Yeah. Ah, let’s see. I think I was smart enough to leave. I made a lot of suggestions on programs, because I had already been to Africa and the Amazon and all that before I started Wild Kingdom, so I could add to that and make suggestions. And Don Meier,… Read More
What was the run of Wild Kingdom?… Read More
It was basically until about 89 from 1960, early 63 to about 89. And then Mutual of Omaha, by the way, had me on a program called “Spirit of Adventure”. And we did quite a few hours specials all over the world. It’s interesting that Mutual of Omaha began supporting… Read More
And I went to Lake Baikal. Did a story on Lake Baikal. We had some pretty fascinating programs. Read More
The question of course is, why did you leave the show?… Read More
Well, I was evolving and changing in my world. I never thought it was any big deal to be on Wild Kingdom. I really didn’t. I was doing things that I enjoy doing, and I wanted to try to perfect myself in other areas. And I went off in the… Read More
That was an hour documentary. I started doing some documentaries, but it gave me a chance to perfect my ability as a producer, director and to pick some programs that I thought were really important. And I didn’t make much money. I was still living in New York on a… Read More
And there was a guy who was with a Colorado Fishing Game. I forgot his name right now, Dick Benny, I think his name was, yeah. And he was a tall guy like I was, and he was on with Marlin for some of the time when I left. Read More
But guess what?… Read More
Don Meier was so strict about the voice and the appearance of people that there were like eight or 10 people from the world of zoos that were interviewed and they never made it, there with Don. You had to be have just the right kind of voice and the… Read More
Well, was I the second guy to Marlin?… Read More
Did I have a problem with that?… Read More
Not really. I had stopped doing the show in the 70s, and the thing that was very (laughs) interesting, Don Meier was a fanatic on how you use your voice. Don Meier had been an announcer. He had a wonderful voice and he kept trying to, when we were narrating,… Read More
He wasn’t the kind of guy they would just pat you on the back saying, see how the hell are you?… Read More
Marlin was very astute. And that’s why I say he was very comfortable as being one of the original type of zoo directors. There’s one way to describe Marlin. So dedicated to the world of zoos that you could see that come through. And he was able to express himself… Read More
Now, were you comfortable being the second guy to Marlin?… Read More
Oh, I had no problems with that. I really…… Read More
(sighs) My relationship with Marlin Perkins, I always… I got to know Marlin’s family quite well naturally, and I really respected his wife, Carol, who just passed away a few weeks ago, a month or so ago. Carol was sort of the person behind the scenes you might say, who… Read More
We’d have to take flights down and do the program. The lead-ins to the show were often done in St. Louis at the end of the Wild Kingdom. And I remember sometimes they went out and had a few more… Don Meier, I don’t wanna hesitate to say he enjoyed… Read More
Marlin was very formal in some ways. Read More