Black Zoo (also known as Horrors of the Black Zoo) is a 1963 American horror film directed by Robert Gordon and starring Michael Gough, Jeanne Cooper, Rod Lauren, Virginia Grey, Jerome Cowan, and Elisha Cook, Jr.[1] It was produced by Herman Cohen and written by Cohen and Aben Kandel.
Michael Conrad is a private zookeeper who owns Conrad's Animal Kingdom. He leads a cult group who literally worship the animals he tends — especially the big cats: 3 lions, a lioness, a pair of cheetahs, a tiger, a cougar, and a black leopard; as well as a gorilla.[2] Conrad plays organ music to the animals in his living room, and uses them to kill anyone who gets in his way. Conrad is married to Edna and forces his mute son Carl to assist him.
Herman Cohen had the idea for the film, and hired Aben Kandel to work with him on the script.
Cohen had worked with Gough previously in Horrors of the Black Museum and Konga.
The animals were provided by Ralph Helfer, most notably Zamba, who played one of the two male lions (Zamba Jr. and Tammy also appeared playing another lion and a lioness, respectively). The zoo was built at Raleigh Studio (formerly Producers Studio) on North Bronson in Hollywood, California. The entire zoo seen in the picture was an interior set.[3]
Publicity was done with the cats – including an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.[3] Cohen did not like the title, preferring Horrors of the Black Zoo.[3]
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "As a macabre essay, this has some unusual moments, notably the scenes showing the wild menagerie draped around the living-room furniture; but as a whole it suffers from an extravagant and rather silly script, and from Michael Gough's (perhaps inevitable) overplaying in the central role. Jeanne Cooper is rather fetching as his wife."[4]
Black Zoo was released on a VHS by The Fang (Floral Park, NY) in 2001 (OCLC 48234539)
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