Friday, September 29, 2006

From Jim Alexander


"I was going thru my few photos and thought you might be interested in a portrait of Jules Jacot taken by a young visitor to the St. Louis Zoo in 1969. This was Jules last year at the Zoo. The zoo owned cats and some of Jules' lions were sold to Carson & Barnes in January of 1970. Jules did take two lions and four leopards to work at Peoria, Ill. Glen Oak Zoo the summer of 1970.He was 81 years old when he died in January 1971."

Posted by Buckles at 9/29/2006 06:25:00 AM

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I never met him or saw him work personally, but I have got some film taken at St. Louis Zoo and a few photos. I would consider him to have been an excellent trainer and am interested to see more of his work. I don't like the dressing up of Big Cats. Before anyone jumps on me for having "crank" ideals, I'd like to point out this is just a personal stylistic preference, not an ethical judgment. I have and still do work with other trained animals who have to be dressed up. In fact, it could be argued that we dressed a tiger for the film "Fierce Creatures".

By the way Jules Jacot physically resembles Captain Sydney Howes, who was a good friend of mine.

29 September, 2006 07:43
Anonymous said...

Mr.Jacot was one of my idols. He could do anything he wanted in the way of dressing an animal for show purposes. He drew the crowds to the St Louis Zoo for years. My beginning in animal training and performing. Dick Magraw {?} and many others were infulenced[?] by Mr Jacot. Mr Smith and Mr Woodcock did not suffer fools. They respected Mr Jacot. That is enough for anyone in my book. It would not do you to see how I dress my pets Mr Clubb. Dressing gowns to motor cycle jackets. Another mentor from years gone by whole act was dressing up his animals [dogs]

29 September, 2006 09:02
Anonymous said...

In addition to the "King of Beast" costumed lion, Jules trained "the world's largest snapping turtle." During his first tour at the Zoo, 1943-55, he trained a lion to crawl into a paper-mache turtle shell. The cat would then crawl across the arena growling and snapping. I'll agree it sounds pretty hokey but think of the training involved. When he returned to the Zoo in 1963 he had a lion who would do the trick, minus the turtle shell.

29 September, 2006 09:26
Anonymous said...

Morning JIM, I trained a dog to crawl on her belly across the room. I called it her "SNEEKIE SNAKE" trick. The nurseing home folks got a big kick out of it. We both have very fond memories of the St Louis Zoo. I live just across the river from the zoo now. Some folks call my place a zoo. I just finished hunting some sluggs for my turtle.

29 September, 2006 10:36
Anonymous said...

At Benson's, Joe Arcaris trained a lion wedding. His male wore a full tux and top hat, and the lioness wore a formal white wedding dress with a veil and a train. If we understand this might not be to everyone's taste, as the man says, think of the training involved. Joe Arcaris, winner of the Carnegie Hero Medal for saving Chester Czaja from a 5-lion attack at the Clyde Beatty Jungle Zoo, in 1940, was among the most skilled of trainers.

I never met Mr. Jacot, but was honored to have a brief correspondence with him. I beleive his work started at 20, making his 61-year career among the longest. In comparison, Mabel Stark's career spanned over 56 years, and Mr. Beatty's was roughly 44 years on circuses, 42 in the cage.

29 September, 2006 13:51
Anonymous said...

When the Cole bros. circus closed early in August and went to the St. Louis Arena complex to establish a permanent wntqtrs, I and my dad were there with it all thru August and sept, until the idea was axed and we went to Terrel Jacobs place [now Paul Kelly] in Bunker Hill [Peru]. During the time in ST Louis we were close to the zoo and would visit frquently. This was in 1950 and during the hey day of Director Verheiller and the three great performing animal shows there. The incredible chimp and pony show, Jules Jacot fabulous wild animal show and Floyd Smith wonderful Asian elephant show. I could make this co0mment too long by telling about them but only to say the chimp show was world famous and the others not far behind. Jules act was fabulous. For the record he was left handed. He started like with afew leopards, male lions, two bears and then brought in seven female lions who at the tierd seats at the front of the cage would all mount those stretch bars and roar very loud and strong. Jules would then leave the cage thru the shoot door. It was six feet tall and then come sauntering back with about six brautiful tigers following.

29 September, 2006 14:40
Anonymous said...

His routine was excellent and the photo op finish was the lion is king with cape and crown and holding a banner 'welcome to the St Louis zoo'. We got know him and the other trainers quite well. Jules wore the beret and boots and britches and mustache and with his swagger appeared to be very French, however I understand that he was an all American boy and that his name was not really Jacot. He was the head wild animal trainer at the AMC in Peru in those great years. And yes during the Beatty growing years More about that later.

29 September, 2006 14:50
Bob Cline said...

I'm not sure of the dates, but He worked for Paul and Dorothy Kelly for a while.

29 September, 2006 18:24
Anonymous said...

Mike and Ben were the chimp and pony trainers. Mike's father had been the cat trainer before Jule. Al Antonucci was with the chimps either before or after this time. Smith's career was only there, except that he was the first "trainer" to handle the suesz elephants, Mary, Ruth and Sue, trained for a very good act by Tony Smaha and later routined by Rex. Those zoo trainers did not get big contracted wages, but only head keeper salaries with employee benefits, but I recall the could pitch a program book and then sell it after each show. Jule looked funny with a change apron on. They got a PC, so I guesw it was Verhillers way of getting them some extra scratch. I recall alot of jealousy among the various trainers, and of course in a town sucker situation resentment from the general keepers. They all thought they could be trainers.

29 September, 2006 20:33
Anonymous said...

Jules was also called Jerry Erwin. He signed checks, etc. Jules E. Jacot. The Jerry Erwin name might have been used when he worked several acts. At the end of the 1955 season Jules and George Vierheller didn't get along and Jules finally left buying 13 lions and a tiger from his zoo act. Jules version was that he and Paul Kelly were partners in the cat business. The lions were divided into two acts, one of males and one of females. The partnership dissolved after a few years. Jules told me, "it doesn't matter if you own the cats if the other guy owns the truck." He claimed he was a good trainer, "still have all my fingers", but a lousy businessman.

I continue to have great respect and affection for Jules. He was a great trainer and good friend but he could do some questionable things. Seeing his beret reminded me of the time he wanted to add some color to his wardrobe. The Zoo had a gallon of green food dye to color the sawdust for the stage floor. One day Jules decided to dye his beret with the same green dye. It looked good until he began to perspire -- slowly turning his entire head a lovely green by the end of the show.

29 September, 2006 20:39
Anonymous said...

Great to read John's tales of the great years of the St. Louis Zoo shows. Al Antonucci worked with Leon Smith until Al went into the service. He had family that lived across from the Zoo; I'd see his truck when he was in town. Floyd Smith also trained Arthur Godfrey's elephant. Mike Kostial Jr., the chimp trainer, was trained as a commercial artist and painted the signs and props for all the shows.

None of the trainers enjoyed selling albums and post cards but it was extra money. The chimp guys did the best because they'd take a chimp out to hand back merchandise and change.

30 September, 2006 07:31
Buckles said...

I don't suppose it's any worse than giving elephant rides.

30 September, 2006 07:37
Anonymous said...

The wages offer me by the zoo was $50 a week and a two room apartment. That was as far as it went. Marlin Perkins was the new boss at that time. His wife Carol is on the board of "OPEN DOOR" pet shelter. Her name added a lot to the shelter.

30 September, 2006 09:02

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