To Paul Gutheil

Paul: The answer is some did and some didn't. Here are three which did include the line about two children. Dave Price "Good to hear from you Paul, recently on TV, every time Barbara and I would see someone sitting on a roof top or floating by in a car, we would ask "Is that Paul?". Buckles

Gay's Lion Farm #9 (From Eric Beheim)

Most modern-day zoos provide various “toys” for their animals to play with as a form of “life enrichment.” The Gays were already doing this back in 1941.

Gay's Lion Farm #10

The Farm trained wrestling lions for use in the movies. This appears to be part of the early stages of the training of a wrestling lion.

Gay's Lion Farm #11

One of the Farm’s wrestling lions. (Is that Melvin Koontz wrestling with the lion?)

Gay's Lion Farm #12

Gay's Lion Farm #13

Gay's Lion Farm #14

Gay's Lion Farm #15

At its peak, the Farm reportedly had more than 200 adult lions. (Does anyone know if it leased or sold its trained lion acts to zoos and circuses?)

Gay's Lion Farm #16

When World War II rationing made it impossible for the Farm to get the reportedly one ton of horsemeat it required daily, it closed in late 1942. (Most of its lions were loaned out to zoos around the country.) By the time the war had ended, Charles Gay was in poor health and the Farm never reopened. Part of the site where the Farm once stood is now occupied by an Interstate 10 overpass. At one time, a life-size bronze lion statue marked the Farm’s location. (If that statue is still there, it would now be a prime target for metal thieves!) At one time, an even larger lion statue from the Farm stood in front of nearby El Monte High School. In addition, hundreds of real photo postcards from the Farm still survive. (At least a half-dozen or so can usually be found listed on eBay at any given time. Someone also has a collection of them posted for on-line viewing.) (CONCLUDED)

From Steve Flint #1

Dear Buckles- Attached are some post card views of Gays Lion Farm I thought your readers might enjoy. Flint

From Steve Flint #2

From Steve Flint #3

From Steve Flint #4

From Bob Gibson

On Monday, August 29, 2011, I lost my wife Eileen. There is going to be a service at the Holy Spirit Church in Lake Wales at 1100 on Saturday September 3rd. Best Regards, Robert Gregory GibsonCell: 863-632-7081

From Dave Price

Gay's Lion Farm #1 (From Eric Beheim)

In operation from 1925 until 1942, Gay’s Lion Farm was an African lion breeding facility and tourist attraction located in El Monte, California. The following color images are all taken from a theatrical short subject titled LIONS FOR SALE that was filmed at the Farm in 1941.

Gay's Lion Farm #2

The Lion Farm was found by Charles and Muriel Gay, Anglo-French circus performers who arrived in Los Angeles in 1914. The Gays initially operated a concession in Westlake Park (today’s MacArthur Park), where the public could watch Charles Gay train lions for use in the then-fledging motion picture film industry.

Gay's Lion Farm #3

In 1925, the Gays opened their Lion Farm on a 5-acre plot of land located just east of Los Angeles in El Monte. (Shortly after the Farm opened, nearby El Monte High School adopted the name “Lions” for its athletic teams.) A popular tourist attraction, the Farm was dedicated to the breeding, training and exhibition of African lions. The U-shaped compound had separate cages for each adult cat, a nursery, and a central caged arena, where trained lion acts were presented for visitors. Its African-inspired thatched-roof buildings are believed to have been the inspiration for Walt Disney’s original Adventureland.

Gay's Lion Farm #4

Among the Farm’s famous movie lions were Slats (who appeared in the black & white logo used by MGM between 1916 and 1928), Jackie (who appeared in the black & white MGM logo used between 1928 and 1956), and Numa (who appeared in the Charlie Chaplin film THE CIRCUS).

Gay's Lion Farm #5

This appears to be an early stage in the training of a tightrope-walking lion.

Gay's Lion Farm #6

Gay's Lion Farm #7

Gay's Lion Farm #8

(TO BE CONTINUED)

From Anand Dhotre #1

Today is the 109th Birthday of Son of India Late. Damoo Dhotre In present condition of Indian Circus Industry, due to ban on animal performances, we can not expect that any brave artist will rise up like Damoo Dhotre. Really, Damoo Dhotre was the only Indian who put India's name on world map by showing fearlessness and great determination. Let's salute this noble son of India today and every day and hope Golden Days will be back to Indian Circus again.

From Anand Dhotre #2