chimp. Dave Garroway

Chimp J. Fred Muggs Joins the Today Show in this Day in 1953
Chimp J. Fred Muggs Joins the Today Show in this Day in 1953
Chimp J. Fred Muggs Joins the Today Show in this Day in 1953
Seems strange these days but on this day, February 3, 1953, a chimpanzee named J. Fred Muggs joined the Today Show and host Dave Garroway as his sidekick.  The chimp was the mascot of the show from 1953 to 1957. It was the brainchild of NBC network president Pat Weaver.