Roy Kabat
Posted By thecircusblog on May 9, 2012
There is no question that Roy loved every part of Jungleland. He was not a trainer but I think he could have been.
Wade Burck has made a comment, Thanks
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thecircusblog
My name is Ivan M. Henry and I am the 4th generation of a circus/show business dynasty. I hope you enjoy the blog.Comments
2 Responses to “Roy Kabat”
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Ivan,
Over the years I have heard a lot of negativity directed towards Roy Kabot and Tex Scarborough from “old timers” who worked at the compound. I think most of it was because they were the one’s who had to sell the beloved place.
Wade Burck
No–it was because they entered into a deal with Louie Goebel, in 1965, on a purchase price of $1,035,000, and never paid a penny on the agreement. They never even touched an interest payment. When the Compound got our last major feature film, DR. DOLITTLE, in 1966, Goebel agreed to hold off action against them until 20th Century-Fox had sent Jungleland its last production check. The Kabats and the Scarboroughs raked off the money and tried again to stiff Louie Goebel. This time, he foreclosed. The place went under receivership by A.J. Bumb and Associates, which didn’t work. They were then forced into bankruptcy, and soon ordered by federal court to be auctioned off. The Kabat-Scarborough team never intended to become owners, just operators, and to literally take the money and run. The auction was held over October 8 and 9, 1969. When the auctioneers gavel came down at 6 p.m. on the 9th, the Compound was padlocked against all but successful bidders. They began to strip the place the next morning, and very quickly, Jungleland was gone forever. I remain among those who feel that those of us who wanted to be, should still be there working. So the bitterness over the mistreatment of Louie Goebel, and the resultant devastation of the Compound, for some of us, has not gone away at all.