleep with her,"
Vinicky said.
Smaha, who was born Jan Vinicky but adopted his family's stage name as
a performer, died in his sleep of heart failure Oct. 27, 2006, while
on one of his many photo safaris in Africa. He was 74.
Born Jan. 18, 1932, in Germany, Smaha was exposed to the glamour and
hard work of circus life as a child.
His father was an accomplished horse trainer, and his grandparents had
one of the largest wild cat shows in Europe, said Rena Smaha, his wife
of 43 years.
He assisted family members who performed in Europe and Australia
before immigrating to the United States in 1956. He was the original
trainer of Bertha the Elephant at John Ascuaga's Nugget Hotel & Casino
in Sparks, Nev., which led to guest appearances with Bertha on "The
Steve Allen Show" and "The Hollywood Palace." He also brought some of
the first animal acts to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wis., in
the early 1960s.
In 1965, he purchased Tanya, a 1-year-old Asian elephant that had been
born in captivity in Thailand, and they performed throughout Europe,
including a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II in 1967 with
Bob Hope.
Smaha, his wife, a former singer who became his on-stage assistant,
and their young daughter moved in 1969 to Las Vegas, where Tanya
performed for more than a decade. They were honored with the
Entertainer of the Year Award four years in a row from the American
Guild of Variety Artists.
Smaha and Tanya also appeared on several television shows, including
"The Merv Griffin Show," "The Mike Douglas Show" and "Those Amazing
Animals."
Friend Ross Hartzell described Smaha as "one hell of a trainer" in an
online tribute.
"He could walk an elephant through a crowded casino pit and most
people would not even notice him. The customers were truly amazed as
Tanya would throw the dice for them or pull the handle of their slot
machine," he said.
Tanya's slot machine trick was included in the 1971 James Bond movie
"Diamonds Are Forever."
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.
In addition to his wife and daughter, Smaha is survived by a son, Jan
Vinicky of Las Vegas; a brother, Tony Smaha of Baraboo, Wis.; and two
granddaughters.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at Palms Funeral Home &
Memorial Park in Sarasota. A reception will follow at Show Folks of
Sarasota, 5204 N. Lockwood Ridge Road.
Memorial donations to create a watering hole for elephants in a
national park in Botswana can be made to the Center for Rehabilitation
of Wildlife, P.O. Box 53007, Yellowwood Park, 4011, South Africa,
Attn: Dr. Helena Fitchat.
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Published November 11, 2006.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/obituaries/individual_display.jsp?obitID=1015895
SMAHA, JENDA
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Jan Vinicky, best known as Jenda Smaha, passed away Oct. 27, 2006,
while on safari in Botswana Africa. He died peacefully from natural
causes in his sleep. Jenda, devoted husband & beloved father, was born
Jan. 18, 1932, in Schonebeck-Bad Salzelmen, Germany. He was a 5th
generation European circus performer & a world-renowned elephant
trainer, best known for his wonderful elephant Tanya, with whom he
traveled the world. In 1956, Jenda migrated to the U.S. & gained
citizenship in 1963. He was honored to have his citizenship swear-in
witnessed by his dear friend, comedian George Burns. He was the
original trainer of Bertha the Elephant at John Ascuaga's Nugget Hotel
& Casino in Sparks, & had several guest appearances with Bertha on the
Steve Allen Show as well as The Hollywood Palace tv Show starring a
variety of celebrity hosts, such as Dean Martin, Liberace, & Groucho
Marx. While working at the Nugget, he became engaged to the love of
his life, Rena Robbins, a production show singer. They were married in
Reno, July 18, 1964, & had their 1st child, Regina Marie Jan. 20,
1965. Jenda received ownership of his 1st elephant, Tanya, shortly
after his daughter?s birth in 1965. He & his new family traveled
throughout Europe performing numerous engagements, such as Cinderella
played at the London Palladium in Liverpool & Tivoli Gardens in
Copenhagen, Denmark. He also performed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
of England at the Royal Command Performance in 1967. In 1969, Jenda
moved to LV, where son, Jan Christian was born May 29, 1972. Jenda,
assisted by his beautiful wife Rena, worked in numerous production
shows & had a long successful career on the Vegas Strip. Jenda & his
elephant, Tanya appeared on several tv shows such as the Merv Griffin
Show, Mike Douglas Show, John Davidson Show & Those Amazing Animals.
They won the American Guild of Variety Artists Entertainer of the Year
Award, 4 years in a row presented by Ed Sullivan & appeared in the 007
movie, Diamonds are Forever, starring Sean Connery, shot on location
in LV. In 1980, Jenda moved to South Africa to open the resort in Sun
City where he fell in love with the beauty of Africa. Jenda retired in
1989 & moved to Sarasota, FL., to be with all their Show Folk friends
who are all like family to them. During his retirement, he & Rena
continued their travels to many places such as Germany, Switzerland, &
China. But Jenda enjoyed his photo safaris in Africa the most,
traveling every 3 years to visit friends. He loved taking photos of
the African wildlife & collected numerous pictures & stories of his
adventures to share with his family & friends. Jenda was passionately
against the culling of animals in Africa, especially the elephants, &
was a great friend to the director, Dr. Helena Fitchat of C.R.O.W.
(Center for Rehabilitation of Wildlife) in South Africa. Jenda was an
amazing man who had a very rich, unique life full of love & adventure.
He loved his surviving wife, Rena of 43 years marriage; 2 children; &
beautiful granddaughters, Keira Lyn Blankenship, 10 yrs old, & Grayce
Ayn Kathryn Vinicky, 3 mo. old. Not to mention, he had friends all
around the world. He made life interesting for all who knew him & he
will be greatly missed. Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 11,
at Palm Funeral Home Memorial Park on Honore Ave in Sarasota, FL. In
lieu of flowers, the Vinicky-Smaha family requests whoever would like
to respect the memory of Jenda Smaha by donating to the non-profit
organization of C.R.O.W. for the protection and rehabilitation of
wildlife in Africa, which Jenda so loved. Memorial funds will be used
to create a watering hole for the elephants in Savuti, Botswana in
Chobe National Park dedicated to the memory of Jenda Smaha. More
information about the C.R.O.W. organization is available at
www.crowkzn.co.za . Donations should be sent to C.R.O.W., P.O. Box
53007, Yellowwood Park, 4011 South Africa, ATTN: Dr. Helena Fitchat.
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