Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom

Named as one of the longest running documentary series in television history, "Mutual Of Omaha's Wild Kingdom" also known as "The Zoo Parade" made its network television debut on January 6, 1963 when it aired on NBC where it was first shown on Sunday afternoons and later moved to Sunday night prime time where it was scheduled with "The Wonderful World Of Disney " and "Bonanza " for the duration of its run that lasted eight seasons for NBC until February 7, 1971. The network aired repeated episodes from earlier seasons during the summer of 1971. After NBC canceled the series in the spring of 1971 the series was picked up for national syndication until 1988 where it remained for the next seventeen seasons. From 1971 until 1985 it was seen in repeated episodes with brand new episodes that were later shown in syndication. By 1985, the series continued in repeated episodes until its last and final telecast in 1988 (spanning more than 25 years on television with more than 275 episodes produced on both network television and in national syndication). Marlin Perkins was the host of this series who appeared in all 275 episodes during its tenture on the air.

"Mutual Of Omaha's Wild Kingdom " was during the early 1960's the first nature style documentary series to be filmed in location in various parts of the world and presented in living color. The show's sponsor throughout its run was The Mutual Of Omaha Insurance Company. Under the guidance of Marlin Perkins and co-creator Don Meier(who was the executive producer of this series under his production company Don Meier Productions) takes audiences to exotic places to study and conduct research on various types of animals and there behaviors.

Each week your host Marlin Perkins along with assistants Jim Fowler, Stan Brock, Tom Allan, and Peter Gros takes us on a fascinating adventure through various parts of the world as they study and conduct various research on different species of animals in there natural habitat. Each week was an exciting adventure through various countries around the globe doing not only intense further study but risking chances in dealing with various types of animals. It was so successful that "Wild Kingdom"won five Prime Time Emmys for Best Documentary Series for Outstanding Programming (1966, 1967, 1969, 1970 and 1971). After its run on television it is still seen in syndicated repeats but more than 60 years after its premiere it it one of the greatest animal shows of all time. Thanks to the great Marlin Perkins, it's still great family entertainment.

If you, like myself. enjoy watching well-produced wildlife/nature shows, then the super-thrilling "Wild Kingdom" TV series, which successfully ran from 1963-1988, should be of some real interest to you.

So, sit back, relax, and see why this Emmy award-winning series, which was hosted by zoologist Marlin Perkins (with co-hosts Jim Fowler and Stan Brock), is so highly praised and credited for increasing ecological and environmental awareness wherever it was televised.

These informative episodes from Wild Kingdom take the viewer right across the globe to study the fascinating behavior of animals and their endless struggle to survive as man continues to encroach on their dwindling territory.

Excellently photographed in living color, Wild Kingdom is truly an exciting look at animals in their natural habitat.

This show's episodes have running times that vary from 30-90 minutes.

FOLLOWING HIS EXPOSURE to national prominence after hosting ZOO PARADE (NBC, 1950-57) Marlin Perkins proved to be the ideal host for this project. Scholarly in appearance and obviously highly knowledgeable, it was as if we had a Professor of Zoology before us.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE between ZOO PARADE and this MUTUAL OF OMAHA'S WILD KINGDOM were many. In spite of their both being nature programs about mainly exotic, wild forms of fauna, the approach was very different in both cases.

WHERERAS THE CONSTRUCTION of the ZOO PARADE show was live and on location, the location was,in this case, Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo. Weekly installments would zero in on one particular family of animals or upon a certain wild region (i.e., the Serenghati). The Sunday half hour would be devoted to whatever the subject was, with live remote televising of the subject animals directly from their housing pens. Local NBC Newsman, Jim Hurlbut assisted.

THE THEME AND subject matter of WILD KINGDOM mandated that the format be far different. On sight filming was done in Africa, Asia and places like Borneo, New Guinea and the outback of Australia. The Arctic and Antarctic weren't off limits, either. Filming featured the animals in the particular, often being threatened by some natural or man-made potential disaster. Marlin and Jim Fowler were always on hand to help out and to do the voice-overs.

AT ONE POINT, Mr. Perkins remained home, leaving the field work to Fowler and Stan Brock. Marlin did, however did participate as in studio host. He would also provide segue-ways for the commercials; doing monologues something like: "The Grizzly Bear always prepares for the worst of Winters! You'll be prepared for whatever emergency with insurance from Mutual of Omaha!"

I remember sitting around the TV with my family and watching this. It was educational and entertaining family entertainment that simply doesn't exist anymore. Merlin of course did the in studio while Jim was in the field wrestling whatever animal was the subject. Truly miss it. Jim being on Johnny Carson was great as well.

I enjoyed many episodes of `Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom' over the years -- a fascinating and educational experience! Each week Marlin Perkins and Jim or Stan would lead us on an adventure in an exotic part of the globe to learn about or save wild animals.

What really made this show a winner is Marlin Perkins. His enthusiasm kept you glued to the set. Marlin was one of those rare individuals -- one who achieved a career doing what he really loved. He was no young buck any more, nor very big but he took on every physical challenge that came up. Once Marlin and Jim captured a huge boa constrictor who came very close to crushing Marlin. Once they picked up the giant viper, he pulled the two men around, successfully getting them into a river. The two men kept wrestling the powerful snake who managed to wrap himself three coils around Marlin. Fortunately Jim was able to pull a black cloth bag over the boa's head, who then thought it was night and went to sleep. If I'm ever in boa country I'll bring a heavy black sack.

Many times they tagged animals with radio transmitters to track their migration habits. Sometimes they would capture an animal who had wandered into a populated area and take him or her to a wildlife refuge. That really brought home the need for `civilization' to protect endangered species from extinction. Other times they just photographed animals in their natural habitat. They never killed or injured an animal.

The only time I took exception to their activities was when they captured a baby hippo for a zoo. They drove a huge road grader into a pond between the mother and they young hippo. The road grader managed to block the angry, powerful mother while a team of men hustled the little hippo out of the water and into a truck. I'm not a member of PETA, but the cries of the baby and mother really tugged on your heartstrings. Perhaps they should have waited till the baby was big enough to go out on his own.

One thing I'll never forget was how Marlin always segued from the show to the commercials, something like, `Just as this mother ocelot protects her cubs, you can protect your family with Mutual of Omaha.' Corny -- but effective. Johnny Carson once did a parody of the show, sponsored by `Shifty of Encino.'

Overall, a wonderful program, worth watching. I'd like to see `Wild Kingdom' come back on syndication. The Discovery Channel has some excellent nature shows today, using more advanced technology and a larger knowledge base, but I've never seen any actor draw you into a show like Marlin Perkins.