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Frasier at Lion Country Safari, where he became famous as a sex symbol. He died of pneumonia in 1972. "I feel he loved himself to death," one vet said. (Lion Country Safari) |
A quarter of a century before the dawn of Viagra, American men found hope in the prowess of an aging Lothario named Frasier.
Or Frasier the Sensuous Lion, as he became known at Lion Country Safari in Laguna Hills.
Not that the unimposing beast looked like a sex symbol.
He "hobbled about on weakened legs, his once-lustrous coat was scruffy and his tongue sagged from a toothless mouth," The Times reported.
When Lion Country bought him from a bankrupt Mexican circus in 1970, he was believed to be 18, equivalent to about 80 human years.
Lion Country, then one of a chain of drive-through animal preserves, put the underweight cat on a special diet, and he gained 100 pounds.
Around the same time, the park was having trouble finding a suitable male companion "for a pride of half a dozen healthy females," The Times said.
The lionesses had previously been introduced to five strong young males but "rejected each one, often using physical violence."
So, as "a sort of joke," Frasier was allowed to make their acquaintance.
By "the very next morning," The Times' Gordon Grant reported with admirable restraint, "it was obvious that Frasier had the situation in hand.
"His wives were content."
In the suburb, the mighty suburb, Frasier started fathering one cub after another, about 35 in all.
Jerry Kobrin, a Lion Country vice president, knew a feel-good story when he saw one. He came up with the cat's catchy nickname.
A line of Frasier T-shirts followed, along with Frasier bumper stickers, Frasier wristwatches and Frasier you-name-its.
In a time of disenchantment over the Vietnam War, Frasier was a pleasant distraction -- he wanted only to make love. His fame spread.
The state Assembly, able to agree on something for a change, named him "Father of the Year."
Fan clubs sprang up from San Francisco to Atlanta. A Dayton, Ohio, high school renamed its teams the "Frasier Lions."
Life magazine called him "Simba the Sex Symbol."
Kobrin wrote a film script about a conspiracy to steal Frasier's secret of lifelong virility. The sex story was rated PG. Attendance at the park increased 20%.
Or Frasier the Sensuous Lion, as he became known at Lion Country Safari in Laguna Hills.
Not that the unimposing beast looked like a sex symbol.
He "hobbled about on weakened legs, his once-lustrous coat was scruffy and his tongue sagged from a toothless mouth," The Times reported.
When Lion Country bought him from a bankrupt Mexican circus in 1970, he was believed to be 18, equivalent to about 80 human years.
Lion Country, then one of a chain of drive-through animal preserves, put the underweight cat on a special diet, and he gained 100 pounds.
Around the same time, the park was having trouble finding a suitable male companion "for a pride of half a dozen healthy females," The Times said.
The lionesses had previously been introduced to five strong young males but "rejected each one, often using physical violence."
So, as "a sort of joke," Frasier was allowed to make their acquaintance.
By "the very next morning," The Times' Gordon Grant reported with admirable restraint, "it was obvious that Frasier had the situation in hand.
"His wives were content."
In the suburb, the mighty suburb, Frasier started fathering one cub after another, about 35 in all.
Jerry Kobrin, a Lion Country vice president, knew a feel-good story when he saw one. He came up with the cat's catchy nickname.
A line of Frasier T-shirts followed, along with Frasier bumper stickers, Frasier wristwatches and Frasier you-name-its.
In a time of disenchantment over the Vietnam War, Frasier was a pleasant distraction -- he wanted only to make love. His fame spread.
The state Assembly, able to agree on something for a change, named him "Father of the Year."
Fan clubs sprang up from San Francisco to Atlanta. A Dayton, Ohio, high school renamed its teams the "Frasier Lions."
Life magazine called him "Simba the Sex Symbol."
Kobrin wrote a film script about a conspiracy to steal Frasier's secret of lifelong virility. The sex story was rated PG. Attendance at the park increased 20%.
