AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1929, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

h EVERYBODYS PICTURES.

TOM MIX AND CIRCUS SERIAL TO-NIGHT.

To-night Toni .Mix and Tony will lie seen in their latest Western drama “ Horsemen of the Plains.” together with the openin'' chapters of the world’s greatest circus serial “The Trail of the Tiger,” starring Jack Dougherty.

Universal City possesses one of the most unusual menageries in America and during the filming of “The Trail of the Tiger,” the Universal serial which appears weekly at the Princess theatre, every animal within its gates got a chance before the camera. More than three hundred animals of every description are housed within the zoo. All are either highly trained animals, fit for any sort of motion picture work, or are in the process of being trained Zoo manager Charles M. Murphy, who has been an animal trainer for more than twenty years. “ Minnie ” the huge but placid elephant, ranks first in interest. “Minnie” is probably one of the best trained pachyderms in captivity, and is so tame that stars and employees of the studio are not at all afraid to venture into her pen. “ Minnie” has formed a strange friendship for the personal saddle horse of,,the trainer, and insists that it be kept in her pen constantly. This makes the task of leading “Minnie” an easy one for the trainer rides the horse and the elephant follows. “ Jiggs,” the orang-outang,'now about three feet in height, is being trained for future motion picture work. Still growings “ Jiggs ” is highly-intelligent-and already is sufficiently trained to do almost anything required of it before the camera. “ Jiggs ” is the successor of the famous Joe Martin, so long a member of the Universal Zoo. Joe grew vicious and dangerous with age and was sold to a circus. He has since passed away into monkey heaven. Two black bears; a dozen male lions, handsome sleek animals; eight female limis • two tigers; four leopards, two mountain lions; four camels and thirty small monkeys inhabit the Zoo proper. There were recently added two honey bears and three ant eaters beside numerous other South American animals. The male, lions most of which were born in the Zoo, are well trained. Ibex are used frequently in pictures, not only at Universal hut at other studios. The Zoo also contains-some thirty lion cubs of varying ages, who aie being tranied as they grow. Large kennels house almost every imaginable variety of dog, from the tiny and hairless Mexican Chilhuahua to-the formidable Alaskan sled dog, or Malamute. I'oui genuine- timber wolves from- Alaska, and several foxes and coyotes are also included inv tl\<&' kennels,■•yThe Universal Zoo has become a genuine sliowplace of California, and is the only menagerie maintained by any motion picture company. “The Trail of the Tiger,” is one of the most thrilling circus pictures ever filmed and shows the animals in more- stunts than are ever seen in a circus or on a stage. Jack Dougherty has the starring role in the picture with Frances Teague opposite him. A carefully selected east of seasoned players are in support of* the star and includes Jack Richardson, Jack Mower, John Webb Dillon, Frank Ellis and others. Henry MacRae directed the picture.