Ralph Helfer

Ralph Helfer was born in Chicago, Illinois and even as child he knew he wanted to live in Africa, work with exotic animals and have an African Lion for a friend. He even pledged his life to a crusade against animal cruelty. In 1942 Ralph's Mother left her husband Sam then took him and his sister Sally Ann to Hollywood, California where they settled in the Green Apartments, one block off Hollywood Boulevard. There they he met his best friend Carol Burnett. The Hollywood trainers of that time brought their animals in with steel-barred cages then used the fear and intimidation of whips, guns and chairs to beating their animals into control. Because of their cruel treatment Ralph was almost killed stunt doubling for an actor in a scene that involved an African lion called Rex. Prior to the scene his trainer enraged Rex so much he wanted revenge on any one so unfortunately he took it out on Ralph, which hospitalized him for a while because of the severe mauling he received from that lion. Ralph was determined to completely change the way animals were treated in Hollywood by using his own training philosophy called "Affection Training" which was Love, Patience, Understanding and Respect. The trainers of the time laughed at the methods that Ralph was going to use but he was going to prove them wrong.

Owned and trained a Raccoon named Bandit that Marilyn Monroe got very attached to while filming the movie River of No Return (1954).

In 1955 with his Sister Sally Ann's help he purchased a two-acre piece of property in Van Nuys, California to train animals he named "Nature's Haven: Wild Animal Rentals". There he slowly built his collection of animals including raccoons, various monkeys, deer, hawks and a variety of snakes. Finally Ralph's greatest wish came true, his lion was coming because on a three week Safari in Africa two of Ralph's friends Jack and Brini while traveling through Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya photographing the Cape buffalos, African lions, rhinos, elephants and leopards they found one. While Jack and Brini were on the Zambezi River they found this exhausted orphaned lion cub that would have never lasted another hour if they didn't take him in and nurse back to health. They named him Zamba after the river they found him, Brini was sorry to give him up because she got very attached to the lion cub, but they both knew Ralph was the right person to give Zamba too. Ralph was not only going to use his "Affection Training" technique to raise this cub but he was going to make Zamba feel like one of the family. On his ranch Zamba grew into a magnificent animal and Ralph had formed a very special bond with him so much that he trusted with everyone including small children. Zamba's good nature and gentle disposition became well known, and they received calls from charitable organizations asking if he come and help raised funds for a variety of worthwhile causes, he was also used in many Hollywood Movies and Television series.

In 1960 Ralph got a call from Twentieth Century-Fox studio because they heard he had lions. They were making a film that required a lion to work with a small child and they wondered if he could provide one. Samuel G.

Jerry Lewis got Ralph barred from working at Paramount Pictures for six months until he was finished his movie The Ladies Man (1961) when he got in his face and yelled at him. Because Ralph found out that Jerry had gun in his pocket for protection when he did the scene with his lion Zamba.

Engel the producer of the film "The Lion (1962)", put out a call for a full-grown lion to star in the film they were going to make in Africa. What Ralph loved more than the idea of Africa were his lions, and the opportunity to see those two passions intersect was incredible. Pamela Franklin the little girl actress that Zamba was going to star with in the film was a vibrant, bright little lady and when Ralph first introduced Zamba to her she just captured both their hearts immediately. Pamela got along so famously with Zamba that she even helped take care of him while they were in Africa. Ralph also took his other lion Zamba Jr. not only to double for the star in certain shots but he could also play another lion. He even took his lioness Tammy for a scene with Zamba. While Ralph and Zamba were in Nairobi, Kenya filming the movie, they stayed at the magnificent "Mount Kenya Safari Club" which was owned by actor William Holden and his business partners'. There they met Pippa, his guide and interpreter where they developed a great relationship. Pippa was a rusty red haired pale and slightly freckled face woman with a low arresting British voice. Her smile was incredibly warm that lit up her entire face. Ralph found out that she was third-generation Kenyan. Originally the movie was to take six months to finish but it took a year to complete because it was delayed because of the worst rain in thirty years. While Ralph and Zamba were in Kenya they had their own adventures and it had the most profound effect on both of them. Many dignitaries came to see Ralph so they could have their pictures taken with Zamba: the mayor, some very wealthy conservationists and nearby landowners, the chief of police, and some military big shots as well. Ralph and Pippa even took Zamba to see a Native Medicine Man deep in the heart of Kenya before he left. But to finally complete the film Ralph needed to dress up as a Massai Warrior and do a wrestling scene with Zamba.

In 1962 Ralph returned to California from Africa a much wiser man, then some time after his return he married Toni Ringo (Toni Helfer). Ralph met Toni just before he left for Africa and they had a short but passionate relationship. Toni was very extraordinary woman, she attended college, modeled professionally, highly spiritual, and she could hold her own conversation with some of the most learned religious scholars. What impressed Ralph the most was her tremendous kindness and compassion, which allowed her to empathize completely with all the exotic animals they lived and worked with.

