Tuesday, October 12, 2010

St. Louis Zoo #15


Scan13183, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

"Mike Kostail"

Posted by Buckles at 10/12/2010 06:17:00 AM

2 comments:

Jim A. said...

Mike Kostial, Sr. came to the STL Zoo in the winter of 1932 from Benson's Animal Farm. He trained and presented several different cat acts until 1941. He had cancer his last year and often would go across the street to Deaconess Hospital for treatment and return to present his show. His groups usually had young animals. Vierheller wanted to present "kindergarten" shows and then sell trained acts like Hagenbeck. Most of the trainers wanted to keep the animals they had worked with. I've only seen a few still photos of Kostial, Sr.'s act but they did some nice behaviors.

Mike Kostial Sr. came to the Zoo with a friend, Richard Havermann. Havermann trained a sea lion act with five animals that was only presented in 1933. Havermann left and eventually ended at the San Diego Zoo. His fame there is that he was killed by a bear he was training when the bear excited by a workman.

Mike Kostial had two sons, Robert and Mike Jr. He didn't want the boys to follow him as an animal trainer. Although I met him, I don't know what Robert did in later life. Mike Jr. trained for a career in commercial art but came back for a career in animal training, especially chimps. Old timers at the Zoo would refer to them as Big Mike and Little Mike.

13 October, 2010 13:58
Justin banse said...

the free range globe act is always cool to see sometimes over the globe on a track, i personally think that circus performers have the most interesting and amazing stories to hear and share and remember, its an art i think is given lots of bad credit, yet i am very happy ive jumped head in and come on this page to learn more!!!

25 July, 2018 20:13

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