Wilson's Zoo On Oswald Street Options

[Agnes & Robert]

Can anybody remember the Amusements at the corner of Argyle St. and Oswald St.also Wilson's Zoo just along on Oswald St.

[George Muir]

Agnes and Robert, here's an old picture of that intersection

[tombro]

I've answered this on other forums.

One day in the late 1950's my Granny, who lived in Crimea Street (off Carrick Street about a mile along Argyle Street towards Anderston Cross) itook my brother and me to the zoo in Oswald Street.

I remember it being dark and gloomy and I remember the lion in its cage.

Lately I've seen (on this and other sites) various pics of that corner of Argyle Street and Oswald Street but don't remember any amusements.

Tombro

[Agnes & Robert]

I've answered this on other forums.

One day in the late 1950's my Granny, who lived in Crimea Street (off Carrick Street about a mile along Argyle Street towards Anderston Cross) itook my brother and me to the zoo in Oswald Street.

I remember it being dark and gloomy and I remember the lion in its cage.

Lately I've seen (on this and other sites) various pics of that corner of Argyle Street and Oswald Street but don't remember any amusements.

Tombro

Hi Tombro, fantastic photo, I'm sure it was in the 40s when the door was open you were able to see the dodgems, I remember the lion in the cage also the Mynah bird, the story was that Mr.Wilson was a big-game hunter,I'm not quite sure but I think Clydsdales might have been there either before or after the amusements I can still see that cage a way too small for the lion. It's strange that you mention Carrick St. when my Wife and I were home on holiday we stayed at the Carrick Hotel, which is now called the Corus, they served you a fantastic breakfast, black pudding sliced sausages the lot my teeth are watering.

[Agnes & Robert]

I've answered this on other forums.

One day in the late 1950's my Granny, who lived in Crimea Street (off Carrick Street about a mile along Argyle Street towards Anderston Cross) itook my brother and me to the zoo in Oswald Street.

I remember it being dark and gloomy and I remember the lion in its cage.

Lately I've seen (on this and other sites) various pics of that corner of Argyle Street and Oswald Street but don't remember any amusements.

Tombro

Hi Tombro on that corner of Argyle & Oswald Sts. Clydesdales was there as well but Ican't remember who was there first, that would be about the same time when there was a N.A.A.F.I. on Argyle St. and Ithink Stockwell St', now we are talking during the War Ican remember if the door was opened you could see the Dodgems

[*angela cunningham*]

Can anybody remember the Amusements at the corner of Argyle St. and Oswald St.also Wilson's Zoo just along on Oswald St.

[*angela cunningham*]

Hi
My mum and dad remember it well,my dad more so as he used to work there when he was 14yrs old.
The owners where Joe Leonard and Martha Taylor both gypsies. They wanted to take my dad with them but my gran said no as he was her only child.

[*Evelyn Farquharson*]

Hello there - I lived in Argyle Street round the corner from the zoo - next door to the NAAFI which closed around the early 1950's. Anyway, at night when we were in bed, we could hear the lion roaring. During the day I did on a few occasions creep inside under the turnstile to get into the zoo to watch the lion perform. Its 'party trick' was to walk to the front of the cage, lift its leg and wee over the spectators.

[**mairi**]

My dad has told me the story of the lion since I was a little kid but we havent been able to find any photos except the one on here, if anyone has anymore can they please post them. did they take the lion with them when they left?

[Stillroom]

I remember when it was closing, my mum and I were walking past when one of the men came out carrying a red a'''d baboon over his shoulder, he recognised my mum, (old neighbour) and stopped to talk I was mortified and folk were laughing, the animals were so old I don't think they had seen daylight in years

[*AGNES & ROBERT*]

Yes I remember the Oswald Street Zoo very well, been there a few times with my Sons, also I used to buy Tropical Fish downstairs, the Lion was in a cage far too small for it, also the Myna bird that could talk, I knew Mrs. Wilson, she was a member of the Scottish Aquarium Society (we used to hold our meetings in the McClennan Galleries), I'm glad to see somebody else remembers the Amusements, also the NAAFI further along Argyle Street, I think that it might have been at the corner of Argyle and Glassford Streets, fantastic memories.

[glezgaman]

i remember the amusements arcade well,one of my cousins worked there. it was on the corner of argyle st and jamaica st. that was the east side of jamaica st just before you went under the bridge.

[benny]

I remember the zoo only too well. My Ma took me in wan day and ah wis terrified o the lion. The poor beast wis - as someboy already mentioned - in a cage that wis far too wee. It wis like puttin a budgie in a shoe box, only budgies cannae bite yer heid aff or rip yer innards oot wi wan blow if they jump oot. There wis a big mastiff dug as well that patrolled the area. Ah started greetin - ah wis only aboot 5 - an ma Ma took me oot. Ah wis never as glad tae get away frae anythin. Ah didnae realise it at the time, but it wis sheer exploitation - the poor animals must've led a helluva life.

[Tommy Kennedy]

I remember it well, my older Brother,Willie - 6 years older than me took me there, I was 10- naw not out of kindness of heart but as a 'Lookout'.
He wanted one of the ferrets they had for bunny wabbit hunting.
Got to the cage.....I looked around, nobody near, nobody watching -
'Go Willie', I whispered - in went his hand, out came the ferret - he stuck it up his 'Duke'(Jumper and off we went)

I was always brother Willie's lookout when he went poaching/fishing.
Years later I asked Willie why he always used me as 'Look out' and not brother John, who was 3 years older than me.

'You were my 'Oiver Twist' ,he told me, you were so weedy and small and if we got caught -which we sometimes did, the game keeper would feel sorry for you and let us off'

[auchenshuggle]

ooohh, ya cheeky wee monkey.