Luna Park Zoo
3800 MISSION ROAD
1925 to 1931? ( I have a map dated 1932 that shows the name California Zoological Gardens).
See the original Luna Park Zoo Brochure from my collection.
Note: Large 253KB file so please wait. j.a.
LUNA PARK ZOO BROCHURE
GREATEST ZOO IN THE WEST.
Nowhere else in the entire West is there another such collection of wild animals, nor such a thrilling animal show.
This magnificent park of 25 acres with its hundreds of wild animals and birds is for your entertainment.
Here every afternoon in the year you can enjoy six wild animal acts. These are free to all visitors in the zoo.
Admission 30 cents, Children 10 cents. Free auto parking.
FEEDING TIME
A great hour at the zoo-every day, except Monday, at 2 o'clock, the year around.
PICNIC GROUNDS
Ample tables and benches for picnic parties. Bring your lunch and spend the day, or patronize the restaurant and refreshment counter on the grounds.
SIX WONDER ANIMAL ACTS EVERY AFTERNOON AT 3 O'CLOCK
HOW TO REACH THE ZOO
Take any "O" or "3" yellow car to the end of the line.
By auto: Inquire the best way to Lincoln Park, which adjoins the zoo.
RARE SIGHTS
Wonderful collection of rare water fowl . Our beautiful white neck cranes are the only ones born in captivity.
M.D. submitted these photos after viewing this web site.
M.D. writes...
"The following is what I know of these photos. I have no dates for the photos but know that Oliver Carr, my Aunt's (Dot) father and elephant trainer at the zoo lived in Los Angeles for 10 years and died on February 18, 1930. His daughter, my Aunt Dot as pictured below, was just 13 when he died. All the family papers were lost. I have just obtained his death certificate. We were told he was buried in Forest Lawn. He was actually buried at Evergreen Cemetery, in LA. The Death Certificate confirms he was a trainer at the Selig Zoo, that he resided in California for 10 years, and at his N. Broadway address for 6 years. My Aunt Dot (the little girl) also told me that her mother owned or ran a café called "White Rock Café" located near their North Broadway home in Lincoln Heights.
The little girl (Dot) is still with us today and describes about the photos below as told by M.D.
These are photos of Aunt Dot and the settings could be the zoo. I think that she bears a strong resemblance in these photos to the girl leaning on the elephant in the Luna Park brochure on your web site. The fact that she was apparently at the zoo and riding the elephants seems to support the supposition that she is the girl on the brochure.
ds12lw.JPG
The man with the mustache is Oliver Carr. She says that her father did not perform and did not wear a uniform. He only trained the elephants.
I am assuming the pony photos of an older Dot were shot at the zoo.
The adult elephant in these photos could be "Annamae."
Dot tells how Annamae liked her father. Previously, I mentioned that
Aunt Dot stood in for Mickey Rooney in the film, which I think was a short,
"Mickey's Menagerie." This must have occurred after Selig closed
his studio.
The baby elephant is named Boo, the smallest elephant in captivity.
8 months old at 175 lb., 2 feet and 6 inches high. Dot is giving Boo milk
and Boo works in pictures since she's been at the zoo.
This is an African baby lion three months old born on the 4th
of July. The baby lion's mother worked in all of the moving pictures at the zoo.
A nice rare photo of what was behind the original Selig Zoo Gates. j.a.
Some scenes at the Zoo.
Thank you M.D. and your Aunt Dot for your contribution to this
web site. Without viewers like you sharing your personal treasures and
memories others will never know the history of this community and knowing
that your photos here will be a place for all to see.
javier
9/10/02
FAMOUS TRAINERS
OLGA CELESTE b: 1887 - d: 1969 - famous for her leopard
vaudeville acts. Miss Celeste performs daily with a group of Indian leopards.
Also famous for her marvelous work in motion pictures.
LOUIS ROTH - America's greatest animal trainer.
Louis
Roth went to California to become chief animal trainer at the Selig Zoo
in Luna Park. This introduced him to the world of the cinema, and soon
he found himself working with animals in the movies.
MELVIN KOONTZ - with Jackie the famous wrestling lion.
Melvin
Koontz received his training at the old Selig Zoo/Luna Park Zoo,
and took a trained animal act to the World's New York Fair in 1939, coming
to the World Jungle Compound in 1946. He became their chief animal trainer,
remaining there until his retirement in 1964.
Here is a picture of the Selig Zoo entrance after Luna Park. It was called
the California Zoological Gardens starting in the mid 30s.
Art
