It’s the New Zoo Revue, coming proper at you. In case you grew up within the Nineteen Seventies, it’s possible you’ll 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 essential life classes by means of 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 collection’ run ending in 1977, it continues to influence generations for many years. When the couple’s daughter Joanne arrange a Fb Dwell together with her dad and mom they have 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 have been type of on the forefront of children TV. A time when, as we wish to say, it took a proper flip. An excellent flip I believe. A few of the different reveals on the time like Sesame Avenue have been doing numbers 1,2,3 and A,B,C. That was essential, however Emmy Jo and I believed there was a necessity for a present about relationships. How do you take care of your brother, your sister, your mother or dad? We type of approached it from that standpoint.
At what level did you’re feeling this present was resonating and turning into a well-liked staple of households to look at with their children?
Doug: I’d say for positive once we have been invited to the White Home. That was fairly large. After we bought an opportunity to carry out again then two instances with the Easter Egg Roll and a Christmas celebration for the kids of the international diplomats. After we carried out, we noticed the response of the children. Additionally, after I went to procuring malls and did stay reveals with Freddy the Frog and my guitar, the children have been lined up for autographs and fogeys have 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 kids 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’ll always remember. We didn’t perceive the influence we had on youngsters till our daughter began our Fb web page. We began getting out and assembly a few of our New Zoo Revue followers. A lot 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 stated we have 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 yr, truly 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 continuing skilled and simply the nicest man. We simply cherished him and appreciated him.
Doug. He was actually witty. We have been cracking up on the set as a result of he would go off on his traces and go off on a tangent. We needed to deliver him again in. You may think about. Here’s a man in his 20s enjoying an outdated man with make-up and every little thing 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 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. One in every of them I simply love is Sir Clanks A Lot. He was in a knight costume. Emmy Jo and I have 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 nice composer of fantastic songs. I bought to take a seat in Freddy the Frog’s rowboat with him and speak about composing. I requested him, “Do you’ve gotten any phrases of knowledge for a younger composer like me?” His response was, “Yeah, simply hold writing.” That was enjoyable. I bought to inform you Joann was such a crack up too. We couldn’t hold a straight face together with her.
It’s enjoyable to see them in this type 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 forged members have handed on. We had an exquisite reunion again in Philadelphia final yr 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 have been on so many youngsters. Youngsters simply love Freddy and now they need 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 celeb who has come ahead that claims they have been a fan?
Emmy: The people who come as much as us are of us who grew up with the present and cherished it. After we do comedian conventions, it’s like an enormous household reunion. Generally they create their youngsters 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 type 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 bought an opportunity to direct The Pointer Sisters and be on stage with them. They have been speculated to do a fast promo. .I used to be informed by their supervisor or somebody, “They aren’t going to provide the time of day.” To not trouble with them. Somebody should have informed them I used to be Doug from the New Zoo, and so they began singing the theme tune in three-part concord. I bought a fairly good efficiency out of it.
How was it at San Diego Comedian-Con?
Doug: We have been so shocked. The road was nearly out the door for our little sales space we had. That was our first one. We bought 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 one more day as a result of we had such an excellent turnout. It was wonderful. We have been nonetheless in contact with the parents we met at that Comedian-Con and even on our Fb web page they can ship us personal messages. One in every of them is definitely a chemistry instructor 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 have been simply the creators and personalities, however had no say within the precise funds or something like that.
Emmy: We have been simply two inexperienced children.
Doug: We have been simply informed to signal on the dotted line.
Emily: Doug created it, wrote the songs, made all of the storylines. All the things.
Doug; We weren’t aware of every little thing. It’s simply now we’re capable of finding out the influence we’ve. It’s simply thrilling for us. If it have 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 youngsters 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 bought them.
Doug: They have been all answered by company. “Thanks for getting in contact…” them now has been wonderful.
The place do you assume we’re within the kid-friendly programming house?
Doug: I’m truly 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 youngsters 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 by means of characters and dialogue about being type to one another on the web.
Emily: And being secure on the web. Issues like on-line bullying and right now’s matters.
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 yr.
What’s your secret?
Emily: I believe holding our humorousness. I believe forgiveness in any marriage is essential as a result of it’s two imperfect individuals coming collectively and forming a household.. It’s essential to be forgiving of one another.
Doug: Not taking issues too critically.
Emily: And simply being grateful.
Episodes of New Zoo Revue can be found on Amazon Prime Video. For every little thing concerning the present, go to the web site.
