Catalogue description Guide 27

CENTENARY YEAR. Belle Vue Zoological Gardens, 1836-1936

Official Guide. Price 3d contains plan of Belle Vue Zoological Gardens.

Folding plan (revised plan, chart in upper l.h.c. indicates to Cheshire & Derbyshire bus routes.

T-P : 1836-Centenary Season - 1936

OFFICIAL GUIDE BOOK/to the/BELLE VUE/ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS/MANCHESTER/DIRECTORS/J.HENRY ILES, J.P. (Chairman and Managing Director)/HENRY F.B.ILES, M.A./HOWARD L. GOLDBY. GEORGE WILSON.// SECRETARY:GEORGE WILSON.//REGISTERED OFFICE:BELLE VUE (M/c) LIMITED, MANCHESTER12/TELEPHONE:EAST 1131 (6 lines).// FIRST EDITION./Published by BELLE/VUE (M/c) LTD.//

v.t-p: Belle Vue in 1847, below copy of ... lithograph print of Belle Vue Gardens, 1847 ... Racecourse ¾ mls around, also ¼ ml & ½ ml, in centre .... also Dog racing ... Firework Island & lake, only present size, below Racecourse. Museum on the island.

(p.3): Centenary-Introduction ... Zoo to-day most comprehensive outside London ... no counterpart in world ... no small part of Manchester history ... influence on Lancashire character, fruitful field of investigation for future social historians .....

p.4. Principal Events ... 1936, 31 events, printed.

3 dog shows, March 25-26th, Manchester Championship Dog Show, 2 bird shows incl. October 30th-31st Manchester & Northern Counties Ornithologists' Society Cage Birds Show,

2 boxing tournaments, March 25th-Manchester City Police Boxing Tournament, April 27th Manchester Sportsmen's Effort Boxing Tournament,

4 demonstrations, incl. Sept 26th M & S Co-op Societies Pageant Demonstration; 7 sports days, July 1st-Manchester & Salford School Sports; Aug. 8th - L.M.S. Railway Sports, 4 band contests;

Other dates: April 8th Official Opening of Belle Vue Centenary Year by Lord Mayor Alderman T.S. Williams, J.P.

May 16th: Manchester & Salford Horse Show ... below, Abridged. Index.

Photographs, insert, recto, giraffes, verso, Leopards & baboons.

p.5. Botanical Gardens. Below photograph of Italian Gardens. The Tropical Plant House. 3 items, unnumbered.

p.6/ 10 items as above, latin cognomens, in italic print & bracketed.

p.7 Initials, A.C. ITALIAN GARDENS.

p.8. ... Centenary Firework Spectacle .... below photographic silhouette of Owen Simpson, Belle Vue scenic artist .... 84 yrs Belle Vue staged .... Firework Spectacle unsurpassed anywhere ... 1836 - SAN SEBASTIAN ... gallantry of British Legion of 100 yrs ago .... 250 performers ... picture ... acre & of canvas ... painted on premises ... costumes & properties made in Gardens ... Many performers taken part for 50 yrs ... first time this year girls in production ... 20 Belle Vue Belles ... Spanish costumes ... dances arranged by Miss Anita E Pike of the Laburnam Studio of Dancing ... painted and produced by Owen Simpson ... Music ... by Bonelli .... culminates in ... Firework Display.

p.9. Dates of Firework Performances.

April - Wed 8th (Opening Ceremony) Easter Monday, 13th; Sats 11th, 18th, 25th.

May - Every Sat.

June - Nightly in Whit-week, 1st to 6th Mondays 8th & 29th; Sats 13th, 20th, 27th.

July - Every Mon. Weds and Sats.

August - Nightly except Friday

Sept. - Mon. 7th & 14th; Wed. 2nd, 9th, 16th; Sat. 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th

Oct: - Sat. 3rd & 10th

Nov. - Huge Bonfire & burning of ... Guy Fawkes. Sat. Nov.7th at 7-30 p.m.

Commencing Times: ... 9-15 p.m. On Railway Carnival Day, September 5th ... 8.30 p.m.

