Name: Zoo Parade
Genre: Family
Released: 1950-05-28
Rating: 7
Cast: Marlin Perkins, Jim Hurlbut, Don Herbert

NBC's early days' network  Nature program.  A sort of live  weekly 'Show and Tell' from Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo!

At one point, the full title was MARLIN PERKINS' ZOO PARADE, the series having so closely identified with the distinguished and most learned Zoolocist & Director of Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo. It was originally done live and was always apart of our Sunday Afternoon viewing.

Being a native Chicagoan, born and bred, it was a real point of pride of pride in our household, a Big Time, Network Show, originating right in town! And it was originating from a location which we had visited, about once a year! And how betrayed and disappointed we felt when Mr. Perkins became Lincoln Park Zoo's Director Emeritus, and moved on to the Directorship at the St. Louis Zoo. This was the institution at which he had started his life long zoological career. Being a native born Missourian, this was a Homecoming of sorts.

I recall that some of the programs of the latter days had originated from St. Louis Zoo and other locations. ZOO PARADE had become a sort of travelogue, in addition to its deeply rooted scientific background and animal advocacy. Without being a "hard sell, high handed"on-air plea for conservation.

Its message of appreciation of the Animal Kingdom was one which was a matter of leading by example and a highly thought-out and skillful presentation of all of the various specimens of fauna on Planet Earth. Representative species of all families of all orders of animal were used as subjects of weekly programs. Mr. Perkins introduced America to hundreds of various Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals.

Every week, a show had a particular theme. Rather than simply being a televised tour, the show took on the function of a College Level Lecture, but it did so quietly and without claiming such intent.

On hand,in the Chicago days, was one Mr. Jim Hurlbut. Jim was a professional in broadcast news and was a mainstay at the NBC Chicago Television Station, MNBQ, Channel 5 as well as their old Flagship Radio Station, WMAQ Radio, 670 AM. He was a fine 2nd banana or straight man even, to Marlin's informative banter.

Profssional Newsman and Journalist, that he was, Hurlbut was s much an uninitiated amateur in these matters of the Zoological Nature as any of us out in the TV land audience. And it was he who acted as a stand-in for us, asking the questions that we had on our mind.

Other well known "Stars" of the series from the Chicago/Lincoln Park days were: Heinie the Chimpanze, Judy the Elephant(Asian) and Sinbad the Gorilla; who received a lot of acclamation as successor to the Zoo's famous Gorilla Specimin,the late Bushman.* ZOO PARADE's own, Mr. Marlin Perkins went the way of all men June 14, 1986 at 81 years of age. He is survived by his video next of kin, MUTUAL OF OMAHA's WILD KINGDOM(1963-??), a ZOO PARADE sibling, which continues to this day! 

* Anyone can still view Bushman, who is an exhibit at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History; his body having been preserved through the magic of taxidermy. Sinbad has also been deceased for some time. He and I were about the same age!

The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

This Sunday afternoon show was about animals and their behavior. From 1950 to 1955, the show was broadcast from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, Illinois. From 1955 to 1957, the show originated from various zoos in the United States.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

See who dazzled on the red carpet and took home gold at the 78th Primetime Creative Emmy Awards.

Zoo Parade

Episodes35

Photos

Top Cast6

User reviews4

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed