Kokomo Jr. was the name given to at least two male
common chimpanzee
The chimpanzee (; ''Pan troglodytes''), also simply known as the chimp, is a species of great ape native to the forests and savannahs of tropical Africa. It has four confirmed subspecies and a fifth proposed one. When its close relative the ...
s used as
animal actors, one born c. 1955 and one born c. 1967.
Kokomo Jr. replaced
J. Fred Muggs as the animal mascot of the ''
Today Show
''Today'' (also called ''The Today Show'') is an American morning television show that airs weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on NBC. The program debuted on January 14, 1952. It was the first of its genre on American television ...
'' in 1957, and was known for his ability to "talk", being able to pronounce the word ''mama'' on demand. Kokomo Jr. was retired in 1983.
Early life
Kokomo Jr.'s handler, Nick Carrado was a
stage magician
Stage, stages, or staging may refer to:
Arts and media Acting
* Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions
* Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referred to as "the stage"
* ''The Stage'', a weekly Brit ...
who discovered him while touring at an animal farm in
Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeastern corner of Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. Its historic, maritime character and ample beaches attract heavy tourism during the summer months. The ...
circa 1956. The name was created by combining the names of two of his army friends, Coco and Moe. Carrado initially used Kokomo Jr. as part of his magic act and taught him to perform simple
stage illusions
A stage illusion is a large-scale magic trick. As the name implies, stage illusions are distinct from other types of magic in that they are performed a considerable distance away from the audience, usually on a stage, in order to maintain the illu ...
.
Television career
While touring in Florida, Carrado learned that the producers of ''Today'' were looking for a new ape. Carrado brought Kokomo Jr. to audition, and the chimpanzee was hired to be the show's mascot. For two years, Kokomo Jr. was used to present
weather forecast
Weather forecasting or weather prediction is the application of science and technology to predict the conditions of the atmosphere for a given location and time. People have attempted to predict the weather informally for thousands of years an ...
s and perform short sketches.
Kokomo Jr. also appeared on television shows including ''
The Tonight Show
''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has been broadcast on NBC since 1954. The program has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2 ...
'', ''
What's My Line
''What's My Line?'' is a panel game show that originally ran in the United States, between 1950 and 1967, on CBS, originally in black and white and later in color, with subsequent American revivals. The game uses celebrity panelists to questi ...
'', ''
I've Got A Secret'', ''
To Tell The Truth
''To Tell the Truth'' is an American television panel show. Four celebrity panelists are presented with three contestants (the "team of challengers", each an individual or pair) and must identify which is the "central character" whose unusual ...
'', ''
The Price Is Right
''The Price Is Right'' is an American television game show where contestants compete by guessing the prices of merchandise to win cash and prizes. A 1972 revival by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman of their The Price Is Right (1956 American game ...
'' and ''
Candid Camera
''Candid Camera'' is an American hidden camera and practical joke reality television series. The show was created, developed, and presented by Allen Funt. Various versions of the show have appeared on television from 1948 to 2014. The program ...
''.
Personal life
In 1957, Kokomo Jr. was named an honorary citizen of
Kokomo, Indiana. In 1972, ''The New York Times'' described Kokomo Jr. as a "5-year‐old, 2½-foot-tall, 65-pound chimp", and revealed that there had been a previous chimpanzee with the same name.
Carrado used two different chimpanzees working on alternating days to prevent either one becoming too exhausted. Kokomo Jr. lived with Carrado in New York City, with publicity claiming that Kokomo Jr. had a pet dog that he cared for himself.
After Carrado retired Kokomo Jr. in 1983, the chimpanzees lived with Carrado in North Carolina.
See also
*
List of individual apes
This is a list of non-human apes of encyclopedic interest. It includes individual chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, bonobos, and gibbons that are in some way famous or notable.
Actors
* J. Fred Muggs (a chimpanzee born 1952) was a "co-host" ...
References
External links
Kokomo Jr. official page
{{Use dmy dates, date=October 2024
Chimpanzee actors
Individual primates in the United States