Gay's Lion Farm facts for kids

Gay's Lion Farm was a special place in El Monte, California, where people could see and learn about lions. It was like a zoo, but it also focused on breeding and training lions for movies. The farm was open from 1925 to 1942 and was a very popular spot for tourists.

Starting the Lion Farm

Charles and Muriel Gay were a couple who performed with animals in circuses. They came to Los Angeles in 1914. At first, they had an attraction in a park where people watched Charles work with three adult lions. These lions were also trained to act in the growing film industry.

The Gays needed more space for their lions. So, in 1925, they opened Gay's Lion Farm in El Monte. This new farm was dedicated to breeding, training, and showing African lions to the public.

Famous Lions and Architecture

The farm quickly became a top tourist spot in Southern California. Many famous lions lived there. These included Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio lions like Slats and his lookalike, Jackie. Another well-known lion was Numa, named after a lion in the Tarzan books. Numa even co-starred in Charlie Chaplin's movie "The Circus" in 1928.

The farm was about 5-acre (2.0 ha) in size. It had buildings with thatched roofs, designed to look like African villages. This style might have even inspired Walt Disney's Adventureland! The farm was shaped like a "U" and had separate cages for each adult lion. There was also a nursery for baby lions. In the center, Charles Gay would perform a classic lion tamer show for the crowds. Feeding time was also a big event, with a huge amount of meat eaten daily.

In 1925, El Monte High School chose "Lions" as the name for their sports teams. The Gays even provided a real lion mascot for important games!

Visitors and Special Events

Starting in 1927, the farm welcomed groups like the Lions Club. These events often included outdoor dinners near the animal cages. An honored guest at these meals was Numa the lion, who would sometimes walk along the table!

Celebrity Visits

Many famous people visited Gay's Lion Farm. When actress Greta Garbo first came to Hollywood in 1926, she didn't speak much English. A publicist arranged for her to take pictures with lion cubs. She also posed in a special cage to make it look like she was sitting with Numa. Garbo was surprised when she realized she was going to be so close to the lions, but she was a good sport and took the pictures.

Other well-known visitors included scientist Albert Einstein, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and actress Marie Dressler.

Lion Escape Incident

In September 1928, while the Gays were away, two lions named Ike and Short-Tail escaped. A trainer had accidentally left a gate open. One lion, Ike, got out and caused a lot of trouble. The farm manager, John Rounan, tried to stop Ike but was injured. Sadly, Rounan later passed away.

Another trainer, Joe Hoffman, managed to get Short-Tail back into a cage. But Ike was still loose and very upset. He ran around the farm, causing a scare. Eventually, Ike was stopped. This exciting event even inspired a short story called "The Baby in the Icebox," which later led to the famous novel The Postman Always Rings Twice.

Closing the Farm

At its busiest, Gay's Lion Farm was home to more than 200 adult lions. The farm closed in December 1942. This was because of wartime rationing, which made it impossible to get enough meat to feed all the lions every day. The lions were sent to zoos across the country for safekeeping.

After the war ended, Charles Gay was too unwell to bring his lions back. He retired and passed away in 1950. Today, the area where the farm once stood is now part of Interstate 10. You can find a life-sized bronze statue of a lion there, behind a fence. A larger lion statue, originally made for the farm, now stands in front of nearby El Monte High School.