TO ENSURE ... VIEW OF THE FIREWORK SPECTACLE, BOOK IN ADVANCE FOR THE FIREWORK STAND AT THE KIOSK AT END OF DANCING PLATFORM, NEAR THE FIRST-CLASS CARE .... 2 p.m. UNTIL 7 p.m.

Below: Advt for Fireworks. C.T. Brock & Co. 'Crystal Palace' Fireworks estab. before 1720 ... Oldest Firm of Firework Manufacturers in the world ... 1st display, Crystal Palace, July 12th, 1865. Displays from £20 up to £10,000 .... Head Office: Hemel Hempstead, Herts.

p.10 The Belle Vue Military and Dance Bands. Under the Direction of "Bonelli" Photograph below. Band accepts engagements Sunday Concerts.... Terms apply - H.K. Walker, Entertainment Supt., Belle Vue Gardens, Manchester 12.

p.11 Belle Vue Speedways ... only provincial track in the major League ... carried off every honour ... National League Championship and National Trophy ... Some of greatest racing in history of sport to be witnessed this year ... one of five England v. Australia Test Matches ... July 4th

Admission: 1/- and 2/- Reserved seats 3/-, bookable in advance. Season Tickets, £3:10:0. Car Park Season Tickets,

10/-

Meetings: Every Sat in season, 7 p.m. Special Star attractions:

Easter Sun. April 11th; Easter Mon. April 13th;

Whit Monday June 1st; August Bank Holiday, August 3rd

Supporters' Club; 1/6 p.a. incl. Membership Badge, below table of Belle Vue National League fixtures, 4 cols. Date, Fixture, Opponent, Results. Home fixtures in caps. Great Holiday Fixtures:

Easter-Monday (April 13th) .... Special Holiday Meeting

Whit-Monday (June 1st) .... Gigantic Centenary Meeting.

Aug. Bank Holiday (Aug.3rd) as April 13th

p.12 Amusement Park - Boating, Bobs Coaster 80ft above ground, highest level, trains travel at one point over a mile a minute ..... c. 2 million people .... carried since inception .... kiddies own Amusement Park. Boating .... Paddle Steamers, Motor Launches, 2 photographs. The .... Bob Coaster/A View of the Great Lake to right.

p.13 Dancing and Novelty Rides: 2 photographs, to left, Bobs Coaster, background & lake. Belle Vue Ballroom ... private functions ...... Japanese Ballroom accommodates 400 dancers .... small parties, dances & whist drives .... Entertainments Superintendant will give details of other halls. Miniature Railway .... complete reconstruction .... made this year .... ride nearly twice as long as previously .... circular course .... 3 level crossings .... perfect reproduction of modern railway systems .... The King George (train) £1,500 model capable of pulling 3 tons.

p.14 Catering Facilities:

(L) Licensed for the sale of alcoholic refreshments.

Luncheons and Teas: Hyde Road Hotel Restaurant (L)

7 items, priced, sample, Smoked Haddock and Poached Egg, with Tea, Bread and Butter ...... 1/9

Grill Teas: from 3 to 8 p.m.

13 items, sample Kidney Omelette, with Tea, Bread and Butter 2/6 Served except Bank Holidays and Gala Days.

p.15 A La Carte Meals - High Teas .. restaurants .. when all or any of them in operation.

New Tudor Restaurant (L) .... Opp. Firework Spectacle

Popular Restaurant .... Near Elephant Ride Stand.

Chinese Cafe (L) .... Near Leopard House

Exhibition Hall (L) .... Entrance from Amusement Park

Pic-Nic Meals and Hot Water - Hot Water and Crockery ... small charge.

Bread, Butter etc. at reasonable charges

Hot Water Room ... Entrance from Amusement

Park behind King's Hall.

Refreshments: Gallery Tea room (L) ... Next to the Ballroom.

Self Service Cafe; ... cafeteria underneath Firework Stand next to new Tudor Restaurant ... snacks & light meals.

