J. Fred Muggs
Encyclopedia
J. Fred Muggs is a chimpanzee
that was the mascot
for NBC's Today Show from 1953 to 1957.
The show debuted in 1952, with amiable host Dave Garroway
. The show was in trouble initially; the addition of J. Fred Muggs boosted ratings and helped win advertisers. Muggs, dressed like a baby in diapers, first appeared on the show on January 28, 1953, and became a regular feature on February 3, 1953. He actually first appeared on television on Perry Como
's CBS
television show. Pat Weaver of Today saw the little chimp on the Como show and thought he would be a perfect tonic for his morning program.
In the 1950s, the Russian newspaper, Izvestia
, described J. Fred Muggs, as "a symbol of the American way of life", and said, "Muggs is necessary in order that the average American should not look into reports on rising taxes, and decreasing pay, but rather laugh at the funny mug of a chimpanzee."
, an animal dealer based in New York. He was owned by Carmine "Bud" Mennella and LeRoy Waldron.
Many sources refer to Garroway as jealous of Muggs. Hagan notes, without attribution, that "Legend has it that ... Mr. Garroway grew jealous and began spiking Muggs' orange juice with Benzedrine
to make him misbehave and deliver his human co-host back to center stage." Many sources suggest that Muggs did not have a good disposition. He has been described as "a nasty little monkey" and as "throwing legendary tantrums." At the press conference announcing his addition to the show, Muggs yanked Garroway's glasses off. Many sites refer to Muggs as having bitten comedienne Martha Raye
on the arm. Gerald Preis, however, told Hagan that this story, which Hagan referred to as a 50-year-old tabloid rumor, "was bullshit—just plain bullshit."
Muggs was also an artist. In 1958, one of his finger paintings was used as the cover of Mad
#38, and Muggs was the first celebrity to be featured on the cover of the magazine. Unfortunately, Muggs bit editor Al Feldstein, and never worked for Mad again.
The feisty chimp was associated with Mad in another way, when the magazine ran an article titled "The Dave Garrowunway Show." This article focused on the chimp, whom writer Harvey Kurtzman named "J. Fred Gluggs," and his apparent ambition to take over "Garrowunway's" spot as anchor. Sure enough, by the end of the article, with "Garrowunway" rapping rudely on the window from outside the building, "Gluggs" appears in Garroway's familiar closing pose, in suit, glasses and lavalier microphone
, saying "vootie" in place of the anchor's tagline "Peace," with his right palm thrust forward. The caption reads, "By George...we've warned Garrowunway to watch out..."
Muggs was featured in advertising stings which interrupted the (pre-recorded) coverage of Queen Elizabeth II
's coronation when it was shown in the United States
. This caused considerable controversy in the United Kingdom
, where the introduction of commercial television
was being debated at the time, and the anti-commercial-TV lobby felt that it strengthened their case. It was arguably a key factor in the strong regulation of ITV
(by the Independent Television Authority
) written into the Television Act 1954
.
During a 1955 episode of the game show Make the Connection
, Muggs appeared with Joanne Cottingham, who served as his babysitter; the panel was supposed to attempt to guess her relationship to the chimp, but after Muggs was introduced, he spent most of the segment running all over the set (as well as behind it) until host Gene Rayburn
finally called the game and awarded Cottingham the show's maximum $150 payoff by default.
For many years, TV Guide
ran an annual feature highlighting its takes on the year's most dubious television programs, episodes, activities, and issues, "The J. Fred Muggs Awards for Distinguished Foolishness." And in the 1994 film Quiz Show
, chronicling the infamous quiz show scandal of the late 1950s, actor Ralph Fiennes
as Twenty One
champion Charles Van Doren
—shown being offered a regular job on Today—shyly asks the Dave Garroway
character, "You're not going to fire the chimp, are you?"
As of January 23, 2004, the fifty-two-year-old Muggs and his "live-in girlfriend" Phoebe B. Beebe (who also made appearances on the Garroway show) are still alive in Citrus Park, Florida
, in the care of Gerald Preis, Mennella's son. In 2004, Joe Hagan of the New York Observer reached Gerald Preis, 60, at his home where Preis said that Muggs "has a little gray, mostly in his beard."
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
that was the mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
for NBC's Today Show from 1953 to 1957.
