A Friday Photo: Jazz for the Bears

11/02/2012 in DC by Mark Jones

I came across this photo while doing some research about the National Zoo. It's a picture of jazz quintet playing a concert for a polar bear in (I think) the 1920s. Errr... what? I'd really like to know what precipitated this. Did these dudes just wake up one morning and say, "Hey, let's go down to the zoo and play a set for the bears." "Good idea, I'll see if Gertrude is free to dance for them."? Well, in any case, the bear seems to be enjoying it. Or maybe he's just waiting for his chance to take a swipe at them through the bars.

Source:
Jazz for the Bears
Five men playing musical instruments and woman dancing in front of bears in cage at the National Zoo, Washington, D.C.
Library of Congress
LOT 12357-5 [item] [P&P]

Last Updated:

10/14/2020

Mark Jones has called the D.C. area home since he was three years old. As a child he enjoyed taking family trips to Colonial Williamsburg and impersonating historical figures for elementary school book reports. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from Davidson College and a Master's in History and New Media from George Mason University. Prior to coming to WETA, Mark worked as an interpreter for the National Park Service at Arlington House: The Robert E. Lee Memorial, where (much to the amusement of his friends) he wore the "Smokey the Bear" hat as part of his uniform and occasionally donned period clothes. (Photos are classified.)