Brixton, London, UK
(Unknown / Hulton Archive / Getty)
A zebra pulls a carriage through Brixton, south London, towards Stockwell. Exotic animals were regularly deployed to advertise or promote products and events at the turn of the twentieth century. It is likely that the zebra and carriage were the property of music-hall artist, Gustav Grais, and were being used to promote his shows.
Grais, born Gustav Eichler, was skilled in juggling and the trapeze, and kept a circus of exotic animals, including the zebra and a number of baboons. He also secretly juggled at least two families in London, in close vicinity.
‘A zebra harnessed to a pony-chaise. The zebra belongs to the music-hall artist, Mr Gustav-Grais. Having survived a fire it was stabled at Brixton and is seen here on its daily exercise route in south London.’
London Evening Standard, August 13, 1912
