Talk:J. Fred Muggs

Deletion discussion
From the VfD discussion:


 * Keep, but I have to wonder if the guy was serious about Garroway drugging the orange juice. I suspect he might have been goofing on the reporter, and maybe we should delete that quotation. JamesMLane 21:40, 15 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Well, the newspaper did say that Preis said it, and I think it's clear from the article that Preis is the source. Could use some tweaking. The trainer and his son are certainly not neutral reporters. Somewhere else, they dispute the claim, elsewhere presented as fact, that Muggs bit Imogene Cocoa on the elbow. I've been sort of wondering about the alleged ages, too (i.e. are these really, as implied, the original J. Fred Muggs and Phoebe B. Beebe? But based on the citations below, I guess I'd say it's by no means impossible.

Lee S. Crandall (1964) The Management of Wild Mammals in Captivity says the "best longevity recorded here" (i.e. at the New York zoo as of 1964) is 25 years, 6 months; "at least four animals are known to have lived in zoological gardens in this country for well over 30 years," and mentions reports from other zoos of "37 years, 9 months, 17 days" and one born 1924 and still alive "apparently in excellent health" in 1963.


 * Chaffee zoo "Longevity is around 40 to 45 years"
 * Honolulo zoo "Longevity in the wild is 40 to 45 years with exceptional animals reaching 50. There are chimps in captivity that have lived more than 60 years."
 * Science Times, animal longevity "Chimpanzee 55 +"

OK, I found the actual New York Observer article, which adds the detail that the alleged drug was Benzedrine. I've added stuff Muggs biting Martha Raye, which Preis says didn't happen. I think it's adequately NPOV now. I believe that Hagan a) heard the story from Preis and b) didn't really believe it but c) thought it was too good not to mention. So he carefully avoids attributing it and prefixes it with the word "Legend has it..." I believe a, b, and c as well and have dealt with it by putting statement, including the disclaimer "Legend has it," in Hagan's mouth. [[User:Dpbsmith|Dpbsmith (talk)]] 16:53, 16 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Ooops... I found more stuff. Now, I guess the page is a little lopsided on the anti-Muggs side. Oh, well. [[User:Dpbsmith|Dpbsmith (talk)]] 17:06, 16 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Any truth to the story that Muggs once nearly killed Garroway on-air when he almost strangled him with his necktie? User:JB 20:16, 17 Oct 2004 (UTC)


 * Nothing like that popped up in my very limited research. Maybe someone else visiting this talk page will know.... [[User:Dpbsmith|Dpbsmith (talk)]] 10:57, 18 Oct 2004 (UTC)


 * My bad: the incident happened to Ronald Reagan while filming Bedtime For Bonzo. User:JB 23:37, 23 Oct 2004

Continuing our foray into all things Muggsian, I note that the article on Wyckoff Township, New Jersey claims him as a resident. Well, he had to stay somewhere in the NYC area during his period of stardom. Can any of you chimpanzee researchers confirm this point? JamesMLane 15:05, 18 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Coronation
Wasn't there a certain amount of controversy in Britain in 1953 because J. Fred Muggs' messages had interrupted (recorded) coverage of Elizabeth II's Coronation? RobinCarmody

Indeed there was. Entry altered accordingly. RobinCarmody

Kokomo, jr
Wasn't he replaced on the Today Show by Kokomo, jr?  The article should say when that happen and why.Edison 20:38, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Updates?
Does anyone know if he is still alive? The last reference to that is from quite a few years ago, and I haven't been able to verify anything else through Google. I'm probably using the wrong search terms or something? At any rate, I think an update would be in order, especially as this is the 60th anniversary of the Today Show this week. (I remember watching this show when I was young, anticipating seeing J.Fred. I might have never developed an interest in current events and history if something hadn't piqued my interest, and that 'something' was the chimp. Until then I had zero interest in 'the news'. In the end, I majored in World History in college, and went on to teach the subject. Without J Fred, who knows what my life would have been like. I might have never developed the passions I've held for so long now without the chimp. As an adult I have always tried to have a 'gimmick' to interest children in this subject. And, it works! As for myself, I read a dozen (or more) Wiki entries each day, beginning with a concrete subject in mind, and following the links from thereon.For instance, yesterday I wanted to learn more about Anderson Cooper, and ended up, more than a dozen links down the road, at Weroance. We're never too old to learn new things. At any rate, J.Fred will live forever in my mind. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.2.48.84 (talk) 16:37, 13 January 2012 (UTC)

Who is Hagen?
In the process of editing apparently the first reference to "Hagen" was removed so we have no idea who that person is. 70.72.223.215 (talk) 17:41, 23 May 2012 (UTC)

External links modified
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