Below, photograph of The Exhibition Hall Restaurant.

p. 17. Zoological Collection. 1936 ... open from 10 a.m. until sunset every day throughout the year ... Firework Spectacle days, Animal Houses close at firing of maroon gun.

Care of Animals: Prevention of teasing, etc.

Feeding of Animals: List of foods appropriate to various breeds.

Feeding Times: Raccoons ... 3-0 p.m.

Lions, Tigers 3-30 p.m.

Bears .... 4-0 p.m.

Hyenas ..... 4-15 p.m.

Pelicans ... 4-15 p.m.

Penguins ... 4-30 p.m.

Sea-Lions... 4-30 p.m.

Orang-Utan.. 5-30 p.m.

Foot-note: Suitable Food for the Animals may be purchased from the Kiosk adjoining the Elephant House and other Kiosks.

p. 18 ... special days ... Sea-Lion performances ... heavy cost of fish .... nominal charge 1d ... times, see notice board outside Sea-Lion House.

Itinerary: ... so planned ... visitors call.... see all exhibits .... without doubling over Ground ... commence tour by Floral Clock and end at Wallaby Enclosure ... Longsight Gate in reverse .... Centenary Gardens ... constructed winter 1935-1936, formally opened at Easter.

Ornamental pergola runs down gardens, centre.

A-Floral Clock: 2 face clock, G.M.T. ... Easter Holidays .... planted with dwarf tulips, forget-me-nots & polyanthus .... Summer Season, over 30,000 plants - carpet bedding.

B-Gibbon Cage: 1st of kind ... in zoological garden ... 40 ft sq x 25 ft high ... heated by electricity, thermostatically controlled, entirely draught proof. Roof & verandah, "Vita" glass.

p. 19 cont. whole house insulated with glass wool .... between inner & outer walls. Special windscreens ... at each corner of outside walls ... shelter from cold winds ... outside cage, bathing pool ... ropes, swings & tight-ropes ... Gibbons kept in Ape House until May, big cage ... hardy monkeys ...

C-Monkey Mountain central pile of artificial rockwork ... deep water-filled trench ... free from bars ... cascades ... into pool. Above rock centre, room as sleeping accommodation ...

D-Racoon's Enclosure: ... high wall confines them ... 12North American Racoons ... in ... pit ... pool.

E-Small Cats' House: 3 specimens listed, Eyra Cat, Golden Cat and Ocelot, with Latin cognomens.

p. 20 E/contd. 4-8 Cats Listed. 4 Young Leopardess Born in the Gardens, April 19th 1933. 7 Puma "Judy" purchased 1928.

F/1. Aviary and Parrot House. Specimen 9-11. 2 types of owl, caracaras.

p.21 F.1/cont. Specimens 12-20. In lower r.h.c. Hyena, photograph of ....

p.22 r.1/cont. Specimens 21-31. 27 vacant.

p.23 Specimens 32 Large Aviary ....

p.24 Specimens 32/cont. 33 & 34, below advt for Saw Mills, New Heath, Evans Bellhouse Ltd.

p.25 Specimens 35-39, below photograph, Puma "Horace" Gerald T. Iles.

p.26 F.2 - Lion and Tiger House. Specimens 40-46.

To right, oval photo. of Lion "Brutus"

40. Lioness "Stella" Born 1919 & purchased with month-old cub, "Bruce" February, 1930

41. Lion, "Bruce", Purchased Feb. 1930

42. Lioness "Julie" Deposited in the Gardens, May 1935

43. Lion, "Victor" Purchased October 1935, 7 yrs old

44. Tigress "Bella" Purchased May 1933

45. Tiger "Rajah" Purchased August 1925

46. Tigress "Renee" Purchased June 19 1929

"Renee" ... given birth to cubs on 3 occasions ..... Sept 1931, July 1932 (5 cubs), June 1933.

p.27 G1 - The Reptile House and Aquarium. Specimens 47-54. 52 The Egyptian Cobra ... Presented to the collection, September 1933.

p.28 G1/cont Specimens 55 - 62 60-62 vacant.

