Gay's Lion Farm - A Forgotten Tale of El Monte

[@211blackdragon]

Thank you for going out there and finding this forgotten historic treasure. I wish you had more videos about the history of our beloved southern California. I truly enjoyed listening to our senior citizens talk about our forgotten history and what it was like to be there at that time.

[@forgottensocal]

Josue Flores - Im glad you're enjoying our videos and don't worry, were working on more right now. There is a rich history here in Southern California and plenty of stories to tell. stay tuned, and tell your friends!

[@newlexness]

Well done! As a student at El Monte High School we were told of the history of the golden lion that sits in front of the auditorium, but it is nice to know a more complete history now. Thank you for sharing. :)

[@Cagney68]

Same here, Melissa. In fact, I was lucky enough (making me old enough) to have Mr. Barton, The King Lion himself, give my freshmen class our city history primer the year he retired as principal.

[@Allen-yv3ue]

I was a El Monte HS custodian for 12 years and I would guard that Lion statue all night, 2 or more times each year ( Arroyo FB night/ and Grad night etc.) , Yes we caught some kids a few times, mostly TPing - the Cops were always quick to respond if needed. Now, I live in Payson AZ (37 years) and have backpacked into Hell's gate canyon where Jackie's plane crashed. memories😊

[@pandaroc1]

Fascinating story, thank you for sharing this as I am a resident of El Monte this makes me proud of my little city.

[@lupituh]

pandaroc1 me tooooo

[@dedude6784]

Me too

[@geopin7672]

Amazing lived in El Monte most of life What beutiful history of el monte

[@cayetanavallejo339]

I'm speachless this was a amazing mini docu..... As a El Monte resident this had me in tears!!!! Wow Albert ins and Charlie Chaplin in El Monte, mind blowing

[@TONYBALLARDALPINEALIEN]

That must be your son or something cause there aint no way this 20 minute video changed your life and got you out of jail and beat cancer for you snd saved you from a fire on 4th of kuly the way you speak of it proved your a NPC kiss @$$

[@gregserna963]

I went to El Monte High in the mid 80's, that's why I know the History, but it sure was nice to watch this Documentary!!! I lived 2 blocks from Peck & Garvey intersection, I also worked at that corner store Hi-way beverages 4 about 3 & half years as a teenager, many moons ago.

[@FeatnikSF]

It operated from 1925 through 1942, when it was closed temporarily due to wartime meat shortages. It never reopened.

[@luisgarcia5828]

I live in mxco amd lived in el monte i love this doc o used to go to el monte high

[@jenniferperez3772]

Hail, Monte, hail! Lion Pride 🦁

[@brianwagoner1561]

My grandpa lived in the area since the 1930's and used to tell me about this place. When I watched this video it made me sob uncontrollably when it started playing the piano track of, "in the jungle". Any old timey 20's - 30's stuff always reminds me of him. Idk why this tugged such a heart string.

[@Elver7877]

EL MONTE WAS WERE I was raised love that city and thanks for the history

[@hurricanerg5]

Thanks for sharing, really enjoyed this video. I went to El Monte H.S and knew a little about the lion farm. Thanks for the history lesson. I love my city of El Monte. Always will no matter where I'm at. I'll always be a Montero!!!

[@manuelpuentes7857]

Baker middle school Class of 1994 EL MONTE HIGH SCHOOL.LOVE MONTE GOOD OR BAD .MY HOME.

[@butterflycruz2]

I have lived here in El Monte for over 10 yrs and I enjoy looking into the history of where I live..this I never knew of..very interesting as well as the history this city holds on the first settlers and natives that once traveled these lands..even the old big bands that once performed at the El Monte Veteran's hall.. Makes you appreciate where you live a little more..thank you

[@djsolo25]

Wow this was really great. Been having lots of friends coming over in the past few days watching these awesome episodes. Please do more. Thank you.

[@seedygirl1]

A few years ago I visited the El Monte Museum. I was a sales rep in Socal and like to stop at each small local museum in my territory. The docent told me an interesting story about Jackie ( Leo the Lion) Born and raised in Socal, I'd never hears of the lion farm. So interesting! Anyway, she said when Jackie died, Gay had a taxidermist stuff him. For some reason, the City of Whittier now has Jackie in an old warehouse, and refuses to give him back to the City of El Monte! Anyone else heard about this?

[@hargieboo]

What an interesting story. Well done.

