I had what’s called a fish eating decoy muscle, and it was difficult to keep them alive, but that was a cool invertebrate. In subsequent years, we developed a standing exhibit within one of the galleries to highlight invertebrates. Then we also developed a coral and a exhibit within a… Read More
What was the collection like?… Read More
But the salt water recipe had gone through several iterations before we got to the one when I started the life support equipment was real basic and didn’t have anything more than what we call mixed media filters, which is six. You start out with gravel and you work up… Read More
Don Zumwalt. He was from California, I believe. And I know that when I left to go to California myself, where the fish farm operation, he too left the aquaquarium. And when I came back, it was Roger Ick, who was a curator, and Roger’s the one that welcomed me… Read More
So the beard went and I got the job after three interviews. So Who was the curator?… Read More
What was the aquarium like when you started?… Read More
As he leans back in his old work jeans and a flannel shirt, I’m thinking, what could the dress code possibly be?… Read More
He says, the director does not allow facial hair. And I had a full beard at the time and I, I dunno if I actually said these words, but I said, man, I’m so anxious to get this job. I’ll shave my head if you want me to. Read More
Yeah, that was an interesting prospect. I interviewed three times with the curator of fishes, and the third time I’m back, he says, well, we’re prepared to give you the position. And he leaned back in his chair and he says, but we have one thing. He says, we have… Read More
And in the beginning, did you have to interview for your job or did they just automatically take you back?… Read More
Or in the beginning, did you have to interview?… Read More
And we had an alligator snapping turtle, which was not part of the Midwest big alligator snapping turtle. And other than that it was pretty much native fish. So what I was responsible for is obviously keeping the fish in a good healthy state, but also cleaning the exhibits and… Read More
They’ll sound so cool. So I get this job at Shedd aquarium, all of a sudden I’ve got penguins. And I found out in short order, they’re just big stinky birds. And when you’re cleaning the exhibit, if you get ’em into a corner, they’ll peck you. And boy, they… Read More
And the other thing is, I knew most of these fish, I’m from the Midwest, I’m familiar with these guys. These are my friends. So it was a, it was a nice beginning. Read More
And you are an Aquarius, is that the position?… Read More
Yep, Aquarius. And what did an Aquarius do?… Read More
I was responsible for the fish in the gallery four, which was native freshwater stuff. Interestingly enough, beyond the trout and minnows and bass, we had, I also had penguins in my exhibit. We had four Humboldt penguins in an enclosure that was not as big as this dining room. Read More
So I called she aqua, I said, Hey, just in case anything opens, I’m back in town. Turns out the very position I had vacated about eight months earlier was open. So if they took me back and I said, okay, this time I’ll stay. So 40 years later I… Read More
And came back to Chicago and I thought, great, what am I gonna do now with a biology degree?… Read More
So this is in 1977, That’s when I started. And then you come back Ended 1978. Read More