Gay's Lion Farm -- El Monte, CA 1930

[BaTcAvEmAn5]

Mother f lions in the mix...

[Suga69bb]

So what's the real deal where was the lion farm at? People tell me it was on peck and Ramona others say it was at the longo or the mcdonalds

[dannyloreto626]

Damn! That's badass! I wish it was still around fucking lions I stay right here in El Monte!

[JustJoshin1014]

I read that the famous MGM lion that roars at the start of their movies was from Gay's lion farm! I'm from near this area..they have a gold lion statue there now @ Valley Blvd/Peck Rd/10fwy

[BriDeyDia]

I live in El Monte!!!! This is so awesome but now there is only a macdonald's there, that sucks. I wish it was open too.

[TheBaserr]

hell yeah i used to live there

[NSTstudios]

WOOT I LIVE THERE!!! GO EMHS LIONS!

[yUhhRl0Ve]

im glad the city i live in has a good historyy!

[earlazcarol123]

i used to live in el monte ca but now i live up in the north in a little town. good memories in el monte

[hcaliforniagirl]

I thought Gay's Lion Farm was near to where Longo Toyota is today?

[GabrielaSpinrocks]

It was in my town, El monte. Now theres a Mcdonend's there now.

[21BenDover]

oh yeah! i heard about this and that's y emhs's mascot is a lion

[iluvdancing731]

i live in el monte but its not as good as it use to b lots of gangs but its cool

[meesterfonnyboy]

As lemonsters2008 hinted at, Slats, the MGM lion from 1924-1928, was the star resident here. You could purchase postcards of him, and Gay's used the same likeness on their brochures.

Alas, Gay's closed in 1942, and Slats was shipped to the Memphis Zoo, where he died in 1944.

[grm138]

thats why el monte high school are the lions =]

[cuteassvanessa]

was there a cementary somewhere around valley blvd and mountain view back in those days

[Depechebandit79]

el monte native here. Thanks for putting this up:)

[Venture321]

was this where cogswell is?

[elmontealum]

No, it was on Valley Boulevard east of Peck Road. The Presbyterian Church was next to it in the 50's. The Clyde Beatty Circus used to winter there. I used to live near there and could hear the lions roar. They were loud!!!! As a little kid, I was probably scared a little!

[csheehan1946]

My grandfather worked at the lion farm. My father and his twin used to help their dad clean up around the farm and they would poke at the lions with the handle of the rakes to bug them. This is an amazing movie and enjoyed every minute of it. THanks!!

[VronRN]

I know some elderly people in El Monte who remember Gay's Lion farm well. One remembers walking by there almost every day from school. They all remember being able to hear the "roars" from distances away. Amazing stuff. :)

[lemonsters2008]

Correct! No audio from 1923 or 1925. Slats is Jackie's brother, and was used in MGM logos from 1924-58. Goldie is Jackie & Slats's wife. Elmo & Nicky are Goldie's cubs. Chris & Sukey are Jackie & Slats's cubs.

[1slowturtle]

oh my god!!! we lions in el monte???cool!!!

[VronRN]

awesome!!!