[@emmapilling4491]

Hi, have really enjoyed watching the video of Gay's Lion Farm. My great uncle was one of the trainers taken on, he was called Arthur West and originally from Ebbw Vale in South Wales, United Kingdom. Would anybody be able to tell me anything more about him or would know if any family are still located in California?

[@forgottensocal]

Emma Pilling Message me at [e-mail]

[@kathleencalhoun2225]

They talked about hearing the roars of the Lions, but what about the smell? I bet it stank over there. Very interesting story. I wondered at times from where Hollywood recruited the lions they utilized in their Tarzan movies. This couple was truly talented, and their love of lions was evident. The escape story was truly a tragedy as was Trainer Ziegler's story. Proves these animals are wild and are also unpredictable. They are so cute and adorable as babies. Thanks for telling a story to those of us who weren't around at the time.

[@userAna252]

Wow what a wonderful story

[@god4sakes]

Thank you so much for this history lesson. Very well put together.

[@robertcanceljr4400]

I find this story very interesting and love to hear this once forgoten story with incredible people that got this farm to be a spectical of time era!

[@RuneTheFirst]

Great work! A thousand thanks for doing this huge project! I used to have most of the images you used (and tons more) along with news bits including Rose Parade float and visitor snapshots.. Sadly they were lost to me a few years ago during a move. The big reason for the closing was not so much the meat situation as horses and mules were still available but the rationing of gasoline (first voluntary and then mandatory) and drops in travel reducing attendance at the farm to below sustainability. Adding to these woes were Hollywood also cutting way back on jungle films, the craze having lost momentum and travel to locations impossible. War and spy films became the new trend. The combination and expectation of worse to come became too much. Competition from more diverse operations, such as Jungleland (ironically started and run by a former Gay's employee, Louis Goebel), also took a huge toll as they had a gamut of animals instead of a single species. Jungleland survived WW2 and was active until 1969 when competition from theme parks killed it. Again ironically, former Gay's lions, including Jackie and MGM's Leo ended up as part of Jungleland's roster of animals and itself had started out as Goebel's Lion Farm in 1926.

[@dearjayne]

Well done! I enjoyed this history very much. I first learned about the Gays when I chanced upon their resting place and wondered about them. Glad to see them remembered in such a lovely way. Thank you.

[@renesanchez5333]

Really touching story. Sometimes I wish freeways weren’t made

[@DESCENDINGDR]

Another wonderful tale! I'm watching all of them John, great work.

[@nelsonaldana5304]

I LOVE IT! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS MINI DOCUMENTARY.

[@LuisOrtega-yx3us]

Wow what a beautiful documentary There’s a stature on peck and valley and never knew why was there till now that I researched it so full of rich history

[@dburch7894]

Very interesting. I grew up in the area but never knew about this. BTW, that lion is looking at Garbo like she would be a tasty snack!

[@barrybird3210]

Nicely done!

[@SarahBethVDB]

Wow. Thank you for sharing.

[@cindyanderson4306]

Thanks, I've seen the plaque and now know the whole story!

[@woezacardoza5659]

Loved it my babies loved it we subbed

[@Authoratah]

Did I hear that correctly, the Lyons club barbeques involved eating lions?

[@forgottensocal]

Yep... "Lions to eat lion... no Lyin."

[@sgvproductionz2979]

tiger kings podcast on youtube explain which lions got bbq?

[@sgvproductionz2979]

the older lions were euthanized.

[@RobertPrestridge-dp8zl]

Very moving documentary.

[@paultolmas4723]

Outstanding!

[@lincbond442]

Well done documentary and very touching. Thank you for posting.

[@jjunco3]

Hes standing right behind the apts i grew up at..asher apts..great vid...

[@vanessavaldez28]

How interesting im from El Monte and never heard of this.

[@thelivingmanpart2]

Subscribe! Great documentary by the way btw, a little too sentimental towards the end for me, but great nonetheless!! and i recognize Donna from the El Monte museum :)

[@davediamond7228]

moved to la puente 10 years after the farm was closed ,yet it was still a legend and talked about by the old timers

[@CrzyMav]

Great story!

[@joeshmoe8952]

I have a neighbor who still remembers the lion farm & graduated from El Monte High.

