Over 110 white border black and white real photo postcards from Gay's Lion Farm in El Monte California. Over five acres, the farm had six large lion houses and 100,000 square feet of arena. Run by Charles and Muriel Gay, the farm raised over 200 lions for use in the motion pictures. In fall 1914, the Gays came to the United States and specifically to Los Angeles to work for the Cole Brothers circus troupe. Easily the most famous of the many animals raised on the site was Numa, who appeared in a great many pictures, and was insured in June 1929 for $100,000, including working with the great Charlie Chaplin in 1928[x=#237/]s "The Circus." The animal, who appeared in over 100 movies, received 3,000 fan letters a month with frequent requests for photos. The farm was located just west of the junction of Peck Road and Valley Boulevard. It operated from 1925 through 1942, when it was closed due to wartime gas rationing. It never reopened. State:California City:El Monte Date: Provenance: Ken Prag Collection