Mable Stark
Posted By thecircusblog on February 21, 2018
I am waiting for Roger Smith to write the info concerning the movie made on her life. Please read comment that just came.
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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
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This film is a documentary, rather than an entertainment feature, and is representative of the Leslie Zemeckis signature. Leslie tells the stories of people, like Mabel, who were excellent in their career, but for whom the heights of fame were denied. Mabel was the circus world’s Tiger Queen for 57 years, but did not become a household name as did Clyde Beatty. Leslie had thought of a documentary on women animal trainers profession-wide, but soon realized her focus would be Mabel Stark. One day in October of 2014, on a referral by Patricia White, the phone rang with Leslie wanting an interview. I had just had a total shoulder replacement, and knew that on camera I would look like a corpse freshly exhumed. The day before, she had interviewed Clyde Beatty, Jr. She arrived at my house with Kelly Jones, her Director of Photography, and his son, Zeke, who worked sound. They created a set in my living room, and the interview involved 6 hours of film Over the next 2 years, we continued to consult by e-mail on the intricate points of history Leslie wanted to insure authority. Mabel had been my mentor at Jungleland, our Compound late of Thousand Oaks, and well-covered by Ivan in this blog. I had 3 1/2 years with her there, and carefully kept everything she told me. Most of this was about the care and well-being of tigers, from birthing cubs to finishing out a polished act of performers. So it was I had the history of Mabel to share. Additionally, I had Mabel’s 4 personal photo and press albums, 4 of her uniforms, and her circus trunk. Leslie continued seeking material from me until 2 days before she had to call “picture lock” and have the final edit submitted for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, for which we had 2 screenings, on February 8 and 9, 2017. As of this month, Leslie continues to win Best Documentary awards–the most recent being at Corpus Christi’s festival, and was awarded 1 Best Director, so far. She had a screening March 8, in Beverly Hills, and now is on to Chicago and New York City. Cinema Libre serves as distributor, and controls all releases. We are told we might get our DVDs on or about April 10. So the rest of the story on Mabel’s film is really just beginning.
On a sad note, Patricia White, who is credited on the poster, and is an interview in the film, passed on December 4, 2017, at her home in Ocala, Florida, of a lingering heart ailment. She was 62, and did not get to see this film .