Tamers, Tigers and Tents

Mabel Stark’s early life was clouded by tragedy and abuse, but the vivacious blonde was destined for greatness. Escaping poverty and leaving her family behind, Mabel found her way to Los Angeles, entertaining audiences and finding her true passion with the “stripes.”

Award-winning filmmaker Leslie Zemeckis brings Mabel’s adventurous tale to life in her newest feature-length documentary about the world’s first female tiger trainer. “Mabel’s story was shrouded in myth and rumor,” states Zemeckis. “With the help of a relative and her last protégé I was given unprecedented access to the story of her childhood, which scarred her worse than her tigers.”

In the early 1900s, when women were generally expected to be wives and mothers, Mabel started her career at the circus performing as a cooch dancer. Years later she made her way to the big screen as a stunt double for sex symbol Mae West and other Hollywood stars, however, she continued clawing her way up the circus hierarchy determined to work with the tigers. Although Mabel was told no woman could train the big cats, she proved them wrong, eventually performing with 21 tigers in the ring. And unlike most of her male counterparts, she used only positive reward training.

“When I first started researching Mabel Stark I thought it was going to be a story about courage,” states Zemeckis. “What I discovered was that her story was really a love story. She loved her tigers so much she would give her life for them.”

Mabel, Mabel, Tiger Trainer screens this March in Los Angeles and New York, and will be released on DVD in April. For screening details and up-to-date information about the film visit www.mabelstarkmovie.com.