(p1) Centre insert of 4 unnumbered pages: Belle Vue Centenary 1836-1936

Belle Vue Gardens ... famous as playground of Lancashire, 36 acres ... John Jennison took over portion for tea gardens where workpeople of Lancashire, engaged for 10 or 12 hrs daily, could find week-end recreation ...

(p2) Zoo started with borrowed pelican ... animal dealers ... large family (Jennisons) ... success, place never allowed to degenerate into sameness... Each winter some new work ... finished for ... Whitsuntide opening ... Sports early feature ... Dog racing vogue 70 yrs ago ... first cinema... 1842, Mr Moorhouse of Denton ... passion for giant kites ... Herr Kjellberg, 1850 walked on water .... 1875 Captain Boynton's Life-saving Dress, Methods of Signalling .... Giuseppe Lunardini

(p3) 80 yrs ago attempted an ascent from Gardens in balloon. 1852 1st firework display, "Bombardment of Algiers" - annual Mr Danson and son from London came to paint & produce Spectacle, carried on by sons, followed by Mr Caney, Mr Perkins, Mr Bernard Hastian, and to-day Mr Owen Simpson (Then) .... Brass Band contest movement .... national proportions September Championship ... world famous bands - Black Dyke, Besses o'the Barn, Meltham Mills, Kingston Mills, Fodens, Wingates Temperance ... won prizes ... later had to institute minor contests as graduating events for festival.

First electric lighting plant in Manchester ? in North installed.

(p.4) Centre, both pages, photo. of Sunken Garden completed last season, £5,000 ... on site of original maze existed at Belle Vue c.50 yrs ago.

(p.5) Salford Chronicle, June 1876 ... the Messrs Jennison .... have resources enable them at no small notice to feast a party of 5 or fifty thousand ... bakery ... a brewery ... and confectioner (within precincts)

(p6) Own cows ... milk and butter ... cater for large gatherings ... agricultural shows, meetings ... printing office where the placards are ... produced ... gas works ... independent of city supply; water works from own springs ... free fountain ... ice-houses, supplied from their ... lakes .... Catering ... always ... feature ... to which ... quantities of silver... entree dishes, tea services & cutlery ... still bear witness ... civic functions in Manchester Town Hall, County garden parties, and ... political dinners .... undertaken by ... chefs and specialised equipment of Zoological Gardens .... Many years staff travelled annually to Wimbledon to cater for fortnight's military manoeuvres ... Belle Vue meat pies ... reputation .... Gathering ... Daniel Adamson explained a revolutionary proposal to construct canal to bring raw cotton into Lancashire .... & .... produced .....

(p.7) Political gatherings with ... Balfour, Lloyd George, Clynes, MacDonald & Baldwin ... Celebrity concerts .... Annual County Police Ball lasted till 4 a.m. ... (1914-1918) war Belle Vue - military encampment, & training fround for Manchester Regiment "the Pals" of Kitchener's Army ... torchlight tattoo, celebrating Edward VII's coronation ... fire ravaged scenic painting

1925: Jennison family broken ... new management under Mr John Henry Iles new sports & entertainments ... Amusement Park extended ... in line with other pleasure parks built by Mr Iles in all parts of the world. Speedway racing - erection of ... Stadium ... Belle Vue ... world significance in boxing realm, and first British and World championships ever to take place outside London were staged at Belle Vue. Lancashire, home of World and 2 British boxing champions ... Transference of Broughton Rangers Rugby Club to Belle Vue .... Mammoth Cotton Pageant, 12,000 performers - greatest single effort to concentrate interest ... on Lancashire's staple trade. Graced by H.R.H. Prince George and Lord Derby .... 2 .... Military tattoos first time ... cavalry regiments ... and massed Kneller Hall Band seen outside Royal event.

World record for any one-day event in 1935 - Belle Vue was the venue of Centenary Celebrations of the Independent Order of the Rechabites ... excursion trains ... representatives from every corner of Great Britain, c.100,000 people catered for ... many trades exhibitions ...... Initialled W.R.

p.29. G2 The Balanced Aquarium. Specimens 63-71

p.30 G2/Cont. Specimens 72-76, below advt for Hoe's Sauce, Stretford, Manchester.

p.31 G2/Cont. Specimens 77.

