If you find yourself in California near Los Angeles, driving east on Interstate 10, and you come to Exit 28, leave the highway. You may have to stop at the traffic light at the bottom of the ramp, but when the light turns green continue straight on Asher Street. Drive five blocks then turn south onto Tyler Avenue, in two/tenths of a mile you will arrive at the El Monte Historical Society. Be sure to visit.
| The GPS address for the society is 3150 Tyler Avenue, El Monte, California |
The city lies in the San Gabriel Valley, east of Los Angeles. El Monte is historically known as “The End of the Santa Fe Trail.” If you visit the historical society you will learn of a place once known as the “Disneyland” of the 1930s. It was a one-of-a-kind place. It was Gay’s Lion Farm.
Gay’s Lion Farm was a popular attraction from 1925 to 1942. Two European retired circus stars, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gay, operated the attraction for seventeen years. They raised wild animals for use in the motion picture industry and provided homes for more than 200 lions. Many of the lions starred in films during the 1920s and 1930s, including Elmo Lincoln’s and Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan movies.
The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lion logo was made with two lions from the farm, “Slats” and his lookalike successor “Jackie.” Another one of the farm’s famous lions was Numa, who appeared in several films throughout the 1920s, including Charlie Chaplin’s The Circus.
In The Circus Chaplin plays his usual role as a Tramp. Through his normal routine of slap-stick nonsense, Chaplin finds himself locked in a circus wagon with Numa the Lion. Numa is napping and even a barking dog doesn’t disturb her nap. Chaplin is finally rescued by the stepdaughter of the circus owner, played by the very young and beautiful Merna Kennedy. The ruckus wakes Numa and as expected she scared Chaplin up the closest flagpole.
In 1925, El Monte Union High School adopted the name “Lions” for its teams, and the Gays provided a lion mascot for big games. The lion farm was closed in 1942, due to wartime meat shortages. It was meant to be temporary, but the animals were given to zoological gardens across the country for safekeeping, but the farm never reopened.
While the farm was in operation, the Gays commissioned a life-sized statue of a lion; today the original lion statue stands in front of El Monte High School.
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Postcard History is pleased that we can share these Gay’s Lion Farm’s real-photo postcards with our readers. PcH is unsure how many cards were made of the farm and its animals, but the collector who owns these has sixteen. It is thought at several were produced on low-quality Sello photo postcard stock and made available for purchase at the lion farm’s gift shop.
Slats was the first lion to represent Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) as its roaring mascot. Born in 1924, Slats was trained at Gay’s Lion Farm and became the face of MGM’s logo, though he never actually roared in the early silent film versions. He was known for his striking presence and lived until 1935, spending his later years at the Philadelphia Zoo.
Numa, named after the lion in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan books, was one of the most celebrated lions at the farm. He was known for his impressive size and demeanor, often appearing in films and public exhibitions. Numa lived a long life, passing away in 1930 at the remarkable age of 41.
Aladdin was another trained lion at Gay’s Lion Farm, known for performing tricks and entertaining visitors. His presence contributed to the farm’s reputation as a premier location for lion training.
Aladdin was a visitor’s favorite. Several days each week he would perform for any audience. He seemed to love the tightrope walk and the barrel roll. The applause was always the loudest when Aladdin worked with trainer Harvey Stuart.
Cyclone was a magnificent lion. His roar could be heard all across the farm and Cyclone’s voice was one that visitors remembered. He became a beloved icon among the visitors. Cyclone seldom appeared in public; his role was to be home and be seen. With his impressive mane and powerful presence, Cyclone embodied the spirit of the wild. He captivated audiences during feeding time, showcasing his strength and grace. His home enclosure was spacious, and the caretakers at the farm ensured that Cyclone received a healthy diet and plenty of affection. As a symbol of conservation and education, Cyclone raised awareness and garnered respect for lions everywhere!
Thank you very much for interesting and very informative articles!
Merna Kennedy, who starred in The Circus, was briefly married to choreographer-film director Busby Berkeley. In 1944, she died of a heart attack at the age of 36
Thank you for a very informative article. I created 7 display boards many years ago and have around 90 different Gay’s Lion Farm images plus a couple of brochures. It was quite a place.
Great article that captures the history of Los Angeles and the motion picture industry.
The question needs to be asked – did Numa get his name from Edgar Rice Burroughs, or did Burroughs adopt the name Numa from the Gay’s Numa? Edgar Rice Burroughs’ first Tarzan story “Tarzan of the Apes” did not appear in print until October 1912. At this time Numa was 23 years old, and Burroughs was still living in the Chicago area. Just wondering.
PS. Numa got his name after the Mangani word for ‘lion,’ deriving from Edgar Rice Burroughs’s novel, “Tarzan of the Apes.”