MGM Lion’s Plane Crashed In 1927 and He Survived on Sandwiches

By FizX on March 30, 2015@fizx

The MGM trademark lion, Leo, famously roars at the beginning of every MGM film. In fact, “Leo” has not been one lion but seven, starting with “Slats” the lion from 1917 to 1928. An actual lion named Leo roared from 1957 to the present day.

“Jackie,” born in 1915, was the second MGM lion and the first celebrated roar. The roar was recorded separately and then married to a film of Jackie roaring, with Jackie’s head in a frame to give a black surround. The final product was first used in MGM’s first sound production, White Shadows in the South Seas (1928). The sound was provided to the studio microphone by a gramophone record.

It is Jackie and his roar that is seen in sepia at the beginning of The Wizard of Oz (1939). As well as being MGM’s living logo, Jackie’s also appeared in over 100 films, including several Tarzan movies.

Jan. 28, 1929

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California — “Now that the talkies are making all the human stores sound their vowels and constants properly, Leo, the M.G.M. Lion has decided that he had better look to his laurels. Photo shows him before the mike with a cameraman and an operator of movietown.”

IMAGE: BETTMANN/CORBIS

MELVIN KOONTZ, JACKIE’S TRAINER

A cameraman and a sound technician record the roar of “Leo” the lion for MGM’s famous movie logo. The footage was first used on MGM’s first talking picture White Shadows in the South Seas.

1928

“Leo” in his travelling enclosure during a world publicity tour. At the wheel is trainer Jack Phillips.

IMAGE: KEYSTONE/GETTY IMAGES

In order to raise publicity for their productions, MGM toured Jackie — billed as “Leo the MGM Flying Lion” — across the U.S.

For one publicity stunt in September 1927, the studio modified a Ryan Brougham plane (similar in design to the “Spirit of St Louis” but with a shorter wingspan) with tanks for milk, water and extra fuel, with a cage incorporated in the body to house Jackie.

1927

“Leo” in his cage in the Ryan Brougham plane.

IMAGE: SAN DIEGO AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM ARCHIVE1927

Leo’s cage, built into the aircraft.

IMAGE: SAN DIEGO AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM ARCHIVE

1927

Leo’s plane takes off.

IMAGE: SAN DIEGO AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM ARCHIVE

Five hours into the flight from San Diego to New York, after a takeoff covered by extensive media, the plane crashed in the Arizona desert.

The pilot, Martin Jenson, left Jackie in the cage with the supply of milk, water and sandwiches before he went for help. After four days, Martin was found and taken to a telephone. He called MGM. Their first question was “How’s the lion?”