The show debuted in 1952, with amiable host Dave Garroway
Dave Garroway
David Cunningham "Dave" Garroway was the founding host of NBC's Today from 1952 to 1961. His easygoing, relaxed, and relaxing style belied a battle with depression that may have contributed to the end of his days as a leading television personality—and, eventually, his life...
. The show was in trouble initially; the addition of J. Fred Muggs boosted ratings and helped win advertisers. Muggs, dressed like a baby in diapers, first appeared on the show on January 28, 1953, and became a regular feature on February 3, 1953. He actually first appeared on television on Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
's CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television show. Pat Weaver of Today saw the little chimp on the Como show and thought he would be a perfect tonic for his morning program.
In the 1950s, the Russian newspaper, Izvestia
Izvestia
Izvestia is a long-running high-circulation daily newspaper in Russia. The word "izvestiya" in Russian means "delivered messages", derived from the verb izveshchat . In the context of newspapers it is usually translated as "news" or "reports".-Origin:The newspaper began as the News of the...
, described J. Fred Muggs, as "a symbol of the American way of life", and said, "Muggs is necessary in order that the average American should not look into reports on rising taxes, and decreasing pay, but rather laugh at the funny mug of a chimpanzee."
Biography
Muggs was born in French Cameroon and was originally bought from Henry TrefflichHenry Trefflich
Henry Trefflich was an animal importer and dealer. He procured animals of many different types and sizes from Africa, Asia and South America and imported them to the United States via ship and airplane. He sold them to zoos, circuses, Hollywood studios and also to various private and government...
, an animal dealer based in New York. He was owned by Carmine "Bud" Mennella and LeRoy Waldron.
Many sources refer to Garroway as jealous of Muggs. Hagan notes, without attribution, that "Legend has it that ... Mr. Garroway grew jealous and began spiking Muggs' orange juice with Benzedrine
Benzedrine
Benzedrine is the trade name of the racemic mixture of amphetamine . It was marketed under this brandname in the USA by Smith, Kline & French in the form of inhalers, starting in 1928...
to make him misbehave and deliver his human co-host back to center stage." Many sources suggest that Muggs did not have a good disposition. He has been described as "a nasty little monkey" and as "throwing legendary tantrums." At the press conference announcing his addition to the show, Muggs yanked Garroway's glasses off. Many sites refer to Muggs as having bitten comedienne Martha Raye
Martha Raye
Martha Raye was an American comic actress and standards singer who performed in movies, and later on television....
on the arm. Gerald Preis, however, told Hagan that this story, which Hagan referred to as a 50-year-old tabloid rumor, "was bullshit—just plain bullshit."
Muggs was also an artist. In 1958, one of his finger paintings was used as the cover of Mad
Mad (magazine)
Mad is an American humor magazine founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. Launched as a comic book before it became a magazine, it was widely imitated and influential, impacting not only satirical media but the entire cultural landscape of the 20th century.The last...
#38, and Muggs was the first celebrity to be featured on the cover of the magazine. Unfortunately, Muggs bit editor Al Feldstein, and never worked for Mad again.
The feisty chimp was associated with Mad in another way, when the magazine ran an article titled "The Dave Garrowunway Show." This article focused on the chimp, whom writer Harvey Kurtzman named "J. Fred Gluggs," and his apparent ambition to take over "Garrowunway's" spot as anchor. Sure enough, by the end of the article, with "Garrowunway" rapping rudely on the window from outside the building, "Gluggs" appears in Garroway's familiar closing pose, in suit, glasses and lavalier microphone
Lavalier microphone
A lavalier microphone or lavalier is a small electret or dynamic microphone used for television, theatre, and public speaking applications, in order to allow hands-free operation. They are most commonly provided with small clips for attaching to collars, ties, or other clothing...
, saying "vootie" in place of the anchor's tagline "Peace," with his right palm thrust forward. The caption reads, "By George...we've warned Garrowunway to watch out..."
