Black Zoo
Black Zoo is a 1963 American horror film directed by Robert Gordon and starring Michael Gough, Jeanne Cooper, Rod Lauren, Virginia Grey, Jerome Cowan, and Elisha [Cook, Jr.] It was produced by Herman Cohen and written by Cohen and Aben Kandel.
Plot
Michael Conrad is a private zookeeper who owns Conrad's Animal Kingdom. He leads a cult group who literally worship the animals he tends — especially the big cats: 3 lions, a lioness, a pair of cheetahs, a tiger, a cougar, and a black leopard; as well as a gorilla. Conrad plays organ music to the animals in his living room, and uses them to kill anyone who gets in his way. Conrad is married to Edna and forces his mute son Carl to assist him.Cast
Production
had the idea for the film, and hired Aben Kandel to work with him on the script.Cohen had worked with Gough previously in Horrors of [the Black Museum] and Konga.
The animals were provided by Ralph Helfer, most notably Zamba, who played one of the two male lions. The zoo was built at Raleigh Studio on North Bronson in Hollywood, California. The entire zoo seen in the picture was an interior set.
Publicity was done with the cats – including an appearance on The [Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]. Cohen did not like the title, preferring Horrors of the Black Zoo.