[@davidadams6945]

Wow, I didn''t know that. I live in El Monte for a couple of years in the late 1980''s/

[@leo99991]

beautiful

[@berzerker1100]

There's a Statue/ monument there on the South/east Corner of the Valley- Peck Rd Intersection on the FWY side, I drive by there going to & from work everyday 🦁🐯🐅

[@TESLA-fc6wm]

I remember a old timer from El Monte told me about hearing the roars of the lions, during class at EMHS,,then going to visit the Lions farm after school,,watch them eat,,he also told me that there was a big parade in El Monte,,that people from all over the country used to come,,he never told the name of the parade or the date that they did it,,theres a lot of history in El Monte but they took down all of the old buildings,,to make fwys and train rail ways,,

[@AdventureSlogger]

Great job. I live in Hacienda Heights and am always looking for new adventures in and around the area. There is so much history where ever you go, we just have to look for. Thanks for sharing!

[@sarkarsubhadipofficial]

❤️

[@KevinFlores-ey8tz]

Montero pride!!!

[@dedude6784]

Me too

[@r.g.431]

I think he meant to say “the roar of the lions have been replaced with the roar of the vehicles” at 00:40

[@namchau7712]

Lion BBQ ?? 🥶🥶😱😱 yo , that was some gangster shittt ain’t it ?. 🥶🥶🥶🥶😰😰😰

[@trojan5569]

GOOD EL MONTE HISTORY

[@TheFLOMAN76]

Glad to know... A gun. Bullets. And sheer force... Pushed these majestic beasts to their end. Way to capture the WILD!!!

[@kelinmemphis]

Kool history.

[@leighparker9109]

Thanks a lot. :D

[@Tommyguapo]

I also heard that the roars of the lions were heard miles away if you were real quite at night !

[@dedude6784]

My old elementary schools mascot was a lion cub

[@djrock9915]

bruh I've been living in EL monte my whole life... freaky O-O

[@joecombs7468]

🏆

[@dedude6784]

My family on my dads side lives in el monte they live like 2 blocks away and my family on my moms side live in the nearby town of Baldwin park and east California

[@amandamata3613]

Wow alot of information about my city I never knew. Also one rumor I heard as a kid about the EM lion turned out go be true

[@forgottensocal]

what is the one rumor?

[@karenjensy3941]

this IS my city and I'm glAd I found out bout this

[@joeyvasquez8]

That's a trip I think i learned that and forgot it but relearned it I'm proud to say I went in 2006 as a fresh man but had living situation s and moved to Rowland heights.

[@juanvelazquez1465]

I live in El Monte

[@Josephlunar824]

If this happened today PETA would been suing this place wish I’ll could go time travel back to time to see this place 😱

[@jerryrojas6198]

~ ROJAS WAS HERE ~ GREAT STORY. ‘ YET, SAD ENDING THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT. KRANZ 1982-1983 SHOUT OUT TO MR. VALSI DRAFTING 101, MR. JOHNSON PE

[@MikeKnoxComedy]

never knew he was part of Cole bros

[@hectorleme5125]

Lion cape or lion barbery?

[@l.Isidro.l]

i live in el Monte

[@ozaoazo5945]

2019?

[@zerajnimegroj3012]

Wish they were still around

[@raytavares2256]

So how did the lion survive without its teeth? What did it feed on then? I hope this never happens again. To remove the teeth of an animal for exploitation and extortion is vile. I love animals I hope we learn something from this video. Thank you again for the video.

[@forgottensocal]

From what I understand that particular lion had lost it's teeth due to age. In which case it may have been fed similarly to how the baby lions were fed, a mixture of eggs and milk.

[@FeatnikSF]

I don't know why I remember this but when I was very young (late 1950's) my mother told me about the toothless lion who roared when MGM movies came on the TV.

[@pcaetano7527]

the original Tiger King

[@nayeresfandiari520]

Yes sir!🦁

[@castoresnegros]

Sad history,

[@FormerDeathMachine]

Lion BBQ???

[@berzerker1100]

Careful it may cause Heart failure,🦁🐯🐅😄😂😁 YIKES !

[@zerajnimegroj3012]

Now there’s only a shitty as small statue outside the 10 freeway

[@Ameen_AAA]

From the title I thought they raised gay lions in the farm.

[@sgvproductionz2979]

Charles Gay was his name

[@ElAntraxJose]

EMF

[@berzerker1100]

RIFA 🤑😍🔥🇺🇸🎩🍺 MEMORIES OF EL MONTE 🎸🎼🎵🎺📣🎭🎷🎻🎹🎈🧨

[@jerryrojas6198]

Is this KID ?

[@sgvproductionz2979]

British pathe KZbin channel has videos of gays lion farm.

[@jeanbethencourt1506]

Ha! GAY!

[@leo99991]

beautiful

[@dedude6784]

I live in el monte