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The A Lion in the House Phenomenon

The synthesis of form and function in A Lion in the House to maintain its cult relevance across several decades.

Zip Monberg slept so well that he had to have a couple of feathers to tickle him to wake up. His wife was one of those cute little things always ready to nag, and from early in the morning to late at night she would boss him around. Their son was the most mischievous child and was in all kinds of mischief and trouble. When his ma put some pies on the fire-escape to cool off he stood underneath with a hose and manipulated these pies so that both, he and his dog had a feast. His mother discovers the theft and starts to punish him. He goes into the bathroom, jumps into a tub full of water, and splashes it all around. Mother chases daddy in after the boy and in the scramble they tip the bathtub and cause a sudden downfall of water on the guests at the hotel. They take sonny for a ride in his carriage and while they were arguing at the head of the stairs the carriage falls down, baby and all. Father takes baby for a stroll on the beach and for gets all about his baby when he sees other "babies." One girl calls him down to the beach and they are sitting there chatting when friend's wife comes along. She sees the baby carriage riding toward the end of the pier and great excitement follows when daddy tries to catch the carriage before it goes over the pier. In the meantime sonny had crawled out and was in hiding, when his dog and some fellow who had too much laughing water was in the carriage. When the carriage and the father come to the surface he discovers this man in the carriage and is astounded to think his son has grown so quickly. Zip is in the "private stock business" and carries on his business at the bottom at the ocean. Just about where his establishment is you can notice a bunch of fishermen at all times and when they have made a good catch they go staggering away. A detective discovers the bunk, puts down his money as bait for the fish, receives a load of fish and tests the good old rye. He enlists the aid of his 1928 blood-hounds (lions) who help him to catch the law-breakers. A wonderful chase follows, which takes place in an amusement center on scenic railways and different things.