It’s the New Zoo Revue, coming proper at you. For those who grew up within the Nineteen Seventies, you might bear in mind the beloved children present that ran in first-run syndication for 5 seasons. This system got here from Doug Momary, who alongside together with his spouse Emmy Jo (Emily Peden), tackled vital life classes via a enjoyable and digestible manner. Every of the virtually 200 episodes featured the lovable pair, in addition to characters like Freddie the Frog, Charlie the Owl and Henrietta Hippo.
Regardless of the sequence’ run ending in 1977, it continues to affect generations for many years. When the couple’s daughter Joanne arrange a Fb Dwell together with her mother and father they had been watched by 13,000 followers after which 50,000 throughout a second session. After greater than 50 years, Doug and Emmy Jo have felt the love connecting with viewers and even making conference appearances together with the San Diego Comedian-Con in 2023.
We sat down with the 2 to reminisce concerning the making of New Zoo Revue and why it nonetheless resonates right now.
The place did you draw inspiration for the New Zoo Revue?
Doug Momary: We had been form of on the forefront of children TV. A time when, as we wish to say, it took a proper flip. A great flip I believe. Among the different exhibits on the time like Sesame Avenue had been doing numbers 1,2,3 and A,B,C. That was crucial, however Emmy Jo and I assumed there was a necessity for a present about relationships. How do you take care of your brother, your sister, your mother or dad? We form of approached it from that standpoint.
At what level did you’re feeling this present was resonating and changing into a well-liked staple of households to look at with their children?
Doug: I might say for positive once we had been invited to the White Home. That was fairly large. After we received an opportunity to carry out again then two instances with the Easter Egg Roll and a Christmas celebration for the youngsters of the overseas diplomats. After we carried out, we noticed the response of the youngsters. Additionally, once I went to purchasing malls and did dwell exhibits with Freddy the Frog and my guitar, the youngsters had been lined up for autographs and fogeys had been telling me how a lot it meant. That’s once we knew we had one thing.
Emily Peden: On the subject of the White Home go to, it was for President [Richard] Nixon. Mrs. Nixon hosted the celebration for the youngsters at Christmas. It was [daughter] Tricia who hosted the Easter Egg Roll.
Doug: It wasn’t as large as it’s now. It was actually simply our present plus some clowns again on the Easter Egg Roll again then.
Emily: It’s simply thrilling. It’s an honor to even be within the White Home. It’s one thing we are going to always remember. We didn’t perceive the affect we had on kids till our daughter began our Fb web page. We began getting out and assembly a few of our New Zoo Revue followers. Lots of them are grandparents now. Listening to concerning the profound impact it had on their lives. It has been actually rewarding.
Doug: We’ve met so many individuals who mentioned we had been their surrogate mother or dad and aunt and uncle as a result of a few of them got here from a house that was difficult. We’re simply now studying about that, consider it or not, now 50 years later.
You had some nice performers over time. Chuck Woolery, who handed away final 12 months, really performed Mr. Dingle in these early days. What do you bear in mind about working with him?
Emmy: He was simply enjoyable. He’s fantastic. Chuck was a relentless skilled and simply the nicest man. We simply beloved him and appreciated him.
Doug. He was actually witty. We had been cracking up on the set as a result of he would go off on his strains and go off on a tangent. We needed to convey him again in. You may think about. Here’s a man in his 20s taking part in an previous man with make-up and every part else. He was having enjoyable with it. This was actually his first appearing gig from what we perceive. It was only a pleasure to have the ability to be on stage with him.
Any enjoyable visitor stars you really liked working with? Richard Dawson involves thoughts for me.
Doug: Richard Dawson was actually enjoyable as a result of he performed a number of completely different roles. Considered one of them I simply love is Sir Clanks A Lot. He was in a knight costume. Emmy Jo and I had been simply cracking up as a result of we had sound results with him squeaking. We set him again to his time with an oil can. Issues like that was so enjoyable. One of many ones I bear in mind was Henry Mancini, the good composer of fantastic songs. I received to sit down in Freddy the Frog’s rowboat with him and speak about composing. I requested him, “Do you will have any phrases of knowledge for a younger composer like me?” His response was, “Yeah, simply preserve writing.” That was enjoyable. I received to inform you Joann was such a crack up too. We couldn’t preserve a straight face together with her.
It’s enjoyable to see them in this sort of world and look again on all of it these years later. Do you keep in contact with anybody from the present?
