First Discus to become a Hollywood star

[gimaal]

TCM (Turner Classic Movies) from time to time runs some of the classic Detective Philo Vance murder mysteries. One of them, THE DRAGON MURDER CASE, made in 1934, is set in the elaborate, aquarium-filled home of a fictional aquarist and explorer. In one of the aquariums in his home is a Discus. Especially interesting since the first Discus were imported to America less than a year earlier in 1933. A prominent West Coast aquarist of the time, Paul Weber, supplied and cared for the fish during the shoot. He wrote an article about it, including a reference to the recently arrived Discus, in the June 1934 issue of William T. Innes' magazine, THE AQUARIUM.

Below are some not very clear screen grabs of the first Hollywood Discus star, and a link to the trailer to see him briefly and a bit more clearly in action. Also some photos of the 6/34 magazine article.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO9OCrDvJdU

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[jwcarlson]

Pretty cool to see, thanks for the information!

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[gimaal]

I see the images did not load. Let's try this again.


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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO9OCrDvJdU

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[Second Hand Pat]

Pretty cool Aaron Thanks for reposting the photos
Pat

[Willie]

Wow! I recall reading that the first discus to be imported were packed in tin containers and flown in from Manaus.

[gimaal]

Wow! I recall reading that the first discus to be imported were packed in tin containers and flown in from Manaus.

Indeed they were, in tin shipping cans, and one to a can which also drove the price up. People paid as much as $1000 a 'pair' and that was in 1933 dollars ($24,000 in today's equivalency). No wonder that as early as that first year they were dubbed "The King of the Aquarium."

Meanwhile, I'd give any of several body parts for that art deco aquarium.