Mabel Stark and Her Tigers
Submitted by Jil Loewit
Mabel Stark (called the "Tiger Queen") was a friend of the submitter's great-grand uncle, James Leo Duffy ('Bert Leo"). I am not sure what circus she was performing with at the time these photographs were taken. Bert Leo performed as a clown in the following circuses: Al Barnes' Circus, John Robinson's Circus,
and Sells-Floto Circus. Mabel probably worked for one of these circuses.
Photographs from the collection of Eileen McCummins Stickle, great-grand niece of James Leo Duffy.
Mabel Stark
Mabel Stark did indeed work on the circuses named above. She taught me tigers for her last three-and-a-half years when I was breaking in as a wild animal trainer at the late Jungleland, of Thousand Oaks, California. This photo was taken in 1920, at the Al. G. Barnes Circus winterquarters, then located in Venice, California.
Roger Smith
Mabel Stark
I have recently been trying to find out about Mabel Stark. I really admire her for the work she did. I live in the UK and have worked with big cats, in a zoo kind of way, but my old boss saw Mabel in london as a child, so we had a hands on approach. I would love to see a photo of Mabel in her white leather jump suit. Thanks for any help you can give, being english I have no idea where to look for her.
thenks again Liz
Mabel Stark
Hi Liz, there's a picture of Mabel in her white leather suit (from the back, with wrestling tiger Rajah on her shoulder) in the novel 'The Final Confession of Mabel Stark' by Robert Hough (Atlantic Books, 2004). Great read by the way...
Nathalie
It drew me in right away.
It drew me in right away. It's told as if it's Mabel doing the writing, and it flows incredibly well. It really captures the feel of the times and of the circus, putting you instantly there, be it in the audience, or in the ring with the tigers.
Mabel stark
Dearest Roger,
I am a modern day Tiger trainer, with history in way to Mabel stark,,, I recently read the novel"last confession of Mabel stark" It took me back to real circus days .... I apprenticed for a lion tamer for 8 years ... he was europeon and he was hard... but today I make my living off of the lessoned I learned from him. He introduced me to strupi Hanneford.... who was the daughter , of poodles hanneford, I think... strupi was the first woman tiger trainer I ever met and at that time in my life, she was my hero. I didnt even know another woman tiger trainer was out there... she told me... or someone told me she knew mable stark.... thus the link
I would love to know more about this wonderful woman... your time with her and your career at jungleland... good , real... animal trainers are far and few between... please write me... thanks ...all the best
Thanks for your overview
This caught my eye after reading Water for Elephants, and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get into it.
This was obviously something I shouldn't have worried about. LOL
It drew me in right away. It's told as if it's Mabel doing the writing, and it flows incredibly well. It really captures the feel of the times and of the circus, putting you instantly there, be it in the audience, or in the ring with the tigers.