Thursday, September 01, 2011

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.
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Posted by Buckles at 9/01/2011 05:42:00 AM

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this interesting series. Did the Clyde Beatty Circus winter in El Monte at one point?
Erik Jaeger

01 September, 2011 07:54
Ole Whitey said...

Erik: Yes, Beatty took the show into the old Gay's Lion Farm after three seasons: 1948, 1949 and 1951.

According to Don Carson there wasn't really enough room for the show there and Beatty had to park most of the show wagons in a lot across Valley Blvd and lease barns elsewhere for some of the stock.

After the 1949-50 winter two of the elephants died, some said due to exposure.

01 September, 2011 09:46
Eric said...

LIONS FOR SALE is one of the “Warner Night at the Movies” short subjects that are included on the SERGEANT YORK DVD.

01 September, 2011 10:36
Anonymous said...

Ole Whitey, thanks for the info. Would have made for a short jump into their "bread and butter" lot at Hill & Washington. If memory serves me, they wintered in Shreveport sometime before Deming.

Eric, thanks for all your video captures.

Erik Jaeger

01 September, 2011 13:51
Frank Ferrante said...

Another great series Eric, always appreciated! ~frank

01 September, 2011 19:45

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