Jungleland Explosion - Jungleland Theatre was billed as a theatre and a zoo with specimens of every bird and animal in existence (stuffed and live) The stable included lions, a grizzly bear, emus, ocelots, a toucan, flamingos, a Chinese dragon, gila monster, a boa constrictor weighing 620lbs... In the morning of January 12,1912 the night watchman opened the front doors to air out the building. This shift in air caused the leaking gas in the basement to drift into a room with a heater. The watchman was blown out of the door into the street as the building exploded upward and then collapsed. The fire department contended with putting out the fire and capturing wild animals. The grizzle bear and several other animals were taken to Oak Cliff for treatment. No work as to the fait of the boa constrictor. 1505 Elm st. Dallas TX.
Lead to the story provided by Rusty Williams, author of Deadly Dallas.
All Images copyrighted by the artist, Brad Ford Smith 2023