Reel Life (Mar-Sep 1915)

Training the Mutual' s Animal Actors By Captain Jack Bonavita Chief Trainer with David Horsley's Bostock Animals, Now Appearing in the Centaur Releases in the Regular Mutual Program For many years I have taken animals, wild from their native heath in the jungles, many of them illtempered and ferocious, and in a at his new home. Three days later the screen was removed. Meals had been regular, cleanliness (beloved by all cat animals) seemed to be the order of things and the surrounding view assured him. The outstanding fact is space of time, dependent upon the that. he was not allowed to go hungry or thirsty — and no characteristics of the particular one offered to harm him. Charge, trained them to obey every One morning, "Apollo" found his cage door opened, command as a house dog does its Suspicious, he retreated as far as possible from the open door, growled and then crunched I i " master. This is not written in the spirit of boastfulness of my accomplishments, but in support of my contention that kindness and consideration alone will bring an animal to an instinctive realization of what is expected of him and make him carry out those teachings which the animal realizes is his lot to obey. An animal is suspicious by nature. That sense is ever alert, for it means self-preservation. Every being is an enemy — some one to do harm. This suspicion, then, must be disarmed and, certainly, it cannot be done by force, for force creates suspicion. Obviously, kindness must be the rule, and soon the animal, recognizing in the trainer a harmless friend, can be approached and taught the purpose he is to serve. So kindness is our inalienable rule and, just to show its effect, I will cite the case of "Apollo," one of the Bostock group of lions, which, with other species of animals in the Bostock collection, appear in the Centaur sensational feature pictures, a brand of two-reel motion picture subjects which David Horsley is producing, and which are to be released every Thursday on the Mutual program, beginning September 16th. "Apollo" was captured in South Africa seven years ago and bought by Mr. Frank C. Bostock, who then owned the Bostock animals. Mr. Bostock had been advised by his South African agent that "Apollo" was an exceptionally valuable acquisition and that more than ordinary care should be exercised in handling him. Acting upon this advice, Mr. Bostock sent an attendant all the way to South Africa to escort the prize to Coney Island, then the headquarters of Mr. Bostock. The duty of the attendant was simply to see that "Apollo" was properly fed and watered. When the consignment reached its destination, the shipping box was placed against an aperture at the end of the long line of cages and the grid front raised. "Apollo" chanced the apparent freedom this offered — surely it could result no worse than before, and the scent and the roars of his kind in the adjoining cages helped to assure him that he was among* friends. He stepped into the darkened room, a door closed quietly behind him and "Apollo" was Captain Bonavita and Two of His fets, "Apollo" and "Nero1' advanced. Man to await further events. The door was kept open for an hour or so and then closed. Next morning the performance was repeated. After five days "Apollo" decided to investigate,, returned through the door and surveyed the passageway beyond. He ventured out a few yards and then suspiciously backed into his cage again. The procedure continued for two weeks. One morning the doors of the arena were closed behind him. In the circle he spied another occupant whom he recognized as his friend, who was seated on a chair just inside the closed doors and but a matter of twenty feet away from him. This was really the most critical moment in the education of "Apollo" — man and brute viewed each other and a contest of wills ensued — "Apollo" with dropped jaws and a snarl, the trainer with coaxing voice and unafraid. For a half hour "Apollo" and the trainer remained in this position. Then the doors were opened and "x\pollo" returned to his cage. A little more time and still nearer to the lion — until the trainer used his hand instead of the buggy whip, his voice was soothing and his touch gentle — but cautious. At this stage the education of "Apollo" was well and beast were becoming friends. "Apollo" was then ready for teaching to mount pedestals — accomphshed first by placing a stool a few inches in height only near him and enticing him to place one foot upon it by the aid of a choice strip of meat on the end of a buggy whip. Higher and higher became the pedestal and gradually he learned that this was one of the things expected of him for his food and lodging. When Mr. Horsley bought the entire Bostock aggregation last Fall for motion picture purposes and engaged at the same time all of the original Bostock trainers, ;he directed us to bring out every performing possibility in the animals. For about a year we have been at work, following out these directions and in truth I may say we have accomplished much. The feats these animals perform will be a revelation to motion picture patrons. The work of the Bostock animals is truly remarkable. And kindness, above all, accomplished it. [ Eleven }•