Animal Star. The first to portray Leo the Lion, the corporate logo of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio. Allegedly born in Sudan (other sources claim Ireland's Dublin Zoo), he was brought to Hollywood in 1917 by animal trainer Volney Phifer and initially used as the mascot for Goldwyn Pictures. When that company was merged into the newly formed MGM in 1924, Slats was kept on to introduce its films, debuting with "He Who Gets Slapped" (1924). His image was used in all MGM releases until 1928. Ironically, talkies ended his movie career - he was trained only to growl and was replaced by a lion who could roar for the microphones. Instead he toured with studio promoters and made many appearances throughout the country, including a stay at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933. There have been several Leo the Lions since and he remains the trademark of MGM. Slats spent his "retirement" years at the Philadelphia Zoo and died at 23, an advanced age for a lion. His hide was allegedly preserved as a rug and later acquired by a Midwest taxidermy collector. The rest of his remains were buried in the front yard of Volney Phifer's farm in Gillette, New Jersey, the grave marked by a pine tree and a blank granite block. The stone was removed by the property's new owners in 1996.
Animal Star. The first to portray Leo the Lion, the corporate logo of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio. Allegedly born in Sudan (other sources claim Ireland's Dublin Zoo), he was brought to Hollywood in 1917 by animal trainer Volney Phifer and initially used as the mascot for Goldwyn Pictures. When that company was merged into the newly formed MGM in 1924, Slats was kept on to introduce its films, debuting with "He Who Gets Slapped" (1924). His image was used in all MGM releases until 1928. Ironically, talkies ended his movie career - he was trained only to growl and was replaced by a lion who could roar for the microphones. Instead he toured with studio promoters and made many appearances throughout the country, including a stay at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933. There have been several Leo the Lions since and he remains the trademark of MGM. Slats spent his "retirement" years at the Philadelphia Zoo and died at 23, an advanced age for a lion. His hide was allegedly preserved as a rug and later acquired by a Midwest taxidermy collector. The rest of his remains were buried in the front yard of Volney Phifer's farm in Gillette, New Jersey, the grave marked by a pine tree and a blank granite block. The stone was removed by the property's new owners in 1996.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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