During the golden age of American circuses, one performer captivated audiences by locking himself in a steel cage with twenty-seven lions. Captain Jack Bonavita suffered fifty animal attacks during his volatile career.
His path took him from Coney Island to Hollywood, involving a royal marriage, a catastrophic fire, and a publicized amputation. He survived being mauled by a lion, only to meet his end against a massive polar bear.
From Acrobat to Animal Tamer
Born Johann Friedrich Gentner in Philadelphia on December 15, 1866, he began his entertainment career as an acrobat. He soon transitioned into animal training and adopted the stage name Captain Jack Bonavita. Standing five feet eleven inches tall with a handlebar mustache and a military uniform, he became a star attraction.
He famously performed at Coney Island’s Dreamland amusement park, which opened in 1904. In his renowned “Arm-Chair” routine, he commanded thirteen lions to sit quietly around him, earning the nickname of the lion whisperer.
The Attack of the Lion
On July 31, 1904, Bonavita faced a catastrophic incident. Accounts vary on the location, with sources claiming it happened at Coney Island or the Moulin Rouge in Paris. In the Paris account, a lion named Baltimore pounced after Bonavita turned his back.
Princess Rosalie F. Mercy d’Argenteau rushed to the cage and distracted the animal with her parasol. Bonavita suffered severe injuries to his left shoulder and arm. The princess accompanied him to the hospital, and they married in April 1905, divorcing two years later. After fighting infection for eight months, Bonavita had his arm amputated in February 1905.
Surviving the Dreamland Fire
Undeterred by the loss of his limb, Bonavita returned to his profession as a one-armed lion tamer. He worked at Dreamland until May 27, 1911, when a massive fire destroyed the amusement park.
The blaze started when a ride malfunctioned and spread rapidly. Bonavita rushed into the inferno to save his animals but failed. Sixty animals perished in the disaster, and police had to shoot his panicked lion, Black Prince, in the street.
A Fatal Encounter in the Ring
Following the destruction of Dreamland, Bonavita moved to Hollywood, finding high demand for his skills. He worked as a stuntman, director, and animal trainer for the film industry. He also continued live performances with Bostock’s Circus.
On March 19, 1917, while training a polar bear at the Bostock animal farm, the creature turned on him. The bear fractured his jaw and inflicted severe facial wounds. A fellow trainer fetched a policeman who shot the bear three times, but Bonavita succumbed to his injuries.