Tonalda Douglass Trains Seal at San Francisco Zoo (silent, 1928)

This charming black-and-white film (Gould can 5165.4) from 1928 features Tonalda Douglass skillfully training a seal at the San Francisco Zoo. Captured by Kinograms and preserved on tape 2148, the approximately 34 feet of footage showcases Douglass engaging the seal in various tricks and stunts, offering a delightful glimpse into early zoo entertainment and animal training practices. Set against the backdrop of San Francisco's iconic landscapes, this short film celebrates the connection between humans and animals, capturing a slice of 1920s amusement and the unique atmosphere of the historic zoo. Email us at footage@avgeeks.com if you have questions about the footage and are interested in using it in your project.