as lived by Michael kostial sr. & michael kostial jr.
My Husbands Grandfathers
People have been trying to tame wild animals since the start of time. The modern history of animal training dates back to the 1830’s when circus shows began feeding, taming and training for entertainment. In the early 1800’s exotic animals became an attraction to all throughout Europe then into America. Looking back with today’s knowledge and understanding, animal shows from the past can seem cruel. Yet animal shows, like at the St. Louis Zoo, were common place and a positive experience for the public.
To this day animal shows or animal inspired excursions still pull in the crowds (and cash) at aquariums, resorts, and animal habitats like zoos or farms.
These shows preform multiple times a day and with additional personal interactions available for extra cost. In this age we want the personal experience but also make sure we pay attention to the welfare of the animals foremost. That looks different than it did 90 or even 50 years ago.
These experiences are part of a human desire to connect, learn and educate ourselves on other species.
Michael Kostial Sr, a 1914 United States immigrant from Otura, Hungary (now Czechoslovakia) came to America for work. He started out in St. Louis as a factory laborer, then a baker but brought an animal training background with him. During these years he also trained as a lion and tiger tamer and act performer. Records show he performed with the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus. During the great depression many performers in the circus realm lost their careers.
Mike Sr learned how to train wild animals, almost exclusively lions and tigers, with a reward system. He did not train with punishments which was revolutionary at the time.
Mike Kostial Sr ended up getting a new job as an animal caretaker at the St. Louis Zoo in 1931. His funny banter and animal charm were quickly noticed by zoo patrons who started meeting around the lion and tiger exhibits at feeding times. Mike Kostial Sr would educate the public about lion and tiger behavior, habits and abilities in such an entertaining way that he became a hit attraction.
A show was born.
Soon a sidewalk show was taking place daily with lion cubs in addition to his feeding time show. It wasn’t long before a new enclosure was built so Mike Sr could host a larger audience. Mike Sr was the St. Louis Zoo’s first documented lion and tiger show. His performances were known coast to coast.
His ablity to educate the visitors and charm the big cats catapulted the St. Louis Zoo into a new league.
Show or not, Mike Sr was still the animal caretaker in every way. Because of this he never was able to take a vacation or a day off. The cats depended on him until the year he died. News of his death was spread across the United States where he was notably acclaimed for the thoughtful care of animals under his care, his wit, and his groundbreaking remarkable show.
Mike Kostial, Sr worked at the zoo daily and his two sons also joined their dad by working concessions and helping with the animal show. His oldest son, Michael Kostial, Jr showed an interest in animal training as well. He was notably good at training chimpanzees and it wasn’t long before Mike Jr stepped into the animal show realm. His care and attention to the chimpanzees as well as the show arena was extraordinary. Mike Jr even took the chimpanzees home to train them for acts in his show. Each year Mike Jr would make his own massive sets, train the chimpanzees and put on an impressive amount of shows to a full amphitheater of zoo visitors.
This was a massive undertaking and quite laborious. His shows evolved to include chimpanzees riding miniature ponies, electric cars, motorcycles, plAYING instruments and even roller-skatING!
Today, animal shows at the St. Louis Zoo focus on animal education in their natural habitat. The idea to train animals to act human has taken a back seat to humans understanding and partaking in best animal practices. The legacy of animal training and performance shows run deep in our culture and in my husbands family.
Evolution in animal training includes human minds too. as we learn to nurture and find the beauty and talent in ourselves and the animals around us.
My husbands Great Grandfather Michael Kostial Sr. and Grandfather Michael Kostial Jr may be world renowned but they are also celebrated for their accomplishments within our family. They fulfilled the education and performance required of them during their time at the St. Louis Zoo and did it to the best of their ability. It is truly remarkable the feats they accomplished.
Do you have a connection to the circus or animal attraction in your family history? I would love to hear about it!
Want to know what recipe gets me to preform tricks for? Try my Simple Snow Ice Cream the next time you have snowfall in your area. Delish!
James Leslie Truesdell says
Hello. I am Jim Truesdell of St. Louis and I was the announcer for Mike Kostial, Jr.’s Chimp Show in the late 1960’s. Before each show I would take Little Pierre, the star of the show at that time, and climb up a ladder with Pierre on my back to the announcer’s booth on top of the arena roof. I would play music for a half hour while the audience drifted in and would keep Pierre calm by feeding him vanilla wafers while he sat on a stool in the announcer’s booth. When show time came I would introduce Mike Kostial and the chimps to musical fanfare and then say “Now– the star of our show “Little Pierre!”. I would give him an umbrella and lift him onto a wire connected to the stage and he would walk down the wire to where Mike Kostial waited on the stage.. Pierre was about 3 to 4 years old at the time and was dressed in a sailor suit. Mike was a great and supportive guy whom everyone liked and admired. I also announced for Jules Jacot’s Lion Show and Floyd Smith’s Elephant Show at the Zoo. I reported to Marlin Perkins who was the Zoo Director at that time. I was just a college kid working summers. Great Memories. Thanks for sharing your family stories.
Jim Truesdell
Pioneer Flunkies says
I am so thankful you wrote me and told me your story. I’m amazed, as a college kid, you were given so much responsibility and with so many shows. How did you get this job in the first place? The idea you were comfortable climbing up a ladder with Pierre on your back is wild 🙈
I love hearing stories about Mike Kostial Jr. In each remembrance his amazing personality and kindness have lasted long after he left us.
Thanks for the story. I adored it.
James Truesdell says
Hello
Dorothy Weirich was a speech teacher at Webster Groves High School who had connections to the Zoo Board and Execs. Every year the top (male) student in her speech classes was given the opportunity to work as the announcer for the Zoo animal shows. I was lucky enough to get the chance. Just before me there was a guy from Webster named Bob Dodson who went on to become a network newscaster in New York.
In the picture above of Mike Kostial, Jr. and the four chimps riding the motorcycle, I believe the small guy in front is “Little Pierre” who I worked with on the show openings. Since he was gentle and friendly we often had him out in a booth where zoo visitors could meet him and shake his hand.
When I started, the famous chimp named Mr. Moke had just retired from the show because he aged out of the show, as all chimps did, around 8 to 10 years of age when they got too strong and aggressive. He was unique in that he spoke two words in English, “Mama” and “No”. He also could write the word “No” on a blackboard with Mike Kostial”s guidance. He was in a display enclosure and zoo visitors often tried to get him to speak which he occasionally did. His voice was sort of a loud whisper. He did not know the meaning of the words but would respond to certain verbal cues.
The theme for the shows I worked was a” good will tour”around the world by our chimps. They all dressed up in costumes of various countries and Mike Kostial had props and scenery reflecting the countries the chimps represented. The chimp arena was located where the Ape House and outside grounds are located today.
I am currently a professor in Saint Louis University’s business school where I have taught for the past twenty years.
Jim Truesdell