Publicity and the art of lionisation

To promote the Westbeau Ranch in Washington State in the 50’s, Jim Moran came up with an idea that thrilled newspaper readers and their families. Moran used a well known actress Lolly Allen (no relation to the stroppy young songstress Lily Allen!) to pose for photographs with Little Tyke, a tame lion.

Moran knew that the combination of a famous actress and a beautiful tame lion would win column inches for his new client. Little Tyke was in fact one of the most placid animals anyone could meet, even though he was capable of breaking a zebra’s neck with one blow of his paw. Tyke just loved to cuddle humans and to travel in cars and even planes! During Tyke’s lifetime, he became the highest paid beast of his kind, appearing in over 200 photoshoots and events in all.