Then in June 1963 they had their daughter, Tana Helfer, named after a river in Kenya, which Ralph said was, and is, one of the greatest blessings God has bestowed on me! She inherited her mother's beauty, inner and outer, and her incredible smile immediately transmitted her love of life to everyone-animal or human-who ever came in contact with her. But soon their property was cut in half by the Antelope Valley Freeway so they had to relocate to Soledad Canyon where they bought 600 acres of land to build their new ranch and they decided to name it "Africa U. S. A" because of the large number of African animals that were being filmed. In a short time Africa, U. S. A. became the largest animal rental company in the world that provided even more Exotic animals for the movies and television. Along with Zamba, were Ralph's Indian Elephants Modoc, Taj, Debbie, and Misty, Clarence the Cross Eyed Lion, Bruno The Bear, Judy the Chimpanzee, C. J. the Orangutan. Manis the Orangutan and many, many more who were to become famous animal movie stars. People who should never have had them in the first place donated many of their own exotic animals to Africa U. S. A. , a group of lions, tigers, bears and leopards. Ralph became the most highly revered and trusted animal trainer in Hollywood. Even Walt Disney hired Ralph to provide exotic animals like his two Bengal Tigers Serang, Sultan and others for many of his movies and television series. Because of Ralph's "Affection Training" his exotic animals were awarded over twenty-two "PATSY Awards", the highest honor given to an animal that performs in television and movie business.

Judy the Chimpanzee played "Debbie the Bloop", Penny Robinson's alien pet in the TV Series Lost in Space (1965).

Has developed and filmed three television series: Daktari (1966), Gentle Ben (1967) and Cowboy in Africa (1967).

Had a giraffe named Twigga he saddle-broke to ride. Who was ridden by Rex Harrison in the movie Doctor Dolittle (1967).

In January 1969, Africa U. S. A. was devastated by a powerful storm that caused terrible mudslides, this resulted in severe flooding and it was the largest flood that had ever been recorded over the Soledad Canyon region. The Helfer family as well as the other trainers who worked for them had to struggle through two days and nights of unbelievable havoc and terror, trying desperately to salvage what they could of their ranch. These torrential flooding's killed 20 of the 1,500 exotic animals at Ralph's ranch. Luckily help came from everywhere, the highways were soon lined with cars and other people were walking three miles over the hills to bring supplies of hot food and drinks to them. By four the next morning, some twenty people had, by one method or another, made it over to help them. Charley and Madeline Franks, two loyal helpers, kept hot chili coming, and must have dished out hundreds of meals. Even people from the Humane Society, Fish and Game, Animal Regulation, and the SPCA all helped to comfort and tend the animals. After every thing they've built Ralph had to start all over again. He then created another company and Animal training park called "Gentle Jungle". Based on 55-acre ranch in Colton, California, about 50 miles east of Los Angeles once the home of the old Gene Holter Movieland Animal Park. This ranch was home to for about 500 exotic and domestic animals that appeared in movies and television series. The Gentle Jungle Affection Training School was a three-phase program that took 22 weeks to complete.

Ralph often worked on the television show The Pet Set (1971) with his Dear friend Betty White and whenever she needed an animal on the show, she would call him and Ralph would bring over whichever animal fit the circumstances including Zamba.

Then in 1972 Ralph bought out "Marine World" when it went bankrupt, a 66-acre theme park in Redwood City, California then added a wildlife park and "Jungle Theater," renaming the park as "Marine World/Africa U. S. A.

") But this park went bankrupt in the fall of 1977.

One of his other chimpanzees' Evie (short for Evolution), played the robot dog Muffit in the TV Series Battlestar Galactica (1978).

By the early 1980's about 2,000 people graduated from his Affection Training School and many of his graduates went into animal work since they took his course.

Later in 1982 the Gentle Jungle Affection Training School moved again to "Lion Country Safari", in Laguna Hills, California, which closed down 1984 because it was investigated by United States Department of Agriculture where an eventual lawsuit against Helfer for Animal Welfare Act violations. Ralph was cleared of all accusations except one, which was sent to the supreme court, which was meant to deal with the death of a tiger, who died due to a veterinarian over dosing the tiger, it never got to the supreme court as that would be the same as blaming a child's death on a parent who took their child to a doctor who miss-administrated drugs to the child. Ralph finally left the business due to the imminent financial pressure of the wrongful suit.

" but because of the increase in the value of the property the park occupied it became too great a tax burden so eventually in 1986 they moved "Marine World/Africa U. S. A.

" to Vallejo, California but in 1998, the park officially became part of the Six Flags chain. He also was a partner and chairman in a small Buena Park, California, theme park called "Enchanted Village," which was built on the site of the defunct Japanese Village and Deer Park amusement attraction. Enchanted Village had the Lost Island Theater, Amazon Cliff Divers, Bridge of Enchantment, Gentle Jungle Theater, Wilderness Theater and Tiger Arena. It was also the home to a variety of fascinating animals, including giraffes and Oliver "The Human Chimp.