Emily: Sadly, a few of our solid members have handed on. We had a beautiful reunion again in Philadelphia final 12 months with Sharon Baird, who was the dancer within the Charlie the Owl costume. We’re very a lot in contact with Sharon and grateful for that.
Doug: Many have handed away sadly.
Emily: It’s so unhappy for me as a result of I want they, like us, might benefit from the resurgence of the New Zoo Revue and listen to how impactful their performances had been on so many kids. Children simply love Freddy and now they wish to present Freddy to their grandchildren. Henrietta was additionally an enormous favourite and Charlie. All of them, I want they might all get pleasure from what we’re having fun with.
Doug: Yanco Inone, who performed the dancer in Freddy the Frog’s costume, remains to be dwelling too. Sharon was an unique Mouseketeer consider it or not. Again within the day she was on the Mickey Mouse Membership.
Emmy: I used to look at the Mickey Mouse Membership and Sharon was my favourite. So, I used to be thrilled to work together with her.
Doug Momary and Emmy Jo (Emily Peden) with Joanne.
Has there been any superstar who has come ahead that claims they had been a fan?
Emmy: The folks that come as much as us are of us who grew up with the present and beloved it. After we do comedian conventions, it’s like an enormous household reunion. Typically they carry their kids or grandchildren and we get to listen to what their lives are like now. All of them I met are making fantastic contributions to their neighborhood. It’s very rewarding as a result of they’ve taken the teachings Doug put into the present and brought them to coronary heart and lived their lives with kindness and respect for others and it’s simply fantastic to see.
Doug: I’ll inform you one factor. For years, we form of put New Zoo on the backburner. I used to be in Las Vegas with my very own manufacturing firm and doing commercials for the Metropolis of Las Vegas. I received an opportunity to direct The Pointer Sisters and be on stage with them. They had been imagined to do a fast promo. .I used to be instructed by their supervisor or somebody, “They aren’t going to provide the time of day.” To not trouble with them. Somebody will need to have instructed them I used to be Doug from the New Zoo, they usually began singing the theme track in three-part concord. I received a reasonably good efficiency out of it.
How was it at San Diego Comedian-Con?
Doug: We had been so stunned. The road was virtually out the door for our little sales space we had. That was our first one. We received an opportunity to do the most important one in San Diego.
Emily: We had no concept how many individuals would present up. They really requested us if we might keep for an additional day as a result of we had such an important turnout. It was superb. We had been nonetheless in contact with the parents we met at that Comedian-Con and even on our Fb web page they’re able to ship us personal messages. Considered one of them is definitely a chemistry trainer in California. We hear from him pretty usually, which is enjoyable.
Doug Momary, Emmy Jo (Emily Peden) and doughier Joanne. (New Zoo Revue)
You probably did so many episodes, however inside a small quantity of years. Why do you assume the present didn’t keep on longer?
Doug: It wasn’t private. We had been simply the creators and personalities, however had no say within the precise funds or something like that.
Emmy: We had been simply two inexperienced children.
Doug: We had been simply instructed to signal on the dotted line.
Emily: Doug created it, wrote the songs, made all of the storylines. All the pieces.
Doug; We weren’t aware about every part. It’s simply now we’re capable of finding out the affect we’ve. It’s simply thrilling for us. If it had been as much as us, we’d nonetheless be doing the present proper now.
Emily: We even have our New Zoo children ship us an enormous packet of letters. Over 100 for positive, letters kids had written to us again within the day and we had by no means responded to them as a result of we by no means received them.
Doug: They had been all answered by company. “Thanks for getting in contact…” Taking a look at them now has been superb.
The place do you assume we’re within the kid-friendly programming area?
Doug: I’m really engaged on a brand new present that’s related for right now’s world. It’s referred to as Knights of IT, Guardians of the Digital Realm. It’s about going inside a pc and the challenges kids face right now on the web. It’s going to have three songs like New Zoo Revue did. We’re simply going to speak to children via characters and dialogue about being form to one another on the web.
Emily: And being protected on the web. Issues like on-line bullying and right now’s subjects.
Doug; We’re enthusiastic about that. As a creator, you by no means cease creating.
How lengthy have you ever been married?
Emmy: 54 years this 12 months.
What’s your secret?
Emily: I believe protecting our humorousness. I believe forgiveness in any marriage is essential as a result of it’s two imperfect folks coming collectively and forming a household.. It’s crucial to be forgiving of one another.
Doug: Not taking issues too severely.
Emily: And simply being grateful.
Episodes of New Zoo Revue can be found on Amazon Prime Video. For every part concerning the present, go to the web site.