Muggs was featured in advertising stings which interrupted the (pre-recorded) coverage of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
's coronation when it was shown in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This caused considerable controversy in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where the introduction of commercial television
Commercial Television
Commercial Television was the third free-to-air broadcast television station in Hong Kong. It first went on air in 1975, and ceased transmissions in 1978.-History:...
was being debated at the time, and the anti-commercial-TV lobby felt that it strengthened their case. It was arguably a key factor in the strong regulation of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
(by the Independent Television Authority
Independent Television Authority
The Independent Television Authority was an agency created by the Television Act 1954 to supervise the creation of "Independent Television" , the first commercial television network in the United Kingdom...
) written into the Television Act 1954
Television Act 1954
The Television Act 1954 was a British law which permitted the creation of the first commercial television network in the United Kingdom, ITV....
.
During a 1955 episode of the game show Make the Connection
Make the Connection
Make the Connection is an American game show, sponsored by Borden, that ran on Thursday nights from July 7 to September 29, 1955 on NBC. Originally hosted by Jim McKay , he was replaced after the first four episodes by future Match Game host Gene...
, Muggs appeared with Joanne Cottingham, who served as his babysitter; the panel was supposed to attempt to guess her relationship to the chimp, but after Muggs was introduced, he spent most of the segment running all over the set (as well as behind it) until host Gene Rayburn
Gene Rayburn
Gene Rayburn was an American radio and television personality. He is best known as the host of various editions of the popular American television game show Match Game for over two decades....
finally called the game and awarded Cottingham the show's maximum $150 payoff by default.
For many years, TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
ran an annual feature highlighting its takes on the year's most dubious television programs, episodes, activities, and issues, "The J. Fred Muggs Awards for Distinguished Foolishness." And in the 1994 film Quiz Show
Quiz Show
Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film produced and directed by Robert Redford. Adapted by Paul Attanasio from Richard Goodwin's memoir Remembering America, the film is based upon the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s...
, chronicling the infamous quiz show scandal of the late 1950s, actor Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is an English actor and film director. He has appeared in such films as The English Patient, In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, Strange Days, The Duchess and Schindler's List....
as Twenty One
Twenty One (game show)
Twenty One is an American game show which aired in the late 1950s. While it included the most popular contestant of the quiz show era, it became notorious for being a rigged quiz show which nearly caused the demise of the entire genre in the wake of United States Senate investigations...
champion Charles Van Doren
Charles Van Doren
Charles Lincoln Van Doren is an American intellectual, writer, and editor who was involved in a television quiz show scandal in the 1950s...
—shown being offered a regular job on Today—shyly asks the Dave Garroway
Dave Garroway
David Cunningham "Dave" Garroway was the founding host of NBC's Today from 1952 to 1961. His easygoing, relaxed, and relaxing style belied a battle with depression that may have contributed to the end of his days as a leading television personality—and, eventually, his life...
character, "You're not going to fire the chimp, are you?"
As of January 23, 2004, the fifty-two-year-old Muggs and his "live-in girlfriend" Phoebe B. Beebe (who also made appearances on the Garroway show) are still alive in Citrus Park, Florida
Citrus Park, Florida
Citrus Park is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,252 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Citrus Park is located at , or about nine miles northwest of Tampa...
, in the care of Gerald Preis, Mennella's son. In 2004, Joe Hagan of the New York Observer reached Gerald Preis, 60, at his home where Preis said that Muggs "has a little gray, mostly in his beard."
External links
- "Trainer of famed chimp J. Fred Muggs dies at 80" St. Petersburg TimesSt. Petersburg TimesThe St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
- "Legend of spiked orange juice; Muggs and Phoebe still alive; Martha Raye elbow-biting incident denied" Joe Hagan column,New York ObserverNew York ObserverThe New York Observer is a weekly newspaper first published in New York City on September 22, 1987, by Arthur L. Carter, a very successful former investment banker with publishing interests. The Observer focuses on the city's culture, real estate, the media, politics and the entertainment and...
(1/26/2004) - "a nasty little monkey" Television Heaven
- "biting comedian/actress Martha Raye on the elbow" TV Acres
- "The sometimes vicious simian once took a nip out of Martha Raye" Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
- "...viciously bit comedienne Martha Raye on the arm" TV Party
- Book excerpt (ISBN 0-7881-6042-7), Steven D. Stark, "Glued to the Set: The 60 Television Shows and Events That Made Us Who We Are Today" (ISBN 0-7881-6042-7)
- J. Fred Muggs' MAD Magazine cover at madcoversite.com