H - Bear Pits Specimens 78-79. 78 The Polar Bears "Max" and "Lucy"

Purchased March 1929, when they were 8

79 The Alaskan Bear "Frank"/ Purchased 1922

The Himalayan Black Bear .. Board "V" on chest, Presented as Cub Feb.1932 by M.A. Tullock Esq. Singhum Indian.

p.32 I - The Deer Park. 81 The English Red Deer ... thrive well in the Gardens, have bred on several occasions.

J - South Terrace. 82-83

82. Puma "Horace" Purchased October 1931

83 Young Lion "Ceasar" born in the Gardens, December 1932.

Below photo. The Elephants "Lil" and "Nellie" .....

p.33 K - Elephant House. Specimens 82-92, 85 & 86 vacant, 87 The Guinea Pigs. The young are for sale, please apply to the keeper.

90 and 95 also unoccupied.

Below, photo. Hippopotamus "Tony" Manchester Guardian.

p.34 Full-page advt for C.W.S. Goods

p.35 K/cont. Specimens 96-105. Cage 101 vacant.

102 Hippopotamus "Tony" born 1929

Purchased Feb. 1930

1 - Monkey Terrace:

Cages 106 "The Guinea Pigs Villa" also, 107-108

p.36 Cages 109-115 (M) 2 photographs, DRILL MONKEY/REESUS MONKEY

p.37 Cages 116-128 (N) 1 photograph, ORANG-UTAN" Freddy E.W.Collier

(128) The ORANG UTAN "Freddy" Purchased 1928, 1 yr old ....

4th year rougher .... cage lined with sheet iron ... steel netting front strengthened.

p.38 129-133 cages O-The Giraffe and Camel House (131-133)

129 THE HOOLOCK GIBBONS ... Purchased May 1934 ....

131 This cage being prepared to receive the African

Two horned Rhinoceros ... May 1936

132 THE BRAZILIAN TAPIR "Bimboo" Purchased June, 1935

To the left, Zebra "Fury" Purchased May, 1933

Below an inserted advt. for The new Tutor Restauaant .... centenary beature, the new Tudor Restaurant ... open from Easter ........

p.40 Cages 134-138 : 134 CHAPMAN'S ZEBRA "BABS" Purchased August 1935

135 & 136 vacant

137 FEMALE GIRAFFE & her YOUNG BULL CALF .... May 1935 female ... specially caught ... May 1935 ... 2 animals taken by rail from Nairobi, Kenya Colony, to Mombasa shipped to London. Journey's final stage ... by road, special route to ensure crate would pass underneath bridges ... calf's measurements just 6ft in height measured February 1st 1936 ... 9ft 6in .... grown 3ft 6 ins in 8 mths (... calf born in captivity in Africa)

138 GIRAFFE ... "George" ... captured in East Africa ... delivered June 1932 ....

p.41 Cages 139-142 140-142 BIRDS OF PREY TERRACE. Silhouetted photograph of Giraffe "George"

p.42 Cages 143-149 (P/The ROCKY MOUNTAIN ENCLOSURE)

145 THE VULTURINE SEA-EAGLE ... Presented ... August 1935

149 P-THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN ENCLOSURE

Erected 1929 ... pinaccles for animals to climb.

p.43 Cages 150-153, headed by italicised note. Next to Rocky Mountain is a pool ... shortly be converted into THE REPTILIUM-150 ... hardy reptiles and batrachians shown during the winter months.

R- THE PADDOCK RANGE

152 THE REINDEER ... male purchased from Sweden, August 1935

153 THE AMERICAN BULL BISON. Purchased 1912

To left, WAPITI DEER ... photograph taken October ... Antler

p.44 Cages 154-158: 154 THE REINDEER-3 females purchased April 1936 THE PADDOCK HOUSE

Cages 155-158 ... numbered alternately on the left & right hand sides. Photograph of 2 storks, Pelican and Marabou Storks.

p.45 Cages 159 to 165, below a photograph of AXIS DEER. Gerald T Iles.

