J. Fred Muggs

J. Fred Muggs (b. March 14, 1952, French Cameroon) is a chimpanzee who was the mascot for NBC's Today Show from 1953 to 1957.

Related Topics:
March 14 - 1952 - French Cameroon - Chimpanzee - Mascot - NBC - Today Show - 1953 - 1957

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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.

Related Topics:
1952 - Dave Garroway - January 28 - 1953 - February 3

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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."

Related Topics:
1950s - Izvestia

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As of January 23, 2004, the fifty-two-year-old Muggs and his "live-in girlfriend" Phoebe B. Beebe (who also made appearance on the Garroway show) are still alive in Citrus Park, Florida in the care of Gerald Preis. 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."

Related Topics:
January 23 - 2004 - Phoebe B. Beebe - Citrus Park, Florida

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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, using language such as "a nasty little monkey" and "throwing legendary tantrums." Many sites refer to Muggs as having bit comedienne Martha Raye on the arm. Preis, however, told Hagan that this story, which Hagan referred to as a 50-year-old tabloid rumor, "was bullshit—just plain bullshit."

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Muggs was also an artist. In 1958, one of his finger paintings was used as the cover of MAD Magazine #38.

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