Cage 159 The Grey Kangaroos ... with young born in Gardens, 1935.

Cage 160 empty.

p.46 Cages 166-170: S. THE WOLVES TERRACE. Below an advt for Thomas'Cooks's....

Sample: LUCERNE 9 days' Holiday £7.19.6.

Manchester Offices: 77 Market St. 14 Oxford St.

Midland Hotel, and Victoria Bridge.

Cages 166-168, empty

Cage 169: THE DINGO ... with litter of puppies, born in the Gardens, March 13th 1936.

p.47 Cages 171-181 (Cages 178- T. THE OCTAGON)

(Cages 179-181:U-THE ISLAND LAKES)

172 The Striped hyaena - purchased 1928

174 The Russian Wolves with litter of cubs, b. in Gardens Feb.5th, 1936

177 Young dingoes, born in the Gardens, March 12th 1936.

181 Young swans .... presented by S.Riley Esq. Denton

p.48 V-THE PHEASANTRY. Cages 182-187, a photogtaph of the Demoiselle Crane

p.49 PENGUIN HOUSE ... glass-fronted tank ... notice board .... times of daily performances. Cages 188-193. 194 THE LARGE FLYING CAGE.

p.50 W.1 THE SEA LION POOL, below photograph, R.W.A. Burgess

Cage 195 CALIFORNIAN SEA LIONS ... trained to do ... tricks

W.2 THE SEA LION HOUSE, Cage 196 Owing to the ... cost of fish .... a charge of 1d is made.

Y - THE WALLABY ENCLOSURE 197 THE BENNETT'S WALLABY ... bred in the Gardens.

The Museum ... undergoing extensive alterations ... closing of building until May ... when re-opened ... re-organised, ... new specimens, including ... Belle Vue favourites ... stuffed and mounted.

p.51 INDEX TO ANIMALS. 3 cols. animal, page no ... FOOT-NOTE; Food for the Animals at ANIMAL FOOD SHOP, Adjoining Elephant House.

Insert of photographs of animals b. in the Gardens, verso, a photograph of the lion "Victor"

Recto: 6 photographs -

i. LION CUBS "CARLO" & "CAESAR", b.1932

ii. YOUNG CAMEL "IMSHI" b. Feb. 1935

iii. "JEAN" LEOPARD. b. April 1933

iv. KANGAROO "MARY" AND BABY b. Feb. 1934

v. REESUS MONKEY AND BABY, b. March 1912

vi. "LIZZY" TIGRESS b. Sept. 1930

p.53 BROUGHTON RANGER (Belle Vue) Ltd.

President .... J. HENRY ILES

Vice-President GEORGE WILSON

Hon.Secretary T. SPEDDING

The ... Broughton Rangers Rugby League Club ... established for 3 seasons at Belle Vue .... The First and 'A' team ... first class football every Saturday.

BELLE VUE TIGERS BASEBALL CLUB ... Belle Vue introduced American Baseball to Manchester 2 yrs ago (1934) & last year (1935) established Belle Vue Tigers Club ... 2nd playing season ... a First and Reserve Team ... participate in all North of England Baseball League games and cup competitions. Matches every Saturday at 3 p.m.......

Below Fixtures-Season 1936. 2 cols : FIRST TEAM/SECOND TEAM

Date: Venue: Opponent. May-August

p.54 EXHIBITIONS AND MEETINGS - HIRE OF GROUNDS AND HALLS FOR SHOWS, ETC. ... facilities for Sports Meetings, Horse and Dog Shows, Trade and Public Exhibitions ... meetings of Public Bodies .... Exhibition Hall .... 60,000 sq.ft. of Stand space - Largest Hall in the North of England ... available for trade and public Exhibitions and indoor shows .... Halls .... with floor areas 4,000 to 8,000 sq.ft. ... suitable for Shows, etc. King's Hall seating .... 6,000 people, incl. 5,000 tip-up numbered seats, accommodation for Congresses .... cannot be equalled outside London .... 1 photograph of stand.

Multi-coloured, lithographed cover.